stickshift
Well-known member
I have a Workmate 400. Saw an old Workmate 200 on sale locally. Does anyone know if the height on these matches? Would be useful to have a pair of matching height workmates.
Black & Decker Workmate
- Thread starter abstamaria
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Outlawmws
Well-known member
I had both at one time, and no, I'm mostly sure the heights are a bit different. I can recall clamping a 2X in the jaws of probably the 200 to "level them"
This can also be handy if you need something level in a sloped surface like a driveway.
This can also be handy if you need something level in a sloped surface like a driveway.
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I would suggest you ask the seller to measure (carefully) for you. The 200 and the 400 were both in Black & Decker's lineup for many years and went through changes in construction that may have altered their heights. Measuring is the only way you will know.
Here's a little Workmate-related project I did this week. It's probably of limited interest, but might help someone.
At an estate sale last year I came across a Black & Decker Mitremate that was missing its crucial mounting brackets. I bought it anyway and I just now got around to creating some replacement brackets. I have documented this at my website for anyone who wants to do the same:
https://h-frame.weebly.com/mitremate-brackets.html
Here's a photo showing an original metal bracket along with my two replacements from hard maple.
At an estate sale last year I came across a Black & Decker Mitremate that was missing its crucial mounting brackets. I bought it anyway and I just now got around to creating some replacement brackets. I have documented this at my website for anyone who wants to do the same:
https://h-frame.weebly.com/mitremate-brackets.html
Here's a photo showing an original metal bracket along with my two replacements from hard maple.
I don't think this has been mentioned here before...
I was just told that in 2009, ShopNotes magazine published plans for a "Project Workcenter" that is a partial clone of the Workmate. The main functional difference is that it's quite large and doesn't fold up, so it's not really portable. The size of the top with the jaws closed is 14" by 38" which gives 80% more surface area than the Workmate 79-001. It's also 37" tall, about 5" taller than the 79-001. Woodsmith Magazine still sells the plans, here:
www.woodsmithplans.com
I was just told that in 2009, ShopNotes magazine published plans for a "Project Workcenter" that is a partial clone of the Workmate. The main functional difference is that it's quite large and doesn't fold up, so it's not really portable. The size of the top with the jaws closed is 14" by 38" which gives 80% more surface area than the Workmate 79-001. It's also 37" tall, about 5" taller than the 79-001. Woodsmith Magazine still sells the plans, here:
Project Workcenter
You’ve probably seen or used one of those folding, portable project centers. They feature adjustable, clamping tops that come in handy for light-duty work. But the version shown here features a rock-solid base with a large shelf for storing your tools while you’re working. And with the top’s...
www.woodsmithplans.com
Outlawmws
Well-known member
It would probably cost more in materials to make that than to buy a WM.
Yes, it certainly would cost more, especially if you can pick up a vintage Workmate for $15!
However, if the size and weight of this "workcenter" really appeals to someone for the work that they do, a Workmate would not really do the same job for them.
However, if the size and weight of this "workcenter" really appeals to someone for the work that they do, a Workmate would not really do the same job for them.
Von Psycho
Well-known member
I've had mine seems like 40 years, I don't use it a lot but when called apon
it fills the bill.
it fills the bill.
isb cornbinder
Well-known member
I have always want a WORKMATE but I never got around to buying one. I have a Workmate on my bucket list.
rlitman
Well-known member
At auction prices, I'd pass, but if I found it at the curb, I'd totally TIG weld that back together.
Bugeyed Earl
Well-known member
Went to the flea market this morning, and the seller who's had this out for a few weeks finally opened with a fair price (he was asking $50 a few weeks ago, which is also quite fair, but at $20, I couldn't leave it behind.)
And then there were two...
The new one is on the right, someone already replaced the tops, so not sure which type it is, but the base is painted gray, where my old one is galvanized.
And then there were two...
The new one is on the right, someone already replaced the tops, so not sure which type it is, but the base is painted gray, where my old one is galvanized.
captain14
Well-known member
Good job in the pickup. I answered a CL ad two years ago at the start of the Covid crisis and the owner wanted $20. Sold and I picked it up around noon that day. I asked if anyone else responded to the ad and he said no.
Bugeyed Earl
Well-known member
I'm not certain, but I can't find a type stamp underneath the top on the "new" one. Also, the jaws only have a vertical notch on one side of each jaw, one on the left of the moving jaw, and one on the right of the fixed jaw, is that how they came on this version?
Bugeyed Earl
Well-known member
Ah, looking at your site, I see that the notch pattern did change, so this is may be the factory top after all! It has some evidence of a coat of shellac it varnish, but that probably helped it stay together all these years.
I need to get around to replacing the jaws on my type 1, they're beyond rescue I'm afraid.
I need to get around to replacing the jaws on my type 1, they're beyond rescue I'm afraid.
There are some 79-001's from the Brockville factory that have no visible Type stamp, although it seems more common on later Types than yours. I'm sure that in some cases the ink fades completely away, but I think some of them must not have been stamped at the factory.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
The modern WM I gave my son has laminated Bamboo jaws. I'm a fan of bamboo, BUT its out of reach crazy expensive as just material in this country. so I'm watching for things MADE of bamboo for cheap to get some stock...
Bugeyed Earl
Well-known member
Bugeyed Earl
Well-known member
It's funny, I've been considering getting another one with the aluminum H frame for over a year, and suddenly two of them materialize days apart. When it rains, it pours.
Jmellc
Well-known member
I have been needing some parts & found a parts website associated with Stanley Black & Decker. 2 hinges, 4 rubber feet, 4 clamp inserts. I hope they will fit my model OK. Mine has been pretty sturdy, I've had it 30 some years. I hear the newer ones are flimsy. My wood tops are pretty worn too but I can easily make better ones from decking boards. Stronger than the pressboard factory ones.
Hi.
Im from the UK and have a few workmates, but just got hold of this one-
I believe it to be an early mk1, made and sold before B&D were involved, and it's in fantastic condition.
Found this thread as I've been looking across the world for info on these mk1's and although I don't believe these were ever sold in the US, your 57 page thread on them is impressive so I thought I'd share.
Im from the UK and have a few workmates, but just got hold of this one-
I believe it to be an early mk1, made and sold before B&D were involved, and it's in fantastic condition.
Found this thread as I've been looking across the world for info on these mk1's and although I don't believe these were ever sold in the US, your 57 page thread on them is impressive so I thought I'd share.
Attachments
slowtwitch73
Well-known member
^^^ You guys get all the cool stuff 
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Very cool historical find! Looks to be in overall great shape too!
The Black & Decker Workmate is currently on sale in the UK, in B&Q stores, with a further 10% off at the checkout, making them only £18. For all their shortcomings they are £18 well spent.
Black+Decker Workmate Foldable Workbench | DIY at B&Q
The Black+Decker Dual Height Workmate, designed with keen DIY-ers and their limitless projects in mind, allows you to fix the piece you are working on to the workbench. Thanks to the unique solution of dual height, the tool can be used as a workbench, bench tool stand, vice or sawhorse, giving...
www.diy.com
RTM
Well-known member
Heck that is practically the cost of a rebuild kit for one
Jmellc
Well-known member
Looks good & sturdy. How high is it? Looks just a bit low to lean over.Hi.
Im from the UK and have a few workmates, but just got hold of this one-
I believe it to be an early mk1, made and sold before B&D were involved, and it's in fantastic condition.
Found this thread as I've been looking across the world for info on these mk1's and although I don't believe these were ever sold in the US, your 57 page thread on them is impressive so I thought I'd share.
The original Workmate is sawhorse height—23". Before Hickman developed the dual-height model, he offered the Team-Mate as an optional extension bench that provided a higher work surface. It is even more rare than the original Workmate itself.
I have a blog post about the early Workmate that discusses some of these things and shows some of the earliest advertising for the Workmate as well as the Team-Mate add-on:
https://h-frame.weebly.com/blog/mate-tools-ron-hickmans-workmate-before-black-decker
I have a blog post about the early Workmate that discusses some of these things and shows some of the earliest advertising for the Workmate as well as the Team-Mate add-on:
https://h-frame.weebly.com/blog/mate-tools-ron-hickmans-workmate-before-black-decker
Hi wolfcj.
Think I've seen your site before.
Wondering if you could help dating my workmate.
Any tell-tales that I could look for?
It doesn't have the triangle (design?) sticker, or the Black & Decker sticker on the face of it, and doesn't seem to have ever had these (no sticky evidence etc).
Is there anything you're aware of to support an early dating?
Greatful for any help.
Cheers.
Think I've seen your site before.
Wondering if you could help dating my workmate.
Any tell-tales that I could look for?
It doesn't have the triangle (design?) sticker, or the Black & Decker sticker on the face of it, and doesn't seem to have ever had these (no sticky evidence etc).
Is there anything you're aware of to support an early dating?
Greatful for any help.
Cheers.
I haven't researched the original Workmate in depth as I have for later ones. This is obviously difficult for me because 1) there are limited numbers of them left today and 2) I am in the U.S. where they were never sold.
However, my impression is that the original Workmate changed very, very little from its original sales direct to consumers by Mate Tools starting in about 1968, to the year or so (1971-72) when Mate Tools made them for Black & Decker.
The one variation I have noticed is the holes in the jaws. Some of them have either one or two circular metal plates set into the front jaw that appear to be intended to accommodate a standard woodworker's hold-down. You can see this in the last photo on my blog page. That one also has four of what appear to be bench-dog holes in each jaw. Since that photo includes the Team-Mate, which I don't believe was ever sold by Black & Decker, I would think it shows what we might call a middle-period Workmate Mk. I that would have been sold by Mate Tools. It's the only one I recall seeing with the eight bench-dog holes, so it's also possible that it was a prototype idea that never made it to production.
However, I have seen marked WM125's that have the metal hold-down holes as well as ones that do not have them, so it's hard to figure out a timeline for them.
Your Workmate shows the more common variation with two small holes in the front jaw, whose purpose is not clear to me. I have seen that on both Mk I's and on WM125's. Do you know how those two holes would be used?
The triangle sticker is normally at the very front of the right-hand lower side rail, which isn't shown in the photos you posted.
Yours could very well be an early one, but at this point it would be hard to confirm. It sure looks like a great one however!
However, my impression is that the original Workmate changed very, very little from its original sales direct to consumers by Mate Tools starting in about 1968, to the year or so (1971-72) when Mate Tools made them for Black & Decker.
The one variation I have noticed is the holes in the jaws. Some of them have either one or two circular metal plates set into the front jaw that appear to be intended to accommodate a standard woodworker's hold-down. You can see this in the last photo on my blog page. That one also has four of what appear to be bench-dog holes in each jaw. Since that photo includes the Team-Mate, which I don't believe was ever sold by Black & Decker, I would think it shows what we might call a middle-period Workmate Mk. I that would have been sold by Mate Tools. It's the only one I recall seeing with the eight bench-dog holes, so it's also possible that it was a prototype idea that never made it to production.
However, I have seen marked WM125's that have the metal hold-down holes as well as ones that do not have them, so it's hard to figure out a timeline for them.
Your Workmate shows the more common variation with two small holes in the front jaw, whose purpose is not clear to me. I have seen that on both Mk I's and on WM125's. Do you know how those two holes would be used?
The triangle sticker is normally at the very front of the right-hand lower side rail, which isn't shown in the photos you posted.
Yours could very well be an early one, but at this point it would be hard to confirm. It sure looks like a great one however!
Thanks for reply and good info.
No idea what the holes are intended for, and I've been trying to find an early manual or some photos that may indicate, but not found anything yet.
However it is well advertised and in many photos that it was also intended to be a seat (the chair he cut up replacement??) where you'd sit and work on you piece either held in the jaws you are sitting on, or infront of whatever you're doing.
I get the feeling the metal collers were a tweak to the origonal design, but again unsure of their use, and I don't have anything factual to support that other than all the early photos I've seen just have the holes like mine.
Mine came from an elderly gentlemen who sadly passed away.
He had built a house to his own design and the whole of his ground floor was given over to his passion - woodworking.
Apparently he was a woodworking teacher both at school level and I think at trade level and so cared greatly for all his tools. And whilst the family were clearing his estate (selling some, charity donating lots of other things) he had about 4 'workmates' of various manufacturers.
Indeed I also bought (new in box) a draper expert magnum 1000 workbench. I'm building a bespoke shed and thought it would be a useful workhorse for that project.
But....it's ugly and feels 'gimmicky' compared to a real workmate, so very likely to be sold on after this project.
Strangely (as I can be strange..) I haven't cleaned the (little) amounts of sawdust off the mk1. I guess in some sort of homage to the gentlemen at the love he likely had for it.
No idea what the holes are intended for, and I've been trying to find an early manual or some photos that may indicate, but not found anything yet.
However it is well advertised and in many photos that it was also intended to be a seat (the chair he cut up replacement??) where you'd sit and work on you piece either held in the jaws you are sitting on, or infront of whatever you're doing.
I get the feeling the metal collers were a tweak to the origonal design, but again unsure of their use, and I don't have anything factual to support that other than all the early photos I've seen just have the holes like mine.
Mine came from an elderly gentlemen who sadly passed away.
He had built a house to his own design and the whole of his ground floor was given over to his passion - woodworking.
Apparently he was a woodworking teacher both at school level and I think at trade level and so cared greatly for all his tools. And whilst the family were clearing his estate (selling some, charity donating lots of other things) he had about 4 'workmates' of various manufacturers.
Indeed I also bought (new in box) a draper expert magnum 1000 workbench. I'm building a bespoke shed and thought it would be a useful workhorse for that project.
But....it's ugly and feels 'gimmicky' compared to a real workmate, so very likely to be sold on after this project.
Strangely (as I can be strange..) I haven't cleaned the (little) amounts of sawdust off the mk1. I guess in some sort of homage to the gentlemen at the love he likely had for it.
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DaveT
Well-known member
I don’t think it’s strange at all. Respect
vrinner
Well-known member
Here is my 79-001 that was my Dad's. Me and my Dad worked on many a project as a kid on that thing. Whenever I open and close it up, it still has the squeaky sounds that I remember.
vrinner
Well-known member
Sounds about right, junior high school.
The other cool one/connection is my brother got my Dad's wood working bench (the big wooden ones with the various vices and dog holes). My brother uses it all the time to build guitars. I saw it this weekend when I was visiting him and that reminded me of posting my Workmate.
Vintage Veloce
Well-known member
Just scored a Type 1 for $20 bucks! Some of the spring leg catches are broken and there is some surface rust, but seems otherwise great. The tops have been replaced too.
Everything else is solid, even the original feet.
Has anyone tried to make replacement spring catches for the legs?
Everything else is solid, even the original feet.
Has anyone tried to make replacement spring catches for the legs?
thr3squared
Well-known member
I almost wish I didn't open this thread....now I want one, and I certainly don't need it! Or do I?... 
Lot of great ideas here
, I never knew the history of the workmates
Lot of great ideas here
, I never knew the history of the workmatesA few owners have asked me about making new leg catches, but so far I don't know of anyone who has tried. I'm not sure how the clips get broken but for a careless owner that design is a weak point. I haven't yet heard of a problem with the friction hinges they used starting in 1979. Later they switched to a plastic clip, and it was back to breakage.