I need a Workmate style portable workbench

**Chief Tiff** · 26th October 2014, 06:13 PM

I've recently identified that I need a portable workbench; like the Black and Decker Workmate of old. There only appears to be one Workmate model sold in Australia and it I've not yet heard a good word said about it. What's really scary are the comments about how the one made in the 90's was so much better.... the one from that era was in my mind was a bit of a piece of junk so how bad are the newer ones?

Ok; so far my local suppliers are a bit short of this item; Bunnies has this Ryobi on the shelf but the single posts at each end don't look very sturdy to me. No-one else seems to stock anything else. I do like the idea of the adjustable height.

What I want it for is light sawing and planing; basically something to take to work with me and build small boxes etc mainly with hand tools. Nothing precision but the ability to hold wood vertically while sawing dovetails and horizontally while planing is desirable.

So, what's out there? Who's bought anything like this in the last few years?

**_fly_** · 26th October 2014, 06:40 PM

I just got the cheap one from masters for 24.98.
same size and works like my B&D workmate.

Only issue is its a fixed height, doesn't have the fold up legs.
But I got it for a scroll saw table so it does what I need it to.

https://www.masters.com.au/product/9...workbench-25mm

Peter

**Chief Tiff** · 26th October 2014, 07:03 PM

Yeah, I know the one; currently one my second one in about 10 years. Different brand names though. Worst part about them is the way the "jaws" flex alarmingly when you try to clamp anything.

Way too flimsy; all I use mine for is either a handy stand to plop a router or circ saw on when working outdoors or a very rough and ready sawhorse for stuff like sewer pipe but the small footprint still makes it jiggle about when you put some effort into the saw.

I found an earlier thread where several of these were used as machine supports like planers and drop saw, and probably a scroll saw too!

**orraloon** · 27th October 2014, 11:11 AM

The old B&D workmate was by far the best of those. If you can find an old one for sale snap it up. That Ryobi one looks better than most of todays offerings.
I actually have 4 of bunnies less than $20 jobs but they are used as stands for the thicknesser, grinder and a portable outfeed table. The spare gets the odd bit of use for away from the shed jobs.
I found plane work can be done using 2 of them and braced up to a wall for stability.
Regards
John

**Chesand** · 27th October 2014, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by orraloon

The old B&D workmate was by far the best of those. If you can find an old one for sale snap it up.

I agree - I have one that I bought when they first came out and it is still going strong after much use.

**Christos** · 27th October 2014, 12:17 PM

I came across two no name brands from the curb side pickup. One handle had fallen off one and the other was very hard to turn. I fixed the handle with a replacement bolt on the original handle. After about 2 years the plastic handle had completely broken off.

The other one needed the gunk cleaned out and some oil in the thread. Works a little better but still hard to turn. I am thinking that it was overtightened and had bend the shaft.

Some things to consider when looking at any fold up bench is how easy it would be to fix.

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