I have owned a Dewalt “Express” folding workbench, model DWST11556, for around 6 months now. I picked one up at the local Home Depot when they had displays out, around Black Friday. They’re currently still at the same price, $69.
I’ve been putting off a comparison between this and several other portable folding workbenches, but I didn’t want to wait any longer to talk about this one.
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Lots of folding workbenches are quick and easy to use. This one takes “quick” and “easy” to different levels.
Sure, there are downsides. Unless I missed something, there’s no way to level the legs, in case you want to use it on uneven ground. And… that’s about the only potential downside.
Dewalt says this workbench can support 1000 pounds. I haven’t approached anywhere near that yet, but I did load it down with maybe 250 pounds of aluminum, and it didn’t budge.
There are dog holes in the top, and channels for fitting certain trigger bar clamps from Dewalt and maybe other brands.
Carrying handles rest flat and out of the way.
The top measures ~33″ x ~24″.
When I bought it, it was at least partially because readers had been asking about it, and I figured I could give it a try. On paper, or rather on a screen, the workbench doesn’t sell itself to me as much as some other models might. But in practice, it is a lot more convenient than I would have anticipated.
I like that it could be a simple folding workbench, or a clamping table if that’s how you want to use it.
The unlocking handle sticks out a little bit, and it has bothered me once or twice for taking up space, but it’s usually easily forgettable.
Lastly, it has metal legs, which helps make me more confident in its stability.
Price: $69
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Buy Now(via Acme Tools)
Home Depot’s price is $69, Acme Tools’ is $90 each or 2 for $140.
As mentioned, I bought this at my local Home Depot. Is it the most featured folding workbench ever? No. But that’s what helps make it so functional and convenient, at least for me.
I would absolutely buy it again. It’s well made, and it helps me get work done, rather than distracting me from it.
I couldn’t find a Dewalt intro video on the folding workbench (or I didn’t look hard enough), but here’s a Stanley FatMax video of the same product. It’s FatMax-branded for certain overseas markets.
One Thing to Consider…
Talking to Travis (toolsbydesign) and Ben, I was told that some people have experienced damage to certain areas of the plastic top, where a piece of the sliding channels can break. This kind of damage likely results from very specific hard impacts.
I haven’t had anything like this happen to my Dewalt workbench, and I haven’t babied it any way. I also haven’t heard about this happening to others.
This is just something to keep in mind. Not with this model, but I have seen damaged folding workbenches before. These types of products are large and bulky, and typically endure handling that’s a lot rougher than they are usually packaged for.
When possible, I like to buy things like this locally.
Nathan says
I like the idea in premise but I think I like the husky table better. I guess since you have/had both. better question – which one did you like better for sheet good or lumber
Otherwise This looks a bit more compact but the top is smaller. might be a nifty idea to have a way to link 2 of them together.
pete says
I have the husky table and it looks about the same size to me. I like my husky table, the big thing i notice is the difference in clamps available to use. The dewalt can use the larger trigger clamps that are faster and have larger surface area. It also seems the dewalt clamping area is more…. versatile. The husky one works well but the clamps that you have to use are the smaller ones and they only work on the one direction that slides.
Thats my make difference i see.
Beaux says
Clamps will hold two together from underneath.
Tom says
I would love to hear your recommendation on which of these to buy. There are so many brands that make something similar at this point.
To me though, they all seem too small to be very useful. Do any of them let you link two of them together the way that Festool MFTs can?
Do you have a preferred vendor for in line clamps to use with the bench dog holes?
Bolt says
I know the kreg tables can link together and I think the worx one can as well.
The yeti says
I want a jawhorse. Sorta in the same league as this table. Lots of options. I like the old style Black and Decker as well
Bolt says
I got a jawhorse ( well it’s actually a rigid but they’re all almost completely identical) last Christmas and it’s awesome. Having a foot operated vise that I can move around is a big help.
I still need to screw a 2×4 to a sheet of plywood or melamine to make a table that I can clamp in it or my workmate for some extra workspace.
Benjamen says
I bought a Jawhorse last fall, and am kicking myself that I didn’t buy one sooner.
Big Adam says
Is the Dewalt bench even still in production?
It’s been out of stock at Home Depot for months.
fred says
Clicking on Stuart’s HD link – shows it available for order at special pricing of $69 – but “not sold in stores”. So maybe they are clearing out old stock.
Benjamen says
Home Depot choose to stock it as a Special Buy at Christmas. I don’t know if they ever meant to carry it as a permanent item at stores.
It’s available several places online.
fred says
Our experience is that plastic worktables and sawhorses are subject to impact damage when they get very cold. So using it in the shop – may not be an issue – but at minus 12 degrees up in the Poconos – you might end up with cracks (in your hands too).
I’m guessing that Stanley’s Zag Industries (Israel) is the OEM for this Dewalt table – while the Husky table is made by Keter (Israel)
Lee Hopkins says
I have Keter folding work tables 2 of them. they have 2 clamps that com with the table easy fold flat for easy storage. Love them.
RCWARD says
Looks like a great portable table, I have the Husky version that has a router plate build in that I get a lot of use out of., and I picked up for 59 bucks. Both nice tables
K2 says
I have really used mine a lot, and like them. I can set it up with one hand, which is good if you’re carrying tools in the other. Pop open the table, set the tools on it.
Something that may be overlooked, the sides also have dog holes. Good for clamps, or perhaps to link two, but I’ve never tried joining them.
Nate says
I have two of these and would like two more. You can’t beat them for ease of setup time, literally 3 seconds and it’s ready to use, and very sturdy! I’ve had around 700lbs in one of them with no issues. They don’t join together but you can butt them up up to each other, hence why I would like 4, one giant work surface.
george says
I have been looking for something like this. But I use a wheelchair so height adjustment and ease of use are crtical. With that in mind, any recommendations
?
Koko The Talking Ape says
Are you in that wheelchair all the time? Hard to see how you could pull a table like this out and unfold it. Maybe folding sawhorses and some kind of separate top would be easier to handle. Or a permanently installed table with a drop leaf, so all you would have to do is lift the top up and maybe swing the legs underneath.
Koko The Talking Ape says
Best of luck to you, by the way.
george says
Thank you. By the way, necessity is the mother of invention. Means I find ways of moving stuff. Not ideal but I get it done. This is for work outside as I don’t want dust and junk all over my small shop.
george says
No, I need something portable, insert light, and be able for me to scoot under it a bit. Yes, I’m a paraplegic so no choice of standing.
Koko The Talking Ape says
K. And how would you use it? There are light folding tables from places like Costco, but they aren’t extremely heavy-duty.
george curtis says
I have looked at those small tables but not to my liking. I would like something that I can put clamps , etc on to hold work. Now I really have nothing that works remotely usefull. I do like the dewalt table and will check it out. Hd says mine has 5 of them.
Koko The Talking Ape says
That giant metal handle is an issue for me, frankly. I know one day I would set a sheet of plywood on it, forget the handle is there, and cut a good notch into it with a circular saw. I would rather have simple releases for the legs and have that table edge be clear.
If it helps at all, I built a table very similar to this. I made a torsion box out of 1×2’s and 3/8″ plywood, with solid infill where I drilled dog holes and mounted the legs. Then I just screwed folding picnic table legs to it. Not super solid, but strong, flat and stowable.
Nathan says
I sort of gave up on buying a portable table last year and opted for a kobalt knockoff of the toughbuilt saw horse idea. clearly not as well made but they do fine – adjustable legs – 2×4 pockets – and can span out to solidly hold a 4×8 sheet of ply. Mostly I use it with 2-4ft boards – as my work space and I used a 3/4 sheet of ply on it that I paint against – cut on- screw to etc. I might drill holes in it for bench dog holes but 3/4 isn’t exactly thick enough for that I don’t think.
SHAWN MANCERA says
Purchased one a few months back as well. The table is light, mobile and as easy to set up and take down . It is a little wobbly, wobbly to the point where it would not work well for hand planning or aggressive sanding, but it is suitable for most carpentry and jobsite tasks. It’s a workable portable shooting bench too.
My disappointment stems from the height. It’s about an inch shorter than most sawhorses, including those sold by Dewalt. That means it can’t easily be used with sawhorses. That diminishes is utility by close to 50%
Whiskey and Wood says
It does work with the lightest line of Irwin quick grip clamps, at least the older version with yellow pads!