All About Folding Joinery Benches

Folding carpentry workbench today it is presented on the market in various modifications. These can be multifunctional, collapsible and folding workshop tables, as well as easy-to-transport mobile versions. To understand all the variety of options, the rating of the best universal workbenches for joinery will help.

Convenient carpentry table design is the basis of comfort for the craftsman. A folding joiner's workbench is a stationary or mobile structure that can be transformed or has folding, sliding elements. Universal models can be used for wood and metal work, carpentry have a narrower focus. Ready-made workbenches are designed for installation in a garage or workshop, they can be supplied with additional stands, drawers.

Folding transformable furniture enjoys great popularity among lovers of carpentry today. On such a workbench, you can change the area of ​​the tabletop, fold back or pull out additional sections.

The main differences between all types of workbenches are their size and cost. In the case of folding carpentry structures, there are other points to consider. Important characteristics and details include the following.

1. Division into 2 parts. 1 of them is stationary, the other is mobile.
2. Rotating controls. Usually these are handles that determine the position of the moving part.
3. Work surface with tool holders. It is height adjustable and often has sliding parts. For its manufacture, medium density MDF is used, resistant to steam and moisture. Its length is 50-250 cm, width is from 0.5 to 1 m.
4. It is important to understand that the larger the tabletop is, the higher the intensity of the load on the supporting elements will be. If a stationary model is created, its weight may exceed 100 kg. The angle of rotation also matters. If the product has this option, its range should be between 0 and 90 degrees.

Universal folding workbench for carpentry work can be collapsible or transforming, have different storage systems. Among the multifunctional tables, there are models with a metal mechanism or a coated work surface. The following items should definitely be included in the rating of popular options.

• Worx Pegasus WX051. Folding workbench with a large working surface measuring 780 × 640 mm and a load capacity of up to 450 kg. The table top is plastic, the frame is aluminum with elements made of polymer materials. The set includes 6 clamps, 2 of them for a vice. There is a shelf at the bottom.

• Black & Decker WM550-XJ. Steel workbench with a rotary wooden work surface - its mobility varies in the range of 90 degrees. It is a compact but stable and reliable model for small woodworking, measuring only 610 × 472 mm and weighing 12 kg. The frame part is equipped with a sturdy footboard that can support the weight of an adult. The sliding parts of the table top can be opened up to a distance of 226 mm, the height can also be adjusted in 2 positions.

• Bosch PWB 600. Compact and lightweight joinery workbench with an aluminum base and a working surface in a square format 680 × 680 mm. Despite the lightweight materials, the product weighs almost as much as steel - 11.6 kg, has a collapsible design, focused on home craftsmen. This model has a record jaw opening range - up to 525 mm, a square tabletop is very convenient to use, but the workbench is unreasonably expensive.

• Hammer VRS100. Model with a sliding jaw design and comfortable adjustment knobs. The model has a tabletop dimensions of 605 × 360 mm, a height of 800 mm, and can withstand a load of up to 100 kg. On the working area there are inch and metric markings, the angle of rotation is fixed in 3 positions.

• Black & Decker WM301-XJ. The most simple model of a carpentry workbench with a folding scissor mechanism. The working surface is compact, 610 × 341 cm, height adjustment is not provided. This is the so-called "balcony" option for the simplest work.

When choosing a folding workbench for use in a home workshop, it is recommended to pay attention to a number of important parameters. These include the following points.

1. Appointment... If you have to work not only with wood, you should pay attention to multifunctional models.
2. Design features. Slots and gaps in carpentry workbenches are allowed, do not affect the ease of use.
3. Countertop type. For carpentry work, plywood or MDF is used. If you have to carry out painting work, varnish products, it is better to give preference to worktops coated with polypropylene.
4. Type of instalation. If you have to move the structure often, you should not choose too heavy, bulky models. For a stationary workbench, heavy weight and massiveness, on the contrary, will be an advantage.

For an overview of the workbench model BOSCH PWB 600, see the following video.