My Old B&D Workmate

[pawsnizzy]

I've got one of those, bought in 1081, Its had lots of use over the years but still going strong, great piece of kit.

940 years old eh? That'll take some beating!

 

[pedrobedro]

I've got one of those, bought in 1081, Its had lots of use over the years but still going strong, great piece of kit.

Brought over by the Normans in 1066 for the Battle of Hastings no doubt and sold off as military surplus

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Brought over by the Normans in 1066 for the Battle of Hastings no doubt and sold off as military surplus

No, no, no.
It was used as a portable table, as the compiled the Doomsday book.

 

[bourbon]

I've got one of the ally framed ones! I didn't realise they were collectable. It's sitting at the side of my house. I use it for welding as my garage/workshop is too full of sawdust for sparky stuff.

 

[a111r]

Me too. It's abused and outside.
The alloy castings are a lovely bit of design.

 

[Dilkris]

Anyone have a contact for spares for the original cast aluminum model ?? Or - anybody got one in pieces/scrap for spares they want to sell ??

 

[Onoff]

Started stripping the Workmate.

Ditched the wooden jaws, they were shot. I've seen dimensions for new ones on the web.

Cut the shafts off to remove the feet. All bent to differing degrees where it's been dragged, feet less, over concrete in its last few years of use. Not sure what they should look like:

The screws look at bit knackered tbh:

I've just squirted penetrating oil at all the joints so I can hopefully collapse it and lay it in a citric acid bath.

 

[Onoff]

Can anyone help identify my workmate model number? All steel construction, blue in colour when new. Square not triangular feet.

Cheers

 

[Onoff]

The feet in the citric are going well. The rust along with the blue paint is just falling off. Not sure if I need to MIG little repair rectangles over the ends?

That ruddy citric is still working! More so on a hot day, finds every damn cut!!!

 

[Onoff]

My nephew's nearly as abused Workmate seems to suggest the feet ends are simply bent over with a bit of a radius:

I guess if they weren't turned over the sharp edges would "puncture" the feet?

 

[Onoff]

3 bolts out...one sheared! All RAF. M8 X 40 so no drama:

 

[RonMig]

I've inherited 2 of these, one is the cast alloy version, the other is pressed steel.
Both have moulded rubber or plastic bearers slid onto the feet where yours are bent over.
I'll dig them out tomorrow and take some pictures

 

[jsf55]

eBay suggested there are 2 type off feet

Workmate Feet for sale | eBay

Find great deals on eBay for Workmate Feet. Shop with confidence.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Agroshield]

Can anyone help identify my workmate model number? All steel construction, blue in colour when new. Square not triangular feet.

Black & Decker Workmate 79-001 Vintage workbenches

Black & Decker Workmate 79-001 workbench and vise, type study, downloadable manuals, history and more

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History of the Great Workmate Workbench • Tools First

Ever wondered how the famous Workmate workbench came about? It was originally invented in 1962 by a man named Ron Hickman. Ron Hickman Ron Hickman was an inventor and was born in South Africa in 1932. In the 1950s, he left and headed for London, where he worked for various companies designing...

toolsfirst.com

Black & Decker Workmate Spare Parts

Buy Black & Decker Workmate Spare Parts online. Free delivery over £60. Over 10,000 parts stocked.

www.toolsandpartsdirect.co.uk

A cheap way to get a pair of alloy handles, should you desire, is to buy a complete Workmate Junior.

I have replaced all my handles with M10 Kipp-style handles as I like the ability to reposition them when tight. Thread the end of the screw with an M10 die and make a spacer out of aluminium.

 

[Windy Miller]

3 bolts out...one sheared! All RAF. M8 X 40 so no drama:

View attachment 285729

If you’d like another one for spares or to restore, I have one you’d be welcome to.
I’m near Rochester, so not a million miles away

 

[Onoff]

If you’d like another one for spares or to restore, I have one you’d be welcome to.
I’m near Rochester, so not a million miles away

I might take you up on that, very kind of you to offer, SWMBO will be so pleased...

 

[Onoff]

I reckon it's a WM 536:

black and decker 536 workmate - Google Search

www.google.com

 

[Windy Miller]

I might take you up on that, very kind of you to offer, SWMBO will be so pleased...

It’s a bit of a minger, so please don’t get too excited!

 

[Robbie260]

Have me grandpas, it's a great tool very useful.

 

[Onoff]

It’s a bit of a minger, so please don’t get too excited!

Tell me about it. I don't get excited any more mate, not after 29 years of marriage.