Thread: Black & Decker Workmate

Originally Posted by mayday

The plywood jaws are beginning to show their age and I want to replace them. The quality of this ply is excellent and I have no idea where I can get similar material. Any ideas?

Regards,
Carl

Try Mr Plywood, the topgrade marine ply (9ply) is good or see if there is a Brimmsply outlet around. Stay away from the cheap china made stuff it (in my experience) separates very easily.

Cheers

Steve

Hi Mayday...

I too have the same vintage workmate*. When I replaced the top I used 35mm Oregon (Douglas Fir). I also made each jaw wider and glued on a strip to make it "L" shaped: Gives a larger clamping area, useful for holding things upright. You can still route a vee groove like the original top for holding rods or cylinders.

There are other mods you can do to make the unit more rigid as well.

* although now it belongs to my daughter, and is pink. with stars.

If it must be ply, maybe find a shopfitter using the good stuff and scrounge a couple of offcuts.

Greg

Originally Posted by gregoryq

Hi Mayday...

I too have the same vintage workmate*. When I replaced the top I used 35mm Oregon (Douglas Fir). I also made each jaw wider and glued on a strip to make it "L" shaped: Gives a larger clamping area, useful for holding things upright. You can still route a vee groove like the original top for holding rods or cylinders.

Greg

Great idea, Greg. My workmates are of similar vintage but not quite dilapidated enough to need new tops - will store the idea for future use.

Any particular reason that you used oregon rather than a hardwood? Presume you just had some on hand.

Cheers

Graeme

Hi Graeme...

Come to think of it, I guess it was because I had some lying around. If I was doing it again I'd use the tamest timber I had, even pine. Making the jaws longer by a couple of inches really is usefull too...It allows you to hold doors on edge for planing and lock morticing (for example) outboard of the frame.
I must take some pictures...

Greg

Tell you what, send me the old one, and I'll send you a brand new one, pretty paint, folded steel legs, lightweight mdf top, complete with a ruler printed on it!

No? Damn, I've been looking for a decent original for years! I've got an old one I bought on ebay, but the leg clips are broken, so its a pain to move around.

I think oregan is a great idea - I might just use that on mine.

Here's a pic:

Thanks for the advice, Gregory. Why didn't I think of not using ply? Will certainly make the jaws longer too.

I havn't looked too closely at how they are attached, but how did you remove the jaws from the bench?

They just unbolt from the plastic glides. It's been years since I did it so I can't quite recall exactly. I think that it was straight forward. I forgot that I also made the rear jaw wider too which allows light hand planing on it. I was thinking today about re-doing it to make it as nice as the lavender/pink paint job. I think its the world's only Barbie Workmate

I replaced the ply with Jarrah many years ago. As you can imagine it has held up well.

Regards from Perth

Derek

I have just finished making new chipboard tops to the same specs as the origianal chipboard tops from my early 80's workmate. (most usefull tool I have ever brought) They are now in the bin, never thought of making them larger. Got some spotted Gum stair treads laying around.

Thanks for the ideas.

Cheers Scott.

I was lucky enough to get hold of one of the originals made in England, but it too needed new ply bench tops. I looked on the net and found a supplier in the UK and was able to get replacements. The replacements aren't ply....but they are doing the job...just got to keep the Workmate out of the rain!

Originally Posted by sisyphusatwork

I looked on the net and found a supplier in the UK and was able to get replacements.

Can you post the details of the supplier, please? It'd be interesting to see what other parts they can source.

Originally Posted by rhancock

Can you post the details of the supplier, please? It'd be interesting to see what other parts they can source.

Sorry for the delay replying. The dealer can be found at: www.powertoolspares.co.uk

Thanks!

I'm just in the process of replacing my tops with a couple of bits of form ply - 30 odd years later - what a bargain