WORKBENCH:GLADIATOR vs WHALEN vs CRAFTSMAN

[2car]

This is my first post. I would to thank everyone for their contributions, I have learned a lot from this site.

I am organizing my 2 car garage which I will be using for general, light, home and auto maintenance.

I bought Gladiator cabinets but I need an 8' workbench. I will be storing 3 of the Gladiator gearbox's (24" deep) underneath the workbench. The Gladiator workbench is out of my price range at $400. The Whalen at Costco for $200 is a great buy. I can also get a Craftsman Professional in like new condition from a friend who is moving for $100. The Gladiator is 25" deep, so the box's store nicely underneath. The question is, will the gearbox's fit under the Whalen & Craftsman alright. They are both 24" deep which is the same depth as the gearbox's. Someone posted about the gearbox's not fitting well under the Craftsman bench, they stick out a little. Does anyone have experience with the gearbox's under the Whalen bench, since it is also only 24" deep I assume the fit will be similar to the Craftsman.

I appreciate your advice.

 

[johnnyz53]

I would take a look at my "Patriot" workbench 72x24...May not be what your looking for as it is a traditional bench. The kind your Dad or Grandfather would have used only a bit spiffy. The top is guaranteed for life and can be passed down through your family. The bench is strong enough so as not to need the bottom shelf. If that is not needed we can downgrade the price. I am not soliciting, as I have been a member for several years...Simply take a look...if you have questions feel free to call. I am currently pacing at a 4 week production time.

Best of luck...
John

www.americanworkbench.com

 

[Bojans]

I have the Whelen from Costo and for the money it is great. I expected a little more from the surface. It is rather soft wood and the finish has been detroyed by carb cleaner. I guess the real question is would I buy it again - yes, in a second.

 

[M Fan]

I would check your local Sears stores on occasion and look in the clearence section of the tools. One near us was overstocked on Gladiator 6-foot benches and I was able to pick two of them up for $137 each which normally sell for $450 each.

Also check Grizzly.com because they sell the maple tops and steel legs (check page 268 and 269 of their catalog) grizzly.com

 

[38Chevy454]

I made my own out of wood. Used 2x4 and 2x6 for main structural pieces, 3/4 plywood for shelves and doors. 1/4 inch plywood for sides and back. The top is 2x6 laid flat to provide a nice 1.5 inch thick base. Then covered with 1/4 masonite. Clear polyurethan over the whole thing. My design is 12 ft wide x 32 inches deep x 32 inches high. Makes it nice for splitting up a 4x8 sheet. I have 6 doors on it. Each set of doors has different shelves: one with two shelves, one with one shelf, one open. It weighs a ton, and has moved to four houses so far. I am sure it could support a whole car. Very strong, and far better than any premade cabinets in my opinion.

You could do the same and just leave off the front doors and shelves inside.

 

[wildfan2k]

The Whalen isn't the perfect fit for the Gladiator, but it was close enough for me considering the price. Height is no issue, even with the leveler feet on the workbench at their lowest level, but the gear box does stick out about 3 inches. This is mostly due to the leg stabilizer which attaches to the bottoms of the legs on the back.
If you'd like a width measurement to see if 3 Gladiators will fit underneath, let me know.

 

[ghlkal]

I would take a look at my "Patriot" workbench

John, that's a beautiful bench ... looks great.

 

[greymatter]

Hi, not meaning to hijack your thread but I have a specific question about your whalen workbench, I am planning on picking one of these up for my workshop and will be mounting a 9x20 lathe to this. So I am planning on using some heavy duty machine mounts to replace the feet that come with the bench. Now any chance you could help me to understand how the standard feet mount or would it be possible for you to get a close up picture of them. I believe that they are most likely threaded into the post and was planning on just drilling the threads out to match the mounting posts of my new mounts. Now the big question is would i be able to access the tops of these mounting posts from the bottom or would i need to stuff a really long extension down the whole leg to attach the top bolt and washer?

Hope I didn't make that too confusing?

thanks in advance,

Todd

 

[ktm450]

Hi, not meaning to hijack your thread but I have a specific question about your whalen workbench, I am planning on picking one of these up for my workshop and will be mounting a 9x20 lathe to this. So I am planning on using some heavy duty machine mounts to replace the feet that come with the bench. Now any chance you could help me to understand how the standard feet mount or would it be possible for you to get a close up picture of them. I believe that they are most likely threaded into the post and was planning on just drilling the threads out to match the mounting posts of my new mounts. Now the big question is would i be able to access the tops of these mounting posts from the bottom or would i need to stuff a really long extension down the whole leg to attach the top bolt and washer?

Hope I didn't make that too confusing?

thanks in advance,

Todd

feet are 3/8 x 16 thread. The tubing is relatively thin (0.062" or so) and they use a "threadsert" insert to thread the feet into the base. If I were you I'd weld some good 3/8" or 1/2" plate to the bottom of the feet and thread into that given what you want to do.

 

[inurface]

I'm not looking forward to getting a bench. They are so damn expensive I don't have a Costco (only BJs, which doesn't sell a workbench). The ones for around $200 at Sears/Lowes/HomeDepot are so cheap looking....

 

[jake00]

why not build one?

 

[jshillin]

I picked up 2, 6' Seville Workbenches from Sam's Club. They are nice heavy benches with 1 3/4" maple tops. I'll try to snap a pic of mine if I get a minute today.

 

[Frank Elson]

why not build one?

+1 so much easier to have the size you want and built tougher than any bought-in bench I've seen.

 

[inurface]

+1 so much easier to have the size you want and built tougher than any bought-in bench I've seen.

I guess I don't like the wood home-made look. I might look at getting 2 craftsman bottom chests and putting a top on them to make a workbench.

 

[nate379]

For $200 you could build a kick *** home made bench and even skin the top in stainless!

 

[utah997]

Had mine built and then Rhino lined.

 

[mrmatt]

Had mine built and then Rhino lined.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/utah997/P1020742.jpg

What 3 drawer cabinets are those? Or are they custom-built?

 

[utah997]

What 3 drawer cabinets are those? Or are they custom-built?

Custom, there is a local co. that builds closets and garage organizers. I had them build lockers for my kids in our main garage, and I was so happy with the results I had them do my garage.

Honestly, I can't imagine having any other worktop than the Rhino lining. It's indestructible.

 

[hguerrero]

2car, where are you located?

This is my first post. I would to thank everyone for their contributions, I have learned a lot from this site.

I am organizing my 2 car garage which I will be using for general, light, home and auto maintenance.

I bought Gladiator cabinets but I need an 8' workbench. I will be storing 3 of the Gladiator gearbox's (24" deep) underneath the workbench. The Gladiator workbench is out of my price range at $400. The Whalen at Costco for $200 is a great buy. I can also get a Craftsman Professional in like new condition from a friend who is moving for $100. The Gladiator is 25" deep, so the box's store nicely underneath. The question is, will the gearbox's fit under the Whalen & Craftsman alright. They are both 24" deep which is the same depth as the gearbox's. Someone posted about the gearbox's not fitting well under the Craftsman bench, they stick out a little. Does anyone have experience with the gearbox's under the Whalen bench, since it is also only 24" deep I assume the fit will be similar to the Craftsman.

I appreciate your advice.