Oregon rock crusher
Well-known member
Gut erledigt Holzwurm!
Black & Decker Workmate
- Thread starter abstamaria
- Start date
Gotta say now that I'm looking at all the parts... I really love and appreciate the simplicity of this construction. Hell I do love the whole thing! It's such brilliant industrial design... Knowing that something like this has gone from the markets forever, it hurts quite a bit.
Danke! Papa Wolf ist ein großartiger Mentor
Cheap WorkMate hack/mod
OK, I have this cheap/lightweight WM that I have cursed for being wobbly since I bought it.
Today I stitch welded the 2 cross brace ends to stiffen it up.
OK, there were gaps where I welded it, so I put a finish nail, cut to length, in those gaps before the welding.
I had planned to flip it over and weld the bottom joints but it was so stiff after welding the top joints, I didn't do it.
Remember, I'm not a welder and did these stitch welds with my cheap azz HF titanium flux core welder.
I cannot believe how much those 4 little welds stiffened it up and there's no more racking either!
jmo,
.
OK, I have this cheap/lightweight WM that I have cursed for being wobbly since I bought it.
Today I stitch welded the 2 cross brace ends to stiffen it up.
OK, there were gaps where I welded it, so I put a finish nail, cut to length, in those gaps before the welding.
I had planned to flip it over and weld the bottom joints but it was so stiff after welding the top joints, I didn't do it.
Remember, I'm not a welder and did these stitch welds with my cheap azz HF titanium flux core welder.
I cannot believe how much those 4 little welds stiffened it up and there's no more racking either!
jmo,
.
Last edited:
captain14
Well-known member
Sometimes it takes just a little fine tuning to get it just right.Cheap WorkMate hack/mod
OK, I have this cheap/lightweight WM that I have cursed for being wobbly since I bought it.
Today I stitch welded the 2 cross brace ends to stiffen it up.
OK, there were gaps where I welded it, so I put a finish nail, cut to length, in those gaps before the welding.
I had planned to flip it over and weld the bottom joints but it was so stiff after welding the top joints, I didn't do it.
Remember, I'm not a welder and did these stitch welds with my cheap azz HF titanium flux core welder.
I cannot believe how much those 4 little welds stiffened it up and there's no more racking either!
jmo,
.
willy3486
Well-known member
My dad had a small tabletop workmate in his barn. After he died my mom wanted all the "junk" out of the barn. I saved it from the trash and still have it. I haven't used it a lot as my main shop has a lot of tools I use instead but I plan to soon. My wife and I bought one of the mini building we are setting up shop in. I plan on using it out there as I will be limited on space and it will be perfect there.
After cutting the pieces for my new jaws and seeing the fresh edges, I decided to go back to the original plywood. Turned out the quality of the new board (wood layers, gluing) was so utterly bad. So I dried, re-glued and clamped the original jaws. The only thing I used from the new material was a bit of saw dust to make filler (with wood glue) for some broken sections in the original boards. I've also removed, cleaned and greased all screws along with the vice clamping mechanism. Today I've put it all back together except for one missing M8 levelling foot (will look for a replacement).
It still looks like it went to DIY-hell and back but works like new and is rock solid. Still totally amazed by the thing!
It still looks like it went to DIY-hell and back but works like new and is rock solid. Still totally amazed by the thing!
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Heh, your jaws are worth more than the WM!
Many years ago my wife, her sister, and their mother went in on two Workmates. One was given to me, the other to my father-in-law for Christmas. Mine got caught in a thunderstorm, and the particleboard did what you'd expect. Seen here, I replaced the jaws with Mahogany repurposed from a luan pallet. My son has the other Workmate...his grandfathers.
Attachments
Finally, (until I buy another one, anyway) here is my wife's uncle's Type #2. In my woodshop, I like repurposing building material, as evident of my Mahogany jaws, shown in an earlier post. This time, I used a former Oak dining room table leaf. I have no idea whatever happened to the old table. I took a few creative liberties with this one. I made the back jaw wider, went with 32 inch long jaws, beveled the outside edges, 45⁰ angled the outside corners, added the lower piece of wood on the jaws, and opted for the far less common 10 hole configuration.
Attachments
Outlawmws
Well-known member
You do nice work Mike!
Thank you.
Oregon rock crusher
Well-known member
While on a day trip down the Oregon coast yesterday I walked into a habitat for humanity restore. This Jobmate was sitting in front of the door for $30. Having just seen Snips a couple pages back I couldn't leave it behind. It has all it's feet, the elect strip, and even the plastic tray. Easy to see why the tray has a low survival rate. The steel cladding really helped protect the jaws and lable. A 3980 type 1. Not sure if originally sold in Canada or US and I didn't see a date code. A pic as found and a couple after a quick clean up. Ed.
Attachments
Outlawmws
Well-known member
With some of the instructions in french I lean towards Canada?
True to your user name, you are crushing it!
True to your user name, you are crushing it!
Oregon rock crusher
Well-known member
Thanks Outlaw. Some nice WM's have fallen into my lap lately. Healthy living I guess........I expect sold in Canada as well but I really don't know.
Nice find!
Oregon rock crusher
Well-known member
I had some time today to look at some of the identifying features of this Jobmate type 1. The legs are like the 79-001 type 4 which makes sense as they appear to have been marketed about the same time. The sawhorse feet are all adjustable as opposed to bumber type. The legs secure both up and down by a spring clip. The lower feet are fixed boots except for the right rear which is adjustable. Because of the fixed boots it sits about 1" lower at full height than the e types and the 79-004 type 1 Workmate.
Plastic release handle. Black H frame bushings. This cat page from Wolf's site- https://h-frame.weebly.com/uploads/...ols_for_industry_and_construction_no_date.pdf seems to be accurate as a type 1. Not sure what all changes there were in the 3980 type 2 but the legs and feet seem to be different. I'm pretty sure my type 1 was marketed and sold for the US market relying on tag evidence.
Plastic release handle. Black H frame bushings. This cat page from Wolf's site- https://h-frame.weebly.com/uploads/...ols_for_industry_and_construction_no_date.pdf seems to be accurate as a type 1. Not sure what all changes there were in the 3980 type 2 but the legs and feet seem to be different. I'm pretty sure my type 1 was marketed and sold for the US market relying on tag evidence.
Attachments
Last edited:
This came up at a good time to remind me that I got new info and photos of the Jobmate last spring, and didn't get around to updating my page, which I have now done:
https://h-frame.weebly.com/jobmate-3980.html
I agree that yours was sold in the U.S., based on the paper label on the jaws. The paper label for Canadian models has side-by-side English and French sections for the CAUTION warning, patent numbers, etc., and it has a different part number on the label (but the same model number). I have examples of both labels in the photos on my page.
Since yours is the first one I've seen with the plastic tray, I wonder if you could provide one or two more photos of the tray that I could use on my site. I'd like a view of the Jobmate from the back showing the tray mounted in place, and another one showing it detached. Also, from the views that you've posted already, I can't quite figure out how it attaches. Oddly, the instruction manual I have for the Jobmate doesn't even mention the tray, although it is mentioned in the catalog and newspaper ads that I have seen.
Oregon rock crusher
Well-known member
Thanks for updating your site with the new pics and info wolf. Very helpful. Here are a few more pics of the tray and a couple in the next post with similar items to what would have been the original accesories on the table. The tool tray attaches with three #6 x 3/4" pan head screws just below where the cladding overtops the rear jaw. Expecting that plastic tray to survive actual use in that exposed location is likely one of B&D's more optomistic design decisions. Feel free to use them as you please. Ed.
Attachments
Last edited:
Oregon rock crusher
Well-known member
Thanks! That's certainly a great find for you, and proving to be a wonderful enhancement to my documentation project! You didn't mention that you have the original 12-foot extension cord for it also. I've never seen a Jobmate or a Workmate 79-004 with the original cord. Does it have a replacement plug grafted onto the end?
I have a copy (scan) of the manual for the Jobmate, marked Form No. 976262-04 on the bottom of the last page. If your manual is different I would love to get a scan of it as well, if that's possible.
I have a copy (scan) of the manual for the Jobmate, marked Form No. 976262-04 on the bottom of the last page. If your manual is different I would love to get a scan of it as well, if that's possible.
Oregon rock crusher
Well-known member
I am not certain that the cord is an original but I found it at the same Habitat for Humanity a few days after I found the Jobmate and it matches the outlet on the bench. On the first visit I had picked up a large tool board with service tools prior to that stop. In order to fit the Jobmate in the car I had to first unload a few things. I was parked backed up close to a fence. It was raining and getting dark and in my haste I accidently left a few small items from the tool board behind in their lot. I didn't notice until unloading that night at home.
Hoping for the best I went back the next day the store was open which was the following Tuesday. No luck finding my missing tools but I looked over the store closely hoping my stuff would be there and spotted the cord. Length is right but it did have a replacement end and neither employee there could say where or when it came in but I grabbed it anyway. It looks right anyway...
I know the manual I have is the same as the one on your site because that is what I printed it from. I just put it on top for the picture because it seemed to fit in. The gripmate is from the right time frame but I got it somewhere else so it is not the original one that came with the jobmate. Ed.
Hoping for the best I went back the next day the store was open which was the following Tuesday. No luck finding my missing tools but I looked over the store closely hoping my stuff would be there and spotted the cord. Length is right but it did have a replacement end and neither employee there could say where or when it came in but I grabbed it anyway. It looks right anyway...
I know the manual I have is the same as the one on your site because that is what I printed it from. I just put it on top for the picture because it seemed to fit in. The gripmate is from the right time frame but I got it somewhere else so it is not the original one that came with the jobmate. Ed.
MBfreak
MEMBER EMERITUS
The inventor of the WORKMATE had a day-job at Lotus for Colin Chapman.
I believe he was the body designer of the Lotus Elan from the late sixties.
Wonderful car.
But he made his fortune on the WORKMATE.
Ola
I believe he was the body designer of the Lotus Elan from the late sixties.
Wonderful car.
But he made his fortune on the WORKMATE.
Ola
Ron Hickman's 9-year gig at Lotus was a previous career. Most of the development of the Workmate happened after he left Lotus in 1967 to go independent. We're lucky that he chose his idea for a portable workbench as his first project to develop, from among many inventions he had been tinkering with.
Ever the inventor, after he sold the rights to the Workmate to Black & Decker, he turned his attention to other inventions, none of which were particularly successful. An example was the Footprint Potty, an unspillable child's toilet trainer!
Ever the inventor, after he sold the rights to the Workmate to Black & Decker, he turned his attention to other inventions, none of which were particularly successful. An example was the Footprint Potty, an unspillable child's toilet trainer!
The British magazine "The Woodworker" has published an article about vintage Workmates in its November issue. You can read it online here:
https://www.thewoodworkermag.com/early-origins-ubiquitous-black-decker-workmate
The second image in the article is one that I supplied to the author, showing the cover of a B&D U.S. flyer promoting the 79-001 Type 1, but, as you would expect, the bulk of the article is about the early UK models. I helped connect the author with UK owners willing to supply photos, and provided comments on his draft versions.
As far as I know, this is the first ever article from a print magazine on vintage Workmates!
https://www.thewoodworkermag.com/early-origins-ubiquitous-black-decker-workmate
The second image in the article is one that I supplied to the author, showing the cover of a B&D U.S. flyer promoting the 79-001 Type 1, but, as you would expect, the bulk of the article is about the early UK models. I helped connect the author with UK owners willing to supply photos, and provided comments on his draft versions.
As far as I know, this is the first ever article from a print magazine on vintage Workmates!
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Very cool Wolf!
captain14
Well-known member
I found plans to make a tool tray from a section of rain gutter and aluminum that was designed to hang from one side of the Workmate. The 1” aluminum was bolted to the gutter and hung on one of the leg braces.
Pictures?
captain14
Well-known member
Workmate tool holder - Fine Homebuilding
I find my Black & Decker Workmate to be incredibly useful in the workshop and in projects around the house. But it has a shortcoming: It has little room for […]
www.finehomebuilding.com
This may be where I found the idea and plan. I will have to look for the trays I made. I made them as gifts to my father and brother for Xmas one year.
Attachments
Here's an interesting adaptation of a Workmate to a trailer hitch. This is for sale on Craigslist, where the seller explains it as:
"Classic Workmate 400, customized to attach to trailer hitch work station. $90
All intact except original leg support. Not including hitch right angle support shown. If needed must buy rear hitch platform assembly + $75"
"Classic Workmate 400, customized to attach to trailer hitch work station. $90
All intact except original leg support. Not including hitch right angle support shown. If needed must buy rear hitch platform assembly + $75"
Attachments
Skyman
Well-known member
That's a novel customization.
Steve
Steve
gleman
Well-known member
I've got two WMs from The Habit for Humanity ReStore this year.
A modern WM 200 that didn't even look used. And last week's type 7
The top is a little rough and there's a couple of rust spots I'd like to address. Has anyone got a color code or match for the type 7s?
A modern WM 200 that didn't even look used. And last week's type 7
The top is a little rough and there's a couple of rust spots I'd like to address. Has anyone got a color code or match for the type 7s?
Your 79-001 Type 7 is from the first week or so of production that used the oak-veneered jaws.
Unfortunately I haven't found a close match to "Workmate gray".
Jeff Ivers
Well-known member
A couple of years ago, I acquired 2 Workmates for very reasonable amounts - one free off the curb and one for under $25 at an estate sale. A couple of days ago, I was at another estate sale and saw one like the one in your first pic priced at $100. I guess the days of inexpensive workmates locally have ended! With regard to paint, I used a dark gray Rustoleum spray paint on one of my restorations and was very pleased with it.I've got two WMs from The Habit for Humanity ReStore this year.
A modern WM 200 that didn't even look used. And last week's type 7
The top is a little rough and there's a couple of rust spots I'd like to address. Has anyone got a color code or match for the type 7s?
But if I remember right, your restoration was a complete repaint (wasn't it?), so the new paint didn't have to match the old. It would be great if we knew of a paint that would be an acceptable match for some spot painting, like what gleman needs to do.
Jeff Ivers
Well-known member
I understand what he wants to do. My experience is that all paints fade with time, so matching the paint means matching the degree of fade that has occurred. So, even if you have a correct color code for the original paint, it probably won't match. That is why I went with a complete repaint. However, the paint I used seemed to be a very close match to the degree of fade on my unit, so I might have got by with touch-ups, which is why I offered the info I did.