Black & Decker Workmate

[abstamaria]

I thought it would be appropriate to dedicate a thread to the Black & Decker Workmate, that folding, versatile bench and vise that has helped many a do-it-yourselfer around the world, including me. It has helped me immensely the odd times I have had to work with wood and sometimes even with the automobile projects that occupy most of my free time.

The reason I remembered the Workmate is that RON HICKMAN passed away the other day at age 78.

Ron Hickman is not a household name, even in garages, except perhaps to those that belong to deep-end, purist sports-car guys. Hickman was responsible in large part for the design of the iconic 1960s Lotus Elan, around an example of which which my life has revolved since the 70s. But one of Hickman's designs, inspired by the rear wishbones of the Lotus, is well known, available in hardware shops across the globe, even in the the Philippines – the Black & Decker Workmate.

Hickman was a talented designer and an accomplished pianist at age 17. He was made OBE by the Queen and lived until his death at age 78 in the tax-favorable Channel island of Jersey, made rich, not by the intensely focused Lotus, but by the Workmate. I bought my Workmate in the late 70s, shortly after I bought my Lotus Elan. but didn't know then of the link that joined them.

Although most of the shops and garages on this forum are so well-equipped that a Workmate will seem amateurish, every self-respecting garage (or at least those with Lotuses) should have one. I still have mine.


Ron Hickman with his two creations.

 

[archirelic]

I've got one as well, ugly as hell from years and years of use but still going strong!

 

[Lhorn]

That looks a lot more substantial that the one I just bought. Having said that, I got it for like $15 at one of the after Xmas sales. Not expecting much because of it's very cheap price, I'm surprised how sturdy it seems to be. Says that it's hold up to 300 (or 350 I forget) pounds. I put my 175 pounds on it and it laughed. For the amount I paid and I suspect even at the regular price, I would find it to be a good value. Top seems to be made of bamboo looking wood.

 

[fomocoforrester]

That one in your picture is exactly like the model I have, with the die cast alloy frames. I bought it back in the 70's and now that you mention it, I can see the similarity to the Lotus wishbone design.

The later all steel designs are just as good from a functional point of view, but they lack the aesthetic appeal of the originals like ours.

I fitted out a 38 foot sailboat from a bare hull with no workshop facilities other than the space in and under the hull - a project that would have been much more difficult without that Workmate.

I have also added a clamp-on 6" woodworkers vice to mine, which greatly enhances its versatility for working small pieces.


RIP Ron

 

[sarel.wagner]

A few links: Ron and the GT40
Page 211, how the Workmate started

From a fellow South African

Rgrds

 

[A29]

Got one thats over 20 years old and still works well. Found one at a junk shop a while back thats even older and quite a bit better. They are really handy to have around.

 

[snowphun]

Cool story, thanks. Seems like picking up a used Workmate might be the way to go.

 

[Call me the Breeze]

I have one, use it once in a while. I'm 6-5 and it's a bit low for me to work off it. It has been very handy in the past before I built my big workbench

 

[mysery]

Have had the same one for 20 plus years. It has been used and abused and still is going strong.

 

[bluesboy]

I resisted buying one for years, thinking they where for amateurs. mines been in use now for a long time. couldn't get along without it. Fact is right now it's being used as a temporary support for this computer. LOL

 

[Stuey]

I've used and abused my father's WorkMate, but recently had to give it back. I think his is made in Canada, and I remember going with him to buy it at a B&D outlet in the 90s. The ones on the market today are either flimsy as heck or too large and unwieldy for my needs.

 

[Phixer]

At a recent estate sale, I got a great vintage model with all alloy cast frame parts (except the front step platform). Seems to be marked 79-001 Type E under the front wooden "jaw".

It's already earned its keep by allowing me to build some wooden shelves with wood braces.

But it had seen a lot of use by the previous owner, and one screw fitting on the corner of the "H" frame had a broken screw (and maybe a drill bit too!) inside. Now it has is cobbled together with a large cotter pin, and the Workmate is somewhat flexy as a result.
If anyone wants to donate a Workmate, I'll take one of those alloy "H" frames off your hands!

Fine Wooworking magazine published a book by Scott Landis (The Workbench Book) that features and entire chapter on Ron Hickman and his genius. A very clever person indeed! The world would fare better with more people that can think, then make use of their hands.

My baby...

 

[josall]

I also have the exact same unit that is in the picture. My Dad bought in the 70's to remodel a basement. Solid as a rock and using it today to build drawer boxes for my shop cart. My twin 4 yr old grand daughters love to crank it open & close.

 

[Northstar9126]

Back in the 70's, as a teenager, I helped one of my brothers do a lot of work on a house he had just moved in to. I saw an ad on T.V. for the workmate and said something about how handy it would be. My brother trudged through the snow (his car was stuck) to Kmart to buy the workmate for me for my birthday. I was floored that he would spend that much money for a gift for me. I still have the workmate which is much worse for wear but still used frequently.

 

[bazzateer]

I've got one as well, ugly as hell from years and years of use but still going strong!

Had mine about 15 ys now, great bit of kit.

 

[magnusk750]

This is nice info. I ve always thought a Workmate should be handy but thought the actual the actual Workmates to be too flimsy. But, if you say they are good I guess I'll go for one.

 

[Lippyp]

I've got an early steel one, with the bluey-green paint, bought it secondhand from an old giuy up the road and its still going strong and is used regularly.

 

[Daniel Dudley]

I've got an early steel one, with the bluey-green paint, bought it secondhand from an old giuy up the road and its still going strong and is used regularly.

Same here. Nice plywood top, the thing just keeps going...

 

[Paco Pena]

My Dad bought me one many years ago. When I first got it I thought "what the hell am I going to do with that". Once I used it the first time it was the best thing in the shop. Even used it as a portable reloading bench.

Paco

 

[OccupantRJ]

I have had two Workmates for years, and they are some handy devices. I generally put my miter saw on one, then use the other one for outboard support for cutting long material, by clamping a piece of 2 by in it at the right height.

 

[Andy Griffith]

Good thread, I had no idea the workmates have been around for that long or the history behind it. I have the steel version which I used when building my shop all those years ago, but it's been up in the loft for the last 8 years or so. I have a back back and I am tall. The workmate is very short and as much as I liked it, it was just too painful to use. I kept it thinking someday I would devise a system to make it taller and put it back in service. Of course we all know how well those 'someday' projects work out.

 

[Steevo]

I have an early one, that was a gift to me in the 1970's. I have used it thousands of times and have looked everywhere for another one like it. The newer ones are such cheap junk that it makes me appreciate my old one even more.

 

[Zeke]

Not an alloy one, but an old one that has sat outside in SoCal rain or shine forever. It still does its job and get to go to the job with me a few times a year. Most of the time I consider it too heavy to be part of the daily tool set up.

I don't use one of those fancy chop saw tables either. Small AL ladder with a bar clamp at saw height is fine with me and I cut mouldings almost daily.

 

[Displaced Hokie]

I have one of the newer ones, only maybe four years old. And I'll be honest, I was very disappointed by it's quality when I unboxed it. However, it's been great. Very useful, sturdy, and does what it says it will. I would like to find an older one, as I know they were built a lot better, but until then I'll rock this one.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I remember the commericials they used to run around Christmas time. I've never used one but have thought about needing a small work platform while remodeling the house. I guess I'll keep my eyes open at swap meets for an older one.

 

[digdug18]

I'm somewhat dismayed, I had no idea of the history of this project.

 

[pfbz]

Those vintage alloy ones are nice! I hope I stumble upon a mint one someday...

I have a 225 (steel, particle board) that has been to hell and back, still does its job but the particle board is showing its age in some places...

Picked up the larger 425 at a garage sale, and IMHO it is next to useless... Bigger, yes, but clumsy and not very useful. If you want to pick one up, go for the cheaper 225!

 

[smedly]

I use mine often as a base for a table. I have a 2x4' 3/4" plywood board with a 2x4 screwed to it down the center. Open the jaws up a bit, lay the board on top with the 2x4 in the void and tighten the clamps. Great option for dirty work/spray painting and takes up very little space when not in use.

 

[Cameronl]

I use mine often as a base for a table. I have a 2x4' 3/4" plywood board with a 2x4 screwed to it down the center. Open the jaws up a bit, lay the board on top with the 2x4 in the void and tighten the clamps. Great option for dirty work/spray painting and takes up very little space when not in use.

I do the 2x4 trick with all my bench power tools. Just drop the tool on the workmate and clamp down. Safe and stable.

 

[Aberdale]

I bought one for my dad back in the early 1980s. When he passed away back in 1999, I inherited it back. It looks like it has been through a couple world wars, so it makes me smile knowing how much use he got out of it. It still functions fine, though.

I have used it for fixturing parts for painting. Pretty handy in the paint room for hoods, fenders, etc. Just clamp a couple 2x4 pieces at whatever angle is needed to hang the part from. Wish I had a couple more.

Dale

 

[Bryan Burns]

I got mine for $15 too, from the Black & Decker Outlet store off I-94 in Southeastern Wisconsin.

Not very stout as another guy said, but worth $15. I use it as a stand for my Delta planer.

 

[TheGrooveking]

Thanks for posting this, it is great to learn more about these, I can still remember the commercials for them in the 70's. I have two (one) of these I got in the 80's, unfortunately I loaned one to a friend(at the time) and the jerk moved to another state and took it with him.

TheGrooveking

 

[IndyGarage]

Thanks for sharing the history. I love to hear about folks who invent tools.

I've got an old, tired workmate - about 20-25 years old - 400 model I think, which was pretty expensive at the time. Mine's steel. I'd long forgotten about those alloy ones - those are really neat.

I've beaten mine to near death, but it still works.

More recently I use my Jawhorse much more, but the workmate is still a very versatile tool.

 

[35mastr]

Is this the good one that everyone is talking about. Black & Decker Workmate 400 Work Center 79-034

 

[Stuart in MN]

I've got an early steel one, with the bluey-green paint, bought it secondhand from an old giuy up the road and its still going strong and is used regularly.

Sounds like the one I have. A neighbor who was moving out of town gave it to me some years ago, it is a handy device.

 

[mooman]

You guys inspired me with this tread.
This beauty came up last night on Craigslist.
$15 and it was mine today. It's in great shape for it's age.
Can somebody post a picture of this 2x4 trick you're talking about?

 

[bazzateer]

Can somebody post a picture of this 2x4 trick you're talking about?

That's a beaut! Good score.

Re the 2x4: no pics but take a piece of wood about 6'x4'x1" and screw a 6' long 2x4 along the centre. Lay it on top of the workmate (w/m) with the 2x4 section between the jaws of the w/m. Tighten the jaws until they hold the 2x4 nice and tight.

You now have a 6'x4' table top on which you can paint etc without ruining your w/m.

The table-top can be any size you like really, I used 6'x4' as an example.

 

[Lippyp]

I use mine often as a base for a table. I have a 2x4' 3/4" plywood board with a 2x4 screwed to it down the center. Open the jaws up a bit, lay the board on top with the 2x4 in the void and tighten the clamps. Great option for dirty work/spray painting and takes up very little space when not in use.

I do exactly the same, piece of ply, length of 3" x 2" screwed down the middle to increase the workspace. Mine could do with a new bit of ply as it caught fire when I was welding on it!

 

[Boyd Who]

I have one of the new versions. Kinda cheap and flimsy, but it seems to work well. Never thought about building a "table top" for it but I will now!

Lippyp...what kind of wood are you using that allows you to weld it? Whenever I try that it's hard to get a spark going and when I do it just smokes a lot!

 

[A1an]

I thought this was interesting. Last night I was watching a Top Gear rerun where they were building their own electric car. One of the first shots of Jeremy in their shop was of him unfolding a Workmate.