[Closed] Black and Decker Workmate

There was a good Bosch one I looked in Wickes/B&Q at but due to lockdown / Brexit there were none around at the time. Might be worth a quick Google now.

Still great value. Have just bought one for £44 from B&Q to replace my other which has finally given up after over 30 years.

Depends what features you want. I always found the classic workmate a bit fiddly and never really used all the extras. I prefer a couple of simple fold up trestles or the very basic workbench. Having two is great for bigger items and longer lengths of timber. I've actually modified one of the simple folding workbenches and replaced the two planks with a single piece of plywood. This gives a great general work surface

Nothing Fancy needed. I want stability and a good clamping capability, both vertical and horizontal. Bench dog holes would be good too...

Man, I hate Workmates.
We have about 4 littering the workshop belonging to someone else.. 😂
I'd gladly chuck them all in a fire then run over them with a massive fire engine then bury them.

These Keter ones are brilliant for what they are. Lightning pop up, nice and sturdy, easy to store, way lower profile than a workmate when folded and a nice large surface area unlike Workmates.

You also have a really useable storage area underneath the table, unlike Workmates.
They're brilliant on site. I always take mine along with some trestles.

Those clamps in the table slide out for vertical clamping, and do horizontal too.
I have a small vice mounted on a bit of ply I clamp to mine when I need vice-like clamping.

Add a cheap cnc mft top if you want bench dog capability.

Are the clamps any good on those Keters? Could be a little intrusive, unlike bench dogs. I'll check 'em out! Thanks Kayak

The clamps are pretty good yeah. Comparable to most squeeze clamps.
You won't crush a diamond but they're perfectly good yeah.
Obviously you can use any clamp you want vertically.

Came on the recommend the keter but kayak beat me to it.

I haven't compared them in the flesh but I'm reasonmably sure the Macalister stand is the same as the Keter, and it's £54 including free postage just now.

Yes,I believe it is.

Sorry, I realise I went off on one a bit about workmates 😂
It's probably just because I'm always tripping over the stupid things with their little sticky out feet and cursing how they seem to take up so much floor and storage space for such a postage stamp working area.

They're a very old design and were brilliant in their day. They do work well for a lot of people but I just think there are much better, modern alternatives around now.

Look, he's nearly tripping over the foot now, leaning in because the work area is about 4 feet away from the footprint...

Sorry. Carry on 👍

I’ve still got that chair kayak23😉

Another + 1 for the keter. Love mine. Might get another now

What i would say about a workmate over stuff like that keter...

There is a bloody big foot plate to keep the bastarding thing in place and the bench dogs (which are alot lower profile than those clamps) and the sliding tops make holding really irregular stuff pretty useful. aka guitars and round things.

And obviously the ability to hold a chair by the legs while you drill the holes for reeding the seat...

Tripping over they is definitly a thing though and folded up they're a bit like a non bromton folding bike... "yes its technically now folded, but i now have is a heap on the floor that i need to find some way of storing"

I guess what I am trying to say is I don't particularly think one replaces the other completley. DIYing a variety of tasks a workmate is pretty bloocy good, you can old pipes nd stuff upright to solder joints etc, you can hold bolts to cut them shorter with a hacksaw and ting.

There's normally a couple of B&D workmates on Facebook market place at sensible prices.

And obviously the ability to hold a chair by the legs while you drill the holes for reeding the seat…

I imagine the force he has to put on that round, painted leg to hold it in varnished(I think) jaws and not move is fairly considerable.

On the keter for example, I would clamp a board along the table that is narrow enough and overhangs enough to slide the chair onto with the board under the seat or stretchers and clamp it with squeeze clamps.

Clamping a round leg in narrow hard jaws like that would almost certainly marr the surface.

On the plus side, he certainly looks very smart. 😊

.

"There is a bloody big foot plate to keep the bastarding thing in place and the bench dogs (which are alot lower profile than those clamps) and the sliding tops make holding really irregular stuff pretty useful. aka guitars and round things."

Very true! And as for much of the time I'll be planing/carving large flat maple boards that step could be just the help I need

On the keter for example, I would clamp a board along the table that is narrow enough and overhangs enough to slide the chair onto with the board under the seat or stretchers and clamp it with squeeze clamps.

I know, I'm not saying its perfect, but now you are bringing a board aswell as that vice on a board you mentioned and a couple of other clamps.

I think the Bosch one goes a fair way to getting the best of both.

I think you're right Josh. That Bosch does look easily on/offable, and folds up neatly
So I've just ordered one!
It's Bosch. What could possibly go wrong...?

The workmate as pictured above can be lowered by folding the big legs up and standing it on the alternative legs. Then you’re either well above the worktop or you can pull up a chair for more intricate work.

+ whatever for the Keter and yes the Macalister is the same