My new folding workbench - I'm after some feedback!

[Woodwork Wizard]

I have had comments on another forum about it not feeling like a premium product. What are your thoughTs?
[/quote]

I think the videos say it all, compact for transport, quick to set up and very stable in use. Brilliant!

 

[Laminator]

My two folding sawhorses and 30" x 80" sheet of plywood are definitely considered to be "premium products" lol.  Super nice design and simply elegant solution to the portable vs sturdy dilemma.  One can wish that he could walk in somewhere and buy one!

 

[Wooden Skye]

Thanks for the videos, that is a great design and looks very stable.

Thanks, i appreciate the compliment. As for the videos theyre only quick demos. I have had comments on another forum about it not feeling like a premium product. What are your thoughTs?

I wouldn't care what people think.  It's a mobile workbench that could be used in a shop setting if you have space concerns.  I think people don't consider it premium because it is made of plywood, but I would like to see them bring their Roubo or other hard wood traditional bench to a job site.  To me it is premium if it serves the function I need it to, and doesn't require me fiddling with minor things to make it work.  I hope that makes sense.

 

[jools]

Be assured an idea as good as this one will be copied in workshops all over. As to it not being a premium product I'd say stuff em. There is some very expensive premium ply furniture out there! I'm sure you could use a very expensive phenolic laminate for a production run at a premium price and perhaps that would satisfy those who moan. For us site guys speed of set up, weight' folded size and functionality count most
Regards Jools

 

[Michael Kellough]

Looks great! No river dance ? (Just kidding)

How does it handle on an uneven floor or outside surface ?

Haha i like that comment! As for uneven surfaces you have two options. I like to keep things simple so i just rotate the bench until its solid and if not i use hardwood wedges to even it up. I may make attatchments with leveling feet but in all honesty i like simplicity when im on a job and pratting around with turny feet is too much for me

That is the simplest way to stabilize the bench but it doesn't ensure that the surface is flat.
Build something on a warped surface and you'll wish you'd taken the time to un-twist it first.

To make the surface flat you only need one adjustable corner.

To go further and make it level (which I highly recommend) you do need the ability to adjust all four corners, but that can be done with shims too.

What were you thinking on the size of the holes? Any particular reason for the diameter?

 

[Svar]

In all honesty the plans maybe for sale at some point but the.dxf will never be up for grabd im sorry

Not to influence your business decisions, but you could offer paper/pdf plans for overseas customers due to shipping cost. If this sold 300 copieshttp://www.ebay.com/itm/Festool-Tra...Table-Plans-/231447860636?hash=item35e35e159c:g:OoUAAMXQyY1TSLCv
so will yours.

From my experience if a knockdown item takes more than couple moves to setup it never gets taken down and just takes up space. I have a router table like that, which I just push around when not needed. Personally, I consider even MFT to be too fiddly to setup.

Bottom line, your bench strikes great balance between mobility, sturdiness, functionality and simplicity and good to go as is.

 

[HarveyWildes]

... I have had comments on another forum about it not feeling like a premium product. What are your thoughTs?

The bottom line is that premium is as premium does.  If you can do it with style, then you're Apple, and that's nothing to sneeze at.

Adding a few integrated customizations would make it harder to copy commercially.  Patent something if you can.

Evolve it every couple of years, and add accessories that provide unique value over time.  Look at what Festool has done with the idea of a tool system.

Stay ahead of people who can do it more cheaply than you are willing to do.

 

[Coach.carpenter]

In all honesty the plans maybe for sale at some point but the.dxf will never be up for grabd im sorry

Not to influence your business decisions, but you could offer paper/pdf plans for overseas customers due to shipping cost. If this sold 300 copieshttp://www.ebay.com/itm/Festool-Tra...Table-Plans-/231447860636?hash=item35e35e159c:g:OoUAAMXQyY1TSLCv
so will yours.

From my experience if a knockdown item takes more than couple moves to setup it never gets taken down and just takes up space. I have a router table like that, which I just push around when not needed. Personally, I consider even MFT to be too fiddly to setup.

Bottom line, your bench strikes great balance between mobility, sturdiness, functionality and simplicity and good to go as is.

Thanks, Yes again its something i'm not letting go off quite yet. I have that niggly feeling in the back of my head that if i give someone dimensions and PDF plans then i'm making it that bit easier for them to copy and sell on... I'm just not quite sure about it. With regards to overseas i'm hoping the US will be marketable for me. I have connections there so do plan on exploring that in the future. but one step at a time as they say.

I agree with you on the MFT also, I like it don't get me wrong it just doesn't suit my needs and my workflow/output.

 

[Coach.carpenter]

Looks great! No river dance ? (Just kidding)

How does it handle on an uneven floor or outside surface ?

Haha i like that comment! As for uneven surfaces you have two options. I like to keep things simple so i just rotate the bench until its solid and if not i use hardwood wedges to even it up. I may make attatchments with leveling feet but in all honesty i like simplicity when im on a job and pratting around with turny feet is too much for me

That is the simplest way to stabilize the bench but it doesn't ensure that the surface is flat.
Build something on a warped surface and you'll wish you'd taken the time to un-twist it first.

To make the surface flat you only need one adjustable corner.

To go further and make it level (which I highly recommend) you do need the ability to adjust all four corners, but that can be done with shims too.

What were you thinking on the size of the holes? Any particular reason for the diameter?

the 30mm side holes are that size due to the ease of being able to drop accessories into them which have a 20mm diameter... I could have done 20mm holes but in order for them to stay in they'd have to be bolted/ clamped or screwed from the back, again to fiddly. I want to set up, pick the accessories, insert and drop it to lock it in place and then move on to the task in hand.

As for the adjustable feet it would not be hard to have an accessory which does this nor would it be difficult to insert a wheel and axle via a small thread in order to wheel it around when fully laden.

 

[fritter63]

Love it! Would like to buy plans or even CNC files for it. Will those be available soon? I could def use SEVERAL of those around the shop.

Thanks.

 

[Michael Kellough]

What were you thinking on the size of the holes? Any particular reason for the diameter?

the 30mm side holes are that size due to the ease of being able to drop accessories into them which have a 20mm diameter... I could have done 20mm holes but in order for them to stay in they'd have to be bolted/ clamped or screwed from the back, again to fiddly. I want to set up, pick the accessories, insert and drop it to lock it in place and then move on to the task in hand.

As for the adjustable feet it would not be hard to have an accessory which does this nor would it be difficult to insert a wheel and axle via a small thread in order to wheel it around when fully laden.

Sorry but I'm really picky today  [embarassed]

This sounds contradictory. How is a 20mm accessory going to be snug in a 30 mm hole?

Do you also have a special design for accessories?

 

[The.Handyman]

I would be in for purchasing a file I could take to my CNC guy and make up. I could really use one of these tables.

Travis

 

[Svar]

This sounds contradictory. How is a 20mm accessory going to be snug in a 30 mm hole?
Do you also have a special design for accessories?

It is probably a bolt shaped fixture: 30 mm head with 20 mm stem for attaching to vertical surface.

 

[Lars_]

I would definitely pay for the plans to make one for myself on the CNC.

 

[MrGinCT]

Me too.

 

[chewy]

£280 each.

 

[RickyL]

I have 2 businesses and speak from experience.

You're on a wood working forum, 90% of people on here could copy your design just from the picture. I'm not saying they would do it as good or get it right first off, but it isn't difficult to copy.
I wouldn't worry about selling the DXF or plans. If somebody wants to copy you they would just buy the whole thing then reverse engineer it. (the chinese have done this to me many times) You have to just keep moving, keep making improvements etc.

At £280 I think it won't be "premium" enough for some. And will be too expensive for others, the issue is, you're selling carpentry to carpenters. If it was an accessory for a different trade you would stand a better chance.

I wouldn't buy it at £280, but I would pay £20 for plan's/dxf's.

Market it and see how you get on, but I think you'll sell 20-30 a year at best. Where you might sell 200 sets of plans for a couple of years. Making similar money for next to zero work. This will allow you to inovate and come up with new products, rather than making the same over and over till somebody comes along copies it and undercuts you. If you're lucky you'll get a couple of years before others are selling your idea. But if you keep moving the goal posts it will be a lot harder.

I mean the above with the best intentions, and only say it because I think its a genuinely good product and want you to suceed.

In all honesty the plans maybe for sale at some point but the.dxf will never be up for grabd im sorry

Not to influence your business decisions, but you could offer paper/pdf plans for overseas customers due to shipping cost. If this sold 300 copieshttp://www.ebay.com/itm/Festool-Tra...Table-Plans-/231447860636?hash=item35e35e159c:g:OoUAAMXQyY1TSLCv
so will yours.

From my experience if a knockdown item takes more than couple moves to setup it never gets taken down and just takes up space. I have a router table like that, which I just push around when not needed. Personally, I consider even MFT to be too fiddly to setup.

Bottom line, your bench strikes great balance between mobility, sturdiness, functionality and simplicity and good to go as is.

Thanks, Yes again its something i'm not letting go off quite yet. I have that niggly feeling in the back of my head that if i give someone dimensions and PDF plans then i'm making it that bit easier for them to copy and sell on... I'm just not quite sure about it. With regards to overseas i'm hoping the US will be marketable for me. I have connections there so do plan on exploring that in the future. but one step at a time as they say.

I agree with you on the MFT also, I like it don't get me wrong it just doesn't suit my needs and my workflow/output.

 

[antss]

I agree - how many here have sent Timtool $10 +/- for an email set of plans for his MFTC ???

And then not built one  [blink]

And his design has the benefit of being a tool cart at the same time. Meaning only one trip to the van.
I'm not knocking yours, it has a place too.  I am questioning that you have some sort of patent-able idea here that is a gold mine. 

From a money perspective on this side of the pond 280 quid is pretty much the cost of an MFT/3 and that is a fancy pants table from a fancypants maker that looks fancypants.  Not sure what those go for in the UK though, so 280 might be a bargain.

 

[chewy]

I think the comment about it not being a premium product was based on the £280 premium pricetag. That's alot of money here, especially when there are cheaper alternatives.
Full discussion can be read herehttp://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=100077 
Its an awesome idea, but for that price I'd sooner make one and customise it to my own requirements.

 

[jmbfestool]

Looks great! No river dance ? (Just kidding)

How does it handle on an uneven floor or outside surface ?

Haha i like that comment! As for uneven surfaces you have two options. I like to keep things simple so i just rotate the bench until its solid and if not i use hardwood wedges to even it up. I may make attatchments with leveling feet but in all honesty i like simplicity when im on a job and pratting around with turny feet is too much for me

That is the simplest way to stabilize the bench but it doesn't ensure that the surface is flat.
Build something on a warped surface and you'll wish you'd taken the time to un-twist it first.

To make the surface flat you only need one adjustable corner.

To go further and make it level (which I highly recommend) you do need the ability to adjust all four corners, but that can be done with shims too.

What were you thinking on the size of the holes? Any particular reason for the diameter?

the 30mm side holes are that size due to the ease of being able to drop accessories into them which have a 20mm diameter... I could have done 20mm holes but in order for them to stay in they'd have to be bolted/ clamped or screwed from the back, again to fiddly. I want to set up, pick the accessories, insert and drop it to lock it in place and then move on to the task in hand.

As for the adjustable feet it would not be hard to have an accessory which does this nor would it be difficult to insert a wheel and axle via a small thread in order to wheel it around when fully laden.

Would you not be better with 20mm slots?
Or 15.5 or 18.5mm?  I dont kno what thickness you make you bench with but do slot same.
Then you can have hooks cnc'd all as one.  Saving time on glueing 20mm dowels and notching them to create the hook which I assume is what your doing for the accesories?