BLACK+DECKER Portable Workbench, Workmate Folding Workbench, 550 lb. Capacity with Clamps for Woodworking (WM425-A)

I wanted a “Workmate”. My dad had one back in the day, and I was stoked to find them still available. Slight issues putting together, but thanks to other reviews for pointers. The connection between the two winding handles is over elaborate and unnecessary, but I can see how it may assist some users. It seems to be well made, and is extremely versatile. The 425-A is much better value than the 825 Deluxe; they are basically the same but the 425 has more interchangeable “boards” on top and is way less than half the price.

Great. Easy to use

This offering of the Black+Decker Workmate is a far cry from the model 79-001 I purchased in the early 80s. The twin independent screws of the early models connected at both the front and rear of the top of the frame, distributing the torque from clamping throughout four points. The amount of clamping torque that could be applied was impressive. Unfortunately, over the past ten years I left it out in the elements, causing the thick plywood top to fall apart. In last year’s move I (stupidly) left it behind. After seeing how the current 425 model is constructed, I wish I had brought it with me, refurbished it to last another 25 years.The Workmate 425 has a notable share of Cons:The stamped steel frame is flimsy compared to the old model I owned—a thinner steel used with lots of sharp edges in the cutouts and ends.Where the old model had independent screws driving the clamping top piece, the 425 uses a thin plastic perforated belt to synchronize the crank screws. Each crank handle is attached to a pulley wheel on the shaft, under spring tension. A sheer pin through each screw shaft holds the pulley on, but will easily spin to the next indent when clamping down, causing the belt to skip at the other handle. Using both handles at the same time to clamp onto the work, as it was with the original independent handle design, allows for a decent amount of even clamping force. But make no mistake, the belt is there only to get both sides of the clamp jaw to the work at the same time. Both handles are needed to get a firm, even hold. Personally, I don’t find this feature necessary. I may end up removing the belt. My old model worked just fine for decades without it.The instructions need to be in a larger format, with some clarification added: larger images, stick-on labels for parts X2 and X4, which are so close in looks that it took me a while to figure out which was which. Old eyes, here.My old model had a thick plywood top that weathered through decades of rain, snow, sleet, cold, heat, pounding, clamping, and more. Time will tell how long the species of wood used in the 425 will last. Fortunately, as with the older models, one can replace the wood with whatever is on hand or desired.Assembly Tips:Adding washers to each of the bolts will allow you to tighten the bolts more than without, and the heads won’t cut into the wood. Washers, as is always the case, are left out due to cost savings, not a lack of necessity.The easiest and least frustrating way to attache X4 to the middle and final clamping boards is on a bench or table. Because there aren’t any threads to guide the bolts in, place an X4 under each side of a given board while on a table or bench. Insert the bolt and washer, then give a firm tap on the bolt head with a 12oz or large hammer to force the threads to jamb into the plastic. This is all that is needed to get the bolts to start cutting threads. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN THESE. Remember: steel bolts forcing itself into soft, THREADLESSS plastic.Instead of using a hammer to drive the sheer pins into the shaft holes of each handle, large slip jaw pliers make this easy, avoiding possible damage to the handle or shaft.If you find the white plastic screw connectors are not equally spaced on their respective shafts (the top looks crooked in relation to the frame) you can flip the unit on its back side, remove one end of the spring that runs across the belt (to provide tension on it). Then slip off the belt of one pulley and crank the other until the top is even in relation to the frame. Slip the belt back onto the pulley teeth and hook up the tension spring when done.Improvements/Recommendations:The top clamping work boards should be packaged with their respective plastic X2 and X4 components attached.A small bolt or slip-on pinch pin clip would be the better choice for attaching the handles. Asking the purchaser to use a hammer to drive sheer pins though a plastic handle is just asking for service calls to be made and bad reviews to follow.Instructions seem to always be the Achilles's heel for every product needing assembly by the buyer. A larger paper format was needed here, with some labeling on X2 and X4 components a great help.Conclusion:Having had an early model of the 425 for many dependable years of use, I can’t help but look at this new model with disappointment. It is nowhere near the quality, sturdiness, and clamping power of the early models. Whether the 425 is worth the price (for me) is yet to be determined. Outside of the cons given, I look forward to using my new Workmate 425. The design format, for me, is still the best for what I want out of a folding workbench. I doubt this will last as long as its older sibling did, but then again, with the TLC that I had neglected to give to old model applied to the 425, maybe it will.

Great versatile work bench

The build quality is acceptable for the frame and table top, but the gear belt assembly synchronizing the two vice handles is trash. The belt is flimsy plastic that indexes into a hob with 1-2mm rounded gear teeth. The whole thing failed to work consistently right out of the box, slipping of the toque was imbalanced in any way. It’s easier just to cut the belt off entirely and use two hands. The wood surface is thinner than the old models I’ve seen in photos, but this is a wear part anyway and easily replaced. I plan to drill holes to mount my miter saw and have this double as a stand, so the thickness doesn't bother me. For what you get, this is worth the money.

At a good price.

Needed to replace my previous black and decker work bench after many years of reliable service. I love this bench. Great quality. Great utility. Great durability.

So...I've been trying to get outside in my back yard and do some stain/varnishing work, but the people directly behind us have been having their pool remodeled and it's taking for-e-ver (seriously, how long does it take to remodel a pool?!), and everytime I've pulled out all of my stuff to work, they've fired up the table saw and sent saw dust flying directly over the fence and all over everything in our backyard. So I decided to set up in my garage and do small pieces at a time until it's done, but at least it would be out of the wind and sawdust. I had already ordered this workbench - thinking that this would be the answer to my problem.Whelp......This item was shipped BROKEN!! To say that I am seriously disappointed in Black & Decker is an understatement. My friend's husband had one of these (smaller version) that I loved, so I looked for 2 months before I found this one and bought it. Yes, I read the reviews. But it's a Black & Decker product, so I was willing to take a chance. I wanted it for 4 reasons: 1.) I could fold it up and hang it on the garage wall out of the way, 2.) It was metal and wood (though parts of it are plastic, keep reading), 3.) It had a step, 4.) the top was adjustable so that I could make it wider or narrower. So, first of all, there is assembly required. Not a large deal, but it does require assembly. Almost everything you need is included (Except a hammer). Directions are just pictures, no explanations. Just pictures, and some of the angles of the pictures were questionable about where exactly the little doodads went into the frame. However, I got it assembled, and right away, I knew something was wrong. The first board was uneven (not level), and the pulley system that moves the boards on top wasn't moving right, so I watched a youtube video on how to assemble it. I had done everything correctly, so I turned it over, and upon closer inspection, the plastic pulley system was BROKEN and the spring was COMPLETELY BROKEN and fell off as soon as I turned it over for inspection. I was so mad. I mean, really really mad. WHY, OH WHY?!?!!?! Would ANYONE make a pulley system with PLASTIC?!?! and a cheap little thin spring that would have a very short shelf life anyway (just a matter of time!)?! WHY WOULD ANYONE MAKE ANYTHING that is used as a tool/workbench with ANYTHING plastic? And MOVING PARTS OUT OF PLASTIC?!? Just....WHY?!?! Who does that? Who thought that would be a good idea?? Who's making these decisions?! I expected more from Black & Decker. Seriously. Things just aren't made like they used to. Black & Decker used to be my go-to brand. Never again. I'm so mad that I will never buy a Black & Decker item again. I couldn't push the buttons on my phone fast enough to go through the return process. Because the HANDLES WILL NEVER EVER COME OFF (!!!) (just another fun FYI), I shoved it back in the box as-is - hauled it to UPS and told them to get this piece of s@#t as far away from me and as quickly as possible.Now for the heads up - NO ONE CARRIES THIS ANYWHERE LOCALLY. No one. Not Home Depot, not Lowes, not Ace Hardware, not Harbor Freight. No one. The guys at Home Depot told me why - So....apparently, Black & Decker must have a pretty air-tight patent on it, because no one will even make a generic version of it. No one. It. Is. Nowhere. To. Be. Found. Home Depot doesn't carry ANY Black & Decker products anymore. So the hunt was on to try to find something similar that is usable for me.I have the greatest husband in the world....he took me straight out and told me to throw money at it to make the problem go away. I had already been to Home Depot and I knew they didn't carry ANYTHING close to it. So not having high hopes, Hubby took me to Lowes and we walked out with a Worx Pegasus - for $20 more - yup, it's plastic, but it has slammin' reviews, and no moving parts. So, I figured if this doesn't work I can return it locally.It is worth noting, that my friends' husband has had his B&D workbench for over10 years - never had any problems with it. It was clearly made during the years that things were built better.So do yourselves a HUGE favor and skip this. It's a huge disappointment and an even bigger waste of time.