Workmate type bench recommendations

[Mr Pointy]

I'm looking for a portable workbench but many of the reviews for the modern Black & Decker Workmates are best summed up as 'not what they used to be'. Can anyone recommend a good workbench? it doesn't have to be B&D & of course I'd like to keep the cost down but having just bent in two the Ryobi one I have I'm open to any suggestions.

[olimain]

These are fantastic

http://www.diy.com/departments/keter-foldable-work...

Screwfix have them under a different brand name but are identical:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/folding-work-station/232...

[JM]

olimain said:

These are fantastic

http://www.diy.com/departments/keter-foldable-work...

Screwfix have them under a different brand name but are identical:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/folding-work-station/232...

Costco also sell the Pro version of that, I think it's a little bit bigger, has adjustable legs for different table heights and has a higher load capacity (315kg's compared to 180kg's) for £10 more.

[JONSCZ]

Get one from this era when they were made to last. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Used-work-mate-black-and...
I still have the one my Dad bought in the 70's which is like this and it's brilliant....

[tuscan30]

JONSCZ said:

Get one from this era when they were made to last. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Used-work-mate-black-and...
I still have the one my Dad bought in the 70's which is like this and it's brilliant....

The original was definitely the best - they've been slithering downhill ever since !

I made the mistake of welding on top of mine but it will be kept for the foreseeable future as there's nowt better out there.

Wasn't it designed by somebody connected with Lotus ??

[hyphen]

olimain said:

These are fantastic

http://www.diy.com/departments/keter-foldable-work...

Screwfix have them under a different brand name but are identical:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/folding-work-station/232...

Also got one of them, easily handle weight of an adult so well designed despite its initial plastic/soft tube appearance..

Only bad part is that they don't have a gap in the middle.

Edited by hyphen on Tuesday 25th April 17:46

[foxoles]

tuscan30 said:

Wasn't it designed by somebody connected with Lotus ??

Yes, Ron Hickman - designed the Elan.

[tuscan30]

Thanks foxoles - thought the old memory cell had that stored away somewhere.

[brianashley]

NI original black and decker , you see them going for good money on ebay !

The costco ones are ok.... you can stand on them. they are handy . But some good metal Stanley horses with a well made timber frame section to go on top is a lot lot more secure and sensible using power tool on . More clamping options etc

[talksthetorque]

hyphen said:

Also got one of them, easily handle weight of an adult

You are Penn and Teller AICMFP

[AlmostUseful]

JONSCZ said:

Get one from this era when they were made to last. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Used-work-mate-black-and...
I still have the one my Dad bought in the 70's which is like this and it's brilliant....

Definitely, father in law gave me his old one when his then partner bought him a new one, I can see the envy in his eye every time he sees me use it. He's too polite to ask for it back and I'm sure as st not offering it!

It's rock solid, wouldn't use anything else.

[threadlock]

olimain said:

These are fantastic

http://www.diy.com/departments/keter-foldable-work...

I've got one of these, having done the same research into Workmates and discovered the same surprising info as the OP about modern ones.

Been very happy with that plastic thing. Easier to store, lighter, stronger, cheaper etc. I don't miss the Workmate at all.

[DoubleSix]

Rockwell Jawhorse

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G20Jx17bkC0

[MDMA .]

got my dads old workmate from circa 1980. going to restore/refurb back to as-new condition. little project for the summer

[brianashley]

I still think that if someone started to make a business (maybe they do?) from buying up old NI Workmates and restoring them.It would be a good little "Shed business to earn money"

[Mr Pointy]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm not sure about the Keter bench as I think I prefer the vice & slot of the workmate so I'll keep an eye on ebay for one local to me.

[RichB]

MDMA . said:

got my dads old workmate from circa 1980. going to restore/refurb back to as-new condition. little project for the summer

I've still got my B&D Workmate from 1979/80 and I still use it, a lot! It's solid as a rock even if it's a little battered after nearly 40 year's use!

[Jonesy23]

RichB said:

MDMA . said:

got my dads old workmate from circa 1980. going to restore/refurb back to as-new condition. little project for the summer

I've still got my B&D Workmate from 1979/80 and I still use it, a lot! It's solid as a rock even if it's a little battered after nearly 40 year's use!

Still using a proper original aluminium WM325 dual height, though looking at the values they're going to makes me wonder if it should be carefully packed away while it's still complete!

[steve2]

DoubleSix said:

Rockwell Jawhorse

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G20Jx17bkC0

I have the Keter bench but I love that Jawhorse

[FlossyThePig]

tuscan30 said:

JONSCZ said:

Get one from this era when they were made to last. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Used-work-mate-black-and...
I still have the one my Dad bought in the 70's which is like this and it's brilliant....

The original was definitely the best - they've been slithering downhill ever since !

I made the mistake of welding on top of mine but it will be kept for the foreseeable future as there's nowt better out there.

Wasn't it designed by somebody connected with Lotus ??

I bought my BD version in 1980 but inherited my father's which was bought mail order about 1974/5. It must be one of the first and is much simpler then than the ebay one.