Customer Reviews

HTC HTT-31 Tool Table

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Having received the table this afternoon, I am absolutely stunned that it has ever received a good review. Let me preface my comments by pointing out that I am not whatsoever unfamiliar with assembly projects. I've assembled my beds, my bandsaw, the three desks in our home, all of the shelving in my work space, countless pieces of furniture, etc. But this thing is truly idiotic in its assembly planning. It's not that it's complicated - it's very intuitive and straightforward if you know what the finished assembly looks like, as it is ultimately a very simple construction. The problem is the unnecessarily awful assembly components ("unnecessary" because it wouldn't cost a penny more to simply provide bolts with square collars and put square, rather than round, holes in the legs and beams). The legs and support beams are attached to one another with nuts on one side and a phillips head on the other. Strike one. Tightening these things adequately is infuriatingly difficult because the phillips heads will strip almost immediately if you get anywhere CLOSE to tight... And from that point on, you'll spend the rest of the assembly attempt fighting off insanity as this thing constantly collapses under its own weight while you're trying to hold it steady enough to insert the next bolt/washer/nut set that will be impossible to tighten. And when you're through, you'll have a rickety piece of junk I wouldn't trust to hold my lunch. I'm throwing it out. I'm so annoyed with this thing, I can't even be bothered to disassemble it and go through the hassle of trying to get a refund. Buy this lemon at your own risk.

This is a decent tool stand. I bought it to use with a Delta Midi lathe. I bolted a heavy 1 & 1/2 inch particle board & laminate top to it which gave the whole thing a lot more mass. It is tough to get the unit to sit level without having leveling feet. I also bolted a heavy duty drawer to the bottom of the unit and I think that is when the whole thing went slightly out of square giving me a little tilt when the unit sits on the floor. A thin piece of shim stock fixed the problem quickly. The metal of the stand is not exactly heavy but sturdy enough so the unit doesn't move when operating the lathe. The lathe stand costs in the neighborhood of $175 so this turned out to be a much better alternative.

I use this table with a DP121L Ryobi drill press. This is a very large and heavy bench top tool. The height and base is just about perfect for this tool.

Arrived fast. Packaging looked like it had fallen off the back of the truck - doesn't everything from Amazon - but item was intact and complete. Table is well designed and sturdy. Holds my DeWalt surface planer very nicely. Only complaint is the hardware; I would have preferred hex head screws rather than the phillips head. And I am no fan of nylon insert locknuts. Other than little BS like that, a good product and good value.

I ordered this as a stand for my planer. It is not a super heavy duty stand but very adequate for the planer which is as described.
All the parts were contained in the shipping box and was easy to put together. It took me 20 minutes or so to assemble. I would recommend for medium duty chores and would buy again if needed.

This is a VERY well made table. I didn't realize that the top separates enabling a wider item to be placed on it making it that much MORE useful! I WOULD highly recommend this to anyone looking for an extra table for their shop!

Fantastics product. Assembly was easy and the unit is very strong and stable. I use it as a miter saw table. I highly recommend this table.

The table goes together easily, and can take a lot of down load. However the table is wobbly from side to side. It could really use some angle braces.

This is a handy table, the only complaint is it's no loger made in the USA. The older USA tables had a hard solid wood top. I could not find one made in the USA.

In the advertising photograph this tool stand appears as a handsome and sturdy base for a benchtop drillpress. I am writing to report that with a bit of rework by the buyer it can serve this purpose....just. The following comments are intended to help future buyers adjust their expectations.

Flimsy is too negative, but not that far off the mark. Impossible to judge from tiny Web pictures, the actual item is lightly made and poorly designed for rigidity. The MDF top and the lower shelf come in two pieces each....for ease of packaging, and not because that yields strength or helps brace the stand. The 3/8 inch lower shelf boards might hold a hatbox for a season, but you may conclude as I did that their best use is as kindling. Likewise the top, though 3/4 inch MDF, is split and has no support beneath the lengthwise butt joint making it questionable as a base for even a grinder. More kindling.

The sheetmetal legs are just shy of 0.060 thick---pretty light. The legs and crossbars are punched with 1/4 inch round holes and the provided M6x12 pan head Phillips machine screws with Nyloc nuts are a sloppy fit and close to impossible to pull up adequately. I think that these fasteners would be good as replacements for split shot sinkers which I intend to try. HTC has generously provided #6 x ½" wood screws to hold the MDF parts to the metal. You judge.

The workaround: 1) replace the M6 bolts with hex-head quarter inch bolts and honest lockwashers; 2) cut some 3/4 inch ply for a strong top and fasten it properly after squaring the wiggly beast as best you can; 3) cut a full-size shelf of 1/2 inch ply and similarly screw or bolt it in place to help brace things. Now you can risk your drillpress.

Finally, HTC has glued on a bold label with one inch white letters identifying the thing as a TOOL STAND. If you have reached the age where you have begun to forget what the stuff in your shop is called, then leave it. If not, it comes off with mineral spirits.