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by Peter Brett - February 2006
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01444 440188
Big And Beefy. But You Will Like It
The DRAPER MAGNUM 1000, on the other hand, is the first bench for quite a while that has offered a substantial challenge to the market leaders. It has features aplenty, it is robust and stable and it is versatile, offering tradespeople and DIYers alike a chance to have a really useful bit of kit around that will enable them to do better rather than provide a source of annoyance for all the things many “normal” benches can’t do well enough.
I think DRAPER must have started with a fairly clean sheet of paper when this bench was designed, because the way that it works is different in many ways from the run-of-the-mill. Putting it together straight out of the box the user ends up with a fairly standard looking work bench. But the differences and sophisticated bits belie this appearance. Unlike many bench tops these days the jaws are substantial pieces of MDF that are edged with aluminium extrusions. These enable the jaws to hold round and unusually shaped objects (using the slide-in holders provided) and also means that the jaws can be used as guides for circular saws routers etc. Combined with the underclamping facility that allows workpieces to be held firmly under the jaws, accurate machine cutting is a real option with this bench.
Another simple idea, is the addition of a couple of steel strips that clip onto the underclamps. These will hold a project at jaw level and stop it from falling through the jaws to the ground.
Set into the top of the jaws are four lengths of alloy extrusion into which the clamping blocks can be slid. They cannot come out of the extrusion because of the dovetail that holds them in place and they can be tightened into any convenient position in the jaws. This feature, for me is one of the best things about the MAGNUM and this feature alone will ensure its continued use in my workshop. I am ashamed to admit to the number of expletives I have emitted while I have tried to juggle the button workholders in their holes in my usual workbench. With some of my projects I have never been able to find a satisfactory solution to holding oddly shaped components of furniture and have therefore had to rely on extra clamps etc. Layout clamping and mitre clamping are also a great deal easier with the sliding clamping blocks. With the MAGNUM all is sweetness and light and my language has improved as well!
Using the so-called ZOOM feature the rear jaw can be moved forwards and backwards without a lot of handle winding and the jaws can also be set asymmetrically to hold tapered shapes.
Now all these features would in themselves make the usual folding workbench a much better and more useful tool. But DRAPER has not stopped there. The company has designed the MAGNUM 1000 to work in three other positions. By having a set of extension legs that attach to the frame, the bench can be extended to have a clamping capacity of 1090mm with many of the clamping features of the smaller bench. Holding heavy doors and long pieces of material is now a realistic option. They can be held firmly while drilling, cutting or sanding them.
The low angle option uses a similar arrangement of the legs, but what the user ends up with is the work presented at a roughly 45 degree angle. With a few more changes of the legs the bench can be changed to present the work at a roughly 60 degree angle. The user is able to have a number of realistic options to work with and can therefore choose the arrangement to suit the work in hand and his or herself.
Lastly, the bench can be set into ground floor position where the legs lie flat on the ground providing a stable base and a strong clamping facility. This would appeal to tradespeople installing wood flooring I think.
The gripes that I have with the DRAPER MAGNUM 1000 are few. There is a bit of play in the joints so there can be some movement in it when you are using a handsaw for example. The reciprocal action of your arm will induce a see-saw action. This is by no means unusual for this type of bench, so you have to do your best to minimize it. In full extension mode it is wise to have a fairly flat surface to place the bench on because it can get quite unstable.
When you first try it, folding it up can feel as though you need four hands, but once the joints have eased it does get better, and you get more expert too. Lastly, when in basic bench mode there are a few extraneous pieces not being used, and if you are like me there is a tendency for these pieces to be mislaid. A nice big kitbag is the answer.
I think that the DRAPER MAGNUM 1000 is a worthy addition to the list of foldable workbenches because it has not skimped on the quality that is needed for this type of product to work well. It is also innovatory and reflects the need for flexible working modes that many trade professionals and DIYers demand. And because DRAPER is a well established company, buyers can be confident of the help and backup that they need.
Independent Review by Peter Brett
Airstream Communications