Birdhunter
Member
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2012
- Messages
- 4,144
I need to do some carpentry work in a friend’s home. I’m looking at the Kreg portable workbench.
Anyone used one?
Anyone used one?
Kreg Portable Workbench
- Thread starter Birdhunter
- Start date
I have two and think they are great, many reviews complain about the weight but that makes them much more stable than most platforms. The outriggers let you use 2 bys to make an in-between table/platform...I use two 8' - 8020 1530 extrusions as a base for my MFT style slab or as a cutting base.
I looked at the Kreg Mobile Project Center a few times. It seems well built and has some nice features, but the price tag has kept me scratching my head.
The holes in the Kreg Mobile Project Center are 3/4-inch diameter, not 20mm like on the MFT or made with the Parf Guide System. Since I have the PGS and 20mm dogs, at some point I will make a top to use with plastic sawhorses that have notches to hold 2-by material.
One review I found online mentioned the negatives of the Kreg Moble Project Center as lack of storage and a pinch point along the top hinge. The reviewer chose the Worx Pegasus instead. I have not yet been able to see the Worx Pegasus in person to give an opinion on it.
The holes in the Kreg Mobile Project Center are 3/4-inch diameter, not 20mm like on the MFT or made with the Parf Guide System. Since I have the PGS and 20mm dogs, at some point I will make a top to use with plastic sawhorses that have notches to hold 2-by material.
One review I found online mentioned the negatives of the Kreg Moble Project Center as lack of storage and a pinch point along the top hinge. The reviewer chose the Worx Pegasus instead. I have not yet been able to see the Worx Pegasus in person to give an opinion on it.
RustE said:
[member=63201]RustE[/member]
If you want 20mm holes, check out the video about the Dewalt version referred to in reply #2 of this thread.
Mike A.
Steven Owen
Member
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2017
- Messages
- 443
I have two Kreg Portable Work benches. I’ve enjoyed working with them so far. The pinch point the guy is complaining about is silly. The Kreg Workbench is superior in quality to the plastic flimsy works. You would have to be a complete imbecile to pinch yourself closing them. They put stickers in all of the places to tell you not to put your hand in the middle while closing.
Having used them for 2 years now, my only complaints would be the following.
- It would have been nice if they had a lock to lock them closed when you fold them up. It would make them easy to carry.
- Kreg should’ve had clamping tracks on both sides of the table. With longer pieces it would’ve been great to have a clamp track on both ends.
- They could have added a locking pin on the legs to lock a position for the table arm to easy make the table top level. The table leaf drifts by a 16th - 1/8 of an inch out of being perfectly level if your not on level ground.
Otherwise, the tables are solid and well built.
Having used them for 2 years now, my only complaints would be the following.
- It would have been nice if they had a lock to lock them closed when you fold them up. It would make them easy to carry.
- Kreg should’ve had clamping tracks on both sides of the table. With longer pieces it would’ve been great to have a clamp track on both ends.
- They could have added a locking pin on the legs to lock a position for the table arm to easy make the table top level. The table leaf drifts by a 16th - 1/8 of an inch out of being perfectly level if your not on level ground.
Otherwise, the tables are solid and well built.
Birdhunter
Member
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2012
- Messages
- 4,144
Thanks to all who responded.
I looked st the DeWalt table. The 20mm hole pattern is nice in that I can use all my Qwas dogs and Festool clamps.
The Kreg table looks sturdier from the videos.
It’s good to have choices.
I looked st the DeWalt table. The 20mm hole pattern is nice in that I can use all my Qwas dogs and Festool clamps.
The Kreg table looks sturdier from the videos.
It’s good to have choices.
I've not used the Kreg table, but I have a DeWalt, and found it to be plenty sturdy. I've been cutting a lot of plywood on mine lately for some cabinet projects.
As for Festool compatibility, the table is thicker than an MFT, so the quick clamps and screw clamps can't be used in the 20mm holes. The stud on the knob for the surface clamps isn't long enough to engage. I've made extensions with metric studs and coupling nuts.
As for Festool compatibility, the table is thicker than an MFT, so the quick clamps and screw clamps can't be used in the 20mm holes. The stud on the knob for the surface clamps isn't long enough to engage. I've made extensions with metric studs and coupling nuts.
GoingMyWay
Member
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2017
- Messages
- 3,788
I have 2 Kreg Mobile Project Centers. I like them a lot. My wife got them for me for our anniversary 2 years ago. I believe she bought them around Veteran's day from Acme Tools so she got them on sale (I believe it may have been 11% off). I think Acme Tools' Memorial day sale just ended yesterday, but they should have another sale for July 4th.
I've managed to pinch myself a couple times. Eric from The Poplar Shop also complained about pinching his fingers despite the warnings:=44s. [Edit: I just realized that RobBob had already linked to Eric's review. Anyway, my link is right at the part where he mentions pinching his fingers.]
I often use the custom MFT top that I created using the UJK Parf Guide System set on top of the Kreg bench dogs. That makes for a surprisingly stable setup. I used this setup to hand plane some wood with not a ton of lateral movement. The only downside is it's hard to insert the Quick Clamps in and there is not enough room for a full sized knob underneath. Since I have 2 tables it would probably be better if I set them both up with 2x4's in between and then placed the MFT top across the 2x4's. That would give me unobstructed access to the 20mm holes from above and below.
They are pretty heavy, but I consider them lighter and easier to move around than the MFT/3 that I recently got. The MFT/3 is a beast, especially with the protractor head and guide rail attached.
I store the 2 Kreg tables up on 2 16" shelf brackets in the garage with a little block of scrap plywood at the end to keep then tables from slipping off the end of the bracket. This storage method works exceptionally well for me. I wish I could do something similar with my MFT/3.
I've managed to pinch myself a couple times. Eric from The Poplar Shop also complained about pinching his fingers despite the warnings:=44s. [Edit: I just realized that RobBob had already linked to Eric's review. Anyway, my link is right at the part where he mentions pinching his fingers.]
I often use the custom MFT top that I created using the UJK Parf Guide System set on top of the Kreg bench dogs. That makes for a surprisingly stable setup. I used this setup to hand plane some wood with not a ton of lateral movement. The only downside is it's hard to insert the Quick Clamps in and there is not enough room for a full sized knob underneath. Since I have 2 tables it would probably be better if I set them both up with 2x4's in between and then placed the MFT top across the 2x4's. That would give me unobstructed access to the 20mm holes from above and below.
They are pretty heavy, but I consider them lighter and easier to move around than the MFT/3 that I recently got. The MFT/3 is a beast, especially with the protractor head and guide rail attached.
I store the 2 Kreg tables up on 2 16" shelf brackets in the garage with a little block of scrap plywood at the end to keep then tables from slipping off the end of the bracket. This storage method works exceptionally well for me. I wish I could do something similar with my MFT/3.
Birdhunter
Member
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2012
- Messages
- 4,144
I bought the Kreg portable bench yesterday and unpacked it this morning.
It’s heavier than I expected and that’s due to its extremely solid construction. It’s solid! Lots of thick steel in this table.
There is absolutely no unsteadiness when I try to rock it. I wish my MFTs were this solid.
I am going to use GoingMyWay’s bracket hanging idea.
It’s heavier than I expected and that’s due to its extremely solid construction. It’s solid! Lots of thick steel in this table.
There is absolutely no unsteadiness when I try to rock it. I wish my MFTs were this solid.
I am going to use GoingMyWay’s bracket hanging idea.
Steven Owen
Member
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2017
- Messages
- 443
Birdhunter said:
Kreg made the WorkCenter to last. Anyone reviewing the Worx table higher than the Kreg is smoking something. The Kreg is a beast compared to the flimsy Worx tables.
It’s too bad Stanley messed up the quality of the Black and Decker WorkMate bechnes. They used to be the platinum standard for work benches.
Kreg is by far the best portable small work bench.
GoingMyWay
Member
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2017
- Messages
- 3,788
Here's a picture of how I'm storing my 2 Kreg Mobile Project Centers. Only 1 is shown in the picture as the other is currently being used as the base for my tracksaw cutting station. The existing shelving standard spacing just so happened to almost work out perfectly being ~23" apart.
Attachments
SilviaS7
Member
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2018
- Messages
- 64
I have a tiny house and no garage or shed, so I wanted a portable workstation to just help save on space. I got two of the Kreg mobile project centers and I love them so much. They are great for cutting down sheet goods because they come with brackets you can put on the sides and then run a 2x4 on each side of the workbench to the other, creating a much larger work area that can hold a full sheet of plywood. They also have small connectors for the top of the bench in sawhorse mode so you screw them into a small 2x4 to serve as a sacrificial piece of the sawhorse. All of these line up perfectly to hold the plywood level. And if I cut into the 2x4s, who cares? They are sacrificial anyway.
The only thing that is missing in my opinion is a locking mechanism to hold everything together when they are folded up, but it's a minor complaint. Honestly for all the stuff this thing has built into it, I feel like the price makes it a steal. But some of the best functionality comes from getting two and not just one, so anyone interested should keep that in mind.
The only thing that is missing in my opinion is a locking mechanism to hold everything together when they are folded up, but it's a minor complaint. Honestly for all the stuff this thing has built into it, I feel like the price makes it a steal. But some of the best functionality comes from getting two and not just one, so anyone interested should keep that in mind.
Birdhunter
Member
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2012
- Messages
- 4,144
I plan on using Velcro straps to hold the legs together when being moved or stored.
Birdhunter said:
I’m thinking a pack strap, something similar to this: https://www.rei.com/product/848270/sea-to-summit-alloy-buckle-34-accessory-straps-package-of-2
Similar threads
