Lowe’s has launched a new Kobalt portable workbench, featuring a whole lot of holes built into the work surface.
The Kobalt folding worktable measures 34.25″ long x 23.54″ wide, and sits at a height of 32″. According to the Lowe’s product description, it has a max load capacity of 1000 pounds.
They don’t say how thick the table top surface is, but it looks quite beefy. That could be a pro for rigidity or if you’re using doghole accessories, and a con if you’re concerned about its weight or storage height.
Advertisement
The Lowe’s page says the Kobalt workbench does not have drawers, a backboard, casters, USB port, included storage accessories, or a power strip, and that it doesn’t roll, but they don’t list the workbench weight or thickness when closed.
It features steel legs and non-marring feet.
There are also cutouts in the legs, for fitting tools such as screwdrivers and pliers.
You also get molded-in rulers and recesses for holding parts or accessories.
Lowe’s says that it takes just 4 steps to open the Kobalt portable workbench:
1) Pull pin on the underside of the table to release Leg 1
2) Open Leg 1
3) Open Leg 2
4) Set all 4 corner supports
Advertisement
Technically, isn’t that 7 steps, since you have to repeat the last step 4 times?
Additional “key features” for the Kobalt “Black/Blue Plastic Portable Work Bench” includes a plastic material work surface, a warranty, and it’s portable.
One of the product images above shows a blue strap-style carrying handle.
Dimensions and Specs
- 34.25″ L x 23.54″ W x 32″ H
- 1000 lb load capacity
- Weighs 24 lbs 5 oz*
- 4.5″ thick when folded closed for storage or transport*
* as per the manufacturer
Price: $79.98
Discussion
I’ve heard from readers who have been disappointed that Lowe’s no longer sells the ToughBuilt workbench they used to carry. This new Kobalt model looks to have taken its spot.
In the same category, I’m fond of the Dewalt portable workbench that’s available at Home Depot (it’s sometimes lower at Acme Tools).
On top of the multi-step opening and closing process, which seems like a huge hassle, squarish legs are rarely a good idea for lightweight plastic portable workbenches. Splayed table legs tend to stabilize better, especially when a project is being worked on.
Maybe it’ll be discounted for the holiday shopping season, from its current price of $80? I’m not sure if that would make it any more appealing – the design looks awfully clumsy to me.
Tell me what you think. Is this Kobalt workbench a “yay” or “no way?”
Update – Comments from the Toolmaker
I heard from someone at that company that designed and manufactures the workbench for Kobalt and Lowe’s.
They commented about the value, and I acknowledge that there’s not much competition in the sub-$100 space right now, and said that unfolding the legs might not be as fast as with other pricier models but is still “simple and easy.”
They also said that it has significantly less wobble than other models they tested, that they think I’d be surprised with its stability, and then followed up with a video demo that does show this.
We were also able to add a couple of relevant specs, which I added above. The weight is said to be 24 lbs 5 oz, which is considerably less than the 32 lb weight spec for ToughBuilt’s portable workbench. It’s about the same as Dewalt’s, which weighs 24.25 lbs.
I am extremely opinioned about tool storage and portable workbench products, and am not sold on this one being suited for my needs or preferences.
That said, I am quite happy – and impressed – to hear from someone involved with the design and production of the new Kobalt workbench. It shows that they take pride in it, which counts for something.
From today’s conversations, it seems that a lot more thought and effort went into the design than I gave it credit for. I’m a lot less hesitant.
eddiesky
Nope. Those pinch-point leg locks just say, “I’m not sturdy but will gladly injure your digits”. And yeah, the Toughbuilt looked great but you know marketing and sales manglement…”copy and make cheaper and sell for 50% profit!”
John
I have the toughbuilt one and it’s awesome. This one looks much simpler though and if it is less expensive, should be a winner. The legs deployment are simple and if you can’t operate them without hurting yourself you probably shouldn’t use power tools…..
Tucker
Has anyone tried the Ryobi one? Curious what people think of it. Maybe it’ll have some black Friday deals.
Stuart
This one? https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/ryobi-speed-bench-workstation/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Not yet. It’s a completely different style – rolling vs hand-carry, and looks to take up more space.
Tucker
Yup. Understood its different style/size – this post just jogged my memory and curiosity about the Ryobi.
Jared
It seems like the sort of thing that looks like a good deal at first blush – e.g. a worktable like Toughbuilt and Dewalt, but less expensive. Yet not the same in-use.
Robert
Pass on this Kobolt work bench and pass on the other portable work benches mentioned. Because they don’t have the killer feature (for me) of the built in vise. I use a Black and Decker work bench:
https://www.blackanddecker.com/products/wm225
I need the vise to clamp tall/taller pieces that I can’t really clamp with bench dog based clamps on my heavy (abut viseless) work bench. I really love that the vise is built in, and so is always there. No need to choose between bench dog clamps and set them up.
Yeah, Black & Decker. Normally, don’t give their products much respect. But in this category I haven’t seen better.
Now my Black & Decker work bench is old and needs replacement. The wood has cracked several times and even with re-glues, it’s two decades too old.
I may upgrade to this model:
https://www.blackanddecker.com/products/wm425
As the ability to swivel one side by 90 degrees looks useful.
I’ll see what discounts are given in the upcoming sale periods.
I may also bite the Swedish bullet and get a Sjobergs portable workstation with the vise instead. But those rarely go on sale:
https://www.rockler.com/sjobergs-smart-workstation-pro-vise
Stuart
With the dog holes, you can add a surface vise, quick clamps, or other such accessories.
Robert
Stuart, you can. And I have lots, from Armor tools and Veritas, and others. But none of them hold say a 10 inch tall plank vertically steady to sand the end grain. The B&D vise arrangement lets me sink 8 inches of plank below the surface of the work bench table, and the protruding 2 inches are nice and steady while sanding or planing, etc.
The Sjobergs is similar to what I think you mean by surface vise, and I may spring for the $280 cost and forgo Thanksgiving.
Brad
The Sjoberg is the best of the table top vise’s I liked mine up until I built my workbench with a proper vise. (The Anarchist’s Workbench – C. Schwarz – signed hardback or download it for free) one of my nephew’s has it now it’s worth the price.
fred
A workbench was one of my first shop projects when we moved, and I started assembling a basement shop. I had almost 2400 sq. ft. to play with – so I decided that the bench should be walk-around with 4 vises. The WWW was still almost 20 years off – so finding ideas/plans was confined to looking through books. Shopping for vises was also difficult – but I settled on ones from Columbian for face vises and Wilton for tail vises. Legs and understructure were all just construction lumber (4×4’s etc.) but I glued-up 8/4 maple for the top. I added dog holes to work with the vises and holdfasts – plus several fixtures to use some differently sized Marples and Record (screw clamp) holdfasts. The sheer mass of this bench is what has made it both useful and cumbersome. But there is nothing like a solidly built bench when you really need to lean into the work.
MM
The workmate isn’t perfect but is honestly a great design. One of the things I have always liked about all but the most basic models is the way the legs fold out. The footprint of the legs is significantly larger than the table top, and that makes them a lot more stable than many portable workbenches. They also have a low center of gravity which further enhances their stability.
Brad
I have the DeWalt table and I consider it’s legs clumsy so no chance I’ll pick this up.
I considered the Toughbuilt but it looks like it’s from the same factory as the DeWalt which was on sale at the time I needed it so I haven’t taken a closer look at it which seems to be a theme with me and Toughbuilt.
Wayne R.
Coupla saw horses and an old door is more appealing.
JM
I have and love the Dewalt alternative above! They go on sale well below $100 and well worth it.
Andy
It always amazes me that the majority of portable benches don’t have self leveling feet. That’s a deal breaker for me.
Rog
I have the Dewalt one and love the setup ease but it’s a little wobbly after a few years of use. Still worth the purchase tho
Nathan
I’ve contented myself with the Bora Centipede for now, but I’ve been wanting a smaller quicker setup and found what’s on the market wanting.
They usually have 3/4″ dogholes and most have no leveling feet. None have swiveling leveling feet from what I have seen.
I don’t understand why there hasn’t been a model with integrated small gas pistons in each leg and cable actuated locks. Then you could flip open the legs, put your saw or some stock on the table to let it plumb level itself and just use a snap over lever to keep it there. All of these tiny tables are already pretty heavy, this would at least make them as stable as they can be and give some benefit for the weight.
fred
I too use Centipedes when I’m out at a family member’s house. I find them easier to open and harder to get closed. They work better on a lawn where you can level them. I use them with folding MFT-Like tops with 20mm dog holes.
Benchdog (UK) keeps bombarding me with emails about their new and pricey worktable, I’m not inclined to try it out as I do less and less work on family houses – and don’t need anything more in my shop or garage,
https://benchdogs.co.uk/collections/ultra-mft-workstation
Blythe
I have the Toughbuilt, Dewalt, and Keter.
Toughbuilt is very solid, almost no flex in the tabletop or wiggle in the legs. It’s the heaviest by far, and the legs take considerable force to deploy.
The Dewalt usually opens smoothly, is lighter, but does have a bit of wiggle with something heavy like a table saw on it.
I think the Keter is the lightest. It opens perfect every time. I’ve had it for many years and haven’t been gentle on it. Definitely not rock solid, but the best of all the variables to me. The large side handle and light weight make it easy to carry across job sites and even up ladders occasionally.
Side note-I have bora centipedes too, which are ok for sheet goods, but are sometimes hard to fold up.
They are absolutely useless on anything other than a flat, hard floor though-which is why they usually stay in storage for me
DC
Love my Keter and Worx portable work tables.
Yadda
The Worx Pegasus is a good table. Mine has seen a lot of use.
S
Work and storage solutions are a very weird place.
I was trying to look into getting a new tool box. Specifically, I wanted one with drawers 24″ or deeper.
Across all the sites, There is absolutely no way to sort tool boxes by the depth, which is one of the most drastic differences in my opinion. There’s sorting tools for low/medium/pro grade, and tools for width and height specifics. Some even list the ‘depth’ using the actual height, as if the box is on it’s side.
Other searches for storage items have had similar omissions to what I consider critical dimensions or, in this case, overall weight, which is at least a ballpark metric for the quality.
Dave P
Keter for the win. They are great.
Irving
I’ve got a couple of the DeWalt portable workbenches; their only virtues, as far as I can tell, are light weight and they open very quickly. I can easily carry both and get one, or a pair, of flat surfaces set up in seconds. And, that’s where their pluses end. I have two, and one is now dissassembling itself due to cracks in one end where the legs pivot. When it fails completely it will not be replaced. And, I won’t talk about their lack of “solidity.”
I have one of the Husky portable worktables and like that it is quite a bit more solid than the DeWalts or others; it is a PITA, however, to set up, as each leg must be removed from its storage position and screwed into each corner. But it is stable. Were it still available at its introductory price ($69, IIRC) and didn’t have the semi-worthless cutout in the center for router installation, I’d consider getting another one. Or two.
I have a couple B&D Workmates and they’re good for clamping stuff, as Robert (above) points out. I have a 4X3 sheet of 3/4 plywood with a 2X4 screwed to it, and it’s easy to clamp in a Workmate to gain a larger work surface, but a single 3/4 layer is a bit flimsy. Using both Workmates, a 6′ X 4′ sheet of 3/4 ply with 2X4s several inches in from both ends can provide a larger, and more stable, work surface, but the Workmate legs keep getting in the way no matter which way they are arranged and the “fast clamping” ability of the Workmate is sacrificed in the process.
I have given some thought to making my own portable work surface: a layer of 3/4 MDF, doubled around the edges for rigidity and support for legs, 48″ X 32″, with 20MM dog holes on about 8″ centers. I’ve got a few adjustable dog clamps that coupled with solid dogs, work very well on the benches in the shop and having that capability in the field would be nice. Think “Festool Multifunction Table” with fewer dog holes, sturdier legs, and for (a lot) less money than the national debt.
I have no idea, however, what to use for legs on my Sooper Dooper field worktable; it must be solid to a degree that portable worktables fail miserably at, plus reasonably fast and easy to deploy; I am convinced “quick and easy to deploy” is incompatible with “solid and sturdy.” Add in “portability” and the Degree of Difficulty increases substantially.
I very seriously doubt it would be possible for any manufacturer to make such a table commercially; either the bean counters would penny-and-nickel it into uselesness to make it manufacturable or it would make the Festool worktable look like a Black Friday bargain. But, were someone to come up with a set of absolutely bulletproof plans, I have local metal suppliers, plenty of woodworking tools, and know an excellent welder.
Don Julio
I picked up the Pony Portable Folding Work Table a couple of years ago and have been pleased with it. I paid a bit less than this, but this combo comes with two more small Jorgensen clamps. The shelf below is a big plus.
https://www.amazon.com/ClamPony-Portable-Workbench-Folding-Capacity/dp/B09XT8D9NY/
Scott K
The top looks like a huge chunk of plastic – this seems like a great opportunity to use recycled material. I know that would likely add to the cost as new plastic is cheap. This doesn’t seem likes it’s geared towards a professional, so the upcycle tag may appeal to some.
Bret
I like that this may be more stable than some others. I would use mostly at home and may leave setup for periods of time. I would add a removable lower tool shelf board across the leg supports.
Walt
Great table for my purpose. But where can I get clamps that fit in the designed holes throughout the top of the table?
Stuart
I use reversible quick clamps, ones where the fixed jaw can be removed and reversed for use as a spreader. I remove the fixed jaw, slide the bar through the hole, and reattach it below the table surface.
The larger clamps in this Dewalt set at Home Depot set work with *some* models of portable work tables. The smaller ones don’t.
They *must* have the reversible clamping/spreader feature. Some clamps appear to have a button lock but instead just have permanently-installed pins.
The clamps should say “converts to spreader” or similar.
Here’s an example of a clamp at Lowe’s that might work.
JR Ramos
Lots of options out there, cheap and not-cheap. Do a search on Amazon for “bench dog clamps 3/4 19mm” or something like that. I looked at the product page on Lowe’s and the “Kobalt Team” stated that they are 3/4″ holes. When you’re shopping just be sure you aren’t about to buy 20mm or 16mm products.
There are lots that are like the basic miter saw holddown clamps, and some that run parallel to the surface, and you can get the f-clamp ratchet type…some sliding cam lever options too (not sure if any of those are worth a hoot but most are not, imho). Rockler and Woodcraft probably have options in store if you have one near you. Powertec might as well (they generally rebadge everything but they also try not to sell junk products and usually have pretty fair prices). Taytools had some that were regular f-clamp style (without the ratcheting grip) at good prices last I looked. I think maybe Armour Tool also had some vise-grip types for a dog (if not, they have models with a flat wedge bottom that could be easily mounted to a dog plug if you wanted that style). Not sure about Kreg but they might have something too.
I’d just be cautious about the leverage and pressure exerted against the sides of those holes. They’re probably intended more for just work stops and standoffs rather than real dog hole clamping use.