Does anyone have experience with Badass Workbenches (https://badass-workbench.com/badass-workbenches) or know of similar/competing products? They look mighty nice, but they're quite expensive and perhaps a bit overkill for my needs.
feedback on Badass Workbenches or comparable units?
- Thread starter scottmlew
- Start date
Shiftless
Well-known member
It’s a GJ tradition to build you own workbench from scratch. That way you can get maximum utilization of the existing space. You can have the exact height that is best for your height and what tasks you usually do on the bench. You have control over the top material too. Wooden butcher block? Stainless steel sheet metal with backsplash? Thick steel plate? Easily renewable Masonite? One of my work tables is topped with laminate flooring. Great stuff!
It is, and the reasons that you cite are great benefits of doing so. However I really think that a very heavy metal unit is right for me and I'm not at all a welder and to be honest I'm not inclined to become one so I think a prefab unit of some kind is likely my best option.
Shiftless
Well-known member
Great!
That company seems open to customer customization so I bet you’ll be happy. Get ready to part with a couple of grand, right?
That company seems open to customer customization so I bet you’ll be happy. Get ready to part with a couple of grand, right?
Beau Nugget
Active member
I’ve got one. It’s the three bay workbench unit. No casters, with a 3/8” top with a back splash. I like the pivoting drawers. I think you could even stand in them without them bending. It’s definitely built hell for stout. It’s a nice addition to the shop. If you bite the bullet and buy one, you'll like it. I think I paid around $4700 for it five or more years ago.
I also have a 4x8’ welding table that I made myself, so I’m checking both boxes by making one and buying one.
I also have a 4x8’ welding table that I made myself, so I’m checking both boxes by making one and buying one.
Nor'Easter
Well-known member
You could buy a 39x78 Siegmund table with an HF box underneath and come out money ahead. You'd have an actual welding table (1/2" thick and drilled) to boot. Solid plate tables are cool until you have to fixture anything away from the edge of the work surface. I do not miss my 1/2x4x8.
https://www.trick-tools.com/4-160020.X7-Siegmund-System-16-Welding-Table-78x39-inch-16734
https://www.trick-tools.com/4-160020.X7-Siegmund-System-16-Welding-Table-78x39-inch-16734
I'll piggyback off what Shiftless said. Building it to fit your needs, height, and area help alot. I've had the joy of moving 5 times and had to work with the room I had. When I was younger I had less tools so it was easier but as a tool junkie accumulates stuff it gets harder. The worst was downsizing from my 3rd house to my 4th. I had an 2.5 attached garage, 600sq' shop, and a 100sq' shed. I went to a very shallow 3 car. With that one I divided the 2 car and 1 car bay and made my "woodshop" in the 1 car with the 2 car being auto and house storage. You literally could not hang a dartboard on the wall as all the cabinets were built to fill out the area. Now I have a oversized 3 car and a 2600sq' shop and the build is very basic wrap around benches built off the wall with open area underneath to keep less area for bugs and rodents to hide as its a detached structure away from the home.
We had a family friend visit and he was looking around my shop and said "all of this was in your old garage", he could not believe how much stuff I had and it fit in my last house. With anything you buy already built you are adapting to its limits rather than creating something to maximize its ability.
We had a family friend visit and he was looking around my shop and said "all of this was in your old garage", he could not believe how much stuff I had and it fit in my last house. With anything you buy already built you are adapting to its limits rather than creating something to maximize its ability.
scooby074
Well-known member
Napa had a demo one and I checked it out. Definitely heavy built. Not sure about how much space is lost with the curved drawers though
What are your needs ?
I did the the metal from Global industries in one garage in NY and it was very strong -- guy bought it all when I sold the place.
You can buy various metal legs and stringers from a place like Woodcraft -- online. Allows you to install any kind of top ...
I also have an Adjust-a-Bench .... great idea for some type of work. Can be moved.
Badass looks to be very strong and I'm sure there is a place for that. I have various benches for different work ... the Badass looks to be something super heavy that you can beat the hell out of. Do you only have space for one bench ?
I did the the metal from Global industries in one garage in NY and it was very strong -- guy bought it all when I sold the place.
You can buy various metal legs and stringers from a place like Woodcraft -- online. Allows you to install any kind of top ...
I also have an Adjust-a-Bench .... great idea for some type of work. Can be moved.
Badass looks to be very strong and I'm sure there is a place for that. I have various benches for different work ... the Badass looks to be something super heavy that you can beat the hell out of. Do you only have space for one bench ?
niget2002
Well-known member
What's the reason for the weird drawers? How much space is wasted by having to have them curved?
Thanks for the direct ownership feedback. I'm glad to hear it's not a product that over-promises and under-delivers.
Yes, not a purchase to be made lightly!
Thanks for the suggestion. I am not sure I have much need for fixturing, though, and I'd definitely like a decent-sized solid surface to work on. If a solid top isn't critical, the product you suggested looks great.
Fair points. However, the sizes offered by Badass seem to work well in my new space (still being designed). I'm not playing with a ton of extra space, so I don't have much flexibility to begin with.
Thanks for the product suggestions -- I will look into all of those. My needs are pretty basic. I'm not nearly as ******** as most of you here. I am looking for a durable solid surface to use for assembly/disassembly of household items, car parts, guns, electronics, etc. I won't be doing any meaningful woodworking or welding. I do want something that looks nice and is heavy and durable, because I will want a vise and be able to be somewhat aggressive with it. I was considering building a basic bench from 2x6, but I think I want something that is a bit heavier, has a non-porous durable surface, and looks a bit more put together. I will have only 1 dedicated bench, although I will have some other flat surfaces: a little counter space around a sink, the top of my toolchest (too high for me to work on), and the top of my small rolling cart. I would consider doing 2 smaller benches if I could gain benefits from 2 different styles. For example, I have thought that it would be nice to have some wooden surface area that is softer and more forgiving without requiring padding over metal.
If you watch their videos, they focus on not needing to move away from the bench to open the drawer. I'm not entirely sure that I buy that; it seems you could do the same with standard drawers and simply standing to the side. However, without trying it, it's not really fair of me to doubt them. Maybe @Beau Nugget can weigh in.
I am guilty of over buying things and while I have the resources for the Badass -- for me that would be really overbuying. I have two Snap-on tool boxes. One is a large/ deep KLR with a metal top .... I have a rubber pad on it as I don't like working on the metal. I agree -- often they are too high. I also have a box on box Snap-on. The line down from KLR (I think I have the correct letters) that holds tons of my tools. Both are way above what I need ... but, I wanted them at the time. Not sure I feel the same today. I also have a couple smallish HF boxes -- the ones with the flip top that you can get for a couple hundred bucks -- they have 5 drawers and worth getting as they roll around and are great for auto tools. People here have some great ideas using the larger rolling HF boxes with a bench made around them. Look that up.
Both the Global and legs from a place like Woodcraft can make a solid bench. The Global can be bought in heavier gauge and has more stuff you can add. Both have rolling as well as adjustable feet available. The top is often the key ... a nice heavy top makes for a solid surface to work off of. Also - with the bench against a wall and no wheels -- it's not going anyplace. I gave my nephew a bunch of old sears benches and we removed the old hardboard tops --- put three together and bought a long butcher block top. Thing is solid --- plus we added some HF wall boxes above (once properly installed they are solid)
There are various online garage outfitters with workbenches and tool cabinets .... some are very nice for a fraction of the Badass. Personally -- I like working on the wood tops. While I do have some for woodworking that I leave alone -- most of the general working areas of my shop have various surfaces on top. I have rubber pads, heavy cardboard and masonite that can be switched out ... if working on a dirty car part a pad and cardboard works well and you toss the board. Same with masonite ... nice for working some things.
Both the Global and legs from a place like Woodcraft can make a solid bench. The Global can be bought in heavier gauge and has more stuff you can add. Both have rolling as well as adjustable feet available. The top is often the key ... a nice heavy top makes for a solid surface to work off of. Also - with the bench against a wall and no wheels -- it's not going anyplace. I gave my nephew a bunch of old sears benches and we removed the old hardboard tops --- put three together and bought a long butcher block top. Thing is solid --- plus we added some HF wall boxes above (once properly installed they are solid)
There are various online garage outfitters with workbenches and tool cabinets .... some are very nice for a fraction of the Badass. Personally -- I like working on the wood tops. While I do have some for woodworking that I leave alone -- most of the general working areas of my shop have various surfaces on top. I have rubber pads, heavy cardboard and masonite that can be switched out ... if working on a dirty car part a pad and cardboard works well and you toss the board. Same with masonite ... nice for working some things.
It would definitely be overbuying in terms of NEED for me, as well. In terms of WANT, that's a different story
I'm trying to decide if this is an area I want to splurge, or if there are better solutions and everyone so far has given me good things to think about. I actually won't be using this to store tools so much, because I already have a couple of boxes and have room to spare in them. If I go with the Badass, I'd probably get one of the designs with the open shelf at the bottom, and put very commonly used items in the drawers on the unit.If you have any suggestions beyond those mentioned here, PLMK. One thing that I haven't found so far is anyone else offering receiver tubes, and those look like a great way to mount a vise, grinder, etc. Those are good suggestions for top materials, thanks!
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Beau Nugget
Active member
I’m sure there is some space that is sacrificed with the pivoting drawers, but I wouldn’t say I miss it. I normally don’t pack drawers so full of stuff that it’s an issue. The drawers are still pretty good sized as they are.
I haven’t seen the videos, but I don’t buy that either. I open them just like any drawer—grab the handle and pull and take a step to give yourself room. When they’re open they stick out a couple feet in front of the cabinet.
The receiver hitch mount is a nice touch. I used it to mount a vise and it‘s really handy.
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niget2002
Well-known member
I'd rethink open shelves. I'm trying to enclose all my shelves to help keep dust off of everything on them.It would definitely be overbuying in terms of NEED for me, as well. In terms of WANT, that's a different story
If you have any suggestions beyond those mentioned here, PLMK. One thing that I haven't found so far is anyone else offering receiver tubes, and those look like a great way to mount a vise, grinder, etc. Those are good suggestions for top materials, thanks!
Shiftless
Well-known member
If a guy has a bad *** workbench, IMHO he needs a bad *** vise permanently bolted down on one corner. Not a 50 pounder tucked away mounted on a trailer hitch to be brought out only when needed. Bad *** vise? I suggest a Reed or Wilton C series. Or many other vintage USA vises.
