Saw horses vs workmates

[exigetastic]

A bit of newbie q.

But having been to B+Q they had some saw horses @ 2 for £20....

But hidden behind the "proper" workmates on sale they had some own brand jobs for £10 each

I bought the workmate clones, as they are only temporary, and I plan on canabalising the vice mechanism for a side vice.

It did get me thinking about the benefits of saw horses, as I couldn't see any obvious ones, but I'm a newb so I wouldn't

Can anyone enlighten me?

Ta

Si

 

[mr]

Depends what sort of saw horse it is but I presume you mean the stacking type. They have obvious uses as the legs of a trestle bench / temporary support sort of thing

but for actual sawing I think the "traditional" saw bench is more useful (at least I found it so). Mine doubles up as a bench stool, wide enough for me and the five year old to sit next to each other at the bench but in its primary role as a support for sawing its perfect - flat wide top, about knee height. A bit like this one http://www.woodworking-magazine.com/blog/Using+A+Sawbench.aspx

Incidentally that pic is from Chris Schwarz Woodworking mag blog, same as the second link lest anybody thinks that's my "workshop".

Cheers Mike

 

[Argus]

.

I gave up on workmates when I made a proper bench, but they enabled me to start off in a modest way in confined surroundings - so hats off to work mates, they are good at what they do.

I guess the patents are running out (?) so there are all sorts of cheap clones about.

As for the humble saw horse, it's the simplest form of support there is and generations of woodworkers can't be wrong.

In the picture, there is the glimpse of a proper bench in the background, but still a role for the old sawhorses.

.

 

[Mcluma]

I have a workmate for about 15 years now, and it has been used to the max, and i like it, you can do so much more with a workmate that you cannot and never will be able to do with a sawhorse,
yes they are more expensive, but you will not regret it

Only the other day i used it whilst doing tiling, its perfect to put my tile cutter on it (better height saves on the back), but also the vice on it is good for doing glue- ups and is perfect for holding the work down when doing the routing etc etc,

like the name says its a workmate :lol: :lol:

 

[mailee]

I can second that. My cheapo workmate has been used for all sorts. I even put a roller on top of it and use it as a run off table for the table saw. It comes in very handy when fitting kitchens or just for holding something. I do also have some trestles and these are handy for cutting larger pieces. :wink:

 

[exigetastic]

I do also have some trestles and these are handy for cutting larger pieces. :wink:

Aha my question answered!

Thanks mailee.

 

[Newbie_Neil]

When I am cutting up sheet goods I put about five lengths of 3 x 2 onto two sawhorses to give me a stable cutting surface.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[Niki]

I have 6 workmates

One is serving as router table, one, Drill Press table...on two of them I changed the vises and enlarged them to 900 mm and on other two, I removed the vises, installed a plate and they serve as tables.

You can see them here
https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/view ... highlight=

niki

 

[RogerS]

I've got one of the original B&D workmates and still going strong. A few years back I bought some cheap saw benches and they stood unused and unloved in the back of the workshop. Almost threw them away.

And then I needed them -

and now I wouldn't be without them.

 

[Harbo]

I have a couple of the original Workmates - still going strong, but a while ago bought a cheapo pair of plastic saw horses - waste of money. They are too light (knock over very easily), the legs have warped and they will not stay closed up.
Made a couple of Norm style ones instead which should see me out.
Used for all the reasons given above especially cutting down sheets and big boards to more manageable sizes

Rod

 

[Paul Chapman]

I have the original Ron Hickman designed, Mate Tools Workmate which must be 36 or 37 years old. It's had very hard use and is still as good as new. I also have three workmate clones, which are rubbish in comparison, but still very useful. I use them all the time, in addition to my proper bench, and wouldn't be without them. But I do wish they would fit them with an adjustable foot, like the original had, so that they don't wobble on an uneven floor.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[chippy1970]

Just a small brag here :lol:

My father had his own engineering company many years ago and one day someone came in and asked him to build them a prototype.

Guess what it was, yep it was the first ever Workmate the chap then must have taken it to B&D and the rest is history.

 

[dickm]

The great thing with workmates is they double as saw horses <and> do all the other things too, then they can be folded up out of the way.
Says he who has tripped over the d***ed legs of his saw horses too many times

 

[Paul Chapman]

the chap then must have taken it to B&D and the rest is history.

Ron Hickman originally tried to sell the idea to Black & Decker (and most of the other major tool companies) but none of them was interested. So he set up Mate Tools at Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire and produced them himself. After it caught on and was obviously a winner, Black & Decker came knocking on Ron Hickman's door........

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[chippy1970]

You know more than me about it Paul, i wasn't even born when all this happened all i can do is repeat my dads story that he built the very first workmate as a prototype for someone.

When i see him i will find out more.