How to assemble a BLACK AND DECKER workmate plus WM825

[@ronaldbrown1852]

You are obviously a guardian angel ! the Black and Decker assembly instructions had me close to suicidal . I'm a retired Blacksmith of 50 years and instructed nationally for a government organisation for three years in the 1970's before going into self employed status. Prior to that I had worked in a factory making centrifuge machines for scientific and industrial purposes and prior to that several years as a motor engineer with credit and distinction City and Guilds exam results, but nothing in my 74 years of this wonderful life prepared me for the Black and Decker instruction leaflet. I award the perpetrator of such a document the chained anvil secured to you neck or feet and to be dropped in the deepest part of the ocean! Thank you Mrs T's Top Tips for relieving my total frustration and extending my life. God Bless you.

[@harryoliver1532]

Brilliant instructions - I'm a freelance engineer & I've seldom seen anything explained in a more succinct manner. Thank you😊

[@FrancisFaulkner-c8k]

Thank you. You are amazing I have just received one of these for Christmas and was tearing my hair out trying to assemble it, you are indeed a star.

[@simongillings2122]

Absolute life saver! I had this bench as a Christmas gift and thought I’d never get a chance to use it as the instructions for assembly were as helpful as a chocolate teapot! I loved the less than technical descriptions of everything and your instructions were simple to follow. Thanks again

[@adamwoodward5566]

So simple. If only the B&D destructions were that clear. Cheers Mrs T!

[@thomasaspin4951]

Life saver. Instructions that come with the workmate are of the chocolate tea pot variety. Well done, thank you

[@erikjohansson9885]

Fabulous presentation. Without this I've been lost in the worst manual ever. Greetings from Norway

[@nickobee1936]

Useful.... is the most severe understatement.... thanks Mrs T..... these manufacturers instructions should win an award for being quite possibly the most useless instructions ever.... you’re a godsend 👍🏻

[@RwLaid-Back]

Thank you, Mrs T! Without your video, I would not have managed to assemble the B&D workmate! I was totally lost by the B&D instruction manual as it omits the most difficult steps: assembling the wooden panels. You saved me hours and nerves. Greetings from Germany!

[@vivienmargrave6350]

I got this as a gift to assist with my wiid craft. I made the mistake of looking at the instructions and thinking it was hopeless. Then after a month I came across you on Utube and clarity came shining through. I had it together in no time. Thank you so much.

[@jonathanwatson2898]

Forewarned by Amazon comments that the instructions were um, less than useful, I went straight to KZbin and this excellent video. Heartfelt thanks for immaculately clear assembly instructions from another grateful DIY-er!

[@erikalaycock365]

As per other comments, you’re an absolute star Mrs T! This is such a helpful video, since, as you point out, the assembly instructions from Black & Decker are next to useless. Your video saves a lot of stress & frustration, very many thanks! 👍🏻

[@karlbartlett7182]

Thank you for such a simple explanation of the assembly. I thought half the parts were missing or it was meant to come more assembled than it was! The instructions are totally inadequate, thanks for deciphering them and getting us going.

[@richardjuggins9386]

I agree , the supplied instructions were terrible. I received my 550 this morning and spent a frustrating couple of hours trying to assemble the unit. So glad i stumbled over your video. Big Thanks !!!

[@lulzter]

Thanks Ms.T. 5 minutes ago I literally said the instructions are beyond useless, and here I am. Good stuff

[@PeterRichardsonv7]

Wonderful I was reading the destruction booklet and had no idea, but with your clear presentation it all became quite easy, thank you for explaining the black bits I had no clue as to how they worked. Right. Time to go saw some wood.

[@jonathanrees8050]

I wish I'd seen this before I tried to assemble this thing. The instructions I got had even less in them than tje ones you are showing there. This is a great video thanks!

[@careycheshire8794]

I too have purchased this same model and like so many other's, have finished up nearly banging our head's on a brick wall as the instruction manual lack's any form of description as to how to assemble this unit. It's thanks to you Mrs T with your video and description have settled this. You should be called 'Wonder Woman' and deserve a Gold Medal from all of us.

[@martincampbell2151]

Top job mrs, the instructions that come with it are a waste of paper...thank heavens for you!

[@davidpollard5035]

Absolutely brilliant, thank you! I don’t know what I’d have done without your video. The instructions that came with it were terrible. Once again, thank you very much.

[@vivianefeder8370]

First sorry for my english. Second• Thank you VERY much for this video! I was absolutly lost with only the manual. Thanks to your greate and useful instruction I have made it.

[@christianerkelens]

Thank you! didn't even bother to read the instructions after reading all the reviews of the workmate. Just watched your video immediately after buying the workmate. Great video.

[@mcmak666]

Thank you very much for taking the time to do this. Like you say, not difficult but the instructions are so useless that you wouldn't know how to do it unless you'd owned one before!

[@davidtaylor1712]

After watching your helpful video I set to it and finished in ten minutes. Instead of a hammer I squeezed those pesky C pins into the winders with mole grips and some WD40. Now all I need to do is work out how to disarm the parallel drive belt. %) Many thanks for posting the vid.

[@khrathmann]

You safed my day and prevented me from doing harm to this piece and myself before it’s first usage. Thanks!!

[@Smiffy55ukx]

Mrs T you are an absolute star! I had an old B&D Workmate so I knew what it ought to look like but I couldn't make it work. It's amazing that such a well--established company could sell something with such useless instructions. Thanks again.

[@mauriciofontes]

Absolutely fantastic video. I was feeling quite dumb because I couldn't figure out the instruction manual. For example, there's no mention of removing the original white plastics to then hammer the (incredibly difficult) metal pins/rods/whatever. Hugely appreciated that you clarified it!

[@lindumcolonia6244]

Thank you so much! As you said, the included instructions were useless. I’ve done Legos for years and this was far trickier. Your help was much appreciated. 👍🏻😀👍🏻

[@centralmartin]

So pleased to have found your instructions. The ones on the box literally didn’t make any sense. Your instructions did! 👍👍👍👍

[@Anne-zl2yg]

today I received my new workmate, with a kind of manual...... with your video it was a piece of cake! Thank you so much.

[@maream8890]

Brilliantly clear and non-technical instructions. Made the assembly so much easier than using manufacturer’s instruction manual.

[@sallyannparman6575]

Oh my life you hero. I'd have chucked it through the window if I hadn't found these instructions! Brilliant, thank you.

[@Cenlar201]

You are the best! The manual as you said was useless. I followed your instruction and was done in minutes. Thank you!

[@davidchad4396]

Felicity you are an angel. As you say the instructions are worse than useless but you have reduced everything into simplistic terms that even I can understand...well done

[@strifamne1749]

Even after 3 years, this video is still so useful. Awesome guide. Bought one that arrived today. Gonna assemble tomorrow. Not even gonna look at the manual. This vid is all I need. Thanks you :))

[@Mikerotheatre1]

I am grateful to you for your explanation, and to B&D for their packaging, held together by long copper staples, which I was able to use to attach the handles, instead of the cotter pins supplied, which I was unable to hammer through the holes.

[@charliebu5498]

This really helped me sort out my sons Christmas gift. Many thanks, From North Wales. UK.

[@wimvriend7347]

Thanks for the very clear instructions. It was needed for the ommited but necessary part regarding fixing the wooden tops.

[@theoriginalstoney]

Thank you! I saw the warnings on the manual when buying this and thought “Nah, it’ll be alright”. Oh my word... without this video I would have had a very bad day...

[@lechercheur123]

The instruction manual was useless, but your video was helpful ! Thank you from France !

[@cracker1234]

Looked at this video to clarify where possible the instructions as given by B&D, which are a little vague. Many thanks for the video on this, made the larger wood jaw much easier & understand and then use on projects in future. Video lighting and focus were very good in the instructions - cheeers !!

[@jazzhenhouse6869]

Thanks Mrs T. I'm 30 years a DIYer and wanted to replace my worn out (but far more robust) B&D workmate. It's amazing that they get away with such pathetic instructions. Found your helpful video after 20mins fiddling about!

[@petershaw1807]

Thanks Mrs T. I could not have assembled it without your instructions, especially the handles !!!

[@GregGillet-j8e]

Thank you Mrs T. As others have said, B&D instructions were rubbish, so your video was a lifesaver.

[@ronaldscholten3972]

Thanks for the instruction. Really needed this and without it it is a struggle to understand the original instruction manual.

[@garethcarruthers]

I have just spent all afternoon putting mine together, getting very frustrated and angry due to the totally useless instructions provided. I eventually got it together, and then found the KZbin instructions. If only I’d found this first, you explained it extremely well. Thank you

[@andrewrose6887]

Thanks! You’re a star….saved me a couple of hours swearing at the instruction booklet!!!! Really clear instruction, Black and Decker should pay you!!!!!

[@mikehopkins4040]

Really good and clear instructions.I put a bit of soap or washing up liquid on the end of the pin helped to ease it through.Works on wood screws too.

[@ffudon]

Great video, you saved me from scratching my head off ! Your descriptive words made me smile too - thankyou 👍 😊

[@daviddewdney4596]

Mrs T you are wonderful Hubby's old one finely died after at least 30 years and it has taken us ages even with your help to get this one done. Without your help there might have been a murder. Thanks such clear instructions

[@AndyChipling]

Bless you my dear you made me laugh this morning and I wasn't feeling well. It's good that you have a great interest in engineering. And you made me laugh when you said it's easy if you know what to do 😂 100% agree with you. Keep up the good work. ❤

[@SOULBISCUITS]

Mrs T saves the day, no wonder black and decker have removed comments on this product. Absolute pain in the ass to set up with the manufacturer’s manual, so yeah mrs T shows how it’s done 👌

[@martinhaskell376]

Your instructions are far, far better than those in the useless manual supplied! 👍🏻

[@dougswift2007]

Excellent video, thank you. Don’t know why the instructions are so bad! Wouldn’t have been able to assemble without this video!

[@philiphadley2280]

Well i was getting myself stressed as the instructions are the worst i have ever seen, but thank you so much for doing this video as it made it so clear and i got it together in no time Thanks again Mrs T

[@alandent2434]

Thank you. Waiting for a cataract operation means that the instructions are even less use to me at the moment. Your video was just what I needed.

[@deanstewart1913]

Thank you 👍🙂👍.. excellent .. went ( nearly 🤫😃 ) smoothly putting mine up.. just got the handles left to do ( tommorow🤔😃) .. but ain’t daunting , after watching you’re fab , well explained and demonstrated assembly .. I never even had to read the instruction assembly manual ..yay 👍🙂👍.. thank you 👍🤗👍

[@daveisaac7634]

Thank you - couldn't work out how to put together until I watched your video!

[@petersteele46]

You did well thank you. I fumbled my way through assembling my workmate earlier today. The B&D instructions are good for only one thing, but I prefer Wet Wipes. Your presentation was 1st Class👍👍

[@michaeldoward6611]

I received my workbench this morning and was despairing... then turned to KZbin and lo and behold: this clear and straightforward video. Thank you so much, it has certainly saved me several hours of frustration and swearing at the utterly unhelpful instructions. Now I can enjoy my morning making something else!

[@rachelatherton3333]

Brilliant, easy to follow instructions. Thank you. Before I bought this I had read that the instructions were not great. Having seen them I then went straight to internet and found your video.. all done in 10 minutes. Thank you very much!

[@davidmacgowan2337]

Thanks. Very clear and well presented. You have lovely hands, too.

[@glennanderson7795]

Bought one of these for a good friend of mine, I live 300 miles away and this film seems to explain everything, emailing this immediately - thank you & VBW!

[@abdoulayediatta5392]

Thanks very much for your explaintion. You helped me to put it together. Very helpfull indeed!!! Manual was very incomplete and not at all clear. Again thank you from Holland.

[@johnm2843]

What a wonderful video! Thank you so much! The instructions in the box are indeed hopeless and the layman's language (long screwy thing!) I adored. This saved me so much bad language and guesswork.

[@winemeister]

Looked at this video before buying and thought the comments were just a load of angry people who can't follow basic instructions but when I opened the instructions I realised you were all correct and it's B & D that are the total idiots. I toyed with the idea that the white plastic bits needed to come off before putting on the handles but thought, no, B & D must know what they're doing . . . please B & D, go to China, ask people, ask schoolchildren, ask IKEA, how to write out visual instructions, and then include them instead of the rubbish you provide. Like everyone else I'm very grateful you Mrs T, have taken the time to produce this for us!

[@nickloman6659]

Thank you! Thought I was going mad after trying to read the instructions ....

[@matthewhunt7666]

Thanks Mrs T I have just bought a WM536 fairly similar. Without your help it would have taken me a long time to work out. Your video really helped me set it up and the very clear descriptions of the parts and the crucial differences between the 2 sorts of black oblongs was most useful.

[@iainmcpherson9968]

Fantastic. Thank you for saving me a couple of hours figuring this out. The simples5 of tasks when you see how it’s done. Shocking instructions from B&D.

[@janvermeulen4729]

Thank so much Mrs T for these clear instructions. Very helpfull. Shame on B&D for the miserable instructions they have included with their product.

[@Mrdogface12]

Thanks Mrs T. Totally needed you to show me the way on the workmate 825 👍

[@Jjgirl591]

This bench has been sitting in a corner for over a year as I could not get the instructions. Thanks to you, in less than 10 minutes, it was put together. Thanks so much !!!

[@Mr13spikey]

Even after 4 years, this video is still so useful.

[@caroleboag3507]

Thanks - very clear. I wish I had found the video before I spent two hours trying to assemble it!! You were over-polite about the B & D instructions.

[@amandataylor2053]

Thanks for the help, as you say the instructions are ridiculously hard to follow! Many thanks! 😊

[@gwladergwlad4494]

Thank you for posting this video.. I very nearly came close to using my angle grinder and wrecking bar on this to get things to fit.

[@geertkingma]

Thank you, your video saved me a lot of frustration! And boo to Black + Decker for not being able to supply a simple, proper manual.

[@veroniquedelestree1691]

Thank you, your explanations are very clear (even when we do not understand very well English). The assembly instructions are so bad, I would never have managed to assemble it without this video

[@noelmccomb7577]

Thank god, black n decker assembly instructions are shocking. I built motorbikes from less complicated instructions! Thanks

[@762parabillim]

As with most others here, I received my workmate today and marvelled at the wholly inadequate assembly instructions before resorting to KZbin.

[@alexrandall3244]

Thanks for an excellent video. Without you help I would not have been able to assemble the workbench. Good work.

[@PratabAli]

Thank you for your effort. I was searching for instructions on inserting the steel C pin into the winding handle, I'm glad to see that it is as difficult as I found it and I wasn't being dense. In July 2017 B&D published their own audio-less assembly video, showing how the black plastic oblong are used. However, your video is far more helpful. So, 3 years and 5 months since your video was published, my WM825 arrived today and the printed instructions today are just as useless as you describe back in 2017. Come on B&D how hard is it to update these instructions. Also Black & Decker if you're reading this then I think you should sponsor Mrs T's Top tips channel, as a thank you to her. Since, she's saved you sales, if you read a few comments here, customers were considering returning their workbench, due to the lack of out-of-the-box instructions.

[@Harryhrp-ko6yt]

I've been in and around workshops since 1970 and I've never seen such c**p instructions as those that come with the WM825 - thanks to Mrs T it goes from a head-scratching marathon to a 5-minute job to assemble this. Many, many thanks!

[@arminfoerst3903]

Thank you so much for this video, it saved me hours of frustrations...the instructions that come with the product are pretty much confusing and useless

[@ianhjan]

And me Mrs T, I have just received my WM825 from Amazon. I was horrified looking through the instructions. Elon Musk might stand a chance of working them out, but I can't make any sense of them. Thank you so much for this clear and easy video. I followed you and the work bench is all assembled.

[@michelbel3112]

Thank you very much. Assemblyy went smoothly after I had thrown out the manual and watched your video.

[@BobisPanda]

Thank you for this How-to video🎉 At this point, B&D should have a link to your video on their box or manual 😄

[@frankhayes1135]

The failure of B&D to provide adequate instructions is totally unacceptable. You have just saved me from hours of frustration. Many thanks.

[@KG8255]

Thank you. I knew it was the right video as soon as you said the instructions were beyond useless..

[@Sorarse]

The only thing I haven't been able to work out is how to wind the handles independently to clamp non-parallel work pieces. As they are joined by a belt, it's not possible to turn one without the other turning as well.

[@ronocthewonder]

Did you ever figure it out?

[@Sorarse]

@@ronocthewonder No, unfortunately

[@ronocthewonder]

@@Sorarse Took me a bit of searching but eventually I found this! kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2KklnZ5g7V4a8k You take the band underneath off!

[@Sorarse]

@@ronocthewonder I thought of that, but also thought it would be a workaround, thinking that Black and Decker would have incorporated a more elegant solution. It would appear not.

[@malcolmjohnson1388]

Brilliant, a fantastic instructional video and saved hours of confusion. B and D should be paying you!!!

[@machieel]

Much obliged...saved me the painstaking job of figuring out how this thing works instead of working with it. Very clear explanation. Thanks!

[@GordieK]

OMG - After 25 minutes of struggling with this crap instructions I decided to google instructions for this ... THANK YOU so much ... B&D ought to buy the rights to this ....

[@GlobetrottingMusicologist]

(Wo)man, you just made my day! It took me a few months to muster up the courage to get started. (Really.) I got the two handles on, but then was completely lost. For B&D to scrimp on translations is one thing, but then to provide an incomplete picture manual... They should pay YOU! You're simply my BFF! :0)

[@lesdefesche5198]

Thank you. As you said the instructions are useless. Thanks for your clear and concise help😊

[@bigg4089]

Brilliant, just got my workmate and this no doubt saved time and cursing. Had to laugh though at some of the voiceover: shows bolt, calls it a screw; screwy pole when referring to threaded clamping adjusters, dogs etc 😉

[@Wheely_Dan]

Damn good video, my mum and girlfriend really struggled to put this together until watching this.

[@elliottcacook]

Made a complicated job with instructions a very easy one, thank you so much!

[@christopherdewick4747]

This is brilliant. The supplied ‘instructions’ are totally inadequate , with stages omitted. I was about to pack it up and return it until I found this video. Thank you.

[@sachin624]

Explained in such a simple way. No unnecessary waffle. You should do car reviews. By the way, the red things are called dogs. Used for securing odd shaped objects.