Mini-review of my new Walko 3 Bench

[Frank Pellow]

This afternoon, I received a shipment from Dan Clermont, a Walko portable work table and a Festool RAS 115 sander.  

The Walko is made in the Netherlands and I have been reading about it for a couple of years.  Today, I finally got to see and to use one.

Here is a photo of the Walko parts as delivered:

[attachimg=#1]
   
As seems to be the case with many items from Europe, the Walko came with minimal installation and usage instructions.  The table tops and the support hardware are sitting on an old Black and Decker Workmate.  The Walko will replace the Workmate (which I will give to my grandson Ethan).  As with a lot of items from Europe, the Walko came with minimal documentation and instructions. There wasn't even a picture.  I printed the picture of the assembled Walko from the internet and used it in order to figure out how to assemble things.

Having complained about the lack of documentation. I will now compliment Walko on the bench design.  I found the assembly to be quite intuitive.  The two legs can be adjusted from 0 to 180 degrees using three simple meshed plastic "thingys".  In the picture below the orange arrow points to the middle one:

[attachimg=#2]
   
The only instructions that came with the Walko showed how to use the table support brackets.  They can be adjusted through 15 degrees to accommodate the legs being at different angles.

[attachimg=#3]
   
The two table tops are made from bamboo plywood and appear to be quite durable.  Each one is 750 milimetres by 323 milimetres (the second measurement seemed strange to me but see more on this below).  Strangely, the plywood is exactly one inch thick. The dog holes are 20 milimetres in diameter.  Each table top is attached to two support brackets using a 6 mm Allen wrench and a 13 mm wrench (neither supplied).  

[attachimg=#4]
   
The two pictures below show the two tops with their support brackets at the two supported angles:

[attachimg=#5] [attachimg=#6]
     
Notice that, as the angle between the two legs changes, the table on the right becomes level.

Here, both table tops are level:

[attachimg=#7]
   
Now I am about to use the bench for the first time:

[attachimg=#8]
   
The sander that you see is a reconditioned Festool RAS 115 sander that I also received from Dan today.  I will talk about it in a different thread.  The wood is held in place with Festool clamping elements.

In this picture, I have moved the tables to their highest positions and am working on a small stool:

[attachimg=#9]

When in the highest position, the tables are above the leg mechanism, the overall dimensions are 75 centimetres by 1 metre, and the table top is 88 centimetres above the ground.
 
The legs can be separated up to 180 degrees.  In this position, the Walko can be used to support sheet goods for cutting.  It can also be leaned up against a wall or a fence and used in many different ways.  Here, I have used one of the table tops as a shelf to hold a can of stain:

[attachimg=#10]
   
The Walko comes apart very quickly for transportation and it is reasonably easy to carry:

[attachimg=11]

I have decided to keep the Walko.  In all ways but one, it is better than my old Workmate (of course at many times the price it should be).  Comparing the two:

  - The Walko is made of better quality material

  - The Walko is actually faster to take down and easier to carry

  - The Walko table tops are larger

  - The Walko has many possible configurations

  - The Walko is steadier on uneven ground

  - The Workmate's built-in vise jaws are nice.  One has to take along clamps to get something similar with the Walko.

 

[justinmcf]

thanks for the review frank.

looks like a pretty solid bench.
i might have to invest in one myself!

regards, justin.

 

[score0matic]

Frank,
Great review
Craig

 

[Kevin D.]

I've been pondering getting one of them, but I can't even make up my mind whether to get the Walko 3 or 4.  One of the primary purposes would be for cutting down sheets using it flat/horizontally.  How would you say the 3 is for that versus the 4?  If the 3 could do it without difficulty, I'd be more inclined for it, due to its easier portably/weight/handling.

 

[score0matic]

you could probely do it with a 3, A 4 with a caster set works great.

 

[PeterK]

Frank - GREAT review!! Always wanted to know more about the Walkos.

Comments -
I need a dang calculator to convert all those funny weird measurements to real world inches and feet!!!!!
Looks like in that picture of you carrying the Walko that you painted yourself into a bad spot on the flooring!!!!!
[big grin]

 

[John Stevens]

Thanks, Frank, great review!  Just when I thought I knew all I wanted to know about the Walko (and had decided against getting one), you show me enough new info to get me interested again.

Regards,

John

 

[Frank Pellow]

Frank - GREAT review!! Always wanted to know more about the Walkos.

Comments -
I need a dang calculator to convert all those funny weird measurements to real world inches and feet!!!!!
Looks like in that picture of you carrying the Walko that you painted yourself into a bad spot on the flooring!!!!!
[big grin]

Thanks Peter.

I assume that everyone who realizes how much better Festool tools are also realizes how much better the Metric system is.  [tongue]

I does look like I had painted myself into a corner -but I hadn't because all the surfaces are dry.

 

[ajones]

Hello Frank your review is quite timely for me,I had seen the walko around two years ago and Ive been struggling to remember the name of the bench.
good work..........

 

[AlexThePalex]

Strangely, the plywood is exactly one inch thick.

In Holland we have to import all our wood and most sheet material is sold on the international market in feet and inches. That's why most of our standard panels come at the odd size of 244x122 cm which is a standard 8'x4' panel. 1 inch thickness is also a standard size in the international market and since 1 inch is exactly 25,4 mm we just call it 25 mm plywood and forget about the 0,4 mm.

 

[Frank Pellow]

After posting the above, it was brought to my attention that the Walko table tops (as shipped) will not accommodate Festool's "standard" clamps. This is because the Walko table is thicker than the tables on the Festool Multifunction Table and the tails that secure the clamps from underneath will not fit through the deeper holes. After thinking about this for about 5 seconds, it was obvious that all I needed to do was to widen the holes on the bottom if the table. I experimented with a few ways of doing this and (with help of others on this forum) ended up rounding over all the holes on the underside of the table with a 1/4 inch roundover bit.

[attachimg=#1]

The clamps now fit (snugly)  [smile]

[attachimg=#2]

There is one thing that I am wondering.   ???  Is there some preservative that I should use on the rounded over bamboo? I have never before even seen bamboo plywood and I don't now whether or not to apply something to the cuts.

 

[waho6o9]

Info@walkousa.com        should be of some help.  Maybe there's one for good ol Canada as well.    [big grin]

 

[RONWEN]

After posting the above, it was brought to my attention that the Walko table tops (as shipped) will not accommodate Festool's "standard" clamps. This is because the Walko table is thicker than the tables on the Festool Multifunction Table and the tails that secure the clamps from underneath will not fit through the deeper holes. After thinking about this for about 5 seconds, it was obvious that all I needed to do was to widen the holes on the bottom if the table. I experimented with a few ways of doing this and (with help of others on this forum) ended up rounding over all the holes on the underside of the table with a 1/4 inch roundover bit.
[attachimg=#1]
The clamps now fit (snugly)  [smile]
[attachimg=#2]
There is one thing that I am wondering.  ???  Is there some preservative that I should use on the rounded over bamboo? I have never before even seen bamboo plywood and I don't now whether or not to apply something to the cuts.

Frank,
"Ecofurniture" over on talkfestool has used bamboo ply extensively for furniture.  He is also in Canada & and no doubt would be very helpful to you.

Ron

 

[EcoFurniture]

After posting the above, it was brought to my attention that the Walko table tops (as shipped) will not accommodate Festool's "standard" clamps. This is because the Walko table is thicker than the tables on the Festool Multifunction Table and the tails that secure the clamps from underneath will not fit through the deeper holes. After thinking about this for about 5 seconds, it was obvious that all I needed to do was to widen the holes on the bottom if the table. I experimented with a few ways of doing this and (with help of others on this forum) ended up rounding over all the holes on the underside of the table with a 1/4 inch roundover bit.
[attachimg=#1]
The clamps now fit (snugly)  [smile]
[attachimg=#2]
There is one thing that I am wondering.  ???  Is there some preservative that I should use on the rounded over bamboo? I have never before even seen bamboo plywood and I don't now whether or not to apply something to the cuts.

Frank,
"Ecofurniture" over on talkfestool has used bamboo ply extensively for furniture.  He is also in Canada & and no doubt would be very helpful to you.

Ron

Did I hear someone calling me?  [tongue] [big grin]
As far as I know, the Walko bamboo tops are just oiled. If so, you could certainly use some tung oil or linseed oil to touch up those areas. Oil would make the bamboo resistant to moisture, but not waterproof!
To be honest, if it would be me and I would be using that table outside a lot, I would sand off the oil finish and put something more durable on.

Cheers,
Andreas

 

[PaulMarcel]

Good idea on refinishing it... maybe a light pass through the drum sander to remove the finish then soak it with CPES (Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer)... it'll be about as waterproof as you can get after that... which is why I used it on my vanity top in Sapele (and it looks great IMHO).

 

[Frank Pellow]

Andres and Paul thanks for the advice. 

I do plan to use the bench outside almost all the time and would like to be able to work with it in the rain and to leave it ourside in the rain overnight.  Andres, do you know if this product:

(CPES?) The Epoxy Sealer that is different
CPES? (Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer)
This is the base product for any wood rot repair. Applied liberally, it will penetrate dry-rotted wood and go into the first layers of good wood, discouraging and encapsulating rot fungi and restoring the soft wood to structural strength. Other chemical products may put a temporary stop to wood rot, but only a premium epoxy can give long-term solutions, restore strength and endure under extreme environmental conditions. All epoxy products are not the same. Most are made from petrochemicals. "Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer" (CPES?) is substantially made from wood itself and these particular resins when cured, will have a toughness and flexibility that is comparable to the original wood. (CPES?) contains a feature which dissolves moisture in wood. Try bending cured epoxy products by other names-. (Wear safety glasses.) Premium epoxy products must flex as wood will, under different regional weather conditions. This product is also one of the best primers we have ever seen and applies to any type of coatings. If you are tired of getting paint to stick and last, (CPES?) is your cure. (CPES?) allows wood to breath and is a 1:1 mix.

works with bamboo?

I have also written a Canadian distributor of CPES to ask the question but, so far, have no answer.

 

[johnnyinnb]

hi frank, just got my walko 4 on friday, rounded the holes like i suggested you did, the clamps fit now. I really like it, using it a little this weekend makes me think the 3 would be good enough for most work, but i`m glad i got the 4. Moving the tables around takes a little practice to flip the locking levers just right but i`m sure i will get used to it.

 

[Frank Pellow]

hi frank, just got my walko 4 on friday, rounded the holes like i suggested you did, the clamps fit now. I really like it, using it a little this weekend makes me think the 3 would be good enough for most work, but i`m glad i got the 4. Moving the tables around takes a little practice to flip the locking levers just right but i`m sure i will get used to it.

Johnny, what are the advantages of the 4 over the 3 that makes you glad that you got it rather than the 3

 

[johnnyinnb]

I build hardwood stairs, the extra size will hold the the 4x8 sheets of ply for cutting, the longer table top will also hold the treads which are mostly 48" long for sanding and routering.

 

[Frank Pellow]

Andres and Paul thanks for the advice.  

I do plan to use the bench outside almost all the time and would like to be able to work with it in the rain and to leave it ourside in the rain overnight.  Andres, do you know if this product:

(CPES?) The Epoxy Sealer that is different
CPES? (Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer)
This is the base product for any wood rot repair. Applied liberally, it will penetrate dry-rotted wood and go into the first layers of good wood, discouraging and encapsulating rot fungi and restoring the soft wood to structural strength. Other chemical products may put a temporary stop to wood rot, but only a premium epoxy can give long-term solutions, restore strength and endure under extreme environmental conditions. All epoxy products are not the same. Most are made from petrochemicals. "Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer" (CPES?) is substantially made from wood itself and these particular resins when cured, will have a toughness and flexibility that is comparable to the original wood. (CPES?) contains a feature which dissolves moisture in wood. Try bending cured epoxy products by other names-. (Wear safety glasses.) Premium epoxy products must flex as wood will, under different regional weather conditions. This product is also one of the best primers we have ever seen and applies to any type of coatings. If you are tired of getting paint to stick and last, (CPES?) is your cure. (CPES?) allows wood to breath and is a 1:1 mix.

works with bamboo?

I have also written a Canadian distributor of CPES to ask the question but, so far, have no answer.

The Candian distributor contacted the manufacturer and they say that this product can be used over bamboo plywood, so I am about to purchase some CPES.  Before I do so, can anyone tell me why I should not.  ???