Black & Decker Workmate Mobile Base Ep.2017-24

[@rcboals]

I knew there was another reason I subscribed to your channel. I found this video by accident and there your were! I inherited one of these work mates from my dad 5 years ago when he died. It has been hanging on my wall, got it down today and it would not open up. So I starting searching KZbin and BAMM!!! and there you were. Not only did I see how the darn thing worked and opened up , I got a bonus idea for a cool little bobile base cart to put it in. Thanks again, Your biggest fan in Oregon who can now use this and my Bosch router more effectively.

[@GaryLundgrenCrafts]

Thank you! Glad you could find a use for that and glad I could help! 👍😃 I think you will enjoy that now.

[@praveenjayaraman2644]

I just got a workmate from a yard sale. I was about to build something similar with the triangle pieces inside the frame. It would cause unnecessary stress on the pieces and would eventually cause them to buckle inwards. Also was leading to an ugly design with lots of unnecessary screws. Your design is simpler and much more efficient as the bench weight always acts downwards and directly on the casters. Simple is good !!! Thanks for sharing.

[@GaryLundgrenCrafts]

Thanks for watching! Glad it helped.

[@PeterBatah]

Thank you for sharing your time and experience with us. Can you tell me what size caster wheels that you used.

[@GaryLundgrenCrafts]

Thank you! The wheels are fairly small at 3".

[@anonymous.369]

The board the WM sits on seems to be recessed from the top of the 4 side panels/edges. How is that created? How is the base panel attached to the sides to support the weight without collapsing. Thank-you.

[@anonymous.369]

Ok. I think I figured out. The edges at the top are separate strips of plywood etc. The plywood base sits on top of the 1x4 side panels. Hope that is correct.

[@MrBonners]

I bought one of the early models, early 80s-ish. I have had it on a few bases and it is a great shop aid except one thing. It is so needlessly heavy and so awkwardly balanced for folded hand carry to the point of being annoying. The result of this is it stays folded up in a corner or set up permanent. Recently I put mine up on a cart like this, but mounted it with the folded legs recessed in the platform box and covered by a pop-out ply square. This allowed for a deep-ish removable tray or stack of trays to sit on top for smaller and special clamps and glue jugs. Tray for pin and brad nails, air tool parts parts, task specific trays with associated bits. Then I made several tops, clamping top with dog holes and T track , turntable top, collapsable canvas wall paint booth with a peg board downdraft top, heavy duty 'abuse' top for teardown and occasional metal work. And other clamp-in platforms and hang small off the side L shelves bins of current in-use tool hangers etc from the scrap bin as required. Lets me roll aside a curing project and do other stuff on the main bench. Tops 'file' away with a small storage foot print.

[@GaryLundgrenCrafts]

Thank you! I understand what you're saying. For a transportable small work table, this is quite heavy. Functionally it works well, but the top is not strong enough and the plastic parts that hold the top pieces to the frame is a weak point. The bolts to hold those pieces often strip out the plastic parts. I'm looking to modify that weakness. I've seen a few good ideas here on YT. I'll see what I come up with. Thanks!

[@MrBonners]

@@GaryLundgrenCrafts Mine must be a very early version. The only plastic parts I have are the top clamp hand cranks on mine. The tops are some blonde coloured hardwood, not maple. The top under assemblies are all steel and weld. It is B&D workmate. As said, I don't much care about B&D top(s). They are just the mounting platform for the various task specific table tops I clamp on top. I have very limited space so that is where this heavy stand (ballast) for the different tops. approx 2x3, 3x3 , 1x4 ft, etc. clamp assembly table, paint booth......and the tops are 'filed' away with a small footprint. What I wanted to point out is that if you mount the unit with the legs folded inside the mobile box you can then cover the box with plywood pop-out top and have another surface. On there you can have trays of glue jugs scrapers and small clamps, of paint and stain materials. Whatever the table top task is going on. Retired so it does not leave my workshop. Only needs to be mobile across the room. The folded legs make for a smaller footprint.

[@vernonwankerl9079]

@@MrBonners Do you have any photos or other documentation for your workmate mods? I am looking to make my shop based on using multiple (have 6 or 7) workmates and benchtop tools.

[@MrBonners]

@@vernonwankerl9079 No. They are just a flat 3ft x3ft-ish plywood squares and a 2x4 screwed to one side and clamped between the jaws of the workmate. A Festool type dog hole grid panel with recessed 'T' track for assembly clamping tasks. A square with canvas panels that are hooked to fold down 1x1 sticks (like a card table) at there corners to suspend the fabric panels, plywood frame cut into one panel and exhaust fan mount, spray booth. A square of 1 inch plywood with a steel surface and metal frame to stop roll-offs of of tools and material. Use it for rough tear down of salvage metal assemblies and metal work. A few blank squares for future projects as required work surfaces. Bench bulls and parts for the panels and hanging wood bins from the frame from the scrap bin. All in an effort to eliminate unnecessary footprint. These 'file' away like books in a bookcase. The concept is simple, build design to your tasks requirements and your creativity as required. They are just interchangeable work surfaces. I have a garage sale frames so I can set aside to dry or cure several assemblies at different stages freeing up the main bench.

[@MrBonners]

@@GaryLundgrenCrafts So? Swap those out with scrap bin bits and panels.

[@charlieking8785]

excellent been wanted to improve my mobileaty on my work mate. you make it so neasy thanks again.

[@GaryLundgrenCrafts]

Thank you!

[@nunoandre4964]

Nice, thank you for sharing, i'll to do one similar to my mac power.

[@GaryLundgrenCrafts]

Thank you!

[@michaeledavis4421]

Link not working

[@GaryLundgrenCrafts]

Thanks for letting me know. Fixed it. Albeit, that resource list needs a lot of updating. Thanks!

[@sneakyblackdog]

I like it

[@GaryLundgrenCrafts]

Thank you!

[@kevinohara8671]

It's no good if the wheels don't lock lol

[@GaryLundgrenCrafts]

Thank you! Great tip! 👍

[@drs-Rigo-Reus]

Carbohydrate belly, yummy. Good vid, gonna make me one.

[@GaryLundgrenCrafts]

Thank you!

[@randallgatz955]

Hey Hans, why would you say that? You’re a Rude person! I would bet that you are nothing to look at!

[@kungfumachinist]

Too many jump cuts, can't make it through the whole video.

[@GaryLundgrenCrafts]

Thanks! I agree. Back then I was a newbie KZbinr and I was following, what turned out to be, a bad example. My cuts and video did not flow fluidly. In the past 2 yrs I've made efforts to eliminate that as viewers like you clued me in on that. Still learning! I've improved. I may never be perfect. But I try to pass on good information. Thanks!

[@kungfumachinist]

@@GaryLundgrenCrafts Well now I feel bad. You certainly aren't the only one with videos like this.

[@GaryLundgrenCrafts]

Thanks. Not to worry. I appreciate the feedback. Otherwise, I don't improve. 👍