BLACK+DECKER Workmate Portable Workbench, 350-Pound Capacity (WM125)

It's rare that I receive something that impresses me but this little B&W Workmate deserves a nod. I've had these in the past and they've been very useful for their price. But whereas the earlier models had tops of MDF that would go bad quickly especially when wet, I was very happily surprised to see when opening the box today that the top is now fabricated of solid bamboo! Excellent improvement B&W. As others have noted, the instructions are a little tricky but I used a little imagination and had no difficulty assembling this workmate, even with an odd extra bag of small wood screws and an extra bolt neither of which show on the parts list. The pin insertion into the handle is the hardest step but I didn't attempt using a hammer as the instructions dictated but rather grabbed a clamp and pressed these into place. Tight, but no drama! As others have suggested, I did screw the feet on with small wood screws after pre-drilling. The feet feel tight to start but I trust they'll loosen in time but being tacked in place with these screws should solve that problem. Very happy with this product on initial inspection and assembly. If it works as they have in the past, I will be very happy with the result. The Workmate is a valuable, useful addition to a small workshop. It folds nicely out of the way but offers a great clamping solution for many differently shaped work pieces. Every workshop should have one. I am not compensated for this review. Just very impressed with my very modest purchase.

Note: I'm a 63 yr old Handy-Lady, and well used to getting my hands dirty, and make furniture and other woodworking projects. Like many people I was wary of getting this workbench set up. I actually bought this in May and left it till I needed it - September 9 - to assemble it. I forgot the return window for Amazon had closed, so I was really nervous when I examined the box, which had obviously been opened and resealed. And even more so when I found one of the plastic bags of parts was opened. But, I looked up the Black and Decker assembly video for the WB125 and setup my iPad to watch as I assembled it First - and I am one of those people - I arranged all the parts and hardware exactly as shown in the video, and was pleased that nothing was missing. TIP #1: Make sure you have the 2 cross-braces identified as the shorter one goes on the inside legs, the longer one on the outside legs - the holes won't line up if you make the same mistake I did. TIP #2: Yes! Use locking washers - 8 x M6 lock washers - on these cross-brace attachments to make sure it is as sturdy as possible TIP #3: There are 4 slides included for the vise. These are actually 2 sets of 2 and are not identical. The first set have a protruding knob which fits in the hole in the metal top of the bench. This set is the one used to attached the non-moving part of the vise - the one without the printed logo and product name on it. Everything else went smoothly - watching the video carefully - and I even used the Roll Pins to attach the handles. I had bought - upon the advice of a number of reviewers - but the Roll Pins - with a little force, went through OK. Tip #4: I attached the feet, which fitted well, but also used Flex-Glue, since the feet are flexible plastic. I literally just finished the setup, so I can't say whether this was a good idea, but it seemed logical to me. Once assembled it seems very sturdy and - I used to have one of the original 1970's versions - not quite as solid as the original, but good enough for my home projects. At $40 (incl. tax - and it's now even cheaper) I am very pleased with the workbench. VIDEOS: Search YouTube for WB125 Assembly and you should get the one from the Black and Decker Product Manager. But also search for "How To Put Together A Black+Decker WorkMate 125 Portable Workbench" by user, 'Help at my Home'. He runs through some of the confusing aspects of assembly and the various parts and pieces that might get your frustrated. _______ Hammer On!! -Kim

This is and does exactly what you'd expect, if your expecations are reasonable. However, it's noticeably of a lower build quality than the larger models WM225 and WM425 (both of which I've used; presumably also the BDST11000, though I haven't used that). Just reviewed in a vaccum without any comparison to other products, this is entirely serviceable as a very light-duty mini-bench/vise and a saw horse. As to build quality, this arguably isn't a 5-star product under any circumstances. But I'm not reviewing in a vacuum, so this definitely loses half a star each for missing features and downright unprofessionally bad instructions. Surprisingly, the Powertech MT4006 and Harbor Freight (US General) 47844 competing product (which is the same from both vendors, just differently branded, and cheaper at HFT) is actually superior. That must be a first! The WM125 seems to be a cheapie outsourced product that B+D just slaps its name on. That other multi-brand one is also low-build-quality Chinese stuff, but *as good* quality, has tool-holding slots in the crossbraces which are actually useful, has measurment markings on it like the WM425 and BDST11000 do, has leg cross-braces for added stability and certainty of proper deployment, has V-notches in the clamp edge for holding cylindrincal stock that are actually big enough to work, and has better bench dogs (the plastic work-holding inserts) than the B+D ones. In all of these cases I absolutely would NOT trust such a bench as a miter saw or other massive-tool bench. None of them are sturdy enough for that (well, maybe for a 10'' mini one, but certainly not a full-size 14'', and especially not a large *sliding* miter saw; that would be downright dangerous). I don't feel that way about the much more sturdy WM225 and WM425. These little WM125s, like the HFT equivalents, are best as mini-benches for use with hand tools, as big clamps, and as fancy-pants saw horses. On the up side, the dog holes are the same, so you can use the HFT dogs with the B+D bench if you have both, as I do. They can be used together quite well for most purposes, though aren't *quite* the same height (a half-to-one-inch difference; I can measure if it someone cares that much). To its credit, the B+D model has bamboo bench tops while the other brands use MDF, but that's not much of a selling point. The instructions, as others have noted, are stupid-wrong; pretty much the worst ever written. They just fall apart at stage 4 and do not make any verbal sense nor have illustrations that correspond to what they're saying., The dismissive reviewer is correct than an intelligent person could eventually figure how how to build this without instructions at all, but it would be a lengthy, frustrating, trial-and-error puzzle, and *that's not what we paid for*. If I want to play a puzzle game, I'll get one from GOG or Steam, thanks. The assembly video on YouTube certainly helps, but even it shows a poor way to assemble this, and cheats a lot by editing in later cuts that clearly don't show the same bench and parts in the same positions. It's as if the B+D employee building it and recording this (seemingly on a phone cam) realized belatedly that he was doing it the hard way, then fudged over it later, rather than getting someone else to hold the camera and move it as needed while they re-shot those segments. My own build hints: Use a wall for support when needed; that obviates a lot of annoyance and any need for another pair of hands. Do not depend on the included plastic nut driver, which (due to its flanges) cannot be rotated to tighten the nuts on some of the carriage bolts. But don't over-tighten; remember that the legs are hollow, parts of this are plastic, and it needs to fold up. Attach the B&D-branded cross-brace first, since that shows you unmistakably which way is up on these things. Turn the bench on its side when assembling the vise with its sliders; trying to do it with the bench upright as the video attempts to show (they "conveniently" edited out the very awkward mechanics of it) is just boneheaded. Do as others suggest and use bolts and nuts to attach the handles to the vise rods (not the included plastic pins), but use pan or cap-head #6-32, 1'' bolts in particular, since 1-1/4'' stick out a lot. For the feet, instead of using more through-bolts and nuts, use a 7/64'' drill bit and 1/2'' #6 pan-head sheet-metal screw to attach each foot (less stuff sticking out); the goal is to drill a hole just slightly smaller than the screw, and use a drill driver with some force to slowly insert the screw (the through-bolting suggestions have you drill a hole larger than the bolt, to just slip it in, which called for a larger bit). Use a padded surface (rug on the floor, whatever) and a rubber mallet to join the two pieces of the handle, instead of trying to manually snap them together; it'll be easier and less likely to severely pinch you (and less likely to break the handle than using a metal hammer). I think it would be an under-30-minute build done that way, if you're handy, even including drilling holes for the feet screws. If you're not very handy, budget 45 minutes, after watching the video then thinking about what I said about how to do it better, so about 1 hour.

I'm just an old DIYer who wishes he had invested in this years ago. I was tired of setting up sawhorses, putting a piece of plywood on top and using C clamps to try and hold things together with variable results, some good, some not so much. This makes the process much easier holding things for sawing, sanding, and routing. I know there are other models, more pricey, but this fits my needs, a 5 star product. BUT, 1 complaint for Black & Decker: the instruction book for assembly is worse that Chinese stuff that's been translated badly to English. The diagrams are so small that I needed a magnifying glass to see them and the assembly sequence, which the book stresses MUST BE FOLLOWED SEQUENTIALLY makes little sense. An example of the book's silliness is the listing of tools needed including a flat blade screwdriver. Silly for the fact that THERE ARE NO STRAIGHT BLADE TYPE SCREWS! The screws are Phillips type, not straight bladed. The book quotes assembly time as 45 minutes to an hour but, between trying to decipher the miniature diagrams and interpreting the text - plus using a Vise Grip to adjust the bend on some parts - it took me over 2 1/2 plus a litany of profane words (optional) to assemble, test, and clean up. I suggest that B&D update this ASAP as I rate the product as 5 stars but the documentation as less than 1. Hey, B&D, are you listening?

There is a video from Black and Decker which shows you how to install the bench, link is below: EDIT: Amazon wouldn't let me post the link, but if you search Youtube for "Black and Decker workmate 125 assembly" you will find it. As lots of other people pointed out, the installation instructions are terrible, which is the main downside to this product. But if you watch the video (and pause it at key points to look at the workmate in various stages of assembly) you shouldn't have a problem. A few other important things to note: - Don't use the stupid cotter pins to hammer in the handles! Its really hard to get them in properly and you risk hurting yourself or bending the handle out of shape with the hammer. As another reviewer pointed out, use #6-32 1 & 1/4 nuts and bolts instead. Buy a pack of 6 ( 99 cents from home depot), you will need the other 4 to resolve the next issue.... - The rubber feet will fall off constantly, which is annoying. To fix that you can drill holes through the feet and legs so that you can install nuts and bolts to hold them on (see picture). Drilling a 9/64 hole will be enough to make the #6-32 bolts fit in. I know.... it would have been nice if Black & Decker just manufactured the thing this way, and just provided you with the $0.99 pack of bolts. But even with these shortcomings, it still deserves 5 stars when you factor in extremely low price tag ($29), and more importantly, the fact that once it is assembled properly, its a solid product. More versatile and useful than many other things which cost much more.

The WM125 works well. It's most important feature for me is that it really does fold up small. (I live in an apartment.) It's strong and stable enough to support a Dremel 220-01 Rotary Tool Work Station without shaking. The only completely negative thing I have to say is that the assembly directions were terrible. I'm an engineer, and I had to completely start over three times before I got it right. The directions are so bad that at one point, I thought one of the clamping jaws (wood panels) was drilled wrong at the factory and was preparing to redrill it myself. Fortunately, I realized that I just had the other one backwords, because the directions showed it that way. I also have one concern that isn't certain yet, but I expect to become a problem: The locking nuts are slowly collapsing the steel square tube legs. Basically, the locking screws and nuts, which prevent the work station from collapsing while you use it, are much tougher than the tubing in the legs. (This is good from a safety point of view: Better that the leg gets squashed over time than that the work station collapses while you are working with a power tool.) Both of those issues to the side, I still consider it an excellent buy. If it does fail on me, I'll probably just buy the next better version. The basic design is excellent.

The bench is SO useful, as advertised a project center and vise! I'm very excited to sharpen my knives with it as my first project -- many parts are included with that. My 10-year old nephew is indignant over the fact that so many people say this was too hard to install. READ and FOLLOW the directions, they are EASY and SIMPLE. I add this not just to counter others but, because of these reviews I waited to assemble this bench. Literally, it sat in a corner for a couple of years because I dreaded putting it together. It took us 30 mins. of assembly and double-checking. All of that was unnecessary wasted time, while I struggled for a third hand, using my teeth and leverage against other items for years. I explained to him that many men believe they know what directions say already, or don't think they are important. I even read reviews that said to GOOGLE instructions online because the ones that came with the bench were crap, or bad Chinese, or whatever. My nephew's dad has ADHD and claims instruction manuals and booklets "don't tell you anything you need to know," so he knew what I meant. (I also explained to him that usually people don't fill out the warranty/registration card and send it back to the manufacturer (or keep the receipt) and they're upset when they can't get warranty service, which I explained is advertised on the box so we will buy the product). Anyone who had trouble with the directions did not read/follow them. It makes me angry that I waited so long for something that turned out to be simple and straight-forward. I mean, there are even PICTURES if you can't/don't want to read the words. Also, a wrench tool is included for two different size nuts and a butter knife can be used for the flathead screwdriver if necessary. I was wrong to think I was anything like other owners who had trouble with assembly. Wow!

The only issue I found in assembly was using the pin to attach the handle to the vise screw rod. That pin goes in pretty snug and if the handle should break at any time and need replacement it may be a little difficult getting the pin removed. Instead of the pins I used 8/32 machine screws of proper length with a nut and washer. These size screws fit the hole perfectly with no play. One other thing to keep in mind is that the kit provides a plastic nut driver tool to snug up the bolts on the leg brackets and the vise-jaw wood tops so you don't need many other tools for assembly except a screwdriver and the use of a hammer for the handle pin . The overall assembly does require a little thought no matter what some of the other reviews may say. The best approach in many cases seems to be the pictorial of a fully assembled workmate which is on the front page of the instructions. In any case there are a few areas where you need to read the instruction especially when placing the slide blocks under the wood vise-jaws so you get them right as they are hidden if you look at an assembled unit. The Workmate came nicely packaged and all parts accounted for and a good set of instructions. For ease of assembly remove all contents from the box and lay them out. I use small cardboard plates to separate all the small parts which makes it a lot easier to find what you are looking for. The instructions do provide a pictorial layout of all the large and small parts so you can become familiar with what goes where when called for. The Workmate seems sturdy enough and looks to be another handy tool to have around. B&D has been making these for a very long time so they must be doing something right.

The workbench arrived missing two bolts. I was unable to assemble it without these two important items. Efforts to obtain them came to zilch in spite of my best efforts. So item was returned.

Collapsable and the vice feature is great. Great value for money too. If your making anything at home that needs a vice and a flat surface you should buy this, very convenient.

Bonne qualité, très pratique pour les petits bricollages

Easy to use, slim when folded - so easy to store, sufficiently robust for home use, light enough to lift and carry.

Esta mesa de trabajo me ha funcionado muy bien a mis necesidades sencillas de un "Hagalo usted mismo" Estuve a punto de no comprarlo por las reseñas negativas sobre esta mesa, pero me anime por la garantía de Amazon. Al recibirlo lo primero que note es que era pesado y de manufactura robusta y venia desarmado. Inmediatamente me puse a armarlo y utilice el manual incluido. Sobre el manual incluido, si es verdad lo que todas las reseñas dicen que no esta bien, y esta incluso faltante de pasos e ilustraciones. Pero el manual para descargar que esta en la misma pagina de venta, si esta actualizado, correcto y ademas puedes verlo en mayor tamaño que el que viene incluido (casi es miniatura, y luego inservible realmente), pero eso no hace que el producto sea malo. En cuestión de calidad no le veo problemas, es robusto y resistente. En cuestión de precio lo veo excelente y muy bueno por la calidad del producto. Yo utilice otras herramientas para ensamblarlo, pero se pueden usar las que tiene el paquete de instalación incluido. Hasta el momento ha resistido bien los embates de mi falta de pericia para muchas cosas y sigue estando de pie y resistiendo.