BLACK+DECKER Workmate 825 Deluxe Dual-Height Workbench, WM825-XJ

Ok putting this thing together should have taken a few minutes, but after looking at the instruction for 5 minutes I just threw them away and watched a youtube video. The instructions have no bearing on assembling the workmate and may as well be written in Ancient Greek for all the use they were. Sort it out black and decker. As for the item itself it is nice and sturdy. Although the handles seem very wobbly and loose compared to my old workmate. Just another example of using cheaper materials/ fixings I suppose that we`ve come to expect in modern day life. I did have one issue when it was assembled, the plastic strip that runs from one handle to the other (to help with tightening both handles when only one is being turned) was all twisted and not connected underneath. So had to fiddle about with that to get it all lines up and reconnected. Not the end of the world but 5 minutes of fiddling about with a new item which I shouldn't have needed to do.

These are a great workbench, the last one I had over 20 years, (and left it when moving house, stupid !) This model WM825 Plus, dual height is very sturdy, just fold the legs out, move two spring release levers and up she comes, very practical. The only slight problem I am having is the left side table top jaw screw is slipping a bit, like a slightly stripped thread, to save a lot of time, effort and money I contacted B & D Support Department and asked if they would just send the item 125 as shown in the booklet. But as it is in the 30 day u/g period they will NOT help, they want me to return it to Amazon, and get a replacement, even though Amazon say contact B & D for help. "They were very unhelpful." I can get the part from partshopdirect.co.uk for £2.99 plus postage ! what would be the cost of a carrier return etc. after all, it is for DIY use, and an easy part to replace. The world has gone mad ! But at the end of the day a great fold down workbench, and now I know I can get all the parts without trying to get any sense out of Black & Decker Support Department, and I say to myself, what was the point of registering this product anyway ! Mike B.

The assembly instructions, some pictures without any words, just don't cut it. Go to YouTube and find a video called "How to Assemble the BLACK & DECKER™ Workmate® Plus Work Bench". It's a 3 minute silent video that shows you exactly how to set it up. Only one thing is missing from the video. I finished setting it up and then realised I had a couple of washers in the bag. The guy in the video didn't use the washers. So, do as he does, but when you clip the red plastic bit (the knob) into the black plastic bit (the handle), put a washer between them. That's where they should go and really I should have known that but was following him so closely, I didn't look at what might be left over. If you do make the mistake as me, squeezing the end with a pair of small pliers will allow you to push it back out and put the washers in. Bit fiddly though. Not that they make much difference. It's a washer between two bits of plastic so only really a spacer. The next problem I had was when it was all together, one end of the large piece of wood was about 1 to 1.5mm higher than the rest. B&D provide you with a cheap plastic tool for tightening the bolts. I loosened them, put the plastic tool aside and used a wrench and socket to get them all level. Not that it would make that much difference. It's for gripping things, so a perfectly level surface all round isn't that important, but if you end up in that situation and find it as annoying as I did, that's how you sort it. Oh, another thing. You might find it's not quite lined up. There are lots of reviews here about the thing that makes the handles move together, stretching and not working anymore. To adjust it perfectly safely, hold one handle still while moving the other gently. You'll hear a click. Check to see if it's lined up. If not, repeat the process until it is. Do it slowly and not very fast, one click at a time. Once you have them lined up, then you shouldn't need to do that again. Another note about those dual handles. Having the ability to move both with just one hand is really useful but when they begin to get tight, use two hands to finish the tightening off. That way you won't stretch the piece that joins them. Have had a bit of a play with it this evening. All works good. The dogs that are included are good for gripping all shapes of items. For some jobs, I'll be using some clamps I already have too. It weighs around 15kg, and I'm honestly surprised how little space it takes when you fold it down. I can't complain about the price. I got in the Black Friday sale, and it was only £78.49, so great value for money. It's a superb premium piece of kit. They should have spent more on making decent assembly instructions though. So, a premium workbench with a cheap booklet and cheap plastic tool. Solution: Use a socket and wrench plus watch a video of it being set up.

This is my second Workmate. The first lasted 20++ years which says a lot about its quality. I like its sturdiness with the spread legs when sawing timber. Its ability to clamp items vertically between its jaws for planing. Its solid worktop to which you can hold items with clamps. Minor niggles. The rubber feet come off too easily - cured with some silicone sealant. There are two sharp steel projections at the back - I put some insulating tape on them. Otherwise great product.

The workmate 825 is just fantastic and it was for a great price also - great value for money - easy to put together and very very strong and my last one i had must have been 40 years plus old and i think was the first time they were made for sale - so if this one lasts as long as my first ( which is still ok ) but i wanted the new one with two clamping points and as i say if it lasts as long as my forst one i shall be one happy person , thye are a must if you are a handyman of any discription - I LOVE IT .

Stadig konstruktion, står still. Bra med två höjder.

Très bon produit !

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Un 2ème outil qui facilite mon travail.

Da ich relativ hohe Ansprüche habe, sind volle fünf Punkte für mich eher ein Novum. Doch diese Werkbank ist zu diesem Preis wirklich unschlagbar! Ich hatte mir vorher in Baumärkten diverse andere Produkte angeschaut, sowohl anderer Hersteller, als auch des gleichen, und keine konnte auch nur ansatzweise mit der Workmate WM825 mithalten. Die Werkbank ist enorm stabil, leicht zu bedienen und sehr hochwertig verarbeitet. Die zweistufige Arbeitshöhe ist ebenfalls top, auch wenn die niedrigere Höhe für meinen Geschmack und meine Größe (1,8m) etwas zu niedrig geraten ist. Aber dennoch schön, dass auch kleinere Menschen bedacht wurden. Absolut genial und einzigartig ist die Möglichkeit eine Seite des Tisches um 90° zu kippen, wobei das Werkstück immer noch bombenfest gehalten wird. Da hatte ich zuvor etwas Bedenken. Lediglich die Kanten sind noch etwas zu scharf und könnten hier und dort noch etwas besser abgerundet sein. Die Lieferung erfolgte in Rekordgeschwindigkeit und dauerte von der Bestellung bis zur Lieferung nur einen Tag. Allerdings wurde auf "normales" Füllmaterial beim versenden verzichtet und der riesige Karton (die Werkbank wurde komplett montiert geliefert) mit alten Verpackungen, also Müll gefüllt. Einerseits eine tolle Idee zur Müllvermeidung, andererseits eine unverschämte Art seinen Hausmüll bei den Kunden abzuladen. Die Wertung darüber überlasse ich jedem selbst, weshalb ich dafür keinen Punkt abziehe!