Which Workmate?

[Rannsachair]

I have an old basic B&D workmate that gets well (ab)used, I often bolt my Record Imp to it or even weld on it using the jaws to hold parts.

Recently using the jaws for fork seal removal resulted in breaking the wooden jaws.

I could make new jaws, though did wonder if its worth an upgrade as I find it handy. Larger area of jaws, height adjustable and the ability to use my weight to hold it down via a step or suchlike for when something is tight or needing a mallet.

I see there are a few versions from B&D and quite a few others, any recommendations?

 

[pedrobedro]

I still have my Black and Decker workmate but I also have an older version of the Triron Superjaws which comes in very handy for a lot of jobs

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Superjaws is handy. Mine lives in the van. Personally I'd pop a new top on. The new offerings aren't as robust

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I had a 'lookalike' thing for years but it was a slightly different tightening mechanism which I found restricting for some holding jobs. I spotted a B&D one with the folding legs, as good as new, on FB Marketplace for £15 but was down in the N.E.

Close enough for a pal to collect so deal done and I picked it up from him next time I was down. It turned out that the Seller was an old workmate of his...small world!

B&D still sell parts for these on their site, I ordered new rubber feet for mine last year, quite reasonably priced too, I thought.

 

[frank horton]

I have 4 of various ages.....most have had the tops replaced...I use 20mm shuttering ply.....if u want it better just double up the top.....
def the best ones to get are the type with an ally inner frame....
all the modern offerings are c@rp.....
I wont spend the money for the Triton type offering as I\m retired now and happy with what I have.....
mind would like a JCB 3 CX again....

 

[addjunkie]

You can purchase new tops for them……easy for the lazy option.

 

[lexi]

I have 3 of the classic ones. Very strong. Series 2 gearbox sat on mine for months.
One sits permanently outside in Argyll. Metal is coated in oil every year. Flippin' Clyde built those things. Imp vice is there too.

 

[mike os]

The new ones are carp .. and that’s being extremely generous

 

[Rannsachair]

What do you call ‘classic’? The aluminium framed, double height ones?

I have two of those (plus some spare parts hanging on the wall). One I bought in the 1970s and the ‘new‘ one (as in virtually unused) from my late father-in-laws house clearance. One pressed steel framed version is somewhere but not used.

The old ones are def far better than the steel offerings.

It is a basic pressed steel one I have.

Though just seen this on FB Marketplace local to me:

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

It is a basic pressed steel one I have.

Though just seen this on FB Marketplace local to me:
View attachment 368049

Nab it.

 

[Seadog]

That's an old one

 

[gaz1]

for the small stuff that you use it for just replace the woods again and keep what you have

the superjaws are fine for the builder reference and do come in handy on the bigger things as goes for small scale well we still have to fit addons onto them to gain what you have in the smaller reference

as goes for the new workmates by black and decker there not as good as the older ones

 

[Rannsachair]

Nab it.

Got it for £20

 

[Gragson]

I would go second hand, WM625 are great with aluminium cross members and dual height, as long as the pressed steel parts are ok, which they usually are, don't be put off by a basket looking ones as there is a bit of an industry in parts like lower legs, springs, knobs etc. and making replacement boards easy, event decent ones like this don't go for a fortune, but its nearly always collection.. - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134275100920

I got these from a member here and enjoyed sprucing them up

Before

After


I got help from a guy in the US identifying repro parts for the correct model (06) WM625,
He even sent me a spreadsheet with part No breakdown per model year! - https://h-frame.weebly.com/

The older stuff is just better built and operates better.
Coat time

 

[Rannsachair]

I would go second hand, WM625 are great with aluminium cross members and dual height, as long as the pressed steel parts are ok, which they usually are, don't be put off by a basket looking ones as there is a bit of an industry in parts like lower legs, springs, knobs etc. and making replacement boards easy, event decent ones like this don't go for a fortune, but its nearly always collection.. - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134275100920

I got these from a member here and enjoyed sprucing them up

Before
View attachment 368057
After
View attachment 368058

I got help from a guy in the US identifying repro parts for the correct model (06) WM625,
He even sent me a spreadsheet with part No breakdown per model year! - https://h-frame.weebly.com/

The older stuff is just better built and operates better.
Coat time

Thanks, they look great. It looks like I have bought a WM325.

 

[Alan Reynolds]

I have 4 of various ages.....most have had the tops replaced...I use 20mm shuttering ply.....if u want it better just double up the top.....
def the best ones to get are the type with an ally inner frame....
all the modern offerings are c@rp.....
I wont spend the money for the Triton type offering as I\m retired now and happy with what I have.....
mind would like a JCB 3 CX again....

Got to agree that the old ally frame ones are the best. I’ve had mine for 40 years at least. I picked up a modern one for £20. So awkward to open and close and the adjustable top is also a pain.
Just replace or make the jaws for an old one.

 

[jenki]

I have 2 of the older Alloy ones one new 40+ years ago and one in exchange for a later steel one there is a difference in height between the steel ones and the alloy ones it was a real PITA. I also have a Triton superjaws (Ebay £30) they are much stronger but have some limitations they are heavy (for a 70+ year old) the folding frame is quite unwieldy I find, and that jaw locking mechanism gives you a whack on the shin unless you are careful but for some jobs it is brilliant and much stronger than a workmate.

 

[Rannsachair]

Free delivery too:

No comparison in quality and design with my newer one, which is pretty poor.