Black & Decker Workmate

[NewShockerGuy]

Interesting info I found on the wall mounted workmate. Workmate Dropleaf #79-021

http://dave.spalla.com/?p=2779

Not sure if I am going to pick it up. Dude is only asking $15 for it, so it's cheap. Maybe mount it in my shed? If I had more room in the garage I'd definitely pick it up and mount it on the wall.

-Nigel

 

[wolfcj]

For some reason it never occured to me to hang them up on the wall. I think I'll try that this weekend.

The original owner's manuals suggest hanging them up for storage, with line drawings or photographs showing it being done. (I realize most current owners don't have the manuals.) Unfortunately I don't have enough wall space to do that.

 

[foamer01]

Oh and we need pics of yours asap.

Here are a couple of pictures of the bench top that a friend dropped off.

 

[lafester]

Here are a couple of pictures of the bench top that a friend dropped off.

Looks good. Now you just need to make matching jaws.

 

[lafester]

Re: Black & Decker Workmate

Nice pocket hole jig table.
Using the hf version attached to a 2x4. Sits perfectly on the jaw bracket making it level with the top of the jaws.

Could use a longer 2x4 to span both brackets...

 

[lafester]

FYI Armor Tool sells 20mm pegs to use with their (or craftsman for half price and use points) rails and hold down clamp.
I got two long ones off ebay for $12 and cut them in half so I have 4 short ones to use when needed. I did have to thread one end but aluminum is easy threading.

 

[IMCA38]

Went to an auction yesterday and got this one for $5.00.
Was dirty, but otherwise in great shape.

 

[Outlawmws]

Nice score for a Fin! It even looks to have the good Marine Ply top!

 

[Kayakranger76]

Found this really nice vintage aluminum h frame mate at an estate sale today for 15$. I already have a rusty 200 model that I use a lot


Edit. Now after reading more posts here...it's stamped type 2 and the top sticker is still in place

 

[oldmxracer]

Went to an auction yesterday and got this one for $5.00.
Was dirty, but otherwise in great shape.

Great buy !

 

[lafester]

Found this really nice vintage aluminum h frame mate at an estate sale today for 15$. I already have a rusty 200 model that I use a lot


Edit. Now after reading more posts here...it's stamped type 2 and the top sticker is still in place

Really like my type 2s. No plastic and the aluminum brackets look cool. You got a nice one... I took the sticker off mine so I don't ruin it.

 

[6PTsocket]

I have a couple of B&D workmates. I just got an email advertising something that I thought workmate fans might get a kick out of. Grizzly is selling a tiny little table top workmate style item. It is 16 x 18 with suction cup feet. 3" between the jaws and 8 1/2" between the dogs and it is like 14 bucks. I do not own one, have no connection with Grizzly and have no idea of the quality.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[elguappo]

Thats a great buy, I have not been able to score an aluminum frame WM despite finding and buying numerous later models.

 

[taumac]

Got the new workmate hung today. The Craftsman push clamp makes a good hanger for the clamp bag.

I like the way you hung those on wall. Do you have any picture of the brackets you used to hang them?

 

[lafester]

I like the way you hung those on wall. Do you have any picture of the brackets you used to hang them?

Sure I used bicycle hooks from Walmart for the top and ladder hooks for the bottom. Cut a couple inches off of the ladder hooks as they were too big. These are .99 ea and I just had them lying around.

 

[Outlawmws]

If you hang them the other way you can use a modified (square) French cleat... Just leave the jaw open a bit...

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I picked up a free Workmate 550 with the model WM425, Type 3 on it from Craigslist awhile ago. Was this considered a good model?

It’s in great condition but missing the jaws. A Google search turned up Parts Warehouse but they want $75 for EACH jaw and there are 3 of them. C’mon!

Does someone have a cheaper source or dimensions/drawing I could follow to cut my own from a good plywood?

(Sorry, I didnt want to go back through 40+ pages on this thread)


Edit;
Just started going through the thread. Found ereplacementparts.com. But they still want $59 for each jaw. That’s ridiculous. The whole thing probably didn’t cost $180 brand new!

 

[Outlawmws]

Someone here will have a 550/425 that they can measure the jaws on.

Wait, I have one... Doh!

I'l try to measure it up tomorrow...

Got mine free also! But mine came with jaws. Next time get a freebee with jaws!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Someone here will have a 550/425 that they can measure the jaws on.

Wait, I have one... Doh!

I'l try to measure it up tomorrow...

Got mine free also! But mine came with jaws. Next time get a freebee with jaws!

Thanks for the quick response and offer. I’d REALLY appreciate the dimensions of the jaws and whatever other dimensions you think I’d need to mount them. I never used the orange “dogs” that came with the Workmate I had years go so I guess I dont need to now where the holes for those go.

 

[Outlawmws]

OK- 550/425 Jaw width: 29"

Back jaw: 8-1/2 Spacer edge back from the face that meets the mid jaw about 1"

Middle jaw: 7-1/2 Spacer edge back from the face that meets the D jaw about 1"

Dynamic Jaw: 4-3/4 Spacer almost flush with the face that grips the mid jaw.

Do you have the spacer blocks that engages the frame?

 

[lafester]

There's a couple videos on you tube showing how to make the jaws for a 425.
I think he ditched the spacer blocks as well if you don't have them.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

OK- 550/425 Jaw width: 29"

Back jaw: 8-1/2 Spacer edge back from the face that meets the mid jaw about 1"

Middle jaw: 7-1/2 Spacer edge back from the face that meets the D jaw about 1"

Dynamic Jaw: 4-3/4 Spacer almost flush with the face that grips the mid jaw.

Do you have the spacer blocks that engages the frame?

There's a couple videos on you tube showing how to make the jaws for a 425.
I think he ditched the spacer blocks as well if you don't have them.

FIRST, a huge thanks to Outlawmws. You rock! SECOND, I’m not familiar with these spacer blocks but there is nothing wooden on the frame. Do I NEED these spacer blocks? Can I make them myself if I do? EDIT: The jaws on the video seem to be equally sized 2x8’s.

EDIT: Here’s the YouTube video I think you were talking about:

 

[Jimthediyguy]

I’ve got two! 1st one was a Christmas gift at least 35 years ago. 2nd one I picked up at a yard sale just last month for $5. Complete with the orange dogs and rubber feet. It looks to have never been used. I used the first one a lot. Comes in very handy.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Outlawmws]

The blocks are plastic and look like this (probably about an inch thick and I think the one up front connects to the lead screw nut/Block)

 

[McBrownie]

Time for a winter Workmate action shot even though it is sideways (fixed).

This is an old 625 type e 02 “Made in the Republic of Ireland” workmate. It had the “screw jack” threaded feet that just weren’t very solid. So, ordered some new “boots” from ereplacementparts.com. Had to do a little clearance “machining” with an end mill in a drill press to make them fit and now it’s as sure-footed as a newer one. Also, got the snowblower running which is good news this time of year.

https://www.ereplacementparts.com/foot-boot-p-95587.html
https://www.ereplacementparts.com/foot-p-95588.html

View media item 90738
https://www.ereplacementparts.com/foot-boot-p-95587.html
https://www.ereplacementparts.com/foot-p-95588.html

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

So . . . has anyone made a mobile base for their workmate? One of mine lives in a spot in the garage where I'd like it to be easily moveable. It's usually has something sitting on so I'd like to be able to roll it away to get to my shopvac or table saw.

Below is a picture where it lives. I'm thinking a sheet of 3/4" ply with casters about the size of the lower legs when they are extended. I'd attach via the bolt holes the "short feet" thread into. I'd fold the legs up and put another piece of plywood in the recess on the lower "step" for storage. I'm shooting to keep the overall height the same to match it's cousins in case I need to use them together.

I'd lose some stability but gain the mobility I want.

Cheers

Jim

PS: Don't mind the mess - lots of **** tossed up on that platform needs to be organized or tossed.

 

[McBrownie]

So . . . has anyone made a mobile base for their workmate? One of mine lives in a spot in the garage where I'd like it to be easily moveable. It's usually has something sitting on so I'd like to be able to roll it away to get to my shopvac or table saw.

Below is a picture where it lives. I'm thinking a sheet of 3/4" ply with casters about the size of the lower legs when they are extended. I'd attach via the bolt holes the "short feet" thread into. I'd fold the legs up and put another piece of plywood in the recess on the lower "step" for storage. I'm shooting to keep the overall height the same to match it's cousins in case I need to use them together.

I'd lose some stability but gain the mobility I want.

Cheers

Jim

PS: Don't mind the mess - lots of **** tossed up on that platform needs to be organized or tossed.

Take a look at post 149 on this thread.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4406286&postcount=149

Edit: FYI, I eventually got rid of this setup in favor of hanging the folded up workmate on the wall. Having it on a base took up too much floor space and tended to collect a bunch of **** making the workmate unusable when I needed it.

 

[ProGun3400]

I too have the WorkMate Bench Top version. Nice, handy, portable, and doesn't take up much room. Use it often, mostly for gun/rifle work, I use foam jaws for holding a rifle for cleaning. It's great for the FCG's on Kalashnikov rifles....

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

Take a look at post 149 on this thread.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4406286&postcount=149

Edit: FYI, I eventually got rid of this setup in favor of hanging the folded up workmate on the wall. Having it on a base took up too much floor space and tended to collect a bunch of **** making the workmate unusable when I needed it.

Darn - I missed that post. That should work for me!

Thanks McBrownie!

Jim

 

[taumac]

I’ve seen this idea and thinking of how to adopt system to my workmate.

There’s also tons of ideas of if google retractable casters.

 

[Outlawmws]

That is awesome! I love that welding fab bench! And the roller lift isn't too shabby either!

 

[dodgejunkie]

Time for a winter Workmate action shot even though it is sideways.

This is an old 625 type e 02 “Made in the Republic of Ireland” workmate. It had the “screw jack” threaded feet that just weren’t very solid. So, ordered some new “boots” from ereplacementparts.com. Had to do a little clearance “machining” with an end mill in a drill press to make them fit and now it’s as sure-footed as a newer one. Also, got the snowblower running which is good news this time of year.


View media item 78241

LOL I did the exact same thing with my workmate, I made a work bench top for
It so I would have a bigger area while working on the three (3) free snowblowers I picked! Worked great.

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

So based on the reference by McBrownie I built the same basic thing. The base is a rectangle of 3/4" plywood with blocks in the corners. The blocks are flush on the bottom to mount the casters and the right height so that the WM's feet rest on their top. The WM is not attached to the base at all except for a friction fit in the frame.

The casters are $25.00 a set from Amazon. They are 1/2 the price of the Woodriver casters on my other equipment and deliver about the same proportion of quality/fit/finish. They roll fine but the locking mechanism isn't as nice.

I then made a 3 piece insert shelf for the base. It has to be 3 piece to fit into place. You drop the side pieces into place and slide them outwards. Then insert the middle piece to lock it into place. You have to relieve the corners to miss the top of the feet screws.

I then made a work platform from my son's old train table. Its held in place by an I-Beam type thing by the WM.

The pics are:

The tops of the shelf pieces
The bottoms of the shelf pieces (showing the relief for the feet).
The shelf in place.
The work platform in place.
The I-Beam detail on the work platform.

Cheers

Jim

 

[trijeff]

Nice, real nice there, Jim

Then again, I don't have vises I don't use. Doing otherwise would be like dating Jessica Alba and sleeping on the couch.

 

[McBrownie]

So based on the reference by McBrownie I built the same basic thing. The base is a rectangle of 3/4" plywood with blocks in the corners. The blocks are flush on the bottom to mount the casters and the right height so that the WM's feet rest on their top. The WM is not attached to the base at all except for a friction fit in the frame.

The casters are $25.00 a set from Amazon. They are 1/2 the price of the Woodriver casters on my other equipment and deliver about the same proportion of quality/fit/finish. They roll fine but the locking mechanism isn't as nice.

I then made a 3 piece insert shelf for the base. It has to be 3 piece to fit into place. You drop the side pieces into place and slide them outwards. Then insert the middle piece to lock it into place. You have to relieve the corners to miss the top of the feet screws.

I then made a work platform from my son's old train table. Its held in place by an I-Beam type thing by the WM.

The pics are:

The tops of the shelf pieces
The bottoms of the shelf pieces (showing the relief for the feet).
The shelf in place.
The work platform in place.
The I-Beam detail on the work platform.

Cheers

Jim

Jim, nice job and great idea with the three piece shelf. Mine did not have that and everything fell into the bottom into the hardest to reach corner, of course.

 

[McBrownie]

Picked up another set of “boots” from ereplacementparts.com for another old workmate. They have done a nice upgrade and made them out of a rubberized material. They stretched where they needed to and were much easier to install than the hard plastic ones.

https://www.ereplacementparts.com/search_result.php?q=242393-00

 

[the gypsy]

Nice I am going to look into this item at a later date.

 

[MarlynOC]

Used as base for chop saw to cut new flooring. Wedge with the orange holders in front and rear and a clamp n rear to keep steady from side to side. Worked very well.

 

[JMLangford]

I was invited to share this here....

This is a small tabletop Black & Decker WorkMate....


It has an lever on the right side, that when you release the tension, It swivels in a multitude of positions....


Does anyone else have one of these or have seen one before?


.

 

[mikegt4]

I have one of those that I inherited from my father's tool collection. He used it when making things for his model railroad. Also good for holding things in position for soldering.