Product Description

Advanced, One Handed Clamp system with exclusive clutch design for easy clamping. Front jaw swings up for vertical clamping. Folds for easy storage and carrying. Vise jaws angle to hold wedge shapes up to 8 5 16" wide. Swivel pegs hold shapes up to 18 3 4

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #501 in Home Improvement
• Color: orange
• Brand: Black & Decker
• Model: WM425
• Dimensions: 29.50" h x 8.88" w x 29.25" l,

Features

• Workmate transforms into a roomy workbench or bench tool stand
• Heavyweight steel design holds up to 550 pounds
• One-handed clamp system allows for independent jaw adjustment
• Measures 29.2-by-8.9-by-29.5 inches; weighs 48 pounds
• Includes four swivel pegs, extra block, and vise-to-workbench converter insert

Amazon.com Review
The Black & Decker Workmate Project Center might just be the item you need to make your home shop complete. Its versatility makes it an especially ideal choice for those with limited shop floor space: use it as a workbench, a bench tool stand, a vise, or a sawhorse, then quickly break it down and store it out of the way. Because it's lightweight and portable, you can move it conveniently wherever it's needed. The one-handed vise clamp system, with its exclusive clutch design, provides quick and easy clamping. The Workmate also features an extra block to expand your work surface, four swivel pegs, and an adjustable front jaw that swings up for vertical clamping. Its legs fold under to provide the lower height and stability needed when you're using it as a base for bench tools, and its all-steel construction and rubber feet ensure a stable, strong work surface that supports up to 550 pounds. All in all, we were pretty impressed. With features like these, it's no wonder the Workmate is a popular choice for light-duty and home shop use. --Tim Block

Amazon.com Product Description
The heavyweight Black & Decker WM425 Workmate 425 Project Center is designed with a one-handed clamp system that allow clamps to be adjusted together or independently. Front jaws are designed to swing up for vertical clamping uniquely-shaped objects. The bench includes a removable center panel that transforms the workcenter into a roomy workbench or bench tool stand. The heavyweight steel workmate can comfortable support up to 550 pounds. It comes with four swivel pegs.

From the Manufacturer
The most versatile workbench on the market. Advanced one-handed clamp system with exclusive clutch design for easy clamping. Front jaw swings up for vertical clamping. Folds for easy storage. With a strong steel construction, it holds up to 550 lbs. Dual height for use as a workbench, bench tool stand, vise, or sawhorse. 0-2-5/8-inch Vertical Clamping, 31-1/8-inch Bench Height, 24-1/8-inch Sawhorse height, 0-8-5/16-inch Parallel clamping, 0-9-1/4-inch Diagonal clamping, 19-inch max. Parallel leg clamping, 29-1/8-inch x 20-3/4-inch work surface.

Customer Reviews

Not just for hobbyists
I have two Workmates; the second I purchased last year, and the first, over 15 years ago. Both get regular workouts. I use them for sawhorses, tool stands, clamps, drying stands and more.

The tool stand trick is great for working in restricted quarters, or in the field. I have a number of power tools mounted on a piece of plywood with a cleat screwed to the bottom so I can clamp them on the Workmate for a quick-change tool stand.

The folded metal construction and particle board tops of the current models makes them look more like hobbyist gear than serious tools, but they last. Owners get attached to them, too. Funny, but I've never seen a used one for sale.

Great tool, but minor fixes required
Don't be confused but the WM425 = Workmate 550 Project Center is the latest top of the line. The design of the table is excellent, but its minor construction flaws merit it only 4 stars. First, do consider the problems folks had with shipping damage. This is due to minimal padding in the Black&Decker box. If UPS ships this product without additional protection, there is a good chance it will get damaged. Second, at the store you'll have a choice of which box to select. Even at HomeDepot, some were badly bruised. My unit had a spring that popped off but was easily fixed. What took a little tweaking was the main clamping shelf was not installed parallel to the other boards. I fixed it by making sure the bolts were aligned properly and synched with the sprocketed drive belt, but if you read the assembly directions first, you might get away with fixing this by getting the handles to click, which disengages the sprockets and allows the cranks to be operated independently to fix a misalignment. After these minor fixes, the table worked flawlessly. The book 25 Essential Projects for Your Workshop describes some simple extensions you can build for the Workmate. Don't worry that the benchdogs are plastic, they work fine. You can build stronger ones if you like. The main drive mechanism is plastic, so don't over-torque your work. The only other glitch I couldn't fix was cosmetic. The neato grid did not line up across all three boards because the pre-drilled holes for the support blocks were a little off. I also didn't find that the vertical clamping strength to be very strong, but its adequate, and the one-hand operation works well and is slick. I plan to use my workmate to support some heavy table tools, and clamp some work that I route or carve. My final word to B&D is, you've got a great product, don't blow it with poor packaging and hurried assembly.

After the drill, the second tool you should buy
Deserves a spot in the design hall of fame, this well-constructed foldable bench is responsible for saving thousands of dining room chairs and picnic tables from their accidental scaring and destruction. No longer will you drill through your wood project and into the kitchen countertops, gone are the days where you very foolished used you knee to balance the board you were cutting with the radial saw. The vise is very useful for clamping small glue jobs -- though often not wide enough anything larger -- and serves and an extra pair of hands when you need them most.

The extra 40 bucks (vs the WM225) buys you slightly sturdier construction (though I haven't had a problem in 10yrs) and the ability to create a vertical vise/grip. It's not a bad feature to have for certain kinds of fine wood working projects -- but at that point I suspect you're better off getting a permanent work bench. At the same time, I've rarely longed for it.