help understanding this workbench

[JackOfDiamonds]

Because it's cheap and small, I'm thinking about getting this workbench for my new garage, at least until I figure out what I ultimately want.

https://www.harborfreight.com/60-in-4-drawer-hardwood-workbench-63395.html

Questions: What is the point of those pegs on the top? I probably won't put them on but I want to know what they are for.

Any experience with this? I know it's cheap but for $150 it's something thst I don't have to build, that I can stick my little homeowner vise on the corner, then get a "real" workbench later.

 

[Sawdust_]

I have that unit. Like everything else at Harbor Freight its not bad for the price and will do just fine until the other stuff on my priority list is all done.
Once I have the workshop set up the way I want I may build my own bench but at this rate it will be 10-15years from now and in the meantime this bench will be fine.

The pegs are called bench dogs (google it) it's a way of clamping large surface

 

[kd3pc]

great little bench. Not meant to support a lot of weight, but for an all round bench that looks like a woodworkers dream, looks like.

I have one and it has held up well for years. I put wheels on mine and use it mostly for electronic kits and repairs in Ham Radio stuff. Nice enough for my ham shack in the house.

The pegs are used to hold wood being worked in place so that you can push against the piece and not have it slide all over.

It ships flat and you have to assemble it.

 

[Jagmandave]

My buddy has had his for 10 years now and it's holding up just fine. I think it's too small, but if you have limited garage room it will do the job just fine.

However, everyday on Craigslist and marketplace I see better made, larger metal benches for the same or less money.

 

[Shiftless]

IMHO, you’d save money and be better off buying a few 2x4s and building your own workbench. Make the top from a couple of layers of 3/4 inch plywood or find a scrap of something else, even particle board. It will be WAY stronger and heavier than that HF model. The drawers on that HF bench won’t tolerate much more than a small assortment of lightweight stuff.
Building a workbench was the very first project I did way back when we bought this house we’ve been in for nearly 40 years. A guy needs a bench to work on the next project.

 

[JackOfDiamonds]

I'm planning on building one of the "EAA standard workbenches" when the time is right, which I will probably anchor to the wall. But right now, I don't even know where the workbench is going to go in the garage, and my circular saw is all packed up still and so on. I thought this would give me something for the time being that I can assemble with hand tools and stick anywhere, and then in the future maybe use it for a work-from-home desk or reloading bench or something light-duty. The fact that it's small is actually a good.

 

[Shiftless]

Good plan!
That would make a decent future light duty bench.

 

[ratdoggy]

Building a workbench was the very first project I did way back when we bought this house we’ve been in for nearly 40 years. A guy needs a bench to work on the next project.

Same here I've moved and taken it with me....
Built it over 30 years ago.

 

[txvwnut]

I have one of those and will say for the money its okayish, its a mixture of solid wood and particle board and the top is only an inch thick. The vice is actually a pos it flexes so bad that you can't clamp anything smaller than the vise directly in it or use the bench dogs to hold longer pieces. The drawers are not full extension and not covered from the top so any cutting, shaving or sanding the dust and **** ends up in the top two drawers via the benchdog holes and all over what you may have put in them.

 

[Shiftless]

I have one of those and will say for the money its okayish, its a mixture of solid wood and particle board and the top is only an inch thick. The vice is actually a pos it flexes so bad that you can't clamp anything smaller than the vise directly in it or use the bench dogs to hold longer pieces. The drawers are not full extension and not covered from the top so any cutting, shaving or sanding the dust and **** ends up in the top two drawers via the benchdog holes and all over what you may have put in them.

Sounds about right for HF.
J.O.D.
It’s way better to build your own.
For a 4 foot more or less wide workbench with plenty of storage you might consider upping your budget and buying a US General harbor freight 44 inch rollaway tool box and topping it with a couple layers of plywood or MDF. You’ll get lots of drawers that can handle serious weight and have ball bearing slides.
I have one and it is fine for homeowner use. Mine has hundreds of pounds of tools in it and you can still easily open any drawer with your little finger.