Bora centipede worktop
- Thread starter rvieceli
- Start date
DanesRFun
Member
Well, it's two years after the start of this thread...
Here's my July 2025 updated Bora Centipede experience.
I bought the 35" height 2'x4' Bora Centipede and 20mm holed MFT top off Amazon. The stand was $129, very lightweight, but still strong and surprisingly sturdy.
But for the top, Bora makes purchasing more dicey-- in that the price for the 20mm holed-top was $75.99, while the price for the 3/4" holed-top was $13 LESS at $62.99. So that apparently invited someone to buy both, then swap the packaging, and send back the 3/4" top in the 20mm box... for the next unsuspecting poor slog... read ME... Aargh. Thanks Bora!
Sooo, the first top arrives... there's no distinguishing markings to SAY whether it's the 3/4" or the 20mm holed version... but it appears to be 3/4" holes as none of my 20mm dogs were even close to fitting. So I sent it back and requested a replacement. 2nd top arrives, and it at least does appear to be the 20mm top because I can POUND in one half of a Bessey clamp. NONE of the other dogs fit, or can be forced. Ugh. The box insert mentions humidity and swelling and hole variations... ugh. But I live in dry California! Ugh.
So I order the UJK Combined Chamfer & Reamer tool. Today... 15 days into this Bora endeavor... the reamer/chamfer arrives, I pull out my old heavy duty Dewalt hammer drill... and try to ream out the holes. But the holes are just waaay too tight. So the tool is binding up badly... and of course heating up. So with lots of time for cooling, I've gotten through three holes now... but they're basically buggered because of the binding... I'm running slow speed, and can slowly force it down, where the chamfer part works fine, but I struggle to pull back out... and I can even see a few small metal shavings coming off the tool, too. The lightweight stand is no help here, so I've got one foot across the wire bottom trying to hold it down while I try to pull up plumb against it. I found a video that suggested wax would help... so I ordered some. But at this point, I'm starting to think I'd be better off throwing out the top and just make my own from scratch. That Festool MFT/3 is looking cheaper by the minute!
If anyone has any recommendations for this woodworking noob, it would be much appreciated.
I really hate it when I try to go the more "sensible" route and just end up wasting money!
Here's my July 2025 updated Bora Centipede experience.
I bought the 35" height 2'x4' Bora Centipede and 20mm holed MFT top off Amazon. The stand was $129, very lightweight, but still strong and surprisingly sturdy.
But for the top, Bora makes purchasing more dicey-- in that the price for the 20mm holed-top was $75.99, while the price for the 3/4" holed-top was $13 LESS at $62.99. So that apparently invited someone to buy both, then swap the packaging, and send back the 3/4" top in the 20mm box... for the next unsuspecting poor slog... read ME... Aargh. Thanks Bora!
Sooo, the first top arrives... there's no distinguishing markings to SAY whether it's the 3/4" or the 20mm holed version... but it appears to be 3/4" holes as none of my 20mm dogs were even close to fitting. So I sent it back and requested a replacement. 2nd top arrives, and it at least does appear to be the 20mm top because I can POUND in one half of a Bessey clamp. NONE of the other dogs fit, or can be forced. Ugh. The box insert mentions humidity and swelling and hole variations... ugh. But I live in dry California! Ugh.
So I order the UJK Combined Chamfer & Reamer tool. Today... 15 days into this Bora endeavor... the reamer/chamfer arrives, I pull out my old heavy duty Dewalt hammer drill... and try to ream out the holes. But the holes are just waaay too tight. So the tool is binding up badly... and of course heating up. So with lots of time for cooling, I've gotten through three holes now... but they're basically buggered because of the binding... I'm running slow speed, and can slowly force it down, where the chamfer part works fine, but I struggle to pull back out... and I can even see a few small metal shavings coming off the tool, too. The lightweight stand is no help here, so I've got one foot across the wire bottom trying to hold it down while I try to pull up plumb against it. I found a video that suggested wax would help... so I ordered some. But at this point, I'm starting to think I'd be better off throwing out the top and just make my own from scratch. That Festool MFT/3 is looking cheaper by the minute!
If anyone has any recommendations for this woodworking noob, it would be much appreciated.
I really hate it when I try to go the more "sensible" route and just end up wasting money!
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Norwegian_USMC
Member
I thought about buying the Centipede work bench but I thought about using it with my track saw and having to store a piece of plywood as well as the tool itself it just didn't make sense with my small garage. So, I bought the Festool STM 1800 instead. It should last forever and the top pieces of wood are replaceable. Before this I was cutting on the ground with a 2" thick piece of foam.
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DanesRFun
Member
Smart choice!
I bought a centipede and returned it as having multiple legs was a pain on uneven surfaces, love my STM. I use the Bora top on my centipede.
DanesRFun
Member
For any other newbies out there...
Update to my Bora Centipede MFT trials and tribulations...
For anyone thinking about the Bora Centipede, note that they have two heights: 30" and 36". And they also have 6" risers available to add to either height.
I have also now seen other brands copying the Bora Centipede.
Powertec Arachni-Flex workstation: Come in 30" and 36" heights and very similar in price to Bora Centipede but with a few extra accessories. Here's the 36" one on Amazon for reference. https://a.co/d/iKDOcL3
Vevor Portable folding workstand: Makes a 34.13" and a 28.86" height stand though they call them 36 and 30. The 34" one is a fair bit cheaper than the Bora and Powertec 36" ones, but shorter in height, which may or may not be a good thing.
Here's the 34" one on Amazon for reference. https://a.co/d/fpUPcFT
Generic: There's even a "generic" brand that is similar in price but is much taller at 44.5"... which might be of interest to taller people. https://a.co/d/9HTbbId
They all have high load-bearing capacities in the range of 2500-3500 lbs. while still being very light weight. These are the Bora weights for the stands only. Note: if using the Bora top, it adds 22lbs per 2'x4' folding piece to the overall weight.
Their lightweight and quickly packable nature is still a draw for me, but I would forget about the Bora Top as those too tight holes was not fun to deal with.
I bought the UJK Parf Guide System Mark II to try and rectify and square up my problem Bora Top that I described previously. I was able to use that jig to enlarge the holes, though some of the holes look a little like double vision because the original Bora holes weren't quite square, but using the Parf Guide System had me drilling squared holes... so they weren't always exactly centered/lined up with the original holes, even though my starting point was one of the original Bora holes. Anyway, the top is now at least usable, though some of the holes are still a bit tight and thus can annoyingly slow you down.
In the middle of my rectifying the Bora Top fiasco, I decided to go ahead and order the Festool MFT/3 table... for a lot more $$$,... even after adding in the expensive UJK Parf Guide System to the Bora Centipede ($129 stand + $76 top +$48 UJK chamfer/reamer +$250 UJK Parf Guide System = $503 + tax).
The Festool MFT/3 table ($700-800), including their 20mm dog holes, worked perfectly right out of the box. My bench dogs all fit nicely and easily, but not sloppily. Plus it has tracks on the edges. Hallelujah... LOL! But the MFT/3 table IS much heavier at 62lbs, which is almost twice the weight of the 36" 2'x4' Bora (14lbs stand +22lbs top=36lbs overall) and the height IS slightly lower at 35.43" which is the standard Festool work height of 900mm. But even though I'm pretty sensitive to work table heights, I didn't find that 1/2 inch difference noticeable. I have considered making some "cups" to raise each of the legs to make it the same height as the bora centipede top... but we'll see if that's worth the time. I also saw an MFT/3 table for sale on fb mp that had been put on casters...
So... bottom line... it was a $500 lesson in how NOT to save money.
I do think the centipede type stands have value and a place in my workflow... but I would recommend against the Bora tops... or at least just send it back if it doesn't arrive usable out of the box. I don't have any personal experience with the copycat Powertec or Vevor tops.
I know the Ghetto Bench video just drew lines to make the dog holes rather than using something like the UJK Parf guide system... but I personally liked the UJK Parf Guide system, though it does add $250 to the cost of making your own.
tsoproducts.com
I just felt like if I was going to the trouble to make my own, I would want to make the holes perfectly square if I could. But I'm a noob... maybe in time, I will find that I don't use them as much for other than clamping... in which case, simply drawing lines would be a lot cheaper. Either way, make your own top to go on the Bora centipede (or Powertec, Vevor, generic versions) if you need that lightweight stand... or just open your wallet and get the Festool MFT/3 for perfection out of the box.
Ghetto Bench:
Update to my Bora Centipede MFT trials and tribulations...
For anyone thinking about the Bora Centipede, note that they have two heights: 30" and 36". And they also have 6" risers available to add to either height.
I have also now seen other brands copying the Bora Centipede.
Powertec Arachni-Flex workstation: Come in 30" and 36" heights and very similar in price to Bora Centipede but with a few extra accessories. Here's the 36" one on Amazon for reference. https://a.co/d/iKDOcL3
Vevor Portable folding workstand: Makes a 34.13" and a 28.86" height stand though they call them 36 and 30. The 34" one is a fair bit cheaper than the Bora and Powertec 36" ones, but shorter in height, which may or may not be a good thing.
Here's the 34" one on Amazon for reference. https://a.co/d/fpUPcFT
Generic: There's even a "generic" brand that is similar in price but is much taller at 44.5"... which might be of interest to taller people. https://a.co/d/9HTbbId
They all have high load-bearing capacities in the range of 2500-3500 lbs. while still being very light weight. These are the Bora weights for the stands only. Note: if using the Bora top, it adds 22lbs per 2'x4' folding piece to the overall weight.
- CK6S (2ft x 4ft): This model weighs 12.5 pounds.
- CT6 (Tall 2ft x 4ft): This taller version weighs 14 pounds.
- CK9S (4ft x 4ft): The mid-size model weighs 19 pounds.
- CT9 (Tall 4ft x 4ft): This taller version weighs 17 pounds.
- CK12S (4ft x 6ft): This model weighs 26 pounds.
- CT12 (Tall 4ft x 6ft): The taller version weighs 24 pounds.
- CK15S (4ft x 8ft): This large model weighs 31 pounds.
- CT15 (Tall 4ft x 8ft): This model weighs 30 pounds.
Their lightweight and quickly packable nature is still a draw for me, but I would forget about the Bora Top as those too tight holes was not fun to deal with.
I bought the UJK Parf Guide System Mark II to try and rectify and square up my problem Bora Top that I described previously. I was able to use that jig to enlarge the holes, though some of the holes look a little like double vision because the original Bora holes weren't quite square, but using the Parf Guide System had me drilling squared holes... so they weren't always exactly centered/lined up with the original holes, even though my starting point was one of the original Bora holes. Anyway, the top is now at least usable, though some of the holes are still a bit tight and thus can annoyingly slow you down.
In the middle of my rectifying the Bora Top fiasco, I decided to go ahead and order the Festool MFT/3 table... for a lot more $$$,... even after adding in the expensive UJK Parf Guide System to the Bora Centipede ($129 stand + $76 top +$48 UJK chamfer/reamer +$250 UJK Parf Guide System = $503 + tax).
The Festool MFT/3 table ($700-800), including their 20mm dog holes, worked perfectly right out of the box. My bench dogs all fit nicely and easily, but not sloppily. Plus it has tracks on the edges. Hallelujah... LOL! But the MFT/3 table IS much heavier at 62lbs, which is almost twice the weight of the 36" 2'x4' Bora (14lbs stand +22lbs top=36lbs overall) and the height IS slightly lower at 35.43" which is the standard Festool work height of 900mm. But even though I'm pretty sensitive to work table heights, I didn't find that 1/2 inch difference noticeable. I have considered making some "cups" to raise each of the legs to make it the same height as the bora centipede top... but we'll see if that's worth the time. I also saw an MFT/3 table for sale on fb mp that had been put on casters...
So... bottom line... it was a $500 lesson in how NOT to save money.
I do think the centipede type stands have value and a place in my workflow... but I would recommend against the Bora tops... or at least just send it back if it doesn't arrive usable out of the box. I don't have any personal experience with the copycat Powertec or Vevor tops.
I know the Ghetto Bench video just drew lines to make the dog holes rather than using something like the UJK Parf guide system... but I personally liked the UJK Parf Guide system, though it does add $250 to the cost of making your own.
UJK Parf Guide System Mark II
Make your own 20mm table of any size with CNC accuracy using the innovative UJK Parf Guide System Mark II.
tsoproducts.com
Ghetto Bench:
DanesRFun
Member
PS, I forgot to mention that the wax idea did help slightly, but not enough to complete the job... hence me going to the UJK Parf system to re-drill the holes.
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