WorkMates...Sizes and Models

[Zeke]

I'm going to make a few steel plate tops for WorkMates. I have 2 and they are both 5" x 29" each side. Not much surface but the hand cranks on the one side don't allow for much more.

Questions:

I think there's a 24" model. Anyone know the top dimensions?

Other models?

Any interest or design requests?

 

[JASTECH]

I have an older one, it's heavy steel and the table top is thick plywood.

 

[Outlawmws]

Model 200: 24-1/8 X 4-7/8 (X2 jaws)

Model 400: 29 X 8-3/8 & 4-7/8 (Each Jaw) - (Corrected For Typo!)

Note that both of these are older production, current WM almost certainly have different size jaws

My older aluminum frame WM has replacement jaws made by the PO, so I don't think you can count on those dimensions (he added a second piece at the edge of the working jaw edge, to double it's thickness...)

 

[Zeke]

The added edge is standard. The clamping surface is 1.5" and so will be mine. One side to be concave to center round stock.

 

[Stephenw]

Each jaw is 29" x 5"...

Each jaw is 13" x 3 1/2"...

 

[Zeke]

Each jaw is 29" x 5"...

Each jaw is 13" x 3 1/2"...

You know what I've never understood about these? The 2 triangular notches that are not opposite. Does anyone know why?

 

[Stephenw]

The notches are for clamping round stock vertically. The notch is only needed on one side, not both.

 

[Provincial]

That way you can clamp two round pieces upright at a time.

 

[JASTECH]

Now I will need to look at mine to see them 2 triangles cut out, thanks!

My Dad has 2, his older one I remember from years ago and it's heavy metal but with particle board. His newer unit is lighter by a long shot and really cheap top. I will add pic to my first post tomarrow.

 

[bczygan]

History:
http://books.google.com/books?id=MNZprtnqT3wC&pg=PA210#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[Harvey Melvin Richards]

I bought a trashed Workmate 20+ years ago. I made a new top with the front jaw 5" x35" and the back jaw 9.5" x 35". I made the jaws out of double layers of Baltic birch plywood. I also made new lower stretchers to increase the footprint. Twenty years later it still works great.

Luckily the mass produced Workmates no longer resemble the original prototypes.

 

[2manytoyz]

Mine is old & ugly, but still works fine...

It's so old, probably not worth measuring. I might have the only one left!

 

[fflintstone]

You know what I've never understood about these? The 2 triangular notches that are not opposite. Does anyone know why?

It’s also only one part to manufacture, less cost.

 

[fflintstone]

I had 2 both burnned in the 2nd fire.

 

[Harvey Melvin Richards]

Mine is old & ugly, but still works fine...

It's so old, probably not worth measuring. I might have the only one left!

I probably use my Workmate for a quick miter saw stand more than anything else.

 

[Outlawmws]

Zeke, I caught a typo on my dimensions on the "Narrow" jaw, Hope you weren't already cutting! (Double checked my other measurements too...) I corrected the original post...

 

[Zeke]

History:
http://books.google.com/books?id=MNZprtnqT3wC&pg=PA210#v=onepage&q&f=false

Fun read, thanks.

 

[64merc]

I had a big one and a smaller one, but ended up selling the bigger one. It was just too big and heavy to lug around IMO. They are both older ones that I picked up at estate sales. They can really come in handy at times, especially if you don't have space for a work bench.

 

[Vvmvbb]

You know what I've never understood about these? The 2 triangular notches that are not opposite. Does anyone know why?

Yeah, for clamping round stock.
Two opposing v-notches doesn't work well. That would be over constrained and would need precise alignment of the notches or flexibility in location of one of the notches.

 

[Shoottx]

Yup, Lots of sizes of workmates

 

[elguappo]

Each jaw is 29" x 5"...

Each jaw is 13" x 3 1/2"...

I have one of each of these also.
The simpler one has a crappy particle board top thats quite swollen now, I need to make a new top.
The heavier one has the plywood top and is still in great shape.

These are just super useful items.

 

[Bolster]

I somehow got one of these...a Fat Max "Mobile Project Center"...don't remember buying it...had it for years and it holds my chop saw...handy at the worksite.

 

[Harvey Melvin Richards]

I somehow got one of these...a Fat Max "Mobile Project Center"...don't remember buying it...had it for years and it holds my chop saw...handy at the worksite.

How tall is this? It looks kind of short from your photo.

 

[Harvey Melvin Richards]

Many years ago I had a drafting table, but no stool. I was using my Workmate for a stool, not real comfortable, but it worked. So when I decided to make a stool, it was the basis for the size and shape. The stool now lives in my shop, and the drafting table is covered with my wife's plants.

 

[Bolster]

Correction, I do not have the Fat Max MPC. I have the Stanley Portable Clamping Table, and it is 34" tall (not my photo).

Pretty much the same as the Fat Max without the "dolly" option. Appears to be out of production. Got mine in 2007. I wonder if the Fat Max MPC is the replacement for the Stanley PCT?

*** How tall is a Workmate? HD says height is "29.5 inches", so that would be shorter than the Stanley.