Black & Decker Workmate

[tatra]

i have the exact one mooman posted............i removed the leveling feet and put screw in casters on mine........beem using the table top idea for years...........one of the true quality things my father did buy..........

 

[thrifty bill]

+10 The new ones are pretty flimsy. I bought a cast aluminum one at a garage sale last year for $10, much sturdier than the new ones.

 

[Thruxton]

Mine dates to 1970, all steel, still in heavy use around the farm. Have put new boards on it once and that's it! A real classic, hall of fame kind of tool. Great thread, many thanks to the OP!

 

[NUTTSGT]

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?

I never get replies off of Craigslist.

 

[ultimatesooner]

I have an old makita 7 1/4 table saw mounted on one - I would guess its from the 70s or 80s but it is the perfect stand for that little table saw

 

[mooman]

i have the exact one mooman posted............i removed the leveling feet and put screw in casters on mine........beem using the table top idea for years...........one of the true quality things my father did buy..........

I hope those casters lock!!

 

[tatra]

nope, don't use it for much more than a rolling table , if i do use it for clamping and working, i just wedge the wheels with large rubber donuts...........has worked that way for me for at least 15 years now............and i can swap out the original feet if need be..............

 

[bill9860]

Have had one for close to twenty years. As someone said above, a bit low for taller folks but a very handy little devil nonetheless. Love it.

 

[isptech]

My wife bought me one years ago as a gift. I remember thinking, what kind of junk is this? Now it this first thing I go looking for when I do a project. Handy little devil.

 

[kcclark]

I wanted one ever since the Bob Lilly commercial where he would give his Workmate Sunday off (picture him putting his feet up on the Workmate while he watched the Cowboys game). Finally bought a 300 in '89. Somewhere along the line, I added a 400. Done a zillion projects with them.

 

[taumac]

I got a model 200 and a 79-001. I usually use the 200 cause its lighter than the 79-001 and it doesnt help that I replace the top with a oversize 3/4 inch plywood top and a filler piece in center. Theyre great tables.

 

[TireTracks]

My dad has one of the steel ones. Uses it with the chopsaw for working on the house. Real handy. When I was a little kid I would drag it out and build stuff because it was the perfect hight.

 

[wornoutoldman]

I have two from the 70s (awesome and substancial) and a new one (it's really kinda chintzy) but can still do the job. Genius design allright.

 

[Jagmandave]

I've had mine since the early 70's, I thought it was one of the first on offer, all black painted steel - but I had no idea they made them in aluminum - now I have to get one of those!

I've used mine for everything from wood work on the house to holding the engine for my Mini while I rebuilt it!

 

[Krash Kadillak]

I've had one of the bench-top Workmates since sometime in the 80's....

It's really the only vise I have.
Kind of a pain having to clamp it down all the time. Most of the time I just end up clamping whatever I'm cutting directly to the work surface. I'm planning a workbench build though that will incorporate a modular cut out for the Workmate, the mitersaw, router table and other stuff.....

 

[Boyd Who]

Great that this thread came back up. I picked up a Workmate Shopbox at an auction last month. Haven't used it yet but I got it for $5 and thought it was cool.

 

[gatewaysysop]

I actually have an older model, probably from the 80s or something as well. Got it third hand, from one family member to my father and he gave it to me since he didn't need it in his shop. Very, very stout and a nice real wood top. I love it.

To the OP, thanks for posting the story, really cool and definitely gained a new appreciation for my Workmate.

 

[ajchien]

I'm an idiot. I put a vise on top of mine and hammered. Broke the work surface top.

 

[Nor*Cal]

My dad was looking for his to give to me but apparently it was misplaced/lost/sold/ect during his divorce.

 

[Old Moparz]

I have one that was my Father's that was bought in the 1970's. It wasn't the top end model but is extremely sturdy. The steel frame is heavy & the top is laminated & similar to a cabinet grade plywood. The cranking handles & the stops that insert into the top are the only plastic parts & are also durable, not flimsy. I don't use it often, but I do like having it for certain projects. The one thing I always use it for, is to set the window air conditioners on when I install & remove them, it's the perfect height.

 

[James E]

My Dad has one that he bought in the eighties. It's stamped metal with some plastic but it's sturdy enough for everything I ever did with it. I'll bet he hasn't used it in years--I should free it from it's confinement in his garage.

These things are really taken for granted. I would never have guessed how many of you have them and like them.

It's funny. Now I'm old enough to buy whatever tool I need and have a garage full of stuff. I often am in the middle of a project and think to myself that Dad's Workmate would really come in handy.

 

[metalmagpie]

I have two. One I leave for the wife/kids to work on. The other one I use occasionally. The damn things are too short and not height-adjustable. Otherwise they're marginally OK for homeowner quality stuff.

metalmagpie

 

[RTcat]

Add me to the list. I've got one my folks gave me as an x-mas gift back in the 70's. Works great!

 

[Thruxton]

Bought mine in '70, have replaced the top boards once (last year). Use it constantly, really like its flexibility and the fact that on very uneven ground you just have to kick one leg in and you're good to go. A classic (jeez and maybe a repost too- if so chalk it up to enthusiasm!).

 

[4Tigers]

Got an early 70's workmate use it a lot great tool!

 

[Outlander]

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

Why didn't I think of that? DOH! Next project awaits my inherited Workmate

 

[2manytoyz]

I've got an 80's basic model. Lots of use. Got used again today.

 

[Jagmandave]

I bought this one today off Craigslist, then found one just like it for twice as much just a few listings down from mine, in case anyone wants it - if so PM me and I'll send the link to the CL ad....

Black and Decker Workmate bench, $20 or best offer. You will need to be able to come get this. 913-217-7756. This post will be deleted when the bench has been picked up.

The top looks like it's warped in the pics, but it's not, it's in very good shape actually! and for $20.....

 

[OldracerJones]

Have had one for many years, wore the belt used to adjust the table top out and had to figure out a new system that worked just as well. Taught myself and my Son with it. Thanks for the story.

 

[Outlawmws]

I'm an idiot. I put a vise on top of mine and hammered. Broke the work surface top.

That is an easy thing to duplcaste...


I've had mine for at least 25 years and through 2 houses. I'm up to 3 - two 200's and a 400. I got the 400 for the down clamp capability. I had another one that someone gave to me, as it needed new jaw wood, but I in turn gave that to a friend. I'd like to find one of the alloy ones just for the coolness factor...

One thing I've done is mounted a lot of bench tools on mounting plates, and made a special shelving unit to hold the plates. Bench grinders, miter box (an old fashioned steel framed one with a 26" Diston saw...) an arbor press, a molding/picture frame shaver/trimmer...

I' also use it with power miters and my chop saw. It's easier to store them and pull them out when needed rather than have them out and in the way all the time...

I add an inverted "T to the bottom so the jaws have a good place to grip and the top (bottom) of the tee is a safety in case it comes loose.

 

[Jagmandave]

Have had one for many years, wore the belt used to adjust the table top out and had to figure out a new system that worked just as well. Taught myself and my Son with it. Thanks for the story.

Belt?

Mine uses two threaded rods connected to those handles on the front to move the top in and out - that way they can move individually to accomodate things that aren't straight.

 

[Outlawmws]

Belt?

Mine uses two threaded rods connected to those handles on the front to move the top in and out - that way they can move individually to accomodate things that aren't straight.

Some models have a toothed belt (think timing..) for one handed operation.

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

I got one from a contractor buddy in the early 90's. His FIL gave it to him for X-Mas and he said he'd take a bunch of verbal abuse if he brought it to the job site. He gave it to me and my FIL saw it. I told him the story and when he moved to FLA I snagged a twin of mine from him.

They get used a lot as WW project staging in my work area. They don't replace a real vise but they are handy.

Cheers

Jim

 

[Jagmandave]

Looks new! Good score!

I bought the other one I mentioned in my post above for $20 too, so now I have a matched set of the aluminum ones, as well as my old steel original.

 

[mmhouse]

Woe is me, I feel deprived. I do not and have never owned a B&D Workmate. To add insult to injury I worked in the building materials industry my whole (working) life selling the darn things.

Sheesh, what was I thinking??!!

 

[Cryptic1911]

Picked this up for $40 today.

We have one identical to that.. well, other than having orange clamp blocks, and missing the rubber boot on one of the feet that is.

 

[Tech Guy]

Ive got two. First one is over 20 years old and second isnt far behind. Solid wood tops as well. New ones seem a little cheaply made these days. Ive put them through hell and they just keep going.

 

[RVDan]

I've been using this one, belonged/belongs to my Dad, my parents moved and left 90% of their **** behind. Some of the linkage is broken, so its not real stable, but working in conjunction with my bike lift its made a decent work platform.

I bought a generic cheap copy when it was on clearance for ten bucks. The work surface isn't level, go figure.

While cleaning the yard I found this beauty with the cast webs. I've gotta cut some new work surface, and clean up the rust so the threads and hinge points work, it'll be great when I'm done with it.

At the Automotive Swap Meet this morning, I scored a later version in great shape for twenty bucks, figured I better grab it in case my Dad suddenly decides he's taking his away

All my life I thought these things were a gimmick, I never had any use for them, until recently when I started working with wood, now I can't seem to have enough

 

[toolmiser]

Not to hijack the thread, but what models are the best? I think I've seen them out of cast aluminum?

Thanks!

 

[RVDan]

Not to hijack the thread, but what models are the best? I think I've seen them out of cast aluminum?

Thanks!

The earlier the better. The ones with cast aluminum parts flex a lot less therefore make a better work platform.