Before we moved last year, I had multiple Gladiator Geartracks and a 28″ GearBox wall cabinet in my work room. I even made a vertical pull-out panel with 18″ Geartracks that glided out from beneath my workbench. I had a good idea about Gladiator’s level of quality, or so I thought.
Gladiator’s new adjustable-height workbenches are available in 4-foot, 6-foot, and 8-foot lengths with your choice of 1.75 inch-thick maple or bamboo work surface. There are also 6-foot and 8-foot Select Series workbenches with white-finished legs instead of hammertone black and silver.
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The legs can be adjusted for a total height of 28 to 42-inches, and the leveling feet offer 1.25″ of adjustment.
First Impression
Gladiator was kind enough to send a 4-foot bamboo-topped model for review.
I know I shouldn’t be surprised, but the workbench arrived in perfect condition and zero issues. I’ve had a couple bad experiences with freight deliveries in the past year, but I’m glad to say that this wasn’t one of them.
Assembly was rather quick and painless. A few lag screws into the tabletop, a few bolts through the legs, a little elbow grease, and the workbench was assembled.
WOW.
The quality of the workbench is excellent. I’ve used industrial and laboratory workbenches before, and this seems to be of similar caliber of construction. The Gladiator legs are a little wider and the industrial workbenches were factory assembled, but still, color me impressed.
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Even my wife thought the workbench looks great, and that’s saying a lot! I think she was mainly talking about the bamboo work surface, but still, a compliment is a compliment.
Sturdiness
My full-size computer desk was wobbly. My smaller height-adjustable standing-height IKEA computer table is wobbly. My now-disassembled 2×4 and Simpson Strong Tie workbench was a bit shaky at times. The Gladiator workbench is rock solid.
I can shift the workbench around a little if I tried, but I can do that with anything. It’s rigid, it’s well constructed, it’s solid, I love it.
Additional Features and Specs
The tabletop is 4-foot long (6-foot and 8-foot models are also available), 2-feet wide, and 1.75″ thick. The surface is finished with a UV-cured protective coating that can resist common garage chemicals. I have not yet drilled into it for accessory mounting, but I have no hesitation to do so.
Each leg sports a threaded leveling foot with 2/5″ pads and height adjustment range up to 1.25″.
Future Plans
At first the workbench was at the side of the room, taking the place of half-full tool cabinets. I have since moved it to the middle of my small room, and it has become my primary work table.
I partially rearranged the room to allow for easier video production (coming soon!), but also to better position the workbench for project use. You’ll see this work table a lot in future photos and videos.
I am so impressed with the quality of the workbench that I plan to buy another one later this month to serve as my computer desk and digital projects table. It will probably be another 4-foot table, perhaps one with maple tabletop since this one is bamboo.
The next time we move, I plan to spring for a proper standing desk, perhaps one with a motorized height adjustment. This is partially why I’m willing to spring the cash for a second and maybe even third Gladiator workbench – for present and future intended use.
The price of the 6-foot models (when on sale) might compel me to order one of those for auxiliary use. I think I can fit one in at the side of the room, with a small cabinet underneath and a Bosch L-Boxx tower at its side.
When I received the sample I wasn’t in need of a new workbench. I was curious about the design and merely wanted to test it out for short and long-term review. But now that I’ve used it a bit, I want more.
These Benches Cost How Much?!
Well, the 4-footer is priced at $449 for the maple version and $499 for the bamboo. The 6-footers and 8-footers are slightly more expensive. Gladiator’s fixed-height modular workbenches are substantially less expensive, but they also have lower load capacities.
Although I feel some of Gladiator’s products might be overpriced – $187 for a power strip?! – the workbench feels solid enough that its price seems justified to me. It has a rated load capacity of 3,000 pounds, and there’s some serious metal holding up thick slabs of maple or bamboo.
Where to Buy?
Buy Now(via Amazon)
More Info(via Gladiator)
Amazon is selling the workbenches at their list prices, but offers free shipping. The maple-topped 6-footer is actually discounted $80 at the moment, but with Amazon being Amazon who knows how long that will last.
I couldn’t link to the search results on Sears, so just search for Gladiator adjustable height work bench. Sears’ prices are currently better than Amazon’s, with the 6-foot maple version priced $150 below its list price. The maple 8-footer is currently $165 lower than its list price. With Sears you’ll have to pay sales tax and $70 delivery, but you might be able to get past the delivery fee with free in-store pickup.
I haven’t had too many bad experiences with Sears lately, even with freight shipments, so I might be ordering my second unit from there. On the other hand, Amazon’s custom service is easier to work with when things go wrong.
Verdict
I highly recommend these workbenches. They’re rigid, rock-solid sturdy, easy to assemble, and very well designed. Yes, they’re pricey, but in my opinion they’re worth the premium.
When it comes to workbenches, there are DIY options and store-bought options. It’s easy to say I can slap together a workbench with 2x4s in 2 hours for $50, but there are times when a commercial workbench like Gladiator’s are a better option. For users looking for a store-bought bench, the Gladiator adjustable height models are an excellent choice.
Thank you to Gladiator for providing the review sample unconditionally. Review samples are typically given away, donated, or retained for benchmark and comparison purposes.
John Sullivan
Have you seen the “Seville Classics” HD workbenches that are pretty much exclusive to Sam’s Club? We set up a classroom with ten of them and they seem like a solid value for the price. They lack the adjustable height feature of the Gladiator units and have a less-attractive (not to mention less renewable/enviro-friendly) maple top, but if you’ve seen them, can you give a quick comparison to the Gladiators? I’m just wondering who wins when price is factored in. If we have to expand the classroom, the Gladiator benches will be up for consideration… but that price tag is hard to justify compared to what we already have. Obviously, a proper woodworker’s workbench has a solid feel and would be amazing, but we can get an entire room full of the Seville’s, Edsal, or a bunch of Gladiator for the cost of one Sjoberg.
Stuart
I have seen the designs but not firsthand. I have also seen a lot of recommendations for Seville’s tool cabinets and workbenches. The line is not exclusive to Sam’s Club, but for the workbench Sam’s seems to have the best price ($200).
Comparing the 6-foot Seville to the 6-foot adjustable-height Gladiator, the Seville has 6-legs and 1,000 lb capacity, the Gladiator 4-legs and 3,000 lb capacity.
When price is factored in, the 6-foot Seville is a better buy for those that don’t need the height adjustability or robustness of the 6-foot Gladiator. Gladiator also makes a fixed-height ~6-foot workbench, but spec-wise it doesn’t really compare as favorably to the Seville in my opinion.
The Sjoberg Nordic Plus benches are surprisingly affordable, but they don’t look robust at all.
For a classroom setting, the Seville Classics HD workbench might be a better choice since you probably don’t need height adjustability. Another option would be to buy legs and source oak or maple countertops from Ikea, but that’s less practical if you’re dealing with numerous workstations.
Without a side-by-side comparison I can’t tell you which will be more stable.
Since you already have ten of the Sevilles and are happy with them, it might be best to go with the same model if/when you expand with additional workstations.
John Sullivan
Thanks, as always, for the input, especially for factoring in the capacity. The weight limit of the Gladiators is insane, and that’s even without center leg support!?! I’d be hard pressed to load up a table of that size with half a ton (the limit of the Seville) and honestly can’t imagine HOW I’d exceed the ton-and-a-half limit of the Gladiator.
Stuart
I’ve been looking at electronics benches, and one has a 5,000 lb weight capacity, even with smaller legs and a thinner laminate top.
Years ago we tested the center-loading capacity of a 2×4, which was around 1600 lbs or so. I don’t know if this is average or not. Anyways, here we have a nearly 2-inch thick slab of cross-laminated bamboo. I don’t find it hard to believe that it has a total weight limit of 3K lbs.
I won’t ever load up a workbench that much either, but a higher load rating can sometimes (often?) translate to greater rigidity and stability.
John S
I am definitely in agreement that I think Sam’s workbenches are the best bang for your buck – especially if adjustable height is not a big deal to you
RC WARD
Yeah those Seville will stand up to any of these way over priced Gladiator or Sear’s version benches. Can’t go wrong with any of the Seville stuff
John S
I know gladiator makes great stuff but sometimes I just cannot quite stomach the cost… Not that I am against paying more for higher quality, but I just hope I can find a lightly used gladiator workbench at a garage sale for $20 some day 🙂
BillP
This is years late, but good Heavens that’s expensive.
My workbench concept is to buy the smaller height (5.5 feet or so) version of commercial pallet racking and then put a sheet of sacrificial material on top of the 2×10’s (or whatever size they are). Total cost used, $125 plus some spray paint and sand paper to spruce them up. It looks better than this Gladiator product, is bigger, and is likely a helluva lot stronger.