Workmate TLC Tip

I love mine. I have used that thing a lot.
It has served as my portable work bench when doing odd jobs for the elderly folks at church for many years. I think mine is a model 200.

-- When you leave your shop for the night, make sure you can always count to 10.

i have 4 of the OLD models, two have the lower legs folded and live on furniture dollies with a 3×3 piece of plywood with a cleat under it for a table top & I use them as mobile assembly tables, #3 is the base of my outfeed table and #4 is the multi purpose extra “sawhorse” when needed.

-- I've decided 1 mistake is really 2 opportunities to learn.. learn how to fix it... and learn how to not repeat it

Thank you for your input, guys! Glad to hear others appreciate the capabilities of this contraption. Seems like Workmates are a “Love ‘em or Hate ‘em” subject. What I CAN say about mine is that it has followed and faithfully served me through five different address and innumerable projects. (Including four years in a condominium, where projects were done on the patio in good weather, or indoors in bad) The various actual wooden workbenches had to remain at most of those homes with dedicated workspaces. I’m sure y’all can figure out one of the items I used when I built the wooden work benches for those homes…...... BTW, I’ve seen a pretty nifty little shop-built removable drawer attachment for holding clamps, the dogs, tape measure, etc. with the WM elsewhere here on the LJ site. I think I’m gonna hafta build me my own version of it. Looks pretty darned handy!

-- OleGrump

You might want to read through this thread… lots of Workmate fans around here:

Workamates of our Dreams

Cheers,
Brad

PS: Mine is currently being used as the stand for a Unimat mini-lathe :)

-- Brad in FL - In Dog I trust... everything else is questionable

Hey – I have a WM 500 love it! I’m rebuilding the top at the moment (Youtube John Taylor #36). I use it for everything. Added a mobile base so: chop saw, planer, assembly, painting, carving, routing, out feed, lawn mower repair, AND a serving table at two graduation parties. So a Roubo it’s not but very useful for me. I think I’m going to look up that little drawer thing too.

-- Bill - Rochester MI

Thanks Brad, didn’t have time to find that one!

-- I've decided 1 mistake is really 2 opportunities to learn.. learn how to fix it... and learn how to not repeat it

BTW, I’ve seen some discussion elsewhere about this, so thought I’d add it here. I have bored some extra dog holes in the WM 400 with a #13 auger bit. (13/16ths diameter) This is VERY slightly larger than the factory holes, but the bench dogs and Grip Mate bases work fine with them.
Auger Bit ? Yep, good old hand brace. The bit went through the MDF just fine. Bored through until the lead screw emerged, then bored from the other side. Nice, clean holes. The factory holes are “20 MM”, but millimeters are for firearms, NOT for the workshop! The 13/16ths holes do an excellent job.

-- OleGrump

BTW, I ve seen some discussion elsewhere about this, so thought I d add it here. I have bored some extra dog holes in the WM 400 with a #13 auger bit. (13/16ths diameter) This is VERY slightly larger than the factory holes, but the bench dogs and Grip Mate bases work fine with them. Auger Bit ? Yep, good old hand brace. The bit went through the MDF just fine. Bored through until the lead screw emerged, then bored from the other side. Nice, clean holes. The factory holes are “20 MM”, but millimeters are for firearms, NOT for the workshop! The 13/16ths holes do an excellent job.
- OleGrump