Craftsman has come out with a new Peg Table and some accessories to go along with it. It’s a simple concept, but one that works well for clamping and assembly tasks. The table has a grid of holes (we’re still checking on the size) that allow for very flexible placement of your clamps or stops.
The Craftsman Peg Table has folding legs which extend for use and retract for storage, making it easy to store and transport. It’s designed to be lightweight and easy to carry to and from your project.
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It looks like the legs might be adjustable, but maybe not. We’ll have to wait until it’s released to know for sure.
Peg Table Accessories
Craftsman also came out with a bunch of fitting accessories for their Peg Table (model number 49812).
- 8-inch fence 49809
- 12-inch fence 49811
- Push clamp 49808
- Hold down clamp 49807
Their early-look press release had some images of a prototype table and what look to be renderings of the accessories. We’re working on getting some better images.
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Here you can see all three clamping accessory types in action. There’s a fence, which can be used as a work stop to brace material against. A push clamp is applying pressure to the pipe, so that is held immobile against the fence for working. There is also a hold down clamp which applies pressure to the pipe so that it doesn’t lift up during working.
It’ll be curious to see if these accessories are made by a woodworking company. They don’t quite look like Bessey auto-adjusting clamps, or Rockler’s new T-slot auto-locking clamps.
Both of the new Craftsman peg clamps both feature automatic adjustment mechanisms, and can be used in any of the Peg Table’s holes, and in any direction. Users can set the clamping pressure via an adjusting screw, and it doesn’t need to be touched again unless a different level of force is needed.
Clamping pressure is 25 to 500 pounds for the push clamp, 25 to 400 pounds for the hold down clamp.
The fences also allow for some adjustability. There are 2 sizes – 8-inch and 12-inch, and both are completely reversible. One side is 5/8″ tall, the other is 1-1/4″ tall, which means you can use it to brace certain material thicknesses, such as 3/4″ plywood and 2x lumber, without the fence protruding above the work surface.
One side of the Craftsman Peg Table has a 3-outlet power strip that is fed by an extension cord, and the other side features a couple of hand tool storage slots.
Prices
- Peg Table: $150
- 8-inch fence: $15
- 12-inch fence: $19
- Push (horizontal) clamp: $34
- Hold down (vertical) clamp: $38
ETA: October 2015
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First Thoughts
Forgive the language, but the new Craftsman Peg Table almost seems to be a poor-man’s Festool MFT/3 multifunction table, except for the later’s ability to be used for cutting and routing operations. I suppose that the Craftsman Peg Table can be used for all of the same things, but it seems to be more intended for clamping and assembly projects.
I can see how, with one or two fences and one or two push clamps, a piece of wood can be easily sanded on the Peg Table. Or it could perhaps be worked on in different ways.
What I’m really hoping is that the grid’s hole sizes can accommodate other brands’ dog hole accessories, which would further push its versatility into the must-have zone.
The fences come with 3-inch pegs, and the hold down clamp has a 7-1/2″ peg that allows the clamp to be raised up to 5-1/2″ above the table to accommodate taller workpieces. To me this suggests a pretty thick and solid worktop. Maybe it’s solid plastic? Even laminated MDF or pegboard would be a good option, as long as it’s solid at the core.
The accessories are a little steeply priced, and most users will probably want a pair of everything – at the least. But that also suggests that Craftsman or their OEM partner didn’t skimp out on anything. All of these prices might also be “suggested” prices. A lot of the time Craftsman has a list price and then a perpetual sale price.
My first thought was that this could be a modified Vika workbench, but I’m not convinced. Do you have any thoughts as to who the OEM company might be? Not that it really matters.
Overall, I think the Craftsman Peg Table and its accessories look like solid products, and am eager to check them out to see if they’re as functional and sturdy as they look.
Steven B
The thing that will guarantee the success or failure of this product is the strength and quality. $150 is pretty expensive, so I hope it is heavy duty and very strong, but that would make it a lot less portable. I would buy it without hesitation if it was strong enough for me to stand on it and has an easy to clean surface for gluing and finishing tasks. However, if it’s only heavy duty enough to clamp PVC pipe, I can’t imagine this succeeding. I am very intrigued, but Craftsman usually disappoints. I’d have a lot more faith if this was made by DeWalt or Milwaukee (yeah, I know it’s not their wheelhouse).
SteveR
I understand why you would want to be able to stand on it (durability of product and that it won’t collapse under a given weight), but I wouldn’t use that as a final criteria. It would not be safe, of course; it’s not designed as a ladder, nor to support that much weight (assuming you weigh 60 lbs. or more). It would likely collapse, possibly injuring you and bending the legs so it would no longer be functional.
Note the photos posted for ideas about how it could be used, and try to imagine scenarios where you could use the product. No one commented on the fact that it has a power strip on one side, with three outlets (see photos 1, 2 and 4). You could run corded tools such as a circular saw, soldering iron, jig saw, etc., off of it. It provides you with a portable horizontal work surface in places where you couldn’t otherwise have one.
I agree with some that the pricing is too high at present. That, of course, allows for deep discounting later around the holidays, Father’s Day, etc. (what a deal!).
Tom
This is a great idea, but it just looks small…. almost too small to really be useful.
I think that you could count on finding the table and all accessories on sale with a 50% discount from time to time.
Tom
The clamps really look like Rockler T Track Clamps…
http://www.rockler.com/auto-lock-t-track-clamp
Ken
I agree, this is too small to be useful. Extrapolating an approximate size from the article images the surface appears to be maybe 15″x25″.
Garrick Neal
Handy for job site use or as a small home shoptable. Except for the costs.
I build a lot of my own jobsite tables out of plywood, 2x lumber, and screws. They are cheap and can be made to size, and as sturdy as necessary with simple cross bracing. A table of this size can usually be done with mostly scrap left over from a previous job.
Instead of clamps that go in holes, I simply screw down pieces of wood right into the table top (or sides where needed). I will leave the screws in the pieces of wood after removing them so they are at the ready next time.
Most of the tables I make get disassembled after use, but a few smaller ones I can store under my back porch. Some also get the legs cut shorter for when I need a platform to work on at a specific height.
{My favourite was a 9 foot tall platform for painting a house. I would cut down one or two legs as I worked my way around the house, to keep the platform level and at the most comfortable height.}
Reg
A Ron Paulk designed work bench is a much better assembly table at lower cost and better functionality.
Michael
If it’s not against the rules , could you post a link
Erik Potter
Ron Paulk has a YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/crpaulk which has his workbenches and other stuff. His website has direct links to some of them as well as links to plans for sale http://www.paulkhomes.com/order-plans.html.
James
Does anyone know of a less expensive version of the Festool 491594 Quick Clamp style clamps to be used with this design?
$40 per clamp adds up quite fast.
fred
You might look at these:
http://www.toolbarn.com/dewalt-dws5026.html?gclid=COmc7MuLxccCFdUUHwod5XAC9w&ad=54710837414
Erik Potter
The accessories all appear to be made by the Armor Tool company. ( http://armor-tool.com ). The pictures they are using even seem to have the same variation that Armor Tool’s images have…with some appearing to be photos and some computer renderings. By default the Armor Tool line uses 3/4″ dog holes but they sell replacement 20mm pegs for Festool and other international systems.
The table looks smaller than the Vika Workbench and has a number of design differences. Possibly a Vika customization, but probably just a knock-off.
John S
It looks like the Armor Tool accessories to me as well. That gives me some hope that this could be a decent product since the Armor Tool offerings look well done.
will
I was just looking into the Festool MFT/3 and I think this is more in my price range. It’s perfect for my needs.Oh and I did buy the Centipede XL and it seems to be sturdy at 4X8 ft its just too big for my everyday needs.
John
Probably OK for the woodworking guy, but it your working with steel or welding……
Chris
Yep, Durabench built table. The legs, leg braces and electrical look similar to those Durabench tables sold at Costco.
Rod
Seems overpriced for a folding workbench. Especially compared to ones like the Keter Folding Work Table (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byoJUKYXqJU). I have used the Keter for a year and am extremely pleased with the versatility and usefulness of the product. It is very well thought out and priced very competitively, in my opinion. (http://www.costco.com/Keter-Folding-Work-Table-w-Adjustable-Legs-.product.100111817.html).
Stuart
The Keter tables, which I posted about before (https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/keter-folding-work-table/%3C/a%3E , https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/keter-adjustable-height-portable-folding-work-table-deal/%3C/a%3E%29 seem better suited as general portable workbenches, while the Craftsman seems more versatile for clamping work down and together.
While there is some overlap in functionality, I think that the Craftsman table will be better for certain types of use.
William
I recently purchased a Vika table from Home Depot for $60. It is different from the one you reviewed in that it also has casters to be used as a dolly, as well as other minor differences. It feels very sturdy to me, its not recommended to use with the legs extended as a scaffold. The Craftsman table looks to have latches for a flipable top.
Travis C
I agree with William above. I have didn’t know that Vika came out with a new , more compact, version of their folding table. Looking at the table on Home Depot.com it appears to be the exact same table as the Vika one for sale, except a different workbench insert.
The table is listed at $79.00 here at Home Depot online, but also says it is only for sale online. Looking at the reviews, it seems new and really worthwhile.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Vika-4-in-1-1-83-ft-x-3-ft-x-1-6-ft-Scaffold-500-lb-Duty-Rating-VIKA-4IN1/205749173?cm_mmc=SEM%7cG%7cPro%7cPLA%7cD22&gclid=CN-K8-uEyscCFUiFfgodR44O0A&gclsrc=aw.ds