Workmate Deluxe Workbench WM825

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.

yes up to standard and easy to use

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.

I spent some time reading these fairly mixed reviews before deciding to purchase the Workmate. It arrived on time, well packaged and well built. The stand is probably much lighter than the originals but it's made from pressed steel with dished stiffeners. As soon as I erected it I knew it would easily deal with anything I could throw at it. The dual height option is great since the lower height is ideal for acting as a stand for my router table. The instructions are terrible... but hey... if your buying it you're probably interested in DIY therefore sure to have at least some "mechanical aptitude". I ditched the instructions and just figured it out, I quite enjoyed the challenge. There's only 8 parts and 4 bolts for heavens sake. The top is thick level and clearly marked. I don't suppose the marked on angles and measurements are accurate to a micron, but as a guide they're great. The much criticised plastic belt that connects the two clamping handles is "clearly" designed for quickly spinning the jaws to the clamping position, and then tightening with one hand on each handle to nip it up. Anyone who expects to put all their weight on one handle and have it transferred to the other by the belt without breaking it is, in my opinion, expecting far too much. It folds impressively flat for its size. Finally two little niggles, but neither hamper its operation. Folding the feet back down relies on a bit of a "plasticy" clicky catch. The release bar that is pulled for the 90 degree clamping option is a bit "rickety" All in all a great purchase! Would easily recommend.

I already own two 'original' workmates from decades ago. They have served me well, but they are showing their age. So I bought this 'top of the range' model as a 'treat'. I wish I hadn't. The main problem is that the working surfaces are not firmly fixed even though the steel frame is good and solid (and unchanged from the original design). The extra features have clearly been designed by people who have not properly understood how these benches are used. 1) the front surface can be turned up to clamp vertically. This is great but the mechanism is poorly designed with far too much slack. Production costs would have been no higher if the slots and lugs had been proply matched so this is down to poor design not cost saving. 2) the rear surface can be placed in a choice of three positions. This would be great, except that the fixing is now so sloppy you can no longer treat it as a workbench for clamping your job too; if you gently knock it it comes out. 3) the rear surface is larger. This would be great except it still has the original short support pieces, so the back half projects out 'on a limb' so it is not a surface you can use for much: all that holds it in place are some tiny plastic wings; one whack of a mallet would probably snap them off. Finally, as many have pointed out, the instructions have a page missing and six parts are not mentioned in the parts list. Probably I will use this dissappointing object for 'spares' to replace lost or worn out parts on my original workmates.

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 .

Really disapointed with how this arrived and how difficult it was to put together. The box was undamaged, but the mechanism was caught up in itself and a spring was missing (found it loose in the box later). The wood panels were all plastic wrapped but the frame was dusty and had clearly taken a few knocks. The release catch for the clamp mechanism also kept coming out of its guide rail and required a hammer to fix it. Above all this though was the assembly - the instructions are awful and bare little resemblance to the parts or processes needed to put it together. In 20 years of DIY and self assembly furniture, I have never come across a more challenging single element than putting the handles on this. I eventually gave up using the pins provided and put a bolt and nut through instead. It is mad that it is so needlessly difficult. Quality of the thing is a bit mixed, lots plastic elements that feel like they won't survive a stiff breeze, and the plastic connecting belt feels incredibly cheap. It also repeatedly comes of its teeth and makes alignment of the two screws very difficult. An awful experience, and how a company like Black and Decker allowed such an instruction manual to go to print is beyond comprehension.