Black&Decker Workmate

Create a review for a woodworking tool that you are familiar with (Shopsmith brand or Non-Shopsmith) or just post your opinion on a specific tool. Head to head comparisons welcome too.

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dgale
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Post by dgale »

keakap wrote:Yep, they sure don't make 'em like they used to.
But for the old creaky knees, so to speak, et cetera, a half hour or so with some rags and a big can of WD-40 and you can get those legs and all other moveable parts (all) movin again almost like new-ish. Spritz every angle of the part and flex/ turn/ push/ whatever til it gives in. Good for years.
Thanks for the tip - I'll give it a long overdue cleaning and lubing soon and hopefully that will help resurrect it to it's former self. I'm missing one of the screw-in rubber feet as well - I usually use it outside on the lawn or on gravel, so not a big deal, but when used in the shop on concrete, it has an annoying wobble. Anyone have any idea where I might be able to find a suitable replacement?
keakap
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Post by keakap »

dgale wrote:Thanks for the tip - I'll give it a long overdue cleaning and lubing soon and hopefully that will help resurrect it to it's former self. I'm missing one of the screw-in rubber feet as well - I usually use it outside on the lawn or on gravel, so not a big deal, but when used in the shop on concrete, it has an annoying wobble. Anyone have any idea where I might be able to find a suitable replacement?
Da foot-- have you by chance any part-used but still workable tubes o putty/ caulk layin around, keeping spiders out of your caulk gun?

If so (or buy one @ $cheap-ninety five) lay the WM upside down and fill that empty hole with the goop. Overfill it. Like ketchup on a burned burger.
Then when it dries completely, grab a sharp utility knife (or better yet an Amazing Ginzu from the kitchen) and sculpt away. You could even spray-paint the sucker black, and who then would notice? (and if someone did anaway, tell 'im "hay, whaddaya got a foot fetish er sompthin!")
Mark V 520, Power-Pro!; Speed Reducer; B/S; Jointer; ShopMate DCS; SS Tenon Master; Rip-Strate; Incra; BCTW; DW734; var. SS sanding systems; Wood River;
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dgale
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Post by dgale »

keakap wrote:Da foot-- have you by chance any part-used but still workable tubes o putty/ caulk layin around, keeping spiders out of your caulk gun?

If so (or buy one @ $cheap-ninety five) lay the WM upside down and fill that empty hole with the goop. Overfill it. Like ketchup on a burned burger.
Then when it dries completely, grab a sharp utility knife (or better yet an Amazing Ginzu from the kitchen) and sculpt away. You could even spray-paint the sucker black, and who then would notice? (and if someone did anaway, tell 'im "hay, whaddaya got a foot fetish er sompthin!")
That's a pretty clever solution - I'll give it a try. Thanks!
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heathicus
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Post by heathicus »

I just saw a "wall mount Workmate on CL. Anybody ever seen such a thing? I'm trying to figure out how useful that would be.

http://shreveport.craigslist.org/tls/3728527033.html
Heath
Central Louisiana
-10ER - SN 13927, Born 1949, Acquired October 2008, Restored November, 2008
-10ER - SN 35630, Born 1950, Acquired April 2009, Restored May 2009, A34 Jigsaw
-Mark V - SN 212052, Born 1986, Acquired Sept 2009, Restored March 2010, Bandsaw
-10ER - SN 39722, Born 1950, Acquired March 2011, awaiting restoration
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dusty
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Post by dusty »

heathicus wrote:I just saw a "wall mount Workmate on CL. Anybody ever seen such a thing? I'm trying to figure out how useful that would be.

http://shreveport.craigslist.org/tls/3728527033.html
I find mine to be very useful and well worth the $15. I use it on jobs away from the shop as much as when at home. It's small size makes it super portable. I use it as much with PVC and pipe as I do with wood.
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dickg1
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Post by dickg1 »

dusty wrote:I find mine to be very useful and well worth the $15. I use it on jobs away from the shop as much as when at home. It's small size makes it super portable. I use it as much with PVC and pipe as I do with wood.
Dusty,
I assume that you remove it from the wall mount to use away from home. Does it have detachable or folding legs so that it approaches a workable height when not mounted on the wall? Or is the wall mount for storage only?
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dusty
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Post by dusty »

dickg1 wrote:Dusty,
I assume that you remove it from the wall mount to use away from home. Does it have detachable or folding legs so that it approaches a workable height when not mounted on the wall? Or is the wall mount for storage only?
Dick
There are no detachable or folding legs on mine but then I might not have the Workmate that you are asking about.

Let me restate that. The other Workmate that I have has folding legs and it is larger than the one shown on eBay (the post that started this thread).

Here are pictures of my small Workmate.

[ATTACH]21198[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]21199[/ATTACH]

My other Workmate has been modified. It is now part of a roll around workstation and it no longer collapses. It its' original form, the legs folded down making the Workmate portable and if needed could be carried off to another site or hung on the wall (though rather bulky) for hanging.
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Workmate 001 (Custom).JPG
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Workmate 004 (Custom).JPG
Workmate 004 (Custom).JPG (24.53 KiB) Viewed 3453 times
"Making Sawdust Safely"
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heathicus
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Post by heathicus »

Yours looks a little different, Dusty. Yours looks portable and can can be hung on a wall for storage. The one in the ad I linked to appears to mount to a wall to be used there. I've searched the Web and can't seem to find another like it.
Heath
Central Louisiana
-10ER - SN 13927, Born 1949, Acquired October 2008, Restored November, 2008
-10ER - SN 35630, Born 1950, Acquired April 2009, Restored May 2009, A34 Jigsaw
-Mark V - SN 212052, Born 1986, Acquired Sept 2009, Restored March 2010, Bandsaw
-10ER - SN 39722, Born 1950, Acquired March 2011, awaiting restoration
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heathicus
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Post by heathicus »

[attach]21200[/attach]

[attach]21201[/attach]
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3Ge3L63Ib5Ke5F75H1d470909c2e99c6a19f9.jpg
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3Mc3Lb3Je5Lb5E75M3d47a4060db77d44146b.jpg (23.86 KiB) Viewed 3437 times
Heath
Central Louisiana
-10ER - SN 13927, Born 1949, Acquired October 2008, Restored November, 2008
-10ER - SN 35630, Born 1950, Acquired April 2009, Restored May 2009, A34 Jigsaw
-Mark V - SN 212052, Born 1986, Acquired Sept 2009, Restored March 2010, Bandsaw
-10ER - SN 39722, Born 1950, Acquired March 2011, awaiting restoration
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reible
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Post by reible »

I have a cheap rip-off of the small workmate and I wish it were a workmate. I went looking for a small item like this and ran across this 16" wide model for something like $8 on sale. I got it and it sat in the box about 6 months before I got around to putting it together. I would have taken it back but it was a little late by then.

The cranks are the big issue, one side works smooth and nice, the other is stiff and you have to really crank on it. I've had it apart and I think the lead screw has a slight bend in it. I might just attempt to fix it someday but for now I just use it as is and try to remember it was only $8.

It is a handy size for certain projects and I will be working on a semi-permintate mount on one of my plywood tables, which ironically is mounted in the jaws of my real workmate.

[ATTACH]21202[/ATTACH]

Ed
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