Elite 2000 Workbench + Cabinet Combo

The bench itself is okay but it arrived damaged. Otherwise it's very nice with high utility value in any woodshop.

Great workbench, increased productivity in my little hobby shop tenfold, easy to assemble, overall very happy with this one

This bench is just the ticket for serious word working. Mine arrived via lift-gate truck and the driver used his pallet jack to get it to my garage. I had one problem with assembly - the end vice hardware projected below the top too much. The vice kept the top from seating all the way onto the legs. Getting that resolved was interesting. The top and vice department had put in some shims to true the backside of the vice to the end of the bench top. The top of the leg assembly (two legs with cross pieces) was machined out to make room for the vice, but not enough. When I talked (emails) with them, they said "remove the shims to it will fit". There seemed to be some friction between the departments. I wound up cutting more from the cross piece on the leg. I also got the cabinet to go underneath. This was yet another department. For the same size screw/bolt, there were several different kinds of driver tools required. They appeared not be communicate with each other so every department used the style of fastener that they preferred. Ugh. Though there were some assembly difficulties, the final result is well worth the effort.

This bench is a beast. Fully assembled, it's well over 350lbs. In other words, it's not moving. Everything assembled smoothly and without issue. Due to the size of the bench top, you WILL need a second person to help you get it mounted. The vises come already mounted to the bench top and both turn smoothly without a hint of binding. I've gotten into hand-planing and with some of the larger planes you really have to put your weight behind it - this bench doesn't move. As a result, I'm able to plane smoother and faster. I was debating between this bench and the Elite 1500 and I'm glad I went with the 2000. Now that I've used it for a little while, it's hard to argue against having the extra bench top space the Elite 2000 provides. The bench dogs are one inch in diameter, which is a bit larger than the 3/4" bench dogs most places offer. Keep that in mind if you're going to add some holdfasts or other accessories later on. You can buy the bench and cabinet separately but I would argue for the package deal that includes both - it'll save you a few hundred dollars in the long run. The only downside that's worth mentioning actually has nothing to do with bench but rather with the shipping. Mine came via UPS Freight and there wasn't much help in getting it off the truck aside from getting it to the lift gate. It's not like the driver just rolled up to the house, opened the back, pointed to the bench and said "Well, there it is" but that's not too far from reality. I would recommend having someone with you when it arrives - that certainly would have helped me. Aside from that, the bench is great. Highly recommend.