Walko Workbenches

[meldgaard]

FYI: at present the walko-4 is pretty equally priced to the prox 760 USD that the MFT/3 costs here in europe ...

 

[soggycrow]

I made my own from the Norm Abrams plans.  It was easy and inexpensive.  The most expensive single part was the bench screw.  You even make your own bench dogs.

 

[bamo@xs4all.nl]

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".

Sorry, it seems not to be a very trustworthy source Festoolsem. Believe me I know 
Regards from overseas.

 

[suds]

Got my Walko 3 with casters today.  Very easy to set up.  Seems very well built.  For me, I have very little room to work with so everything has to be able to fit against one wall and be pulled out when I want to woodwork.  The casters mount to the side so you tip the table and you can easily roll it on two casters or tip it all the way down on it's side and roll it around on the 4 casters.  The tabletops are very nice and I do have to say they are a bit thicker than the 1080 plate.  I tried to put one of the side thrust clamps in one of the holes and found that the handle/bolt that attaches from underneath the table did not have enough reach to screw into the clamp.  I imagine I can use it without being screwed in from the bottom.  The holes are VERY tight and you'll struggle with the side thrust clamps.  Now for the adjustable tabletop supports (the tabletops attach to these and it comes with 2 tabletops and 4 supports).  Very easy to mount the tabletops to the supports.  Each support has a lever that either releases the support from the frame or with a 2nd position "click" allows the tabletop to be slanted (so either it is a flat plane or slanted plane) in reference to the frame.  3 of the supports worked flawlessly but the 4th is almost impossible to move to the 2nd position.  I spent more time trying to get it to function than the whole time I spent driving 10 miles to Woodcraft and unpacking and setting it up.  The instructions don't include a number to speak with someone about adjustments so I'll take the time to search out a good source.  Three of the levers have a nice "click" to the 2nd position (which allows you to slant the tabletop) but the 4th has nothing but a sloppy freeplay lever action.  Tried to tighten and loosen to see if I could get it to work and could not. 
So, other than the frustrating lever I am happy with the purchase because I can see the mobility of the bench will work well for me and the rigidity of the bench is better than the 2 1080's I have (not that they're bad).  I also have the Jawhorse and I can already see that it will work well with the Walko.  With the tabletop in the top position it matches the height of the top of the jawhorse, so I can see it working as a very long tabletop if needed.  Also, leaning a sheet of plywood on the Walko offers some other interesting scenarios.  As I start using the table I'll post some of what I'm finding. 

 

[nickao]

Speaking about the Walko guys.

I have not forgotten your refunds for the Walko giveaway. They will start to post tomorrow sometime.

Nick

 

[suds]

I had a great experience with Walko customer service and made a seperate post "Walko Customer Service" about how they handled my problem.  All I can say is I'd buy it again and I'm totally satisfied the way they handled my problem.