Thread: B&D Workmate style Benches

I've owned a B&D Workmate for well over 30 years. It's a really useful bit of kit. Until quite recently it was the only bench I possessed and it served me well.

The biggest drawback is that it's relatively light and you have to hold it down in some manner when you use a Workmate for planing and sawing. I've always just planted one foot on the step. That works.

I've now got a decent bench but I'll keep my Workmate - and for more than sentimental reasons. It makes an ideal platform for a bench-mounted drill press, for example.

The Kincrome benches are pretty natty, but for proven reliability I reckon the original B&D can't be beat.


Cheers.....................Sean

If you want to experience the true horror of a lightweight version, you can have the one SWMBO brought back from Aldi one day! Cost 16.99, and worth not a cent of it! I haven't actually found anywhwere that sells the B&D ones, but the Kingcrome ones do seem to be well built. My problem is that they are fairly heavy, and I want one to carry around from site to site, but so far I'm still working on my 2 fold up saw benches.

Unlike Driver I've only owned a B&D workmate for the last 26 years, ditto to pretty much everything he said. I still use mine, it hangs off the edge of the work bench and is very useful for any number of tasks. The FIL bought it for me and one for himself which is still in the original box unused, and I've been keeping a very close eye on it as my old one is pretty much knackered.

Originally Posted by Yxoc

Today is my day for asking questions...

I have been doing my woodwork at a club workshop but would like to do more at home and am tackling the question of a workbench. I would like to build my own one day but don't have the time or inclination (or skills) just yet. Unfortunately I can't afford to drop $1000+ on a fancy bench from Carbatec or elsewhere and in any case my workspace is quite limited in my presesnt dwelling - it also doubles up for use in other activities. I am wondering what the workmate style of fold up benches are like for hand tool activities (clamping for planing, sawing, chiselling and so on) from those that own/have owned one. Also are they the best example in this genre - I saw this one at bunnings made by Kincrome that was more expensive but the box that it came in felt HEAVY which gave the impression of being reasonable quality.

Basically I'm trying to determine if these items are just flimsy toys for the do-it-yourselfer or useful and practical clamping solutions for the space limited woodworker.

Really appreciate your time

Coxy

I bought a B&D 15years ago , I lived in mining camps and it was the only bench I had until I just recently built a proper bench , now that I have my own house and shed .
The only thing I did with it is replace the mdf top ,with hard wood .The mdf would probably be still ok , except I lent it to some one who left it out in a tropical storm one night.

Keep in mind that the threaded blocks that the scews go through are only plastic and will strip out if you get too heavy handed tightening them.

If you are thinking about buying one, then buy one! I've only had mine for 5 years - much shorter than others above!

It served me very well when living in a townhouse and not with many tools. Now I have a house with a large shed and 2 long workbenches. These benches are not ideal and I wish to make proper ones one day, but the reason I'm not in a hurry to is that the B&D Workmate is service me VERY well. Infact, I want to buy another one.

You do need to place a foot on them when cutting, planing or chiseling - but that's not a worry. They are also handy for a temp workbench surface. I have a 32mm laminated board that has 2 battens screwed under it, and these battens get clamped into the B&D. This provides an ideal surface for assembling projects, routing etc...

Nathan.

Abso;utely useless. mine only lasted 28 years before I had to pass it on to a poor sucker who had no room and did not mind that one of the leg springs was dodgy. He is still using it. I did not even get genuine MDF and had to put up with plywood.

In fact it was really good and i wish I still had it but had to economise on space a few years ago when I had to put most of my stuff in storage. Reduced my stuff to my bench and tools.

But you don't need to spend $1000 to build a good strong useable workbench.

Pine or even timber you can scrounge will do quite well.

If you have more money than sense that's the time to make a fancy showpiece.

Well, I've only had my Workmate for 20 years or so and it looks like the dog's breakfast but it still works a treat and when you need it you need it. Gets a bit less use now I have the Superjaws, but still a ripper for the money.

I am like the other members had mine forever. If you want a bench why not get two and from a second hand timber mob buy a solid core door... bingo a bench
les

Hi to All
Like most of you I too have had a BnD For over 20 yrs, and it still works.
Now I have the use of 3,of the 4 Kincrome workbenches on the market.

I have found that the one they call the 4 in 1 is the most versatile....
you want to clamp up a picture frame....it does it
you want to hold a piece to sand it....it does it
you don't have to wind forever to clamp a piece
the thing is well built, strong.
There are probably many aplications that I have not listed, but for $250 (Melb Bunnies) you cant go past it.

I should declare vested interest as I am the Demonstrator.

I have a couple of the cheaper versions of the worktable, at around 20 to 30 dollars, can't go wrong. There will be things that you cannot clamp on $1000 benches that a workmate will be able to clamp. Their strengths are portability, compactness, the big weakness is securing them so they don't move. I have used the cheaper version where you don't have a step to put your foot on and that can be very frustrating when you need the workmate to stay still.

I to am using a workmate until my workbench is complete. My solution to overcoming the workmate problems is to. My workmate stays in the laundry and never gets moved unless I move.

1. Add a heavy weight to the base. The best option I have seen is to pour some concrete into a cardboard mould sized to fit the recessed area at the bottom of the workmate. Once the concrete is set place the block into the base of the workmate. The bigger and heaver the better. A rope handle set into the concrete before it hardens will help you remove the block in the future.

2. Construct a top from chipboard sheets, MDF, pine, hardwood or anything, laminate it together (get it from constructions sites). This will increase your work surface 5' x 3' is what mine is and give you more weight. Bolt or drill the laminated top into the workmate top.

3. Buy/borrow and old vice attach it to your laminated top.

The end result is a smallish, semi-portable, yet sturdy work bench. NO need to get a modern workmate. I like the older models more and you can buy them cheap.

There are a few around which have no legs they use suction cups to stick to a table or bench ideal for a quick fix and cheap check out Supercheap think thats where I saw them