Workmate

[DeanN]

Thanks Shane - you've just saved me a bit of cash. I was contemplating buying the Framex, as it seemed a good bet for doors. At the moment I'm using a couple of IKEA wooden stools as hop-ups and saw horses, and also use these to rest doors on.

 

[Shane]

Hi Dean, the problem with using them for doors is that if you clamp them from the ends to keep the lips clear, it over balances, and it doesn't open out wide enough for wider doors. You have to be careful with glazed doors on the top of the framex legs. And the system doesn't work if you want the lip kept clear facing up as the frame wants to callapse to the floor, I could go on but you get the idea. I got mine from a mate who had bought it and not used it so I got it for half price, glad I didn't pay top whack.

This is what I use for working on doors, it works the best for me, I quick clamp on 4 x 1m wide cross rails, and obviously it gets used at other times as a ladder as well

 

[LeeTurner]

Sadly Ron Hickman died this morning. What a genius - designed both the Lotus Elan and the Workmate.

 

[Shane]

R.I.P fella

 

[Paul Chapman]

That's very sad news

A really inspirational bloke.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[woodbloke]

I'll heartily agree that the later B&D innovations and build quality have been downhill all the way, but I've got an alloy frame, steel legs model, and find it very handy (for everything bar planing, at which it's RUBBISH).

BugBear

BB, I should think it's a bit difficult to get the sort of edge on the Workmate which will take decent shavings...in fact as far as I'm aware, they were never fitted with blades of any sort, so how you can plane with one beats me :lol: :tool: - Rob

 

[Alf]

Mine has managed to plane off a nice layer of skin from my shin before now - does that count?

Generally when some woodworking-related person passes away, I hope there's a good workbench waiting for them in the afterlife. In this case, I imagine Ron Hickman will be bringing his own... Extraordinary chap who really did create something revolutionary.

 

[brianhr]

Have you read today that the inventor ofthe Workmate died yesterday?

 

[Jacob]

Eez ded innit. The workmate inventor, yesterday. At last we can all now say publicly that workmates are totally craponzo.
Such a neat idea, such a pathetic product!

"I had seldom seen a face of richer promise ; but never was promise so ill kept."

I've kept one for years - I can't throw it away as it is obviously such a useful thing, although I have hardly ever found a use it.

 

[Hudson Carpentry]

The B&D 301 I find there pretty useless unless in pears. Very unstable if you working with anything longer then twice the width of the top. A few year back my local shed was selling them at half price so i brought 3. One I chopped the legs down and used it as portable legs for a site table saw, one I cut a half router shaped hole from one of the jaws and used it as a stand for a portable router table I built and the 3rd I built a small draw that went under the top which housed pencils and tools to use with the chop saw I attached to the top, so it became my chop saw stand. I no longer work on sites so they never get used now. As for build quality there pants. One has its handles missing, all have there rubber feet missing and one as the bolt that keeps the legs to the frame missing.

Best saw horse I have used are two I made from some old solid doors. Best saw horse I have used for smaller diameter round stock is my makita circular saw case, it has a grove perfect for holding round stock into. Thinking about it my Stanley tool chests have a grove similar that would work to.

 

[Vann]

...I chopped the legs down...

...all have there rubber feet missing...

Well I guess you can't blame that on build quality.... (hammer)

Hat, coat, door...

Cheers, Vann.

 

[Hudson Carpentry]

The feet could be attached better and not fall off every time there knocked

 

[Bertiedog]

I think plastic is an understatement,! I just bought one ( bought my first one forty years ago) and could not believe how bad it is. The metal finish is dreadful ;sharp edges and as to the assembly instructions... Ikea do better! I guess the price isn't too different from 40 years ago , so how can that be achieved ? Made in China ( badly)

They have the cheek to offer a warranty on it it's going back to B &Q. I should have known better . Black and Decker ='cheap and nasty always

Gerry

 

[kmcleod]

Bosch do a decent one

 

[Benchwayze]

Disagree - the original workmate was heavy and ugly, with two sodding great beams on top.

Well, I've been using my original Wormate for 40 years and reckon it's great

Cheers :wink:

Paul

Agree entirely. although I had mine nicked!
I replaced it with one like Jimi's. Still going strong. Just had new handles fitted is all.