Workmate 400 Upgrade

[@trep53]

My Workmate 300 has served me well for the last 45 years and still going strong! The only add on I made was a 48” x 30” x 3/4” plywood top with a 2x4 on edge in the center to be squeezed in place by the Workmate jaws. It became a light duty work surface that I used often and beyond its years! The updates to your Workmate 400 you made are good examples of what can be done. I do like the addition of the woodworking vise and the center filler piece since even though the Workmate already is a “vise” your update makes it a vise on a real bench. Plus there isn’t any need to remove the vise. I have also bought the lower cost Workmates to use as bench power tool stands, very convenient.

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

Yes, it is still one of my favorite tools inside and outside of the workshop

[@jchan3358]

Good to see builds for small spaces. I hate guys who show off how big their shops are. "Let's hop into my truck and drive over to the drill press station." Grr!

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

Hi John, I know, not everyone has a huge workshop or a large, converted garage. I grew up in England where most of us managed to have our workshop in the tiny shed at the bottom of the garden. Most of my KZbin videos show the small jigs and equipment modifications I made that allow me to work in small spaces or move them outside. Pleased you liked the video.

[@footfall4559]

By far the best upgrades for the workmate I have seen. Two suggestions if i may, first you should consider using Allen or Torx screws for flush surfaces as they don't have the problem of having to make oversized holes to fit the bit, so much easier and neater. Second when you use the metal inserts for applications where a lot of force is needed and a through hole is possible place them on the opposite side as they will put compression force on the wood instead of pulling one making it more robust. Thank you for the ideas I will use them.

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

Marios, thank you for the great suggestions, I hope others checkout your comments as I think they would improve the upgrade.

[@bsmooth5487]

Does everything that a good workbench should. Fold and unfolds with ease! Clamps are sturdy and easy to use. ++++!

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

Yes, one of my favorite tools inside and outside of the workshop

[@Alexander-dt8sk]

THIS is the video I needed to see. much slicker than others I've seen. Great job! I'm doing this to my Workmate 400 this week.

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

Thank you Alex, I should have done this ages ago, as I get much more use out of my Workmate now. It is heavy to move around, so maybe my next project will be making a base with lockable castors.

[@Alexander-dt8sk]

@@BrightSparkIdeas I'll tune in when you've done that video.

[@stanwest3529]

All vices are made with jaws that have a wider gap at the bottom ,they straighten up when in use ...vices are best bolted (nuts and bolts right through) to a workbench

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

Thank you Stan.

[@cocarr1]

Gonna do it, too!

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

It's a great project and such a useful addition to its flexibility. I hope you have fun with the build.

[@tpobrienjr]

I have a similar-sized Craftsman vise that has been gathering dust. just waiting for your bright idea. Also a new WorkMate 425. Thank you!

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

Thomas. brilliant, let me know how it works out for you.

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

Yes, I agree the Workmate is the workhorse of my workshop.

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

Yes, it is still one of my favorite tools inside and outside of the workshop

[@deans9766]

Good idea on adding a woodworking vice to a workmate. Another nice way to add versatility to a workmate is a simple temporary benchtop that is clamped down using the workmate itself. Using bit of plywood or some boards glued up together with a added board underneath for a cleat. I've used 24 inch by 24 inch scrap plywood pieces before and I've seen setups similar to a traditional woodworking workbench top done. Keeps the workshop modular, I've got a few(too many?) folding workbenches like workmates used as temporary toolstands or utility tables.

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

Dean, that sounds like great ideas. I am always looking to get more out of my tools and better use of my limited space.

[@deans9766]

@@BrightSparkIdeas new/vintage books and magazines are a great resource. My collection is getting a bit unwieldy, so I've been using Google image for ideas. Good luck and keep making

[@johndenicola6173]

Very neat - I have a Workmate 400 that I have had for about 25 years - Just purchased a Pony Woodworker's Vise (same size as your Irwin vise) - I have 2 benches - one upstairs and one in our basement but would rather add the vise to the Workmate (more work and flexibility, mobile so I can do some woodwork outside on nice days) bench dogs already there, etc.). I so happen to have the same Mechanics Vise you have.... so adding it to the Workmate table may make more sense for me. Thanks for this post, the timing could not be better!

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

Hi John, I get a lot of use out of my Workmate now. I am certainly please I made the upgrade modular as it is extremely heavy now, but fairly quick and easy to remove the vice and panel when necessary. As soon as I get some free time I am going to add a base with lockable casters. Good to hear you found the upgrade interesting.

[@johndenicola6173]

@@BrightSparkIdeas Yes... I did bring my workmate up from the basement into the garage - Did not put the vise on it yet, but REALLY enjoyed fixing up a board of pine I was working on with a hand plane to remove warps and square up the board (First time I REALLY took time to adjust/fine tune my planes and used them to such length ) - REALLY enjoyed the time I spent on it. Again, thanks for posting! I'm inspired!

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

@@johndenicola6173 Thank you, for the great update, it sounds like you are really enjoying your woodworking. My wife is a DeNicola and I am having fun on Ancestry.com tracing her family back in Italy.. Have you ever done that?

[@jaydaniels8698]

very nice job!

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

Thank you Jay, It is such a useful multi vice.

[@MaffuH]

Such a simple idea, wish i had thought of it years ago ! Im no expert but the woodworking vice isnt meant to have parallel jaw faceplates when not under load, its part of the design i believe.

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

Wow! thank you, I did not know that. Thank you, as I am never too old to learn, and really appreciate you sharing that information. Certainly makes sense.

[@andydavis8846]

If you put the threaded inserts underneath, they cannot pull out when the bolts are tightened

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

Good idea Andy, thank you for the suggestion.

[@breannestahlman5953]

What about fixing the metal vice on the other end of the beam, wouldn't it be a good or a rather bad idea?

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

Yes, good idea, you can have the metal vice on the right side, by turning the beam around.

[@dscritter614]

Very well thought out.

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

Thank you, it has become one of my most useful and versatile tools inside and outside the workshop.

[@JohnColgan.]

You can retrospective add a dog pin to the woodworking vice. Add wooden faceplate inserts, but chisel out 1in , 2in long slot and put that on the moving jaw wide and same size insert hard wood. When you need dog pin just raise the insert

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

John, thank you for the great idea, do have a video of how you did that? Thank you, best regards John

[@JohnColgan.]

@@BrightSparkIdeas I think I got the idea from Pask Makes when he made a tabletop workbench about a year ago.

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

@@JohnColgan. Thank you John, I will try and find that.

[@rickpetryk2658]

Very innovative thank you for sharing

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

Rick, thank you, I now use this workmate a lot and it is probably one of the most useful and versatile pieces I use outside of the workshop.

[@peterdement]

Does the workmate fold up with the wood working vise bolted into place?

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

Yes, it still folds up. It does make it rather heavy to move around.

[@murphyrp01]

Sounds like an Aussie who has been living in the states a while. Good video.

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

Hi Randall, actualy a Brit who has been in the USA for nearly 40 years ;-)

[@robertmunguia250]

Nice! How did you mount other vice? Woodworking one.

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

This video shows the mounting of both vices. Woodworking vice is the first part of the video.

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

ck out my other video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKKVqIlunqZ4bdk

[@robsarchery9679]

Nice job.I did one too.

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

Thank you, yes, it is still one of my favorite tools inside and outside of the workshop

[@robertmaggi6979]

Hey mate nice work on the work mate improvement just wondering u don't happen to be a brother from down under cozz i myt b mistaking but i can hear a hint of Aussie in your accent great work on the build i myt have to copy this to my work mate 👍

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

Hi Robert, good to hear from you. You are not the first person to ask that question because of the accent. I am actually a Brit, born in England, moved to the USA in the early 1980"s, so spent half my life in the UK and the other half here in the USA, which may explain the strange accent. Thank you, for the complement on the Workmate, it is probably one of the most useful and versatile pieces of kit I use.

[@angiespencer4156]

We had a drinking game every time you said um or a we would have to drink , man what a hangover!! UM LOL

[@bluzzpower]

Hi there..Great Work! I want to do the same, but can you tell me which Threaded inserts you used for the 3/8" X 2” Hex Bolts? Could it be these?--- E-Z LOK - 903816-25 E-Z Lok Threaded Insert, Zinc, Hex-Flanged, 3/8"-16 Internal Threads, 25mm Length (Pack of 25) Thanks!

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

Eddie, good question, yes, you are correct E-Z LOK - 903816-25 E-Z Lok Threaded Insert, Zinc, Hex-Flanged, 3/8"-16 Internal Threads, 25mm Length (Pack of 25). Never know what to call this inserts, but I use them on so many projects. Thank you, for watching.

[@bluzzpower]

@@BrightSparkIdeas... Thank You Sir!

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

@@bluzzpower Hi Eddie. I used a forstner bit, as it leaves a nice clean flat surface at the bottom of the hole for the washer and bolt to tighten down on. I have both, inch and metric forstner bits. The dog holes on my Workmate are 20mm, so I used a 20mm forstner bit to countersink the holes for my 6 bolts. If the holes are drilled perfectly in the center of each hole then there should not be an issue with alignment. It does not have to be the same size as the dog holes, I just thought it would look better. I also used that same bit to drill down through the existing Workmate dog holes into the 2X8, so I could continue to use them. I think once you have decided on what size bolt you are going to use, just measure the outside diameter of the socket you are going to use to tighten down the bolt and go perhaps a 1/4” bigger for the forstner bit. This will allow for any misalignment when drilling the holes. Hope this helps.

[@SkinnyVinnyLive]

Isn’t the workmate a vice

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

Yes

[@horacerumpole6912]

Goofy...

[@murphyrp01]

Sounds like an Aussie who has been living in the states a while. Good video.

[@keithfrost1190]

More like a Brit who has been living in the states a while.

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

Hi Keith, you are correct, I am a Brit and have been living here in the USA for over 30 years.