What to look for in a high quality woodworking workbench- Sjobergs Elite 2000 bench review
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- Опубліковано 17 гру 2015
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Learn more about the Sjobergs Elite 2000 workbench: www.boratool.com/brands/sjober... - Навчання та стиль
I built several benches and finally got tired of building them and bought that exact bench, with the cabinets as shown. I've had it for ten years now and still love it. It's heavy and rock solid and neither the bench or the vises have shown any sign of racking. Recently I made a tool tray to attach to the back side, and a cover for it that is flush with the benchtop so it acts as a work surface extension when I want. I have the Sjoberg holdfast but I got a blacksmith to make me a couple of traditional style holdfasts for it.A local community college offers a one-semester course in workbench building, and the guys I know who have taken the course and built their own bench put in a lot of hard work and spent more than $2500, in some cases a lot more, for quality wood and hardware. And there are several really big glue-ups that call for 3 or 4 guys to handle. Apparently many people don't complete a bench in 18 weeks. All things to consider if you want something better than a 2x4 bench.
I just bought the Sjobergs 2000 Elite. I haven't used it yet, but already I am very impressed with this bench. An update on Pricing - The bench minus the cabinet is currently $2,500. The cabinet is $1,024. I was extremely lucky and was able to buy one left over from last year's Black Friday sale, but I probably would have bought one anyway when you consider the cost of good bench clamps and rising cost of lumber.
One of the best break downs of important bench features I've found. Very informative. Thanks Stumpy!
Good to know. I am starting with a solid core door and a harbor freight vise, so when the time comes and I pull the pin, I will know what to look for. Thanks Stumpy.
This is a great review of a really nice bench.
we appreciate your sacrifice Stumpy. (I'm not going to cry)
Hey Stumpy, I actually built several work benches for different purposes, my heaviest bench is only about 100lbs which is plenty for what I do. When I am pounding on something I swear by my black and decker workmate, and I try to avoid hand planing even as far as turning my wood lathe into a drum sander lol.
Man you are right about the bench shaking. I HAAAAAAATE when my bench shakes back and forth. It seriously is the most annoying thing in the world, maybe next to Rosie O'Donnell :D I built it as one of my first projects and it is way too light, so I'm going to build another after Christmas.
a great video, that follows the Keep It Simple Stumpy principle
Hey there....great videos. Many thanks for making them. Any chance you could show your saw storage please?
Building my own is on my to-do list. In the meantime, if you find that one's in your way now that the video is done, I don't mind storing it in my shop.
+Wood Tools Workshop - That's ok. I don't mind having it in the way :)
All good information, thank you.
good information keep up the good work
Good info. Thanks.
Nice video Mr Nubs.
As they say; you get what you pay for. Like many I built my bench from what was available, the frame from 2x6s from an old bunk bed and the top from two layers of composite from an old ping pong table. The bottom shelf was some more composite. The thing weighs a lot and is very sturdy. Would I like to have a custom bench? Of course, right after I win the lottery!
good food for thought
I know this is an old video, but I found it at exactly the right time. I'm looking for a workbench and am finding very few options. Lee Valley/Veritas recently discontinued their current workbenches due to supplier quality issues, and Lie Nielsen won't be making any more benches until late Spring 2020 (the benchmaking shop is being redesigned). I hadn't really looked at Sjobergs due to unsubstantiated concerns about quality, but your review is helping me get over that hump. I wish the dog holes were 3/4" instead of 1", but I think I can live with that, as long as the vises are as good as you say they are (minimal racking). On a separate note, thank you very much for your informative, articulate videos. Since I found you about 6 months ago, I've come to value and trust your opinions and recommendations. You and Paul Sellers are making huge contributions to my post-retirement transition from aerospace engineer to hand tool woodworker/artist. Thank you!
I'm not sure why you were concerned about quality. Sjobergs has always been sort of the Cadillac of benches.
I had been getting by for the last few years with a Sjobergs Smart Vise (attached to a massive old dining table) and was constantly frustrated by its limitations. But then, you get what you pay for. So today I picked up an Elite 2000 fo a great price at my local tool supplier, with the cabinet and accessories thrown in. I’m about 80% done assembling it. The bench/trestle was a snap, but the cabinet is a little more involved and the directions weren’t always completely clear. I’m very impressed with the quality of the materials, and I have a feeling I’m going to be very happy using this workbench.
@@keithwilliamson4451 - The assembly can be irritating, but it's worth it :)
It's good to be Stumpy.
Stumpy, you did not discuss racking of the bench as a whole. I intended to make a cabinet style bench but before I got to making the cabinet, the racking had increased to the point of needing to add a diagonal between the legs. The bench started off stiff but as I planed it got a little loose. I did not have faith that adding the cabinet would increase the stiffness. So I deleted the tool cabinet from the plan. Since then I added a diagonal between the other two legs going in the opposite direction as I now plane left handed rather than watch TV while my right arm rests. It doesn't seem likely to me that the featured bench will not rack with only the shoulders of the two rails per side to resist the forces generated when planing rough boards.
+Big Fat Tony's - I don't know how a well built mortise and tenon bench would rack, but the addition of a tool cabinet would certainly eliminate that possibility. The tool cabinet would have the same effect that your cross pieces would.
Montréal Canada, where to buy
Stumpy, You have moved up in the world with your New format on 'Infortainment'. You were good before but this puts you in line for the Logie's of woodworking.
+Peter Compton - With the new Woodworking Journal we are trying to have a good mix of information, projects and entertainment.
i have the elite 1500 and after two years I'm not so satisfied with these vices. you should place some scrap piece when you clamp on one side. I highly recommend it.
And by the way. where do I find 1" holdfasts?
+Silent Woodworker - Technically you don't use a 1" holdfast in a 1" hole. You use a 7/8-ish holdfast. They are sometimes called 1" because of the hole they fit in. Google it. I know Sjobergs sells them. Woodcraft sells them. That's just off the top of my head. If your vise is giving you problems, you should contact them. Mine is rock solid, no need for scrap shims.
+Silent Woodworker FYI. You can also find 3/4in holdfasts if you have 3/4in dog holes.
Notice the way the bench wobbles when clamping the end vise.Apart from that - great video
It's on flip-down casters for moving. The casters are moving, not the bench structure. I forgot to flip them back up and put the bench feet on the floor before filming. I actually did that a lot in my old shop. :)
Don't know if you can help me or not. I never worked in a cabinet shop, and putting together the cabinet in this one is beyond my abilities. I may be able to figure it out eventually, but their instructions are pretty bad if you don't have the back ground....
Question: I have one of these Elite benches. I want the height to match my saw stop table saw but this bench is about 1 1/4 inches higher than the saw. I'm thinking of shortening the legs from the bottom by and inch and a quarter. Any issues with this that you know of?
A bench's height should be comfortable for your body to work for long periods of time. An inch can make a big difference in back and neck strain. Make sure it won't be too low before you cut it. I would actually raise up the saw first, since that is a reversible solution, while cutting the bench is a bit more permanent. :)
Great point. I'll try that first. Thanks for all the work you put into your videos. I find them very helpful.
At last, someone understands me. I do not want to build a workbench! I want to make the end product!
What are some comparable workbenches with those sorts of features that don't cost 2.5 grand?
+Everfalling - Google benches. You can use the information I provided to help you choose one.
+Stumpy Nubs (James Hamilton) indeed I will. Past searches seemed to show most of these benches to be priced pretty high. Was just curious if you knew any off hand that are on the more affordable side. If you can't say cause it would seem like endorsement I understand.
+Everfalling - No, I can say anything I like. I know Lie Nielson makes a very good bench, but it's more expensive than this one. I also saw a couple of smaller bench makers at the Woodworking in America conference, but they are pricey too. To get a bench that is heavy with a thick top means a lot of expensive hardwood. Add a pair of good vises and it's hard to find one for much less than a couple thousand. That's why building your own is so appealing. But it's not for everyone, which is why I made this video.
+Stumpy Nubs (James Hamilton) gotcha thank you.
Ehhh, good video, nice bench, however I'm one of those guys who would prefer to build my own. Not to mention, I'd rather by tools, than spend that much for a bench.
+Moochie Kat - To each his own! :) My grandfather was a well driller. He bought a fancy new Dewalt radial arm saw in the 50's to build his own kitchen cabinets. His father (my great-grandfather) called him a moron. He said "you're a well driller. Go drill some wells and use the money to get a cabinet maker to build your cabinets." Some people apply that to bench building. If you're a professional birdhouse maker you may want to buy a bench so you can concentrate on making birdhouses. Or maybe not, it's up to the woodworker...
I'm an ex truck driver. Bought my old Craftsman table saw in the 60s to build a cab over camper. Still have it, and I have built many work benches in the past. I just like to build stuff. I think I'm going to build your band saw next. Just finished a wood lathe from plans in Shop Notes. Fun to be retired. BTW I am enjoying your book.
+Moochie Kat - Older table saws are a lot better than a lot of the new stuff I see. My first saw was a 1970's Rockwell. It was a giant hunk of cast iron. Great saw. The motor is still running on my homemade drum sander! I also have a 1950's Dewalt radial arm saw that still runs like new!
good review, good features, not feasible for me though.
+Mike West - That's why I made the video about what features make a good bench rather than just about THIS bench. Hopefully some can use these tips when shopping for, or building any bench.
+Mike West I have had great success with a bench similar to what stumpy made. I use it for knife making, woodworking, and a wide range of other stuff that requires a bench. 6 feet long, 2 feet wide, and a top of 2x6s. Add some drawers, plenty of rails, legs that are four 2x6s laminated together, and you have yourself a bench that weighs well over 450lbs, and probably more when loaded up.
Thanks guys, i am just about to start on my bench and all of this information is very helpful. It will likely be a hybrid of this bench and stumpys bench.
Cela aide.
I love how you pronounced Sjöberg hahaha so far away from how its supose to sound but i dont hate youre amarican lol
At 5:03, the bench doesn't look that rock solid.
+paulpaul1948 Because the spot on my old cement floor I placed it during filming wasn't level and the bench was up on casters which move in their swivel mechanisms. There is ZERO flex in this bench and it does not move when I flip the casters up and place it on a level spot.
Im swedish whoooo