Just watching this same video on Harbor Freight's site. You're talking about these #3 Phillips head screws. I'm not sure since I'm only researching to see if I want to grab one, but I'll bet you could substitute a different screw in those spots. I'm not tickled about the thought of an Ikea work surface though.
Yes, my video was featured on their site for it! You can use any screws you want to put it together, the ones it comes with will certainly do the job just fine. But you're going to want a #3 Philips for them. As for the work surface, depending on what you're going to be putting on it, you might opt for some of that rubberized material they sell to line the drawers of their tool cabinets. Some double-stick tape or spray adhesive will keep it in place. Or, you can cut a sheet of plywood the same size and place it on top, run a couple screws through it to pin it to the original surface.
You can, but if you're going to be really slamming whatever you work on in the vise, bear in mind the workbench will want to move with it, so bolting it down might be something you'd have to look into.
Put one together yesterday and had in issue with the top board , it did not have the pre drill holes on it. Where I had to drill . Other wise directions are ok but there not super detail ...
Mine were pre-drilled, I couldn't imagine them requiring you to drill the holes, people would screw that up all the time. Perhaps yours got past "quality control",
Yup, putting this thing together was a real grind; I painted my pegboard black, and added wide washers on the longer screws pegboard-side for extra-support of weighty things that may dwell on pegboard... when driving screws into the laminate tabletop, I use ONLY #3 (out of 20/+) tension/torsion setting on my Ryobi power drill/driver, as any more drives the screws too deep into the laminate particle board and damages it. The parts all seem light and flimsy but once it's all together, it quite stable and tough; if after a while things get misused and abused, and sags, you can weld everything into place, and with gussets to make even more tougher.
You really shouldn’t be driving the screw anyways, on a project like this you should keep the screw stationary and tighten down the nut and washer for the best torque and holding power.
Great review! Definitely sold me on getting it for my brother. He likes putting together small models and airbrushing them. This should be more than enough workbench for him. Thanks for all the very useful suggestions including the accessories and #3 screw head.
I know late but the longest go to the pegboard the other short bag goes to the shelves, the bag with the most goes on all the framing. My plug was attached already so I didn't have the hardware bag for that, It was missing the light hardware, 1 frame nut bolt and washer I used from the shelf bag, they are just 1mm longer . all the lips go up for the shelves and the center drawer section goes U not n. You need to put the pegboard on before the top rear rail. I had plywood that I used for the shelfs instead of the particle board plenty of room to mount a vice. 10mm and a phillips screwdriver, the drawer handle hardware is small maybe 6mm? Bosch didn't fit on some nuts without a swivel. With everything tightened it pretty solid.
If you would have asked me 5 years ago when I did this video, I probably would know. I can tell you there was no special tool required, and average set would have the wrench you need. The bolts, however, are actually screws, and they require a PH#3 Philips Bit. A #2 looks like it will work, but will strip it out.
thanks. Perfect for crafts and projects too. I went from a little craft table to all these type tool cabinets and love it. Its not like i would use if i HAD to have heavy duty ones, but for lighter needs, perfect. I also put thinner finished type wood across top and work area. I went to lowes and had them cut the wood just a hair over the whole bench measurements for top shelf and work area, so it rest over the metal. Seems to made heavier, stronger, sturdier and I work off it.
That's great! Planned, though I still haven't done it, was to cover the work surface with the drawer liner material they also sell at Harbor Freight, attached with spray adhesive. That would leave about a 3 or 4 inch gap at the back where it's not covered, which is fine for me.
Out of the box, it's not designed to accept any, and they just give you plastic feet that go on the end. You could cut a piece of wood to fit on the inside of each leg (basically steel that's bent 90°), drill a couple of holes through the steel and send a few wood screws in there, and your casters would mount to the wood block.
Anyone know how one can add caster wheels to the legs? Also how could I mount a 4’ shop light under the top shelf instead of using the small one that comes with it? Thx
I had thought about that myself, but realized that a workbench should stay put. If you wanted to add casters, I think it would require welding a plate on the bottom of the leg. Then you'd drill a hole through the center of it and put the caster on. For mounting the light, modify the shop light. The existing light mounts with 2 screws to the top shelf. Measure the distance between them, and hopefully there aren't any components in the way inside your shop light, then drill those out and use nuts and bolts to mount it up.
@@jaykay18 Good idea about the shop light mounting. I guess I'll have to buy a shop light and just figure out which is the best way to attach it. For the wheels on the legs, I thought it would be nice to be able to move the workbench around sometimes. Since my work bench is closer inside my garage, I'd thought it would be nice every once in awhile to push it towards the outside towards the sunlight when I have my garage door opened.
Yeah it's basically going to have to rely on your own engineering. One other thing I had thought of for casters, Harbor Freight sells dollies. I recall having ONE of them and trying to move the workbench after I just built it, into my garage. If I recall, the two legs fit on the dolly no problem, the other end I had to lift. You could, theoretically, buy 2 of the dollies, measure out how long you'd need, and make 2 braces going across using 2x4s. Attach those to the dollies with nuts and bolts, and effectively you've made a big 8-wheel "sled" for the whole bench. Then get some L brackets, drill a hole through each leg and nut and bolt in place, and bolt to the dollies. I'm sure it would roll quite nicely, so make sure you get yourself a brick or something as a wheel chock.
@@jaykay18 Good idea with the dollies too. Might have to think about the best way to attach along with your recommendation. Not sure what the weight limit is though on those dollies. If they will support the workbench along with what ever else I have on it.
The ones I looked at (www.harborfreight.com/30-in-x-18-in-1000-lb-capacity-hardwood-dolly-61897.html) support up to 1000 lbs, I think you'd be more than perfectly safe with that. They also have these (www.harborfreight.com/3-wheel-wood-dolly-68902.html) that support 180 lbs each, so that would get you 720 lbs. But I think the casters are a little too small on it for what you need.
thanks for this review. i was eyeing this item for use as a weapons workbench at home and it would appear based on your review that this item should be more than suitable for the task.
+shellumus Thank you. The top, main work surface, and bottom are black. Any painted metal on it is a very dark blue, almost like a navy blue. Harbor Freight's website seems to have a fairly accurate picture of it. Just punch in the item number 60723 on their site.
+Love2boat92 Thanks! I had originally considered that workbench, and was almost ready to buy it. One of the main reasons was because the workbench I reviewed here, at several Harbor Freight stores, was very shaky. I believe I touched upon that in the video. Either they didn't tighten everything down properly, or it's just been there for so long and "everyone and their mother" has handled it, and nobody every got around to retightening it. So I figured it had to just be the ones on display, and that wouldn't be the case with my own. I was correct. The second reason I chose this one was because of the pegboard on the back. Nothing like turning a horizontal surface vertical, and being able to hang a lot of stuff up. I still haven't put all my tools on the pegboard, but I will. Third reason was because of space constraints. There is an abandoned well pump in the left corner (which I would love to get working one day, but I digress) and the way the plumbing runs gives me just about 8 1/2 feet from there to the steps. These workbenches are 4 feet across, the one you're talking about is 6. So it was a no-brainer to get 2 of these side-by-side rather than one of the wooden ones and have space on either side. I'd rather have the extra 24 inches of bench space. So, again, I did consider that bench, but for numerous reasons, this was the better choice for me. That one is not a bad bench, and seems pretty sturdy, although I seem to remember reading a lot of complaints about the vise on it being cheap, and that's one of the reasons you'd buy a bench like that.
+JB I actually have the HF drill press that's almost always on sale, haven't done a review of it. But it's still in the box, on the bottom shelf of this very workbench. I don't see any reason why the top wouldn't handle it at all.
+jaykay18 I put mine together fast in minutes since there are only a few parts, put it together crank it up, it's real silent and let me know if it wobbles the table please. think you need a 14mm wrench and a stubby Phillips for the lid knob. get a rag it's got oil on it. don't grab anything until you wipe it off.
Thanks! It's a bit of a project putting together. Just make sure you bolt everything together, square it up, and then tighten everything. You need a PH#3 screwdriver or bit, #2 will strip the screws.
Thanks for the great review! I'm considering it for a laser Cutter table but I wouldn't want the pegboard. Could I assemble it without the backer board (but add the frame and top shelf/light) or would it be unstable without the pegboard?
Thanks! Great question. I know it can be assembled without the top at all, the angle piece that forms the leg will stick up about 5 inches on each back edge, that can be knocked off with an angle grinder very easily. If you wanted to assemble without the pegboard, you can, but the top part may feel a bit unstable. I certainly wouldn't store anything on top of it that way. The top of the pegboard has about 6 screws that go through to the top frame, which I expect would add some rigidity. If you cut something like a furring strip to fit there, just at the top, and use longer nuts and bolts, I'd expect it would be fairly solid. Another option, if you have a table saw, would be to rip the pegboard down. Alternately, a jigsaw if you have a steady hand, might do the trick, to "cut out" the area you're covering up with the pegboard. I think after some careful engineering, you could make it work for you.
I got this workbench a long time ago & its held up well. I used a 25% off coupons when I got it. Use the 25% off coupon & you cant beat the price for a nice workbench. Also HFT Item #'s 68459, 98902, 68817/68460, 68828, 68515, 96733, 61255, 92630, & 94779 all come with a PH #3 bit.
Yes, awesome deal! At the time I only had a 20% off, and it was on sale for that much off anyway, so same difference. But definitely for the price, it's right. I wish the work surface was bigger front-to-back, but I made up for that by buying 2 and putting them side by side. I still wish they used hex-head bolts instead of Phillips screw heads. Also, because of the cheap nature of the fasteners, a couple nuts weren't tapped properly and wouldn't thread on. I ended up retapping them by brute force, using several other screws it came with, which buggered all the threads on them a bit--just enough that it will still work but wasn't smooth. Either way it ended up working; it was one of those little additional challenges you're faced with during assembly.
jaykay18 Oh yeah. I had to do some drilling to get the fasteners to fit in the hole. Some "pre drilled" holes werent even pre drilled on mine. Ha. Gotta love HFT.
Cheap for a reason, at least. The thing that really scares me is how they can continually offer 20 or 25% off an item, makes you wonder how much markup there really is on that stuff, and I bet there's more than we think. No wonder stuff today is made cheap.
Exactly. HFT has something that are great. I have some tools from them that have been just as good as the Made in the USA tools. The more you shop at HF youll know whats good & whats bad from them.
You're kidding, right? When you go to HF, that bench has been handled by everyone and their mother. Plus it was put together by someone who barely makes minimum wage at that. In the store, these things shake all over the place, very wobbly. When put together properly, they are very strong and sturdy. Had mine for 3 years now and it's just as good as it was when I put it together.
ruffaccord See about the 4 minute mark in the video, the longer bolts are for the pegboard in the back, the rest are pretty much self-explanatory. Also see reviews on Harbor Freight's website, I know there were a few mentions of that in there.
+Hector Rocha I have no idea what the Dillon 650 weighs, their website is pretty vague about it. The top is about 1/2" thick particle board, covered with a thin black surfacing material.
***** You can change it out for plywood, but as far as reinforcing it, it sort of sits in a "shelf" made out of the metal sides. If you do without the drawers you might be able to brace it with 2x4s.
with coupons i paid around $65 for it. as a work bench its OK. i layed carpet squares to protect my work and the bench top. there's a storage shelf underneath that holds a lot of stuff. downside is the drawers have crappy rollers that sometimes come off the track. i saw a newer one that has a nice precision like roller assembly. wish i could swap them. over all i'm happy and would recommend buying it when the price is right. barry
Thanks, Barry. I haven't had any problem with the drawer slides on mine at all, and I like the fact that it sort of "clicks" back when the drawer is closed to hold it shut. I plan to cover mine with the same stuff they sell to line the drawers with, a rubberized coating.
Hm. On sale now for $99 plus they always have a 20% discount (so about $80). I was considering building a Simpson Strong-tie workbench in this size. But the lumber alone in my area will be around $30 2x4 +$14 plywood +$8ish pegboard. So about $50-$60. No drawers or light but a sturdier top and shelf. Can you replace the top with 15/32 or 23/32 plywood?
The bulb is removable/replaceable. If you can find a bulb that will work with the original ballast without swapping that out, you'll be fine. Otherwise, you can swap out the whole fixture. Or just leave it, it's plenty bright as it is.
Those are technically bolts as they mount with nuts. Screws attach directly to the substrate that they are fastening regardless of what tool is used to install them. /engineer And those bit sets are made with very low quality steel and the bits will break or shear in short order. Higher quality bit sets are well worth the investment.
I sat here for 15 minutes trying to think of a witty comeback, but I'm afraid you've got me beat. The bit set is great as long as you don't stress the bit any; yes, you're correct, it's made with low quality steel, but of course if the fastener you're driving is softer than the bit, there will likely be no damage to the bit!
jaykay18 I wouldn't trust any such fasteners in use if one of these bits could deform it. In many cases, Harbor Freight stuff could be used as a test tool (if you use it enough to break it under normal conditions, buying a quality version is justified), but in the case of known crap like those bit sets, starting off with good stuff is cheaper in the long run.
Interestingly enough that PH#3 in that set put together those 2 workbenches, with no damage to either. I know that doesn't speak volumes about the quality of either, but I do like the idea of HFT's stuff being "test tools".
Might be right on bit set HOWEVER when not using those odd ones all the time, yes, it might last a long time. I agree with this why. WHY spend so much on bits when you are not using these odd ones often at all, unless its your profession and you come across them all the time.
If it threads into a nut, it's a bolt. If it cuts its own threads or goes (screws) into a pre-threaded hole, it's a screw. These are just technicalities. Generally speaking the two terms are interchangeable. They are commonly misused in and outside of industry.
Can you tell me the size of the peg board holes. I want to buy this workbench online and also buy the pegs but the peg come in two sizes. Thanks for the video.
+Robert E Using the super-accurate Harbor Freight free measuring tape, I went and measured it just for you. The holes are exactly 1 inch on center, and the diameter of the holes are 3/16". That means you'll need pegs ever so slightly smaller to fit in the holes, but remember it's pressboard so it gives a little bit. Take a look at Harbor Freight items 67581 and 65295, I have both of those and they both fit. Hope that helps!
+jaykay18 Thank you for your quick reply. Another person on this comment section suggested HF item 92630 so I'm going to order that as well. Thanks again.
Good question. I actually have plans to do so. A few things you need to keep in mind: 1. The bench top is particle board. If you're mounting a vise to it, you need to keep the strength of the particle board in mind. If you're really going to be slamming stuff in that vise (hammering and whatnot), then I wouldn't. 2. For lighter duty stuff, holding a piece of wood in a vise while you sand it, perhaps holding something else in the vise while you drill out a bolt that sheared off, perfect. 3. Make sure you use some nice nuts and bolts to mount it, and ensure you get nice big washers to help spread the load of the vise over a larger area. 4. Bonus points if you make a custom mounting plate for the vise. Hope that helps!
Thanks. I have 2 more 9" TV/VCR combos in addition to that one. Once I get the wall bracket I have installed for a larger set then I can get that one off the bench.
I wish Harbor Freight sold fast food. I'd go there and never leave. I'd take dry showers in the rest room, and blow dry with a heat gun. Of course the low quality food would kill me in a couple weeks. Then they could put me in a HF body bag, and carry me out on a HF tool cart. Oh what the hell, just cremate me out back on the loading dock with the propane weed burner. And blow my ashes across the parking lot with the cordless leaf blower. Maybe I'll go to that big discount chinesum tool warehouse in the sky.
Once you get one, you'll want 2 if you have the space. Measure twice, then measure again, then come back a few days later and measure again. Things are not as big as they appear. I had just enough space for 2 of them, so I got 2. Lines the back wall of the garage perfectly.
Is there any difference between #62563 and #60723 workbenches? They are both online and the only diffference I can find is in the parts list. One has 4 screws and the other 4 boltes. www.dropbox.com/s/bgp4ssg1d6lubcm/Screenshot%202016-10-22%2009.18.45.png?dl=0
No difference really. Basically the plans are given to several factories in China. They build the products using whatever variants of Play-Doh they have. One factory may have leaded paint, another one may not. That could be the variation in color. Sometimes they'll use screws, while the other factory uses bolts. They sell a 3 gallon air compressor in 2 different "lot numbers" as well. They are identical, save for some very small differences: 1 has a larger storage compartment (for inflation needles and such), but uses a fuse for protection, the other one has a smaller compartment but uses a resettable circuit breaker. Perhaps they only list as "current overload protection device", and again, the factory uses whatever variant of Play-Doh they have on hand that day.
ian prososki If you're going to get a workbench that you're not going to build or put together yourself, you don't need a workbench. Yes, it wasn't terribly fun to put together. With a helper it's a lot easier. Don't forget, I built 2 of them. I had twice the fun!
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Just watching this same video on Harbor Freight's site. You're talking about these #3 Phillips head screws. I'm not sure since I'm only researching to see if I want to grab one, but I'll bet you could substitute a different screw in those spots. I'm not tickled about the thought of an Ikea work surface though.
Yes, my video was featured on their site for it! You can use any screws you want to put it together, the ones it comes with will certainly do the job just fine. But you're going to want a #3 Philips for them.
As for the work surface, depending on what you're going to be putting on it, you might opt for some of that rubberized material they sell to line the drawers of their tool cabinets. Some double-stick tape or spray adhesive will keep it in place. Or, you can cut a sheet of plywood the same size and place it on top, run a couple screws through it to pin it to the original surface.
I really appreciate this work bench video. Very informative, thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Would you mind posting the dimensions of the bottom shelf space?
48" x 24".
Can you mount a vice to the top?
You can, but if you're going to be really slamming whatever you work on in the vise, bear in mind the workbench will want to move with it, so bolting it down might be something you'd have to look into.
Did you mount the two benches together?
No, mine just sit next to each other.
Put one together yesterday and had in issue with the top board , it did not have the pre drill holes on it. Where I had to drill . Other wise directions are ok but there not super detail ...
Mine were pre-drilled, I couldn't imagine them requiring you to drill the holes, people would screw that up all the time. Perhaps yours got past "quality control",
It looks like an allen key would fit into the screw heads.
Haven't tried that, but most certainly a #3 Philips bit, like I said, is the proper tool.
Can you fit a vice to it?
Yes, you can fit a vise to it, just drill into the bench top for the mounting holes. You may need to remove the bench top for easier access.
Yup, putting this thing together was a real grind; I painted my pegboard black, and added wide washers on the longer screws pegboard-side for extra-support of weighty things that may dwell on pegboard... when driving screws into the laminate tabletop, I use ONLY #3 (out of 20/+) tension/torsion setting on my Ryobi power drill/driver, as any more drives the screws too deep into the laminate particle board and damages it. The parts all seem light and flimsy but once it's all together, it quite stable and tough; if after a while things get misused and abused, and sags, you can weld everything into place, and with gussets to make even more tougher.
I'm old-school, I assembled it all by hand.
You really shouldn’t be driving the screw anyways, on a project like this you should keep the screw stationary and tighten down the nut and washer for the best torque and holding power.
Jay how is your bench in 2022 is it still functional?
Yes, it's still in great shape!
@@jaykay18 thanks for the reply I’ll order today👍🏾
Great review! Definitely sold me on getting it for my brother. He likes putting together small models and airbrushing them. This should be more than enough workbench for him. Thanks for all the very useful suggestions including the accessories and #3 screw head.
***** Thanks so much! I really like these, they've held up very well over the year I've had them so far.
I know late but the longest go to the pegboard the other short bag goes to the shelves, the bag with the most goes on all the framing. My plug was attached already so I didn't have the hardware bag for that, It was missing the light hardware, 1 frame nut bolt and washer I used from the shelf bag, they are just 1mm longer . all the lips go up for the shelves and the center drawer section goes U not n. You need to put the pegboard on before the top rear rail. I had plywood that I used for the shelfs instead of the particle board plenty of room to mount a vice. 10mm and a phillips screwdriver, the drawer handle hardware is small maybe 6mm? Bosch didn't fit on some nuts without a swivel. With everything tightened it pretty solid.
Thanks for your experience, I also think this is a very solid workbench for the money.
Thank you looking into buying one for a cricut vinyl cutter .
Should work great for that.
The wobble test!....that sold me, thanks for the info!
No problem Bill!
Did you ever install a vice to the table?
Jlui83 No, not yet. It's planned, but I don't know when it will happen.
Definitely make a video when you do. I just bought this workbench today
Jlui83 There's no question, there will be a video!
What size wrench do the nuts need?
If you would have asked me 5 years ago when I did this video, I probably would know. I can tell you there was no special tool required, and average set would have the wrench you need. The bolts, however, are actually screws, and they require a PH#3 Philips Bit. A #2 looks like it will work, but will strip it out.
thanks. Perfect for crafts and projects too. I went from a little craft table to all these type tool cabinets and love it. Its not like i would use if i HAD to have heavy duty ones, but for lighter needs, perfect. I also put thinner finished type wood across top and work area. I went to lowes and had them cut the wood just a hair over the whole bench measurements for top shelf and work area, so it rest over the metal. Seems to made heavier, stronger, sturdier and I work off it.
That's great! Planned, though I still haven't done it, was to cover the work surface with the drawer liner material they also sell at Harbor Freight, attached with spray adhesive. That would leave about a 3 or 4 inch gap at the back where it's not covered, which is fine for me.
Could you put casters on it?
Out of the box, it's not designed to accept any, and they just give you plastic feet that go on the end.
You could cut a piece of wood to fit on the inside of each leg (basically steel that's bent 90°), drill a couple of holes through the steel and send a few wood screws in there, and your casters would mount to the wood block.
What is the height from the floor to the surface of the bench-top?
+Michael Van Buskirk The height to the benchtop from the floor is approximately 36 inches.
Is it strong enough to mount a vise?
I don't see why not.
Anyone know how one can add caster wheels to the legs? Also how could I mount a 4’ shop light under the top shelf instead of using the small one that comes with it? Thx
I had thought about that myself, but realized that a workbench should stay put. If you wanted to add casters, I think it would require welding a plate on the bottom of the leg. Then you'd drill a hole through the center of it and put the caster on.
For mounting the light, modify the shop light. The existing light mounts with 2 screws to the top shelf. Measure the distance between them, and hopefully there aren't any components in the way inside your shop light, then drill those out and use nuts and bolts to mount it up.
@@jaykay18 Good idea about the shop light mounting. I guess I'll have to buy a shop light and just figure out which is the best way to attach it. For the wheels on the legs, I thought it would be nice to be able to move the workbench around sometimes. Since my work bench is closer inside my garage, I'd thought it would be nice every once in awhile to push it towards the outside towards the sunlight when I have my garage door opened.
Yeah it's basically going to have to rely on your own engineering. One other thing I had thought of for casters, Harbor Freight sells dollies. I recall having ONE of them and trying to move the workbench after I just built it, into my garage. If I recall, the two legs fit on the dolly no problem, the other end I had to lift.
You could, theoretically, buy 2 of the dollies, measure out how long you'd need, and make 2 braces going across using 2x4s. Attach those to the dollies with nuts and bolts, and effectively you've made a big 8-wheel "sled" for the whole bench. Then get some L brackets, drill a hole through each leg and nut and bolt in place, and bolt to the dollies.
I'm sure it would roll quite nicely, so make sure you get yourself a brick or something as a wheel chock.
@@jaykay18 Good idea with the dollies too. Might have to think about the best way to attach along with your recommendation. Not sure what the weight limit is though on those dollies. If they will support the workbench along with what ever else I have on it.
The ones I looked at (www.harborfreight.com/30-in-x-18-in-1000-lb-capacity-hardwood-dolly-61897.html) support up to 1000 lbs, I think you'd be more than perfectly safe with that.
They also have these (www.harborfreight.com/3-wheel-wood-dolly-68902.html) that support 180 lbs each, so that would get you 720 lbs. But I think the casters are a little too small on it for what you need.
thanks for this review. i was eyeing this item for use as a weapons workbench at home and it would appear based on your review that this item should be more than suitable for the task.
Great! Thanks for watching James; I needed a couple anyway and after doing my own research these were just right!
Sorry but what color is it? Green or black? Awesome review and very detailed. Thanks!
+shellumus Thank you. The top, main work surface, and bottom are black. Any painted metal on it is a very dark blue, almost like a navy blue. Harbor Freight's website seems to have a fairly accurate picture of it. Just punch in the item number 60723 on their site.
+jaykay18 Thanks for quick reply
Would you ever buy their hardwood workbench with the vice? Great video.
+Love2boat92 Thanks! I had originally considered that workbench, and was almost ready to buy it. One of the main reasons was because the workbench I reviewed here, at several Harbor Freight stores, was very shaky. I believe I touched upon that in the video. Either they didn't tighten everything down properly, or it's just been there for so long and "everyone and their mother" has handled it, and nobody every got around to retightening it. So I figured it had to just be the ones on display, and that wouldn't be the case with my own. I was correct.
The second reason I chose this one was because of the pegboard on the back. Nothing like turning a horizontal surface vertical, and being able to hang a lot of stuff up. I still haven't put all my tools on the pegboard, but I will.
Third reason was because of space constraints. There is an abandoned well pump in the left corner (which I would love to get working one day, but I digress) and the way the plumbing runs gives me just about 8 1/2 feet from there to the steps. These workbenches are 4 feet across, the one you're talking about is 6. So it was a no-brainer to get 2 of these side-by-side rather than one of the wooden ones and have space on either side. I'd rather have the extra 24 inches of bench space.
So, again, I did consider that bench, but for numerous reasons, this was the better choice for me. That one is not a bad bench, and seems pretty sturdy, although I seem to remember reading a lot of complaints about the vise on it being cheap, and that's one of the reasons you'd buy a bench like that.
jaykay18 That makes a lot of sense. I probably would have done the same thing. Lol. So many projects to do a d so little time and money to do them.
would you put a 8 inch drill press on it? will it even support it on the side maybe, will it wobble the bench apart?
+JB I actually have the HF drill press that's almost always on sale, haven't done a review of it. But it's still in the box, on the bottom shelf of this very workbench. I don't see any reason why the top wouldn't handle it at all.
+jaykay18 I put mine together fast in minutes since there are only a few parts, put it together crank it up, it's real silent and let me know if it wobbles the table please. think you need a 14mm wrench and a stubby Phillips for the lid knob. get a rag it's got oil on it. don't grab anything until you wipe it off.
+jaykay18 I was looking at the hardwood bench at HF online some say it's oak.
+JB Sorry, don't think I'll be doing anything soon. I just got home from the hospital, and besides, it's below freezing out there now!
+jaykay18 get better soon, think about moving to California lol yesterday it was 75° today it's warm in the low 80°s
does anyone know the dimensions of the actual workbench "top". the area you would work on?
It's approximately 48" x 24".
Nice video and very informative. I just bought mine today for $89.00 and can't wait to put it together this weekend.
Thanks! It's a bit of a project putting together. Just make sure you bolt everything together, square it up, and then tighten everything. You need a PH#3 screwdriver or bit, #2 will strip the screws.
Thanks for the great review! I'm considering it for a laser Cutter table but I wouldn't want the pegboard. Could I assemble it without the backer board (but add the frame and top shelf/light) or would it be unstable without the pegboard?
Thanks! Great question. I know it can be assembled without the top at all, the angle piece that forms the leg will stick up about 5 inches on each back edge, that can be knocked off with an angle grinder very easily.
If you wanted to assemble without the pegboard, you can, but the top part may feel a bit unstable. I certainly wouldn't store anything on top of it that way. The top of the pegboard has about 6 screws that go through to the top frame, which I expect would add some rigidity. If you cut something like a furring strip to fit there, just at the top, and use longer nuts and bolts, I'd expect it would be fairly solid. Another option, if you have a table saw, would be to rip the pegboard down. Alternately, a jigsaw if you have a steady hand, might do the trick, to "cut out" the area you're covering up with the pegboard. I think after some careful engineering, you could make it work for you.
@@jaykay18 Great, thank you again!
You're welcome! Hope this helps!
@@jaykay18 It really does! I'm off to HF today with my $30off coupon!
I wish I could saw this video before I set mine up....I stripped so many bolts with my cordless drill
Hindsight, as they say, is 20/20.
I got this workbench a long time ago & its held up well. I used a 25% off coupons when I got it. Use the 25% off coupon & you cant beat the price for a nice workbench. Also HFT Item #'s 68459, 98902, 68817/68460, 68828, 68515, 96733, 61255, 92630, & 94779 all come with a PH #3 bit.
Yes, awesome deal! At the time I only had a 20% off, and it was on sale for that much off anyway, so same difference. But definitely for the price, it's right. I wish the work surface was bigger front-to-back, but I made up for that by buying 2 and putting them side by side.
I still wish they used hex-head bolts instead of Phillips screw heads. Also, because of the cheap nature of the fasteners, a couple nuts weren't tapped properly and wouldn't thread on. I ended up retapping them by brute force, using several other screws it came with, which buggered all the threads on them a bit--just enough that it will still work but wasn't smooth. Either way it ended up working; it was one of those little additional challenges you're faced with during assembly.
jaykay18
Oh yeah. I had to do some drilling to get the fasteners to fit in the hole. Some "pre drilled" holes werent even pre drilled on mine. Ha. Gotta love HFT.
Cheap for a reason, at least. The thing that really scares me is how they can continually offer 20 or 25% off an item, makes you wonder how much markup there really is on that stuff, and I bet there's more than we think. No wonder stuff today is made cheap.
Exactly. HFT has something that are great. I have some tools from them that have been just as good as the Made in the USA tools. The more you shop at HF youll know whats good & whats bad from them.
Yep! And that's why I make these reviews!
Is it strong enough to mount a vise
For light-duty work, yes, you can mount a vise to it.
No this bench is cheap. Go to harbor freight and see your self.
You're kidding, right? When you go to HF, that bench has been handled by everyone and their mother. Plus it was put together by someone who barely makes minimum wage at that. In the store, these things shake all over the place, very wobbly. When put together properly, they are very strong and sturdy. Had mine for 3 years now and it's just as good as it was when I put it together.
Can anyone tell me what bolts go where? In the box there were 4 bags of different nuts and bolts but no instructions as to which to use where
ruffaccord See about the 4 minute mark in the video, the longer bolts are for the pegboard in the back, the rest are pretty much self-explanatory. Also see reviews on Harbor Freight's website, I know there were a few mentions of that in there.
will this support a dillon 650? what material is the top?
+Hector Rocha I have no idea what the Dillon 650 weighs, their website is pretty vague about it. The top is about 1/2" thick particle board, covered with a thin black surfacing material.
its about 30 pounds, particle board would break with constant pressure, can it be changed with plywood? and reinforced with 2x4?
***** You can change it out for plywood, but as far as reinforcing it, it sort of sits in a "shelf" made out of the metal sides. If you do without the drawers you might be able to brace it with 2x4s.
Thank you
+Hector Rocha No problem, good luck with your endeavor.
with coupons i paid around $65 for it. as a work bench its OK. i layed carpet squares to protect my work and the bench top. there's a storage shelf underneath that holds a lot of stuff.
downside is the drawers have crappy rollers that sometimes come off the track. i saw a newer one that has a nice precision like roller assembly. wish i could swap them.
over all i'm happy and would recommend buying it when the price is right.
barry
Thanks, Barry. I haven't had any problem with the drawer slides on mine at all, and I like the fact that it sort of "clicks" back when the drawer is closed to hold it shut.
I plan to cover mine with the same stuff they sell to line the drawers with, a rubberized coating.
They have since improved the drawers.
Dar70 How so? Do you have any video to back that up?
Is the top made out of steel? Can it be used as a welding table
Nope, not only does it not look like steel, I also said what it's made out of.
I replaced the top of mine with 1/4 in steel instead of that press board table top. Works fine for me so far..
Hm. On sale now for $99 plus they always have a 20% discount (so about $80). I was considering building a Simpson Strong-tie workbench in this size. But the lumber alone in my area will be around $30 2x4 +$14 plywood +$8ish pegboard. So about $50-$60. No drawers or light but a sturdier top and shelf. Can you replace the top with 15/32 or 23/32 plywood?
Yes, the top can most certainly be replaced, just cut it to size obviously, and drill out the holes in the same spot to mount it.
can you switch out the bulb on the built in light ? i know these days you can get very bright led lights in just about any variety
The bulb is removable/replaceable. If you can find a bulb that will work with the original ballast without swapping that out, you'll be fine. Otherwise, you can swap out the whole fixture. Or just leave it, it's plenty bright as it is.
Those are technically bolts as they mount with nuts. Screws attach directly to the substrate that they are fastening regardless of what tool is used to install them.
/engineer
And those bit sets are made with very low quality steel and the bits will break or shear in short order. Higher quality bit sets are well worth the investment.
I sat here for 15 minutes trying to think of a witty comeback, but I'm afraid you've got me beat.
The bit set is great as long as you don't stress the bit any; yes, you're correct, it's made with low quality steel, but of course if the fastener you're driving is softer than the bit, there will likely be no damage to the bit!
jaykay18
I wouldn't trust any such fasteners in use if one of these bits could deform it.
In many cases, Harbor Freight stuff could be used as a test tool (if you use it enough to break it under normal conditions, buying a quality version is justified), but in the case of known crap like those bit sets, starting off with good stuff is cheaper in the long run.
Interestingly enough that PH#3 in that set put together those 2 workbenches, with no damage to either. I know that doesn't speak volumes about the quality of either, but I do like the idea of HFT's stuff being "test tools".
Might be right on bit set HOWEVER when not using those odd ones all the time, yes, it might last a long time. I agree with this why. WHY spend so much on bits when you are not using these odd ones often at all, unless its your profession and you come across them all the time.
If it threads into a nut, it's a bolt. If it cuts its own threads or goes (screws) into a pre-threaded hole, it's a screw.
These are just technicalities.
Generally speaking the two terms are interchangeable. They are commonly misused in and outside of industry.
Thank you for the clarification. Of course we could just use the generic term "threaded fastener".
Can you tell me the size of the peg board holes. I want to buy this workbench online and also buy the pegs but the peg come in two sizes. Thanks for the video.
+Robert E Using the super-accurate Harbor Freight free measuring tape, I went and measured it just for you.
The holes are exactly 1 inch on center, and the diameter of the holes are 3/16". That means you'll need pegs ever so slightly smaller to fit in the holes, but remember it's pressboard so it gives a little bit.
Take a look at Harbor Freight items 67581 and 65295, I have both of those and they both fit. Hope that helps!
+jaykay18 Thank you for your quick reply. Another person on this comment section suggested HF item 92630 so I'm going to order that as well. Thanks again.
Robert E No problem, enjoy!
thank u for the review gona get one of these including those torx and screw driver bit set thanks for your help
+David Law No problem David!
Any idea how thick the top is? I'd like to mount a vice and bench grinder to it but I'm worried it's too thin.
Both the top and the bottom pieces are made out of particle board, and are 5/8" thick.
Would you be able,to install a vice with no issue to it?
Good question. I actually have plans to do so. A few things you need to keep in mind:
1. The bench top is particle board. If you're mounting a vise to it, you need to keep the strength of the particle board in mind. If you're really going to be slamming stuff in that vise (hammering and whatnot), then I wouldn't.
2. For lighter duty stuff, holding a piece of wood in a vise while you sand it, perhaps holding something else in the vise while you drill out a bolt that sheared off, perfect.
3. Make sure you use some nice nuts and bolts to mount it, and ensure you get nice big washers to help spread the load of the vise over a larger area.
4. Bonus points if you make a custom mounting plate for the vise.
Hope that helps!
Thanks a lot for the reply I will keep it in mind
Great review, thanks!
No problem, thanks for watching!
Great detailed review as always Jay....looking forward to future reviews!.
Thanks, more to come over the next week!
Thank you--very useful video!
Thanks for watching!
Can you tell me what size bulb it takes for the under lighting?
Travis Jones It's a T5 14W. A T5 bulb's diameter is similar to a dime. The bulb is 22" long.
Thank you :)
@@jaykay18 T5 is 5/8" the first number is always how many 8's there are. a T2 is 2 8ths" a T8 is 8 8ths, etc
@@revitresidentialtutorialsr9131 Thanks for the additional info.
Nice and neat. I have a similar 9 inch vcr tv that I don't want to throw out.
Thanks. I have 2 more 9" TV/VCR combos in addition to that one. Once I get the wall bracket I have installed for a larger set then I can get that one off the bench.
I wish Harbor Freight sold fast food. I'd go there and never leave. I'd take dry showers in the rest room, and blow dry with a heat gun. Of course the low quality food would kill me in a couple weeks. Then they could put me in a HF body bag, and carry me out on a HF tool cart. Oh what the hell, just cremate me out back on the loading dock with the propane weed burner. And blow my ashes across the parking lot with the cordless leaf blower. Maybe I'll go to that big discount chinesum tool warehouse in the sky.
That's pretty funny.
This is an incredibly helpful video! Thank you.
+FatherLicorice You're very welcome! I have plenty of other Harbor Freight reviews if you're interested.
I bought myself one also an I really like it.
Yeah, it's a great bench for the money.
Like your review video! Nice workbench Jay!, I want one of them too.
Once you get one, you'll want 2 if you have the space. Measure twice, then measure again, then come back a few days later and measure again. Things are not as big as they appear.
I had just enough space for 2 of them, so I got 2. Lines the back wall of the garage perfectly.
Is there any difference between #62563 and #60723 workbenches? They are both online and the only diffference I can find is in the parts list. One has 4 screws and the other 4 boltes. www.dropbox.com/s/bgp4ssg1d6lubcm/Screenshot%202016-10-22%2009.18.45.png?dl=0
No difference really. Basically the plans are given to several factories in China. They build the products using whatever variants of Play-Doh they have. One factory may have leaded paint, another one may not. That could be the variation in color. Sometimes they'll use screws, while the other factory uses bolts.
They sell a 3 gallon air compressor in 2 different "lot numbers" as well. They are identical, save for some very small differences: 1 has a larger storage compartment (for inflation needles and such), but uses a fuse for protection, the other one has a smaller compartment but uses a resettable circuit breaker. Perhaps they only list as "current overload protection device", and again, the factory uses whatever variant of Play-Doh they have on hand that day.
a s2 square bit works better and is usually in any bit set. they are also sold individually for a dollar or two.
Thanks for the info.
was it just me or was this workbench a pain in the ass to set up?
ian prososki If you're going to get a workbench that you're not going to build or put together yourself, you don't need a workbench.
Yes, it wasn't terribly fun to put together. With a helper it's a lot easier. Don't forget, I built 2 of them. I had twice the fun!
@@jaykay18 haha so true man. What is the point. Work being the key word
5:10 EXACTLY why I'm here watching this video in harbor freight because their floor model is flimsy as hell lol thank you, your the best
Awesome! Both of mine have remained sturdy since I recorded this video, and a friend of mine bought one and his nice and sturdy as well. Enjoy!
Hah. Windows XP. Should dispose of that
If you'd read the description, you'd see this video is 4 years old. XP was still around then, thank you.