Buy Black & Decker WM425 Workmate 425 550-Pound Capacity Portable WorkbenchBlack & Decker WM425 Workmate 425 550-Pound Capacity Portable Workbench Product Description:
- Workmate transforms into a roomy workbench or bench tool stand
- Heavyweight steel design holds up to 550-Pound
- One-handed clamp system allows for independent jaw adjustment
- Measures 29.2 by 8.9 by 29.5-Inch
- Includes four swivel pegs, extra block, and vise-to-workbench converter insert
Product Description
The most versatile workbench on the market, the Workmate 425 comes with an advanced one-handed clamp system with exclusive clutch design for easy clamping, and a front jaw that swings up for vertical clamping. It folds for easy storage, and has a strong steel construction and holds up to 550-Pound. Its dual height allows for use as a workbench, bench tool stand, vise, or sawhorse.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
196 of 203 people found the following review helpful.
Great tool, but minor fixes required
By Phillip P. Schmidt
Don't be confused but the WM425 = Workmate 550 Project Center is the latest top of the line. The design of the table is excellent, but its minor construction flaws merit it only 4 stars. First, do consider the problems folks had with shipping damage. This is due to minimal padding in the Black&Decker box. If UPS ships this product without additional protection, there is a good chance it will get damaged. Second, at the store you'll have a choice of which box to select. Even at HomeDepot, some were badly bruised. My unit had a spring that popped off but was easily fixed. What took a little tweaking was the main clamping shelf was not installed parallel to the other boards. I fixed it by making sure the bolts were aligned properly and synched with the sprocketed drive belt, but if you read the assembly directions first, you might get away with fixing this by getting the handles to click, which disengages the sprockets and allows the cranks to be operated independently to fix a misalignment. After these minor fixes, the table worked flawlessly. The book 25 Essential Projects for Your Workshop describes some simple extensions you can build for the Workmate. Don't worry that the benchdogs are plastic, they work fine. You can build stronger ones if you like. The main drive mechanism is plastic, so don't over-torque your work. The only other glitch I couldn't fix was cosmetic. The neato grid did not line up across all three boards because the pre-drilled holes for the support blocks were a little off. I also didn't find that the vertical clamping strength to be very strong, but its adequate, and the one-hand operation works well and is slick. I plan to use my workmate to support some heavy table tools, and clamp some work that I route or carve. My final word to B&D is, you've got a great product, don't blow it with poor packaging and hurried assembly.
92 of 97 people found the following review helpful.
Overweight and overpriced but very sexy anyway.
By Robert J. Murrell
Likes: The Workmate is a tremendously good idea. I'm finding all kind of uses for it. I like Michael Edelman's idea to use it as a tool stand. It clamps my DeWalt framing saw upside down so I have an el cheapo table saw. My Bosch Progressor jigsaw (another purchase based on an Amazon user review) works that way too. (And my belt sander.) This is a good buy. I'm lovin' it to pieces. Dislikes: It arrived via UPS in bad shape. Looked like they dropkicked it all the way here. The particleboard top was broken in 2 places. And these boards are heavy...as is the steel frame. This old girl ought to go on a diet. That particleboard top might hold 550 pounds but it had better be distributed over the whole thing. Overall: Black & Decker sent me the replacement pieces quickly (and the lady I talked to was very courteous and apologetic about my problem...wish I remembered her name Black & Decker. She's the type person who's keeping people coming back to you.) I'd say that it was overwieght, overpriced, but I like it anyway.
144 of 156 people found the following review helpful.Not just for hobbyists
By Michael J. Edelman
I have two Workmates; the second I purchased last year, and the first, over 15 years ago. Both get regular workouts. I use them for sawhorses, tool stands, clamps, drying stands and more.
The tool stand trick is great for working in restricted quarters, or in the field. I have a number of power tools mounted on a piece of plywood with a cleat screwed to the bottom so I can clamp them on the Workmate for a quick-change tool stand.
The folded metal construction and particle board tops of the current models makes them look more like hobbyist gear than serious tools, but they last. Owners get attached to them, too. Funny, but I've never seen a used one for sale.
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