Comments on: Hot or Not? Black & Decker’s Workmate

By: sableskin

sableskin — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:13:57 +0000

I have a workmate, and cannot figure out how to unfold it. I have no instructions. Can someone help?

By: duggy dugg

duggy dugg — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:53:59 +0000

got a workmate 300 for $10 from a company no longer needing it ;
one rubber foot missing ; still works like a charm ; got several projects out of the way with it ; great catalyst for moving stalled projects forward and “doing it now ” projects ; this may be my tipping point in getting the garage etc organized !

By: Jannarama

Jannarama — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 08:39:04 +0000

I have a Workmate and the product book (My mom was so organized!)…the product book is “Form No. 975396-01 10/75″ written on the back, printed in Canada. Yes, October, 1975!

I got the Workmate from my mom a couple years ago after my father passed away. I thought it was a cool thing back then when I was a kid, and NOW that I’ve got kids, I still think it’s a cool thing!

I am looking for another ‘gripmate’ peg for the two Gripmate clamps I have for the Workmate. You can see an image here: http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j287/jhp63/Tools/P1000291.jpg
of what I am needing.

I have NO idea what model number this Workmate is. I can’t find one written on the WM itself, and the Instruction book doesn’t have a model number written either. I just know the pictures in the booklet HAVE to be from the mid ’70’s!!

By: James

James — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 05:09:51 +0000

Have a WM 400 about 20 years old. It has a few (extra) holes and paint, but continues to give good service. heavy, yes. solid, yes. I love it and can’t understand why they don’t make a magnesium version. Unless it’s because everyone already has one. I have to keep all my tools in a single shed 7′x4′, such is urban bliss. This bench has just gotten more valuable every year. I’m looking for additional table top clamps now. See ya.

By: david

david — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 03:14:25 +0000

The first and original Workmate had a diecast magnesium base. My friend’s father had one of them and it was impressive in its day. I’ve looked for years for a used one, but have not found one (one was on eBay a few years back and I missed it.) I have a steel Wrokmate that is about 25 years old and I wouldn’t trade it for any of the new ones. It has a 5/4 laminated wood deck albeit a bit too narrow, but rugged.

By: Kurt Schwind

Kurt Schwind — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 00:13:30 +0000

So Larry, what parts are you looking for? I’m just curious what you’ve had break.

By: perruptor

perruptor — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 22:27:46 +0000

Actually, there’s a link at the top of this thread that can get you to WM 300 parts. Here’s the parts page for the “Type 10″:
http://www.toolpartsdirect.com/cgi-bin/schematic.cgi/blackdecker/79-033_TYPE_10
There are also pages for types 1, 2, 9, and 13.

By: perruptor

perruptor — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 22:22:25 +0000

Larry, if you’re looking for the clamp jaws, here:
http://www.blackanddecker.com/ProductGuide/CategoryOverview.aspx?cPath=1496.1500.2228
If you need another part, contact B&D.

By: Larry

Larry — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 21:22:36 +0000

Where do I find parts for a workmate 300?

By: perruptor

perruptor — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 15:08:16 +0000

I have an old one I inherited from my dad. It’s no trouble to set up - takes about twenty seconds. No problems with the feet.

Most recently, I used it to snap plexiglas along scored lines. It was great for that - just put the ‘glas down between the clamping boards so the score lines up with the top of the table, clamp it, and snap. Very straight edges.

By: Cometchaser

Cometchaser — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:08:38 +0000

I LUV my workmate (the one pictured.) I purchased it quite some time ago for around $60 new and have used it for just about every project I do. I’ve used it to mount my 8″ BD table saw, drill press, router table, etc., by drilling mounting holes for each and lableing them with marker. I used to own the BD folding saw horses which I purchased for about $30/pair but stupidly sold them at a garage sale when I moved cross country. I can’t say enough about some of the innovative BD products.

By: Grimshot

Grimshot — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 05:24:37 +0000

More of hate-love relationship for me… I like the idea of it, but it’s so friggin heavy, no handles or carrying places to tote it, the clamping system is pretty Mickey Mouse, the three-piece of table always seem to break in the wrong place and the holes for the plastic dogs are NEVER in the right place…. Still, it’s a great height, once you get it set up; I’ve used it for miter saw base, too.

By: Big Dave

Big Dave — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 07:52:33 +0000

I got my workmate 200 from my wife’s dad. I was still new in the box, after sitting in one of his storage buildings for who knows how long. I have used this for just about everything one can imagine, most recently, a portable reloading bench. It’s heavy and stable enough to withstand full length case resizing of even the largest belted magnums, but portable enough to take to the range. I have had no probles with the feet, or any other part of this magnificent tool. I wish I had two of them!

By: Teacher

Teacher — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 02:18:18 +0000

I’d like to get one but the only thing our Lowes sells now is some crummy pos from task Force. I looked at one in the store and it looks like the metal is the thickness of an aluminum can.

By: Travis

Travis — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 02:07:23 +0000

I have one of these (though, with the MDF and laminant table top). Mostly, I’m happy with it. It fits well in my garage where I have to play Tetris with all the tools. I’d say my biggest beef of all is the fact that it’s probably about 5-6 inches too short for me so I end up stooping down a bit to work on my projects.

By: Mahmood

Mahmood — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 21:30:47 +0000

Love it. I have an older one that my father-in-law picked up at a tag sale…it’s great. I’ve built my own privacy fence in the last couple of months, and it’s been there the entire time for me (clamping top used to hold the 2×4s while I cut them with the circular saw). Yeah, it’s heavy and a bit clumsy to set up…but it gets carted around in the wheelbarrow along with the circ saw, boxes of screws, nail gun, compressor, clamps, etc…so it’s not too much of a pain. almost 300 ft of fencing done and It’s still sitting there and doing what it’s supposed to do. I like that.

By: Skitter

Skitter — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 17:33:59 +0000

I think my problem with these is that I’m looking for something that is a portable workbench/tool platorm not merely a saw horse replacement, hence my issue with the low height of the Workmate Bench.

By: JoeBob

JoeBob — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 03:21:57 +0000

I have one that the kids gave me for Fathers day years ago- (220?)
steel, heavy, and very useful!
Currently using it for cutting lumber for a deck, and I have used it to clamp a bicycle, holding parts for painting, and god knows what else.
Never had a problem with the feet, and as noted, a dab of glue would take care of that.
I have seen some of the newer, lighter workstations, but haven’t found a valid reason to replace mine.

By: Stuey

Stuey — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 00:46:18 +0000

Ignore my post about the $20 one at Lowes - I went to pick one up and saw that it was a POS.

I saw a Stanley Mobile Project Center - now THAT was a pretty little table! I read you guys’ review on it a while ago, but in person it looks really well made. I mean, there were even slots so that the table can be clamped non-uniformly. But at $85, I may as well buy a non-folding entry level table from Sears.

By: Jim Crockett

Jim Crockett — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 00:06:48 +0000

I have two of the older steel models. Granted the tops aren’t as large as the newer ones and they are heavier, but I wouldn’t trade them. I have one set up with a large plywood top attached to a 2×4 that I clamp between the original tops and it works nicely as a small worktable. And, yes, the feet may tend to fall off but you can always use a little construction adhesive or another glue and glue them on permanently.

By: Kurt Schwind

Kurt Schwind — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 18:57:48 +0000

The few folks who are giving it a ‘not’ are talking about 2 sawhorses and a piece of plywood. Come on guys. While 2 sawhorses and some plywood give you a work surface, they don’t give you the bulit in clamps. The 425 above is set to even swivel 90 degrees so you can clamp an entire door on it. Hard to describe, but the surface is 3 boards. The board with the words ‘Workmate’ can swivel 90 degrees up so that it’s clamping down towards the flat surface. Try THAT with a couple of sawhorses and plywood.

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 18:28:38 +0000

I love them so much I have two! They’re great when you need some extra workspace or a mobile workspace. I agree that they are a compromise but they do what they need to do.

By: Dennis

Dennis — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 16:05:51 +0000

I have the 525 model with the dolly attached, and they should not even bother putting that on. Its more of a hinderance than a help. Tried moving boxes with it and its not wide enough. Clamping works good on the tool but the table space is minimal. I wish there was a table that had a large table top and collapsed for easy storage. I dont like the lightweight benches either. Seems as though if you put on weight on it incorrectly, they will tip over. I dont really care for my table, but its what I have for now. I’ll just wait and see if something better comes out on the market.

By: Nate Bezanson

Nate Bezanson — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 10:32:12 +0000

Hot. It’s a shame that magnesium tools aren’t more common, because I’d love to see what some real lightweight castings would do for the Workmate. Aluminum just doesn’t cut it. A friend of mine has a magnesium stepladder which is rock solid to climb, and simply astonishing the first time you lift it on one finger.

But enough fantasy! Even the “mere mortal” stamped-steel Workmate is great. I don’t carry it long distances, and the frame is sturdy enough that I don’t worry about damaging it. The clamping top is great, though a bit slow to crank in or out very far. I’ve seen vises with a lever that disengages the screw so you can slide the jaw freely, then you throw the lever and twist the screw to clamp. If any of the Workmate knockoffs include that feature, I’ll consider changing brands if and when it comes time to replace the old beast.

I’ve never had the rubber feet fall off, though I suspect a dab of rubber cement or liquid nails would solve that problem in a hurry. My problem is that I’ve lost all the pegs, but I didn’t use them much in the first place. If I cared, I’d have made replacements.

By: Skitter

Skitter — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 05:59:17 +0000

Not.

Too short, too heavy, too slow to set up, to flimsy.

I like the idea but I think the execution is poor. I’m on the look out for a better alternative for a sturdy, quick to set up portable work surface that I don’t have to hunch over.