Walko Workbenches

Does anyone here have it?

Is it worth 900.00?  At that price...you could get a MFT3 and some nice clamps to go with it for the extra 325.00.

Are there THAT many advantages over the MFT3?

I mean it looks great and I know we all want one (Or two) but is it practical in light of the much cheaper MFT3.
 
I thought that the MFT tables were over priced (although I have an 800 and a 1080), but these Walko workbenches seem way out of line.  They look like over-engineered Workmates.  I guess there's always someone with the money to buy whatever is presented to them.  It's getting crazy.
 
I would love to have the time to make my own tools and benches.  Unfortunately, my time for WW'ing is very limited.  This winter is a good example.  I usually spend about two solid weeks before Christmas and nearly all of january working on WW projects for family presents.  This season, I got about 8 hours in December and almost zero in January. I spent all of my WW'ing time either plowing snow, sanding driveways or repairing equipment.  February is primarilly tax pre time and corresponance to customers concerning next spring, summer and fall.  Then comes Tax prep and schedule work for landscaping.  Also, as it warms up outside, equipment gets priority for my time.  Late March and it's back outside for late winter pruning.  In short, i get about a month and a half for shop work during normal winter.  This season has been Zilch.  For me, the value of my time becomes a serious factor when deciding whether to build or buy for shop bench and buildable tools.  I do not think my situation is totally unique.

i would guess that to design, buld and assemble a tool such as Walko would cost me more in just my time than the total cost of the Bench shipped to me fully assembled.  The bench does look good to me, but I just do not have the space to set it up.  storage would be very possible, but no room to put it to use.  Next summer, i will be moving a workbench out of my shop (a very solid home built that was not of best design for my overall needs >another factor in home built time expense) and into my son's shop.  He can put my bench to better use for working on heavy equipment motors and transmissions, etc, etc.  Once that deed has been accomplished, i might get back to thinking about Walko.  That is:  If I can stop drooling over the MFT/3.

This week, I will be ordering a FlatMaster sanding unit. (very much like a Sand Flee, but a little less solid and a whole lot cheaper.  I just hope the old saying that Cheep ain't Cheep does not come around to bite me once again.) I could order the working parts and make my own sander, or order a kit and assemble, or i could---------------.  I figured the cost of parts to make my own and it came to not very much less than to buy whole unit already assembled.  with the few hours I have found to work in the shop, I have a whole pile of small projects piling up and ready for sanding.  It is worth more to me to keep finding what little time there is to make projects for family & friends and let others make what they can do best and sell them to me so I can save what little time I do have. (Note:  I have not seen either SandFlee or FlatMaster discussed on this forum so far. I found out about it as i was scrolling thru another forum.  When I am set up with it, I will try to find time to talk a little about it for info to any who might be interested.)
Tinker
 
I have seen these benches at the local WC (Atlanta) As a self confessed festoolaholic I was interested in the hype I have heard on this bench. The videos look awesome. Unfortunately the fit and finish of this table is IMO not worth anywhere the $900 they are asking. As far as using it like a panel saw I find saw horses work pretty good with my TS saw. I did a little research and heard from a trustworthy source Festool actually looked at acquiring the bench and walked away.
 
I have looked at one at my local WC toy store.  It looks great for site work.  In personally, do not have rroom to set one up in my shop.  I think i would get one if i still did site work.  In some ways, it is more versatile for such work than a MFT.  For in shop, no.

I do most of my sheet good cutting in the open air shop.  I try not to invest in too much plywood, so the Walko might not ever find its way into my toy collection. Not the way i am currently set up.  For someone who has more space for setting up a more varied operation, i can see the value of a Walko.

Another problem for me is all those little brackets.  I can see me spending more time searching for the movable parts than in the actual use.  With better organization (more room for everything in its propper place), I might think harder to find a place for a Walko.
Tinker

 
A BIT OFF TOPIC
I've already seen the Walko, but I've just been taking a break from the shop and I watched the video.  The Festool saw was making way too much dust.  At first I thought they didn't have an extractor connected. 

So if you use a Walko, MFT or any other bench for that matter WITHOUT a sacrificial board underneath into which you cut a kerf (I always use polyurethane (spelling  ???) insulation panel as i regularly cut MDF) the dust extraction is noticeably less efficient - as the video demonstrates.  It's an idea I got off the FOG originally and a few sheets of insulation are well worth the investment.
 
I have the Walko bench, the smaller one.

It is quite heavy, and sturdy. Fit and finish aside averything locks in place firmly and there are a few nifty solutions.
Considering how heavy it is I find I have used it only sparingly, and have never brought it to a job site though when I did use it during our home renovations it did perform well. If I had a shop to house it in I could put it into good use, but now the beast is chained down the basement...

I was going to post more on a thread on the Walko and I did upload a few pictures but unfortunately the follow up went up into cyberspace; the pictures were taken on the built in memory of the (highly advanced, ehrrm) digital camera because the memory card was occupied by another (less highly advanced) digital camera. When re-inserted to the (highly advanced) camera my fianc?e formatted the card (she thought) but she formatted the internal memory so all the the SUPER HIGH QUALITY pictures I was going to post together with explanatory commentary was lost, forever.  :o

Apologies to Tinker, who I actually felt I was letting down as I could not make good on my promise to follow up. Not related to that mishap (but around the same time) was my decision to leave the internet communities for a while and focus on things I needed to get done at home but now I am catching up to whatever's been going on on the net.

Well, I can say that it does come at a steep price, but for some applications I am sure it can wel be worth it. I would not buy it just to try it out though, give it some serious thought. I like mine, but I've only used it twice and it still looks brand new. I didn't even fit the MDF tops yet!  :-[
 
Heavy, that seems to go against exactly what it is for. I could not see getting it for my shop as there are better, less expensive solutions for what it does. I really thought it would be light.
 
Yes, Nickao.

It isn't lightweight, at least I don't think so, and I am still quite a beef cake. ;)
No, kidding, but those 2440x1220x22mm MDF boards are heavy enough for me and the Walko I am sure has a place with a lot of people but for me the MFT 800 and a simple support stand (with rolling top) goes a long way for on site jobs. 
 
Henrik, It is good to see you are still alive.  since our last discussions about the Walko, i have had the good fortune to actuall look one over closely at my local toy store.  I got to heft one end and agree it is quite a load for this tired old 39 year old (39+1 times) broken back body.  I do not see my self springing for one right away.  A big part of my problem with getting interested, and staying interested, in the Walko is that right directly across the aisle from the W, is a nice new MFT/3 set up with a TS 55 that I can also play with.  I did not try to lift the MFT, but have lifted both my 1080 and the 800.  From only lifting one end of the Walko, I am guessing it weighs around same as my MFT 1080.  If I were still doing site work, I think I would definitely go for the W as it is easier to hold and carry (I think) than the 1080.  It might be a little heavier than the 800.  You can enlighten us on that aspect, I am sure.

The other problem I have with the W is all oof those removable parts.  In my shop with my organizational skils (quote: bad habits) I would spend more time trying to locate than using.  Not good. 

Negatives aside, I do think it looks like a great tool for site use or for the shop with plenty of space to make the changes in form/uses that are useful with the bench.  For site work, I can see all sorts of setups can be quickly established from one to another.  I especially like the idea of setting shelves at different levels so lumber can be stored above and below as one is cutting a stack of lumber.  Or cutting sheet lumber into strips and immediately without moving to another location, cutting those strips into shorter pieces on the far side of the table.  The whole thing becomes a very large cutting jig of sorts.  It does have a lot of possibilities.  What i really liked about it was how solid it sets.  On the level floor where I looked it over, I could not easilly make it wiggle.  It is one solid bench.  The only problem being that all of that solidity is wasted if one wants to use it for hand planing.  Altho there are several methods (configurations) to create level shelves for face planing, there is no way I could see to stand a board on edge for edge planing. There are plenty of holes to make use of Festool clamps, but one needs to think about how to use them.

I just don't think it can work for me until I inherit my first million.  In the meantime, I will look closely >>> and drool every time I visit my toy store.  My actual safety valve will be the MFT/3 smiling seductively from across the aisle.  :o ::)

BTW: I will be going to toystore this morning. For today, my conscience will be free and clear. SLWMO will be going to HER toystore where she looks and drools over $5000+ sewing machines.  I don't know whether to laugh or cry  ::) ???

Glad to see you back.  i have been looking for your interesting inputs
Tinker
 
Justin & Tinker, thank you, feels good to be back on the friendly forum.  :)

I have kept the moving parts down to a bare minimum, getting only the extra supporting struts (three of them) and the mdf tops. I have the Festool benchdogs and fastclamps that fit in the holes. One thing that keeps me from using the Walko is that we don't have the extra space in our already crammy shop and it does not fit in the already crammy pick up. We need the space for materials and projects so the Walko is down in my storage room, three stories down and no elevator so fetching it for a small task is not going to happen. In time I hope to find a good place for the Walko but at the moment it will be tucked away.

Tinker: When I inherit my first million I will make my own little shop and by then I will be 37+37 years old I guess so I will have to email you in thirty-seven years time for pointers on setting up a nice, small shop. ;)
 
I'll add my 2 cents here. Yes ,it is expensive and over priced, I would say if it was priced like the mft there would be less argument on it being a good purchase. I own one and do not have any buyers remorse whatsoever.

If setting up in the standing position, the bottom is away from the wall about 2 1/2 feet or so which works out good in a tight area, especially using one of the work surfaces over head to stow tools or other things out of the way of the working area. I set up with my Zyliss vice along with the festool clamps and I have a kick ass work station that I have only dreamed about and is portable .

It has way more set up possibilities than the mft, and when broken down, it is lighter and easier to carry. One thing adding to the price, ( only speculation here) ,is the upgrade to bamboo surfaces, which going by what I have read, would make the tops price at $25 apiece as compared to around $6 for mdf ( bamboo 3/4" sheet @ $200 and mdf  3/4" sheet @ $20). I would also have to guess that by not being a big production run is also a factor. The only thing I don't like is the fiberglass reinforced resin hinges. I requested to have the metal ones, but got stuck with these. The dealer said he would make good on it, but I am still waiting.

I would also like to add that I think the walko has a lot more stability then the mft.

I am in no way discounting the mft because it has alot of great features. I am giving a comparison more or less. The thing's that had me sold were the ability to have variable working heights, being able to set it up on a pair of horses in the flat position, and using it to cut sheet goods into smaller pieces without having to jockey lumber underneath for support and setting up a work station like I mentioned above. If you have the jingle to buy one, do it, You wont be sorry.
 
Question regarding the variable working heights.......

When you have any of the Walko benches in flat table top mode - can you adjust the height so as to match the top of either the mft1080/800 or the mft/3?

Which leads me to ask ......... is the adjustment by fixed stops or a sliding clamping action? (I would hope for the later)

Also regarding the hinges, do you have a choice between the fiberglass reinforced resin hinges and metal ones?

(or did the resin ones replace the metals ones as a cost cutting measure?)

thanx,
Roger
 
Roger,
The only way for the first part of your question to work,is to have a set of horses at a specified elevation or to match the other surface.

Part 2, the surfaces are set up with brackets like shelving standards, so it is a " stepped adjustment", as compaired to a infinite adjustment , which you are looking for. ( which ties into the first part of the question)

The metal hinges are not an option. They were presented with the original video demo, but then were changed  between the order time and the time of distribution, which was not a secret if you seen the two presentations. When shipping time came, the resin hinges were sent, and when I questioned this, the metal hinges would be sent at a later date. But that date is long past, two times now.

I could not tell  you out of spectulation if there were cost cutting measures or not .
 
Henrik R / Pingvinlakrits said:
Tinker: When I inherit my first million I will make my own little shop and by then I will be 37+37 years old I guess so I will have to email you in thirty-seven years time for pointers on setting up a nice, small shop. ;)
Click to expand...

In 37 years, I may very well have figured a way.  I'll be glad to send a reply.  ::)
For now, my shop is made up of small space and very large confusion.

off topic/way off topic I think
Many moons ago, my father, who was super organizedto point of perfection, built a large dutch cupboard.  I think some people call it a "hutch", but i grew up on a farm where hutches were what we kept rabbits in.  Anyhow, he and my mother (this was more than 39 years ago before i had upset the organization of family) lived in a twostory house with no basement.  He built the cupboard in the attic.  when completed, he discovered a chink in his perfectionism, the cubboard would not go thru the stairwell and it had to be completely disassembled and the reassembled in the dining room downstairs.

fast forward:  when my mother had had her first stroke and we emptied her house for eventual sale, I was the proud recipient of the old dutchcupboard.  I measured my cellar hatchway to be sure it could get into my cellar (no room in our small house living quarters).  sure enough, it would just fit for dropping down with ropes or the help of a sturdy crew from moving company.  I chose the latter.  It just fit thru the opening from hatchway into cellar.  As we moved it across the cellar to the space we had decided to keep it, I discovered there were pipes and light fixtures that might give us problems.  The piece would not fit until i came up with bright idea to take some of my rags stored for finishing wood projects and place on top of the cupboard and slide it against the pipes.  As we fed the cupboard in one direction, we kept putting another piece of cloth.  We got it into place with no mishaps.  If there ended up any scratches, there is NOBODY in my family tall enough to see.  If they are tall enought to see the top, they probably cannot fit into the room anyhow.  Now, is that not organization.  8)
Tinker
 
Tony M said:
It has way more set up possibilities than the mft, and when broken down, it is lighter and easier to carry. One thing adding to the price, ( only speculation here) ,is the upgrade to bamboo surfaces, which going by what I have read, would make the tops price at $25 apiece as compared to around $6 for mdf ( bamboo 3/4" sheet @ $200 and mdf  3/4" sheet @ $20). I would also have to guess that by not being a big production run is also a factor. The only thing I don't like is the fiberglass reinforced resin hinges. I requested to have the metal ones, but got stuck with these. The dealer said he would make good on it, but I am still waiting.

I would also like to add that I think the walko has a lot more stability then the mft.
Click to expand...

Another point to think about concerning those swiss cheese tops.  i read on another discussion that cutting bamboo does a real number of saw teeth.  I had thought about getting some tops (only) from Walko to make torsion boxes.  I would, personally, not go the route of buying a sheet and cutting my own.  i would be glad to pay for somebody (walko) else's wearing of blades.

The one Walko i have had chance to observe was definitely more stable than the MFT/3 next to it.  even with two stabilizers to stiffen it.

each tool is very adabtible for many different conditions and situations.  I have always felt the limit to uses for the MFT is imagination.  I am sure the same can be said for the Walko.
Tinker
 
Tony M: yes, those are valid points. I can attest to the stability of the Walko being better than the MFT 800 as well as the Walko being more of a multi purpose solution.
I find the MFT 800 works for me and is quite light, for better or worse. As a saw station it works fine for making shelves and putting the Domino to good use.

I have the metal hinges on the Walko and I have no idea why they were replaced. Considering how pricey the table I wonder if there isn't something else behind the change other than cost cutting. I did not pay that much for my table though. At the moment the Swedish Krona is very weak in comparison to the $ so I am glad I got mine when I did.

I can recommend the Walko, price seems steep in the US though.  :-\ 
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
Suggestions for hybrid workbench
2
Replies
33
Views
10K
Jlt3b
J
S
Which router?
2
Replies
33
Views
8K
mino
mino
G
Dashboard PWS Now Available in Europe
Replies
0
Views
198
GregInVa
G
R
torsion mft build, kinda
2
Replies
24
Views
25K
ajs123
A
J
Baileigh/Jet Air Cleaner
2 3 4
Replies
67
Views
6K
Imemiter
Imemiter
Back
Top