Sjobergs Elite 2500 Workbench plus Cabinet Combo

Comments about Sjobergs Elite 2500 Workbench plus Cabinet Combo :

I have had the bench only a month, but have found it very usefull. My old bench was only a plywood/2x4 structure as I started my woodworking hobby. The bench is large enough to do two projects at the same time. And the storage cabinet provides added needed storage. I was disapointed about the 1" dogs, which are not standard.

Comments about Sjobergs Elite 2500 Workbench plus Cabinet Combo :

About 10 years ago I built my dream shop and equipped it with a workbench containing a center tool tray and twin-screw end vise. I found that workbench quite satisfactory for power woodworking but lacking for projects involving serious hand tool use. I found it's face vise in particular to be rather limited and prone to racking. As I became more and more attracted to working with hand tools I realized that my woodworking was being limited primarily by my workbench. I needed a better bench.I preferred to purchase a bench ready made with European shoulder and tail vises but was disappointed with the reported quality of all the affordable options. After examining an Elite 2500 in my local Woodcraft store, I concluded that it would be difficult for me to improve on structure and top of that bench if I were to build my own. F was less impressed with the vises which showed a small amount of racking. However I reasoned that the price of the Elite 2500 was low enough that I could remove the vises and fit shoulder and tail vises myself. I would still be money ahead of a custom bench and time way ahead of building my own from scratch.After I got the bench set up in my shop I was pleased to discover that the vises on the Elite 2500 are equipped with adjusting screws which bear on the rectangular guide rods to completely eliminate racking. Furthermore the jaws are wide enough to provide a substantial clamping area beyond the guide rods and screw and allow a long board to hang to the floor for dovetailing. I was quite pleased with the clamping performance but decided to install a set of the rubber jaw protectors. This further enhanced the grip so that only minor screw pressure results in rock solid gripping of the workpiece. On my next visit to my Woodcraft store I was pleased to see that the display bench had been adjusted to eliminate racking of it's vise jaws.I was also somewhat skeptical of the rigidity of this bench with, what seemed to me rather minimal stretchers. I had planned to augment those at the rear of the bench with Baltic Birch panels. However I have found this to be a complete non-issue. The bench is rock solid with the supplied Beech stretchers.One aspect of the Elite series of benches which has to be taken into consideration is the fact that the dog holes are 1 inch round. This means the many 3/4" accessories that have recently become available can only be used with adapters or by boring additional holes in the bench-top. I plan to make some special wooden adapters but I have also purchased the Elite hold-downs which work very well.I think this bench is an exceptional value and built to take plenty of punishment although it would be a crime not to treat it with the utmost care. I would question whether the critical review has been posted on the correct product. I would also invite that reviewer to be specific.

Comments about Sjobergs Elite 2500 Workbench plus Cabinet Combo :

Product very dissapointing, filmsy not up to industrial, professional strength type of use. We were very disappointed in this purchase.

Comments about Sjobergs Elite 2500 Workbench plus Cabinet Combo :

This workbench is sturdy and better than advertised. I was very impressed with the fitup of the cabinet unit. The assembly was easy and everything fits tight and true