X bench

[tallgrass]

thanks for pics it is hard to get a good idea based on pics from skill. any pics of things you like or dislike are welcome.

 

[hissatsu]

Took some photos of the xbench today.

Here it is folded, the knob with the skil logo on it is the locking mechanism to keep the table shut/open. Just to the right of it you can see the leg (rubber cap that looks like a mushroom) that can be adjust for floors that aren't level. You can also see that the extra 3/4" of mdf only around the edges.

Here's the underside with the table open. You can see the power outlet on the bottom left.

Here's that tabletop.

Cut channel opened to full width.

One of the legs showing the height adjustability in 2" increments. Like I mentioned before the legs are quite sturdy and seem pretty well made. The locking latch at the top can only be closed properly when on of the hole is directly under it. This took a minute or two to figure out how to correctly each time. Just start closing the latch a bit as you near the hole and it snaps in when it's in place. Then just close fully.

Hope this helps.

Pedro

 

[woodshopdemos]

here is a sore point. how can the crud get insert plates for their tools and festool can't get it done in years!!!//!!

Mass marketing. I would guess that they have a much larger target audience than Festool.

 

[tallgrass]

would you use the word sturdy to describe this table? mention has been of the weight, do you feel that the weight is a positive or a negative? lt looks ok though. thanks for the pics.

 

[hissatsu]

I'd say it's sturdy. Skil says it can hold up to 750 lbs, but I'm not going to test that. It's really not all that heavy. About 50 lbs, I think. If it were heavier it would be more stable, but everything's a tradeoff. It's not bad for the price.

 

[Eli]

here is a sore point. how can the crud get insert plates for their tools and festool can't get it done in years!!!//!!

You'll be even more sore to be reminded they already have....
http://www.idealtools.com.au/category3893_1.htm

Of course, true to form, it is both better and far more expensive.

 

[tallgrass]

You'll be even more sore to be reminded they already have....

that is the problem..........3rd rate tool companies seem to get through UL but nooooooooooooooooooo festool seem to not be able to get it done..... :-[ i mean what the heck i sitting here waving money at them ... ???

 

[jonny round boy]

You'll be even more sore to be reminded they already have....

that is the problem..........3rd rate tool companies seem to get through UL but nooooooooooooooooooo festool seem to not be able to get it done..... :-[ i mean what the heck i sitting here waving money at them ... ???

You are of course assuming that this bench has UL approval...

Approval by UL is not compulsory to sell in the US - many products are not approved - however I heard it's a condition of Festool's insurer that they get approval for products they sell over there, since a lawsuit would be much easier and cheaper to defend if the approval is in place.

Skil is part of the Bosch group, which currently makes about $8 billion/year from the US market. I doubt the cost of a lawsuit would affect them too much. I don't know what Festool USA's sales are, but I know they don't come close to that figure!!!

 

[Tinker]

About the insert plate:
I bought an extra top for my MFT 800 and fit for my router lift by cutting in for an insert plate.  I lined it up so it was off center so it would work for almost any routing and/or clamping situation.  It worked fine for the idea as a router table.

The problem was, that it turned out to be lousy as an MFT top.  Every time I needed to clamp to the top, the holes i needed to use were taken up by that damned plate.  Don't knock Festool for the oversight.  I am sure they have tried the same thing.  As for me, that modified top is now resting and collecting dust back in a corner.

If I had one more MFT, I suppose that top/w/insert would  be fine.  I found the MFS and my Wood Rat to be far more handy under many more situations.  In fact, since I got the MFS guides (400 & 700), I find myself using the Rat far less. 

When i need a standard router table, I have a router table top that i clamp into one of my WorkMates.  When not in use, it goes back into the same corner as the MFT top with plate.  The modified MFT top stays where it is, collecting dust.

Please note: This is not a rant.  just an observation i have made in my own situation.
Tinker

 

[Brad Evans]

Pedro, thanx for your thoughts and photos on the x bench - that helps a lot.

Also, you snagged some nice light for your photos.  Perhaps you're a photographer, too?

 

[vteknical]

Brad
I thought the same thing, those are definitely not newbie shots...any of them.

I am now further convinced that for 137.00 versus 143.00 forthe Festool MFT table extension, this is going to make one hell an extension for my 1080, with some additional functionality.

Thanks Pedro for the info.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

You'll be even more sore to be reminded they already have....

that is the problem..........3rd rate tool companies seem to get through UL but nooooooooooooooooooo festool seem to not be able to get it done..... :-[ i mean what the heck i sitting here waving money at them ... ???

You are of course assuming that this bench has UL approval...

Approval by UL is not compulsory to sell in the US - many products are not approved - however I heard it's a condition of Festool's insurer that they get approval for products they sell over there, since a lawsuit would be much easier and cheaper to defend if the approval is in place.

Skil is part of the Bosch group, which currently makes about $8 billion/year from the US market. I doubt the cost of a lawsuit would affect them too much. I don't know what Festool USA's sales are, but I know they don't come close to that figure!!!

Don't mean to nitpick here, and I agree with your point - that Bosch has a much larger presence than Festool in the U.S., but the whole US market for power and hand tools is only $12.3 Billion/year.  An additional factor is that the recent supreme court has greatly reduced the ability of US citizens to enter class action suits and also reduced the size of the allowable awards.

As Pedro said, the X Bench is basically made from 1/2 inch MDF.  It would not be a reasonable platform for a router insert if your router has any weight at all.  But, if you visited an American home center, you would be convinced that the lion's share of the market is for crappy tools that can be tossed when they break....

 

[jonny round boy]

Don't mean to nitpick here, and I agree with your point - that Bosch has a much larger presence than Festool in the U.S., but the whole US market for power and hand tools is only $12.3 Billion/year

Sorry, yes - that figure of $8 billion isn't just from power tools - that's ALL of Bosch's divisions (appliances, automotive, engineering, etc.).

 

[tallgrass]

You are of course assuming that this bench has UL approval...

Approval by UL is not compulsory to sell in the US - many products are not approved - however I heard it's a condition of Festool's insurer that they get approval for products they sell over there, since a lawsuit would be much easier and cheaper to defend if the approval is in place.

you are correct i was assuming that it has UL approval and of course it does not have to have it, i have had to design complex projects that got through UL and did not have problem. as i have said els ware it is just frusterating not being being able to get the product line, especially the non powered accessories. i guess the UL thing just sounds weak.

 

[hissatsu]

Pedro, thanx for your thoughts and photos on the x bench - that helps a lot.

Also, you snagged some nice light for your photos.  Perhaps you're a photographer, too?

Appreciate the thanks. I do a little photography in my spare time. These days I'm running short on that.

Pedro