Does anybody use a Workmate?

[zeBarOOn]

Just wanting some thoughts and experiences regarding using a Black and Decker Workmate (or similar).

I'm just starting out with making some Enzo kits but because I don't have a vice or workshop I'm using a family members workshop.

Do you think the 'vice' on the workmate is suitable for gripping a knife whilst shaping the scales etc?

Thanks,

Joel

 

[John Fenna]

I find my workmate invaluable for all sorts of projects.
My first one I inherited from my father and I used it to death, eventually breaking the top and winding bits...it now has a scaffolding plank top on which my belt and disk sander os mounted.
I then got a blackspur clone version - piece of DoDo. This now supports my Wok forge and is held together with chunks of timber and old roofbars.
My current one (now some 3 or 4 years old) gets so much use it stays in the upright position.... although it could be folded away (unlike the others!)
Great kit!

 

[zeBarOOn]

Cheers John! From your experience would you say to go for a Black and Decker for a few extra £?

 

[John Fenna]

Yes!........... ( had to put dots in as "yes!" alone is too short...)

 

[Kerne]

Mine is over 20 years old and still gets regular use (It's a bit tatty now, mind!) Great inventions!

 

[John Fenna]

The inventor developed the idea after sawing through a nice chair on which he was resting the timber he was cutting....

 

[Stanleythecat]

The inventor sadly passed away only a couple of weeks ago. Great bit of kit for anyone needing space, like me! I don't have a shed or garage so everything has to be dragged out when I need it. Although I'd like something a little more sturdy at times you have to look at it for what it is, affordable, adaptable and useful for most things.

 

[luckylee]

i also could not be with out mine, use it for all sorts of stuff, on a day like today, i hate being stuck in me shead drag that out, and do all me cutting and stuff in the sunshine, what more can you ask for.

 

[MartiniDave]

Great bit of kit, really a must have.

 

[shaggystu]

....would you say to go for a Black and Decker for a few extra £?

personally if i was going to splash out on a folding workbench i'd probably splash out another couple of quid over the black and decker and go for one of these, i've used black and decker, cheap and nasty copies (blackspur/silverline etc.), and wolfcraft, and the wolfcraft ones definately have the edge IMHO

stuart

 

[chris_irwin]

I'm not allowed to use a workmate, it's against company policy...

 

[Wild Thing]

Had my workmate for over 20 years as well.

Had all sort on it or clamped in it. Even had my bike engine sat on it during a rebulid a few years ago.

My wife has now bought me a new one, but only because a mate reversed his landy over my old one and mangled it beyond repair.

Definitely get a good one, the cheap ones are a waste of space.

Phill

 

[flexo]

i have one it's quite cool piece of kit! but it's a bit light for using a draw knife or a plane!

 

[Teepee]

Get an old one-mines probably one of the first and has outlived all the others-its bombproof.

As others have said, the cheap ones should be left in the shop.

 

[Whittler Kev]

Bought my third one from the dump last week for £1 . The one with the dual height legs

 

[brancho]

I made my first knife using a £10 (a few years ago) workbench from Focus it had a tendency to walk across the garage floor when filing etc but just needed moved back.
Good tool but little used now.

 

[Shewie]

I bought a copy from Screwfix over ten years ago and it's still going strong. Every home should have one.

 

[lannyman8]

as others have said get a good 1, also if your tall dont bother, they reck my back from bending down that low..... you can make a bench from wood and use that, it would be better as you can put a vice on it and it would suit your height....

just a thought?????

 

[blacktimberwolf]

I've got one, a B&D, 18 years old, had some abuse whilst renovating a house, had some pretty heavy stuff on it, wood beams etc.but still asking for more ......I haven't found anything better to hold a lawn mower blade while sharpening it Also it's very moble, so can be used anywhere.

 

[basha]

Another vote for the B&D Workmate; had mine over 25 years and used it for work too.
Best tip I had is to use sandbags to anchor the frame down (hang them over the lower sections), especially when using a plane etc. It stops the Workmate from jumping around.