Harbor Freight Workbench

[Joeb41]

I needed a quick workbench so I could set up for gun maintenance and reloading away from the dust of the woodshop. The wood bench with four drawers and a vice looked like it would do the job and it was $119.00 with a coupon. The first one I picked up the top was totally destroyed beyond repair. After a trip to HF for a replacement I put it together easily by not reading the instructions. About a half hour and some extra screws and glue it is surprisingly very sturdy and will fit my needs. All that is left is assemble the drawers and mount my reloading equipment. Someday I will build a better one and donate this one to Habitat.

My rating: 4.5 stars for quality and assembly and -1.5 for packaging.

[lew]

Thanks for the review! We recently got a Harbor Freight store here. I go at least once a week to look around. There are some good deals.

[Cal]

It is good to hear which of their products are worth consideration.  How about a pic or a link so that we know which one you have?

Cal

[HandyDan]

I think that is surely one item that is worth buying as long as they are using a good grade of wood.

[Joeb41]

56 minutes ago, HandyDan said:

I think that is surely one item that is worth buying as long as they are using a good grade of wood.

When I looked at it in the store I thought the top was flakeboard made to look like real wood. I had to cut down the length to fit where It had to go and it is real wood

(species unknown) that is fingerjointed together and it is perfectly flat.  http://harborfreight.com/60-in-4-drawer-hardwood-workbench-69054

[Joeb41]

2 hours ago, clhyer said:

It is good to hear which of their products are worth consideration.  How about a pic or a link so that we know which one you have?

Cal

I temporarily forgot how to post a link so go to  harborfreight.com and in their search box put in 69054

[Dadio]

GO.............................................................Harbor Freight,

Herb

[Grandpadave52]

2 hours ago, Joeb41 said:

I temporarily forgot how to post a link so go to  harborfreight.com and in their search box put in 69054

This is the one...Interesting they sell it under two other numbers (62603 & 93454); both of those have slightly higher ratings (all 4+)...same bench regardless of number..

I've considered one...even have seen a couple on CL- NIB for <$100 and one assembled...just don't have the space right now...For WW'ing they would need beefed up some IMO

For your current purpose I'd think it should work great. Thanks for the review Joe.

[Dadio]

5 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said:

This is the one...Interesting they sell it under two other numbers (62603 & 93454); both of those have slightly higher ratings (all 4+)...same bench regardless of number..

I've considered one...even have seen a couple on CL- NIB for <$100 and one assembled...just don't have the space right now...For WW'ing they would need beefed up some IMO

For your current purpose I'd think it should work great. Thanks for the review Joe.

Dave, I have noticed on a lot of items the number is the same or different. And sometimes they have an item on sale with a number  and at another place they have the same item with a different number at regular price. Someone once told me it was different numbers for different lots of the same item.

Herb

[p_toad]

I have seen some items from them with up to four or five different numbers.   My uneducated guess is that they have different suppliers and if they have too many problems with one series it gets dropped and they stay with the others.

[Grandpadave52]

3 minutes ago, Dadio said:

Someone once told me it was different numbers for different lots of the same item.

That makes sense...one method to track which lots are delivered to which local. I've noticed that for numerous items and typically any of the "sales" coupon, item specific will list all of the part/model numbers for that item.

I suppose it could be a way to track different suppliers making the same item too.

Reminds me, I got a couple H-F Gift cards for Christmas...need to stop in and wander around next time I'm in the "big city."

[Cal]

Looks like a decent bench, and it comes with a vice too.  

Cal

[Smallpatch]

Since I don't own a wood working table my advise is hear say but hey guys take a look at any hardwood anywhere and price the amount it takes to build that same work bench and you should have your answer. The wood resembles a  yellow colored mahogany and in this million page book of woods I have, it is probably in it and has some info on it but there are too many woods that looks the same, so....

. Plus the vise is worth something... I have a Wilton vise sitting in the floor of my shop for I don't have anything to bolt it to and instead I have to sit in the middle of the floor with what ever I am working on between both feet so yes if you have room for the work table, don't forget to get the 20% off coupon on any one item and get after it....

  And maybe Stick will forgive you this one time and eventually start talking to you again or maybe not?

[Dadio]

I was thinking the same thing, Patch, the wood on the top looks maybe like beech or maple, and the drawer fronts and other looks like a Luan,(mahogany) ,of some kind. I would guess the wood here might cost more than the price of the bench. Another best buy from HF.

 

Herb

[Grandpadave52]

Our local store (most others I've been at too) usually has one assembled for display. Theirs always seem a bit wobbly, but in fairness may not be assembled correctly either. 

 

I agree the top appears to be maple or possible beech but the picture is somewhat misleading. The apron gives it (top) the appearance of 5/4 or 6/4 thick but in fact it's only ~3/4". The bottom shelf is ~1/4" tempered hardboard. The stretchers and legs as Joe noted are finger joined pieces (assume top too??) and assemble only with screws. The overall Ship Weight is only 109 lbs.

 

One thought I had was to buy two; mate the tops together, glue/screw/clamp; re-position one vise to the front, use the extra aprons to mount the extra drawers and double up the leg sets to add some heft. Replace the hardboard shelf with some 1/2" MDF or ply. I've seen this bench on sale wit ha coupon for $129.99 and even as low as $119.99 if you belong to the Inside Track Club (let my membership lapse).

 

If you buy a pair right, with a little time and simple modifications, you could have a pretty nice bench with some heft for under $275...Not a Sjoberg but a similar size of theirs is north of $2200. Just my $0.02 including 2 cents tax

Edited January 2, 2018 by Grandpadave52

[Dadio]

You are right Dave, the ones I have looked at were wobbly,I thought the same as you, not assembled right,probably for display only. Also kind of small, but two together might make a decent bench.

Herb

[steven newman]

Some that bought one of these benches, added a plywood panel to the back of the rear legs.   About the same as I did to my bench.  

 

I really don't need another bench right now....

[HARO50]

1 hour ago, steven newman said:

I really don't need another bench right now....

Judging by the pictures of your shop, you'd have to put it on TOP of the current one!

John