CK22T - Tabletop – 3/4in holes

I purchased the Bora Centipede (2’ x 4’ model) after seeing in a local Home Depot and I also own the Kreg Mobile Project Center & Kreg Track Horse, so I have decided to combine my impressions and experiences in a single post. I have owned the Kreg Mobile Project Center and Track Horse for about three years now. These have not been my primary work surfaces/saw horses but I often set them up as a compliment for unique situations and secondary work area as needed. This is primarily due to the height limitations of the Kreg Project Center. The 31 1/2” height is my single biggest complaint and detraction of the Project Center. I recognize I am abnormally tall (6’5”), so take this complaint with a grain of salt. Disclaimer- I purchased these with my own money, the Track Saw in store at Lowe’s, the Bora at Home Depot and the WorkCenter thru Amazon. I have not been compensated in any way and these opinions are my own based on my experience. I am not sure exactly what structure will work best for this post, so apologies if this format is a bit confusing/inconsistent. HEIGHT: Reiterating and expanding on the height on the Project Center. It is not adjustable. The height on the track saw is adjustable. This renders the adjustability of Track Horse useless when paired together with the Project Center to form a larger work surface. I think this was a big miss by Kreg. Making the legs adjustable would’ve added a bit more weight, but I can’t imagine it would be enough to be a detraction. As noted, the Track Horse height is adjustable and I find it comfortable to use at its highest setting. The Bora Centipede isn’t adjustable; however Bora offers 6” risers which I purchased and the total height of the work surface sits at a very comfortable height. I would have to look, but I don’t think they make any other size risers (say 3” and 9”)- and I would recommend Bora consider manufacturing a solution for other potential applications/user heights. WEIGHT and WORK AREA: The project center is by far the heaviest of the three solutions. While this is not an apples to apples comparison, as obviously the Track Horse is a saw horse footprint; while the Bora is a 2’ x 4’ and the Kreg is just over 2’ wide (27.5”) x just over 2.5’ wide (31.5”), the Project Center it is the heaviest of the three. Additionally keep in mind, the Project Center and Track Horses are one piece where as the Bora is two- the top separates from the base. FEATURES: All of these solutions are packed with features and there are too many to list so I am going to focus on those I use or find to be innovative. On the Project Center and Track Saw, the immediate features that stand out are the clamping options. The Project Center and Track Saw offer a track, running the width, but they also offer a “key hole” slot on the sides allowing for vertical clamping. This feature is great for working on the edge of boards. The Project Center has dog holes and pre drilled holes to install the M4 pocket hole jig. I also use the pre drilled holes to mount and unmount a lightweight vise when the situation requires it. The Bora Centipede also offers a work surface with dog holes. I want to pause here and perhaps clear up what I may have assumed is known about the Centipede. The Centipede is a collapsing base. Bora offers manufactured work surfaces to be paired with the base or you can use sheet goods you may have on hand. However, a work surface isn’t required to use the centipede. There are 2x4 brackets that can be attached to create a partial surface, say for cutting larger materials or using as an out feed or saw station. Back to the features. The Track Horse does not have dog holes. It goes without saying, this is not a knock on the Track Horse. It’s not designed to be a full work surface. At its core it is an adjustable height saw horse. The Kreg Project Center and Track Horse can each function individually or be combined into a pair of saw horses. I supposed, untraditionally, the Centipede is also a sawhorse in a different construct. The Project Center and Track Horse also come with connectors enabling the addition of a sacrificial piece of wood (2x or other) so as not to cut through the aluminum track. The Centipede affords a similar arraignment, albeit differently. Using the 2x4 brackets you could simply add a 2x4 and cut through those. The Kreg options provide an ability to expand the work surface dimensions, at the expense of half of the Project Center table surface. This can be set up by adding a 3/4” thick piece of ply, mfd or other, which is supported with 2x4’s and the Kreg 2x4 brackets between any combination of 2- Project Centers, 2- Track Horses or one of each. I often don’t bother with the runners and just put a ~quarter sheet of 3/4” ply between the Project Center and Track Horse as I am not putting a lot of weight on that expanded work surface. I have not seen a solution to combine two Centipedes into a singular larger work surface; however Bora makes a 4’x8’ version for those regularly needing a larger foot print. One real annoyance I have with the Bora Centipede is the storage bag. Let me say that I called Affinity Toolworks, parent company of Bora, and they said they are working on a solution to this. Anyway the annoyance is that the provided bag cannot accommodate the installed 6” risers and presently no bag is available for purchase. And while they’re working in a 45” ID bag to accommodate- I will remain dissatisfied for the simple reason that I don’t want to spend $20 or more on a carry bag. As it is, the kit I purchased the Centipede 2’x4” top with did not come with a carry bag for the folding top. That bag costs $45 on Amazon as I write this review. $45 for a carry bag…… Instead I am exploring 45” ID carry bags for tents on Amazon which cost approximately $20. A huge plus is all come fully assembled, which in today’s day and age is welcomed. Also the rocker handles to depress the locking detents on the Track Horse are my favorite style. The Project Center opens and closes in seconds and its operation is intuitive. USAGE: All of these work as you’d imagine. The base of the Project Center combined with its weight make it very stable. Same for the Track Horse. The Centipede is also very stabile, however as the top isn’t affixed and similar to what happens if you expand the Kreg solutions and don’t secure the larger work surface to the 2x4 support, bumping the Centipede can move the work surface out of place. I haven’t had it fall off entirely, but that is a definite possibility. To solve this, I affixed some non slip carpet underlay to the tops of my risers and there are other solutions. In fact Bora makes a hold down clamp that comes with some of the kits to secure the work surface. I find that the camel gets in my way and so I like my solution. WARNING: Kreg has warning labels all over the Project Center and yet I have on several occasions still managed to pinch my hand and fingers in the folding top. They could add a lock of some kind, or I could bungee the table tops shut, but when I have laid the Project Center down flat and then picked it up, I have on numerous occasions pinched my hand very, very unpleasantly. Kreg, could solve this but I won’t knock them as it is clearly user error at this point. VALUE: Shipped with features: Kreg comes with clamps, dogs, brackets for the expanded work surface. The Bora can be purchased by itself, however I regularly see it offered with “bonus accessories” at no or little additional cost. These Bora accessories included non slip pads, clamping solutions and cord holders. COST: The Project Center and Track Saw comes as a single unit. The Bora Centipede, due to its versatility can be purchased a just the base and used with a standard sheet of plywood or other, or can be used with the 2x4 clamps (accessory) as a modified surface CONCLUSION: So if I could only choose one…. Well suffice to say that the modularity, features and accessories of these solutions makes this a difficult choice. The Centipede is lighter weight than the Project Center. It also affords a larger surface area (Bora manufactured or homemade). The Kreg offers a more stable base, but it is lower in height. Cost wise, the Centipede (without top) is ~70% the cost of the Track Horse and ~50% of the cost of the Project Center. The Centipede is easier to transport, but lacks a vertical clamping solution (without modification). The Centipede bag situation leave me miffed. Also the Centipede accessories, and I could have touched on this a bit earlier, are as “universal” as the Kreg’s accessories are. By that I mean I can only use them with the Centipede- where as Kreg makes an accessory Clamp Base that allows you to attach and use the Kreg clamp on any work surface (so long as you don’t mind making a hole in that surface or it already has dog holes). All in all you can’t go wrong but I won’t be the person to subject anyone to a lengthy summary and not offer a definitive solution and so I would choose the Centipede, every so slightly, over the Kreg Project Center because of the work surface height, ease of transport and because you can purchase it on its own for 50% of the cost of the Kreg Project Center and adding your own work surface (or none at all).

Very sturdy and holds my benchtop equipment without any issues. The storage ability is the best especially when space is minimal.

This is a fine worktop for a centipede work stand. I have gotten a lot of mileage out of mine. The dog holes are properly spaced, unlikely the equivalent metric model of this work top, though they are a bit on the large size so some dogs will fit loosely in these holes. Where this could improve in terms of “durability” is to chamfer or round over the edges at the factory. This is MDF after all, and its sharp edges are easily blunted and do more damage if you bash them when sharp than if they had a slight round over or chamfer. Where this could improve in terms of “portability” is to move the handles to the opposite side of the hinge. The handles are great for carrying, but once you get it to the work top you have to do an awkward dance to get the top open without it crashing down on the stand or accidentally crushing your fingers. A simple change by Bora here would make all the difference.

I’ve got several portable work tables, but decided to try out the CT6. It’s quicker and easier to set up than the others I have, and it’s quite sturdy. It’s not wobbly (it has about 1-2 mm of movement when set up with the CK22T top). I’m glad I went with the 36” legs rather than the 30” legs. I’m 6 feet tall and the height is perfect. The CK22T top can be tricky to set up on the Centipede. Definitely need to watch out for pinches. I think the trick to setting it up is flip it on its side, then fold out the top while on its side. Then set the edge onto the Centipede legs on one side, then lower it down flat. The lock handles aren’t super-precision, but they work well enough. I’m very happy with this bundle!

Love this workbench table top. Very well-made and strong.

I've bought 2 of these, the first (2 years ago) was decent quality although the fittings to attach to the stand are not well thought out and difficult to setup. The 2nd one had significant quality issues including that the fittings are not flush with the top meaning there is not a smooth work surface. Definitely not recommended.

Very versatile, sturdy, and portable. A winner for sure! When you combine it with the Centipede

I bought this with the expanding base. Very impressed once it’s locked down how sturdy it is. The install seems kind odd but it works with these plastic metal things that are turned to lock in. It’s sturdy enough you can clamp to it and pieces don’t move. Heavy enough to stay in place. Warning the folding feature and hands don’t mix, be careful when putting it away, the handle is for after you folded it back up. My only complaint is when gluing I like to lay down pack tape to prevent glue sticking, the tape seems to pull away some of the top material, the MDF or whatever it is, would be nice if it had a glue safe surface.