This is a pretty solid little workbench. While once you figure out how it comes together, it is physically Easy to assemble ru-vid.comUgkxyFZUPFEey-PuqsPMxqaykBhgA1LWxFHh by yourself. But the diagrams explaining the steps are really pretty bad. I could not get the handle pins in all the way despite multiple attempts, so I just used a screw I had on hand for the 2nd handle. I could not get the first pin in further or pull it back out. You are supposed to hammer it in, but I had no leverage and the handle is plastic and I did not want to risk breaking it. I will get a lot of use out of the bench because of the convenient size and height. It does fold up nicely for storage. They even explain how to fold it so you don't get pinched...that is important!
Good work. I just replaced 2 hinges on mine & new clamp inserts. I need a new top & may try 5/4 decking board. Pressboard held up a long time but is now in bad shape. I’ll be watching this again.
I have an old (30+ Years) Workmate-200, and last year bought two new ones from Amazon, model WM-1000... Those now come with laminated Bamboo tops, and are supossedly more resistant. BUT the lousy factory in China made them with too green Bamboo, and they became dished and do not match at the closing end. Plus, one of them came with the holes for the screws misplaced and it was not possible to install the moving part. While Amazon offered me to exchange them, they also gave me the chance to receive a compensation, that I chose instead of the hassle of repackaging and return them. So I replaced the tops exactly like you did, and also went to the extra effort to add some reinforcement diagonals with thin wall steel conduit pipe attached to the folding base with crews that go into Rivnuts, and now my two new units are much firmer and solid that when they came from factory, I guess Black and Decker now sends all the work to China, to the cheapest bidder, including their lousy design, so it takes a lot of work to upgrade their latest products to usable condition. In comparison, the older, 30 year old WM-200 that I have, did NOT require ANY modification and still works fine as it was from factory. Shame on Black & Decker !
Thank you for watching,and thanks for the comment.This one is the first (I think)model that was made years ago.The frame is very good.Please subscribe and share,if you haven't.Thanks again
They are nice to have no matter what kind of work you do. Getting the older ones and updating and even improving them them like Rob did make them last for another thirty years. Nice job. One thing you can do that adds another capability is to cut opposing "V" shaped notches in the clamps where they come together so you can clamp round objects vertically. Its just another helpful way to clamp. Tell us a bit about your table saw it has a nice fence.
Great vid, inspirational, good work sir. Greetings from Perth Western Australia. My genius son carved an arc out of my of of my B&D workbench top while making some 6”x9” speaker boxes. Speaker boxes 1, B&D workbench 0 now. Will use Australian Jarrah as the grip - hard as the day is long. Shall expand on an already great design thanks to you!
Nice looking top. I have 2 Work Mates. Got both of them for free because the tops got wet and swelled up. I had a "bunch" of 5/4 random width White Oak boards left over from a flooring job. I had been lugging it around with my moves to different locations so most of it became a Mission style arm chair and the rest became brand new solid wood tops for my work mates. I made the tops a little wider as you did. Mine also got an easily removable base with locking casters to make them easy to move. That solid oak sure added a lot of weight but they are much better tools now. Peace. Oh yeah I almost forgot...... "Y'all be good, hear." 😀
I have an original (cast aluminum or magnesium) B&D Workmate. It’s probably 40-45 years old. Have rebuilt it twice, and it’s ready for its third rebirth. Can’t imagine working without it.
Great video, I have a workmate that was my dad’s twenty plus years ago. I have been inspired to revive my workmate. Hope you and yours have a blessed Christmas and a happy new year!!
I picked up a 2nd/3rd hand worktable thing like that for 10nz$... table top is the same compressed fibre rubbish.... so 18mm plywood will soon replace it.... might extend one side same as you have :-) You don't thin your boiled linseed oil at all? I usually add turps to make a 1/3... 1/4 dilution.
Nice vid. My parents bought me a workmate for Christmas when I was 14. So now at the age of 44 I'm going to do this. I like the hardwood stripes. Make it a bit more durable. Merry Christmas from Ireland.
Wow - didn't realize how quality was reduced since I bought my Workmate in '76. At that time the tops were made with a high-quality hardwood plywood, must've been at least 8- or 10-ply. So my tops are still in good shape save where I've carelessly let my circular saw go too far...
My 40+ year old workmate is still going strong, on its third set of tops now. Lovely gadget, sad to see how poor many of the more recent lookalikes are in both design and construction.
I'm referring to the long back edge of the wider board. Look at 12min 32 seconds into the video. Holes along that edge may work to your advantage. Just a thought.
Hi, where do I find part number for workmate 550 ? I need a locking leg latch but no part number available for this model. Is this model the same as Workmate 425 type 3?
