What Black and Decker workmate thing

[Croolis]

Ello. I find myself in need of doing a bit of carpentry. To date, I have used a coffee table frame without the table top when sawing wood. I am not experienced, this is very much amateur night.

Occurred to me I should get a Black and Decker Workmate type thing, especially as I was thinking about ( ) a circular saw, something vice like clearly would be better. Watched a vid of an actual Black and Decker workmate being used, and the thing looked a bit too flexible to me.

But what do I know. Any tradesmen on here have any favourites, brands, whatever, to suggest? Could ask on other forums/reddit, but I bet there's some handy folks on here to start with using these sorts of things professionally.

I have no garage, I have no shed. I have only my patio or front garden when it ain't raining for this stuff, hence seeking B&D Workmate type thing that I can pack away, rather than proper bench.

Any thoughts appreciated.

[chipko]

Not a tradesman but serious diy’er. Have had a couple of Black and Decker workmates for over forty years…good bit of kit and still going strong.
Also have a few basic cheapy alternatives which are fine for general use. Some may have mdf work surfaces which don’t last forever but easily replaced with timber when knackered.

Screwfix or plenty on your favourite eBay

https://www.screwfix.com/p/lightweig...ch-560mm/3746p

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/391417080...mis&media=COPY

[Brinormeg]

For basic stuff the silvertech thing is all you need. I've had similar holding up my temporary solar light panel on a pole for about 5 years Just give it a drop of silicone grease and it last for ever.
But if things are tight...just check local Facebay! Folk just buy them for one job then just want rid.

[Steve509926]

Hi Croolis, I could recommend quite a few ranging from £30 to £300 but it really depends upon what you are thinking of doing, how often your going to use it, the space you've got to store it. Why are you thinking about a circular saw, what are you making?

[Croolis]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Hi Croolis, I could recommend quite a few ranging from £30 to £300 but it really depends upon what you are thinking of doing, how often your going to use it, the space you've got to store it. Why are you thinking about a circular saw, what are you making?

First project is a cat enclosure at the back of my ex's house. My boy loves his cat. I'll be cutting quite a lot of boards, so I figure I might as well learn to use a circular saw. I am aware of what they are and what they can do .

Did you ever read me saying I keep my boat in the cupboard under the stairs because I don't have a garage or shed? I took someone's idea and ran with it - I am awaiting delivery of a 360 litre wheelie bin in which I will be storing the boat in the garden. No more sweating or pulling mardys because I can't get the boat rolled up tight enough to get it into that sodding cupboard .

Workmate will be stored in the cupboard. The door to it is 61cm aperture. And the cupboard is split horizontally by a snugly fitting table with about 75cm clearance beneath it, so the thing will in fact be stored under that. So it needs to be foldable, not going for any fixed tables or anything.

I also have a mind to knock up some other things in my garden. Planters and the like. Maybe one day, if I actually get skilled enough, I'll make my own garden shed, or at least the decking to put one on. But it's just as likely that I'll make a couple things and it will all gather dust forever. Dunno. We'll see.

[Fenlander]

I major restored 4 houses and built several wooden barns and stables over the years just leaning on timber wherever I could to cut it.

Now we are in our easy to maintain more modern "retirement house" I bought a workmate to make projects easier in my senior years. Oh dear why on earth didn't I buy one 40yrs ago... brilliant bit of kit.

[Steve509926]

Personally I wouldn't go for a circular saw, great for long straight cuts but not very versitile. I'd buy a couple of decent quality hand saws (I like Irwin). Learn to use them properly, long slow motion and let the saw do the work and change them when they struggle to cut. I'd also buy a decent'ish jig saw, much more versitile, same aplies don't force things let the blade do the work. Loads of snobbery about power tools, but for your needs there is nothing wrong with Evolution or JCB.
Because of storage constraints, I'd recommend something like this Draper:-

https://www.toolchimp.co.uk/draper-t...4aAidKEALw_wcB

Most clamps on workbenches are sh1t, so I would also invest in some "G" clamps like these:-

https://www.toolchimp.co.uk/cox-150p...IaAjXlEALw_wcB

Making the things you want to make, you may find a drill and (if the budget stretches) an impact driver. A decent quality cordless drill will surfice for both jobs.

Hope that help.

[Fenlander]

I agree. Have a circular saw but far prefer the "elegant precision" of a sharp hand saw unless building something huge.

Like lots of varying design clamps too.... you can never have too many clamps.

[Steve509926]

Clock case Mr F?

[Croolis]

Cheers gents. Was planning on the clamps. My only drill is an extremely cheap B&Q corded that is fine for cutting pilot holes but not much else. The only bit of carpentry I've really done in anger was the stand for my outboard a few months ago (looks like every other hand made timber outboard stand you ever saw).

I'm not very good at sawing lmao. And I seem to fail at choosing the right screws for the job. But that just requires more research and Youtube.

[Fenlander]

Yep I seem to have inherited another grandfather clock. Very much out of fashion these days but I was surrounded by them in the old days so I still have that affinity.

[Peter_C]

Originally Posted by Croolis

~I'm not very good at sawing lmao.

Start with a new circular saw blade of the right kind. Low tooth count for rip cuts, and more teeth for cross cuts and plywood. Get a straight edge longer than the cut you are trying to make. Clamp it to the wood. Set the depth of the saw to cut all the way thru the wood. Go cut some wood straight. *shrugs* Does almost the same as a $1,000 track saw.

I like German portable work benches.

[Croolis]

Am going with (Gumtree) B&D Workmate Plus (ooh) and a Makita 1200w 190mm circular saw. I should also like a new drill but my cheapo B&Q will suffice for now.

I am hoping, but despite a lot of time searching for answers, don't know, that 1200w will be enough to cut through yer 2 by 4 type timber. 190mm blade will do it, but don't want it to be underpowered. More dangerous innit.

I shall also see about making simple stuff for a side hustle to flog on the bay of E. For this sort of thing I should likely also need a router and a random sander, but this will require some more planning and thought.

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Yep I seem to have inherited another grandfather clock. Very much out of fashion these days but I was surrounded by them in the old days so I still have that affinity.

My dad was left a Grandfather clock by his uncle when he passed in the mid 60s. He had no appreciation for anything like that and I suppose the 60s was a time of "out with the old, in with the new"
I recall we had a lovely blaze on the fire for all of 10 minutes?

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Croolis

For this sort of thing I should likely also need a router and a random sander, but this will require some more planning and thought.

And some skills and training! If there is one piece of kit that should never be sold as a diy tool it's a router. They are lethal in the wrong hands. I have seen quite a few "skilled" men degloved using routers incorrectly.

[Croolis]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

My dad was left a Grandfather clock by his uncle when he passed in the mid 60s. He had no appreciation for anything like that and I suppose the 60s was a time of "out with the old, in with the new"
I recall we had a lovely blaze on the fire for all of 10 minutes?

Oh . Well, I 'spose, by modern standards, you could apply the same thinking to when I threw out a load of Joy Division vinyl someone gave me because I (nor them) wasn't into it. But in ~1991 it wasn't such a big deal. Some people, in this era of 80s nostalgia, would kill for that now, or shout "Sacrilege!".

70s nostalgia sort of went by the board really, didn't it.

[Croolis]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

And some skills and training! If there is one piece of kit that should never be sold as a diy tool it's a router. They are lethal in the wrong hands. I have seen quite a few "skilled" men degloved using routers incorrectly.

Noted. I've been focusing on scary circular saw. I shall shift to scary router thoughts now. Maybe a table router instead?

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Croolis

Noted. I've been focusing on scary circular saw. I shall shift to scary router thoughts now. Maybe a table router instead?

What are you hoping to be making and selling on ebay that requires a router of any kind?

You have told us you have to store your sib in a bin, and soon to be your workmate under the stairs, so where would you store a specialised piece of kit like a table router?

[Croolis]

Presumably you can take the legs off a table router. If you can't, or it's not storable even if you can, I won't get one. I'm just speculating. Don't worry about how I lay out my house fella, I can manage that bit.

Curved edges, to answer your other question. Again, I have no firm thoughts on this bit, I'm just thinking aloud.

[Steve509926]

Apologise, I thought you was seeking advice. I didn't realise you was just thinking out aloud.
I'll unsubscribe from the thread and leave you to your thoughts.