Yes, I am a devoted fan for the Workmate. You know, the folding workbench gizmo that holds things and gives you a mini woodworking bench. I have been using one form of Workmate or another pretty much since they came out. I bought my first one from a guy selling them off the back of a truck in the middle of the night. I worked nightshift and he showed up and sold a dozen of them to folks in the shop, myself included. I used that one, wore out the top, replaced the top with ply and continued using it until I upgraded. The old one was given away and as far as I know, is still in use. The next one I bought suffered hard use and now needs a new top. The last one I bought has the band that is supposed to turn both handles equally for closing the top. The band jumped off the cogs about the second time I used it and has remained so. I can turn both handles manually, thank you very much. I beat on them, carve on them, rout on them, saw on them, and glue on them. They are one of my most often used tools in my shop, and have done all I asked of them over the years. Anybody with a shop should have one. They are incredibly handy, take up minimal space when folded down, and are a true multi-purpose tool that DOES as it is SUPPOSED to.
NO, they aren't massive and heavy like a real workbench and planing on them can be tricky trying to hold them in place with your foot. It CAN be done. It isn't fun, nor pretty. Any other task that doesn't require mass is well suited for them and if you are like me, you will continually find new uses. If you don't have one, you need one.
Black and Decker WM425 Workmate 425 550 Pound Capacity Portable Work Bench
Product Description Workmate&tmreg. 425 Workbench, 1 Handed Clamp Portable Project Center, Front Jaw Swings Up For Vertical Clamping, Folds For Easy Storage, Holds Up To 550 LB.
Amazon.com Review The Black & Decker Workmate Project Center might just be the item you need to make your home shop complete. Its versatility makes it an especially ideal choice for those with limited shop floor space: use it as a workbench, a bench tool stand, a vise, or a sawhorse, then quickly break it down and store it out of the way. Because it's lightweight and portable, you can move it conveniently wherever it's needed. The one-handed vise clamp system, with its exclusive clutch design, provides quick and easy clamping. The Workmate also features an extra block to expand your work surface, four swivel pegs, and an adjustable front jaw that swings up for vertical clamping. Its legs fold under to provide the lower height and stability needed when you're using it as a base for bench tools, and its all-steel construction and rubber feet ensure a stable, strong work surface that supports up to 550 pounds. All in all, we were pretty impressed. With features like these, it's no wonder the Workmate is a popular choice for light-duty and home shop use. --Tim Block
Some improvements over older modelsJanuary 29, 2008 This bench is an ideal addition to any workshop, basement, shed, etc. It folds up nice and compact, and serves as a great place for quick set ups and light clamping.
The 90 degree clamping feature is handy, though very limited. It can really only clamp narrow objects, since the rails get in the way and there's only about 1" of clamping surface. Being able to move two of the top sections is certainly a plus, though the plastic securing pegs seem like they'll eventually break.
In comparison to my old 79-001 "Deluxe Dual Height" Workmate that belonged to my father and is now mine, the clamping deck doesn't have nearly as much opening/closing travel, the parts are mostly cheap plastic, and it doesn't have stiffening boards to keep the top flat. Two of the three decks on mine are bowed, and it's never been used for anything heavy or has been hammered on.
I rarely use the orange deck clamps and they often get misplaced. A storage spot would be nice to keep them from getting lost, though I'm sure B&D doesn't mind selling replacements :) There are two holes in the step area that look like they might hold them, but they're a tad too small and the pegs get jammed up if you try to store them there (I found that out the hard way)
Does the job nicely.January 7, 2008 I've sold many of these in years gone by, but found myself needing an extra pair of hands, work bench, cutting table and decided it was time I got one for myself. It's a little awkward to lug around is my only complaint, but then I say that about a lot of the stuff I need to work with. LOL
Aside from a little stiffness initially, setting up and breaking down, which they warn about in the instructions, I've found it very quick and easy to put in place and it's heavy enough not to move around when you put your back into working on something, yet gentle enough that it hasn't marred any of the cast brass pieces I'm working to restore.
All in all, if you're a craftsman working on your own, or a home hobbyist that finds out too often that the pair of hands supplied you at birth are insufficient to get the job done safely, conveniently or well, this is a great addition to your tool collection and for the price an absolute steal.
Nice, butDecember 30, 2007 As others have commented - I can't believe the problems has still not been addressed - my flimsy package arrived in shreds with the workbench damaged. Amazon promptly replaced it. Assembling the unit is simple, especially if you ignore the somewhat obtuse instructions, but the tool supplied for tightening the bolts is best replaced with a socket wrench as the bolts were nearly impossible to tighten with the supplied tool.
Otherwise, the unit seems quite convenient for light duty work and stores easily. Construction is a bit cheesy, but the unit is serviceable.
workbench Great!December 28, 2007 The Black and Decker workbench is great. A quality product, and very useful. I'm certainly glad we purchased it.
Shipping container needs to be betterDecember 25, 2007 The Workmate 425 is indeed a handy device and probably the best value in the Workmate line. Amazon had the lowest price and free shipping. The assembly was straightforward, in spite of the rather poor instructions, and a socket wrench makes things easier than the plastic "wrench" included. As reviews have noted, the shipping container is poor and offers almost no protection. The box was damaged, and the Workmate was lucky to have survived. B&D really needs to improve the container and instructions, but the Workmate is great. It may be worth the price premium to buy the Workmate locally to ensure that it's not damaged, since dealing with a replacement via mail could be a hassle. If you buy through the Internet and the box is damaged, consider rejecting the shipment
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