£3 Bargain Workmate That Needs Work

At a bootsale I got this old Workmate for £3. It needed some restoration to get it usable again.
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[@Badgerworkshop]

Tools I use www.badgerworkshop.com/toolsiuse As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

[@neilballam8701]

New series: Badgers Boot Sale Bargains. Great refurb.

[@Badgerworkshop]

Thank you. I do love a boot sale

[@mikecalhoun8497]

The original B&D Workmate (I have 2 of them) had a V grove on the inside of the wooden clamp bits. This was for clapping pipe or dowels rods. A feature that I have used many many times, might want to think about it. Nice video of saving an old tool, and I like the red paint color. Makes it stand out.

[@Badgerworkshop]

Thank you

[@negotiableaffections]

If I ever work with pipes or rods, the workmate is the 1st thing to pop into mind. Its is invaluable [as are all good work-holding solutions] and worth undoing the tops and routing the groove in.

[@negotiableaffections]

If I ever work with pipes or rods, the workmate is the 1st thing to pop into mind. Its is invaluable [as are all good work-holding solutions] and worth undoing the tops and routing the groove in.

[@kevinronald4137]

Good restoration. One easy add would to take your router and cut a v channel into the two facing cuts. A useful pipe vice is then created.

[@srh1101]

That was a real bargain Matt and you restored it very nicely as well.

[@Badgerworkshop]

Thank you

[@christopherdean3606]

Love the bright colour. You won’t loose that 😂

[@lukafilm]

Thank you.

[@stephenshipley1066]

Brilliant! When you restore a second one you won't need to put your bowl on the ground.

[@awantamta]

That is such a great restoration. I love it !

[@Badgerworkshop]

Thank you

[@Quaker521]

Great job!

[@Badgerworkshop]

Thank you

[@martinsweetman6796]

Love it

[@DebsHill1]

great restoration 😊

[@stevejeffery4951]

Nice job Matt. I splashed out on an old workmate late last year. Mine cost a tenner so not as much as a bargain as yours. I haven’t started refurbishing it yet and I’m glad of that because I wouldn’t have thought about taking loads of photos. You have definitely saved me from a nightmare and the possibility of the whole lot going in the bin. Cheers 👍🏼

[@Pete.Ty1]

👍👍👍 Nice one. Thanks Matt

[@glynprice3815]

Looking like a b&Q version rather than original B&D. I used to have one til finally rusted out

[@Badgerworkshop]

Shame there were no markings or stickers left on it

[@philipwilliams8114]

I had one from Axminster that looks identical. Enjoyed the vid 👍

[@ClemSci]

Awesome job, we have one of these at home I definitly think about a makeover for it tks to you !

[@Badgerworkshop]

Thank you

[@57WillysCJ]

I am doing one as well. I used some 3/4" plywood I had on hand. I to left off the holes. I am planning on drilling some to bolt two hold downs on. They will have wingnuts so I can install and remove fairly quickly. I want to make a large work top that I can clamp on as well when I want it.

[@pitsnipe5559]

Very useful tool. I have one I bought in 1978, still use it often. Nice rehab.

[@Badgerworkshop]

Thank you. I’m sure it will come in handy

[@benhoward3531]

Decent result, funnily enough i looked at my old workmate last week and was considering doing the same sort of thing, maybe i will now - thanks for the inspiration 👍

[@Badgerworkshop]

I definitely like the thicker top

[@davidnorman3745]

Lovely job

[@Badgerworkshop]

Thank you

[@lenjones4606]

Nice job. I like the idea of the larger, thicker jaws. Also no holes. Good idea as I always find the holes a pain.

[@davidothewizard]

Good job with the restoration! I have had mine for over 45 years and hardly ever use the holes. The original came with plastic stops that fit in the holes, but broke fairly easily. Love your other channel, too!

[@Badgerworkshop]

Thank you. Yours has lasted very well

[@chris_hertford]

Lovely job!

[@Badgerworkshop]

Thank you

[@PhillWyattProjects]

Looks good 👍🏻 Coincidentally I found a very similar folding workbench yesterday put out for the scrap man. I'll be doing it up soon too when I get a chance.

[@Badgerworkshop]

Sounds like a great find

[@stephenhall9592]

Great job

[@Badgerworkshop]

Thank you

[@Cradley684]

Nice one Matt !!!. 😀😀

[@Badgerworkshop]

Thank you

[@TurnTheHeatonNow]

Hey Matt, great job. If you wanted to utilise it as a table more often and have any chunky wood left over, you could plane a third piece flush to insert when the clamps all the way open! Just screw two little blocks underneath to sit on the frame and tighten it in 😊

[@Badgerworkshop]

That's a great idea

[@mordecai10000]

Talk about an upgrade, looks awesome 😃

[@Badgerworkshop]

Thank you

[@Venomator.]

Very nice restoration job on a bargain find, good job… 👏🏻 I really like my B&D Workmates, I have an old original and a new version plus a Ryobi all metal job… 👍🏻

[@Badgerworkshop]

Sounds like a good collection

[@MCsCreations]

Pretty nice work, Matt! It turned out fantastic! 😃 And I'm sure it's going to be really useful for you! Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@Badgerworkshop]

Thank you very much

[@shaun30-3-mg9zs]

Hi Matt, good job on that workbench and the red paint sets it off. £3 a good buy can't go wrong with that and like you said not worth haggling and now you have a good fully function workbench. I bought one for a car boot sale about 10 years ago paid a few pounds for it and a week later I had one from my wife's uncle and now I have 2 and both going well my be give mine a lick of paint they are well used at times. As always a great video, Take care

[@Badgerworkshop]

Thank you. I think having a pair sounds very useful

[@GuidoDresme]

Matt, have you ever considered making a video course? I would pay for a course on how you restorations / make overs. How you look or shop for them, how to recognize a dud. I feel the world would benefit of your philosophy on making crafting and restoring. It also comes through in the podcasts with Keith and i enjoy them all the more for it. Please consider making a course, on a topic you really like! 😊

[@andyc972]

That should be a handy addition for you Matt, not only for out-feed, but will also be useful outside, it would save you washing items in a tub on the ground like you had to here ! I have an identical one (in all but colour) it was a knock-off special offer from Travis Perkins about 30 years ago - still going strong along with my 40+ y/o original B&D Workmate !

[@Badgerworkshop]

The do seem to last for years. I should have mine a while

[@Toolswithmatt1]

That is a good work bench my dad gave me his old one and then I got a second one given to me but with no top just the frame so I may just make a top for the second one looks like you get years out of that Matt great job

[@Badgerworkshop]

Having two is definitely useful. I will keep my eye out for a second

[@Toolswithmatt1]

@@Badgerworkshop I do find that if you do have to you can make a bigger work bench of a table like I had to in the past when you done have one but you got people coming over for dinner I don’t own A dining room table but having to workmates I find work really well

[@lesthiele4921]

Hi Matt, that was a great restoration of the (maybe) workmate, I still have my B&D Workmate that I purchased way back in 1980, I think itbisca model 600 with two heights , and itbus still in good condition, best regards from a Kiwi living in Australia, Les

[@Badgerworkshop]

Having two hights sounds useful

[@crazykittenvideos855]

That’s looks rhetorical same as my cheap and cheerful blue one that I think was a Craft one. Mine is hammered but I still use it a lot. Covered in saw marks and drill indents and spray paint. Needs one new handle but the high mileage shows the history its had. Yours looks mint now and the thicker worktop is a big improvement!

[@Badgerworkshop]

Sounds like your has had a good, long life

[@geoffreycoan]

Nice job Matt. That looks like a more modern B&D workmate, the very originals were H shaped extruded aluminium. I have one! And a more modern one as well

[@Badgerworkshop]

Thank you

[@singbob]

Have my dad's old one, pretty sure he had it when I was a kid as it looked familiar. Looked good from r being 30+ years old until I accidentally left it outside and the rain swelled up the jaws

[@c.a.g.1977]

5:02 aaaargh!!! Matt!! 😲😧😱 Nice project, BTW! love the oak top!

[@Badgerworkshop]

Thank you

[@gedreillyhomestead6926]

I used to have two of these and did exactly the same thing (apart from the colour) they made great saw horses and with a plain old door made a decent out door temporary workbench. Ps it's not a B&D. Originally I paid £10 each for them (new) cheap knock offs but looked after lasted many years. 👍

[@Badgerworkshop]

I need a second one now then

[@robertpearce8394]

I think that the holes in the top are 20mm holes on a 32mm spacing (or multiple thereof). So, if you are not into the MFT system, then they are probably not required.

[@paulwilliams6067]

Grandads black and decker work mate from 70's had 4 folding feet

[@Badgerworkshop]

That is a nice model

[@bigpete4227]

Ive got a knock off one of these too. I had intentions of doing this also. You're showing me up ow Matt.😅

[@Badgerworkshop]

You better do it now

[@bigpete4227]

@@Badgerworkshop I'll get around to it at some point.

[@andrewknots]

Redid one inherited from my dad, already had my own 40 year old original (blue) B&D one and the black one with the foot rest and 3 position “fixed” jaw. I increased the hole sizes to 20mm to take my MFT accessories. I do find the holes and dogs useful for gripping uneven shapes. Definitely a bargain

[@Badgerworkshop]

Sounds like a nice one you have

[@michaelshore2300]

By making the rear top twice the size you have a much more useable item

[@aaronstill3810]

You always look like you’ve just woken up in your videos 😂😂

[@charlesarnold4963]

That was a really nice restoration video. I makes a welcome change from your usual content. I was a bit surprised that the metal parts were not given a light sand before painting, to give them a bit of key. I did like a lot the beefing up of the wooden parts. Your choice not to include the bench dog holes is a good one, I think. It is really annoying when small items fall through the holes. When I want a flat work surface I se a piece of MFC with a batton on the underside, which I clamp in the Workmate! I am pretty sure the workmate is not by Black and Decker. I have had B&D workmates for a very long time and have restored/repaired some very old ones, and yours does not fit the bill. Whatever, it will be a useful practical addition to your workshop. I enjoyed this video.

[@Badgerworkshop]

Thank you. Yes I don’t like lots of holes in a bench for the same reason

[@cybershot123]

Hi its a copy of B&D due to the wood being held on by screws . The original used bolts. but nice buy ever used WD 40 may help

[@Badgerworkshop]

Thank you

[@DobermanDave531]

Still using my one , forty years plus rust & all ….. works as it should……. Well it is black & decker 😊

[@Badgerworkshop]

That has lasted well over

[@DobermanDave531]

@@Badgerworkshop so have I , no oil , no medication…… I don’t even try to live a good life but the workmate lasted longer than her …… she only made the 30 yr mark …… isn’t that strange 😂 maybe we should Make our vows to black & decker …. It was the best Christmas present she ever bought me (with my money) …… please excuse my humour, I just find it amusing and truth is it’s a cracking bit of kit 👍🙃😂👈

[@dougsaunders8109]

3 quid can’t argue!

[@Badgerworkshop]

Definitely not

[@brianknowles7130]

Looks the same as the type Machine Mart sell.

[@Badgerworkshop]

There are a lot about

[@peterpaliwoda1527]

Handy for TV dinners ?

[@Badgerworkshop]

It would be

[@davidhull2060]

Pretty sure that's not a Black and Decker model....it has come up well, though.

[@Badgerworkshop]

Thank you

[@b-artofnoise1514]

Purchasing something and immediately disassembling it, and make it better. Great ... !?

[@danielwillits2173]

13:50 snapshot of future you with your zimmerframe

[@Badgerworkshop]

Haha

[@caskwith]

Nice cleanup there. Almost certain it's a clone of a workmate but that doesn't matter, it's still more sturdy than the modern versions.