BLACK+DECKERWorkmate 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.

This is a good product with good features. On top of what you would expect from a B&D Workmate, it has that trick jaw where you can flip the nearest jaw vertically and grip things.The instructions are all pictures and they are not at all intuitive. Also, they ought to say that you don't need any tools other than a hammer to assemble it (to hammer in two split pins); I hunted for ages for a socket the right size to screw in the 4 bolts that hold the jaws in place, only to find, right at the end, that there was a weird looking plastic piece left over which was in fact a key to tighten the bolts with - I didn't see that anywhere in the instructions.There is also a picture to show you how to slip the belt that joins the two handles together so that you can tighten the jaws at an angle, but try as I might, I can't find out how to do that. There's a picture of your ear listening to a click too. It seems to imply that you hold one handle and turn the other one hard enough to make the mechanism slip and to hear it do so, but I'm sure you'd break the thin belt that connects the two handles together if you do that. Looking from underneath after raising the jaw to the vertical position, you can see the wheel around which the belt fits has a spring on top of it and a shaped lug pressing on a locking pin beneath it - the mechanism is clearly designed to push back against that spring and let the lug slip, but no way can I see how to do that.Once assembled, looking back at it, you realise it was quite simple to assemble after all, once you've figured it out: two bolts and two plastic mounting blocks per jaw, then fit the handles and hammer the split pins through them, then ensure that the linking belt is over the wheel and sprockets and you're done.I hadn't realised that the larger jaw can be popped off and inserted into 3 different positions - that's a plus.So my only real minus is that, compared with my old one that I must've had for 40 years, the metal sections that this one is made of feel quite sharp (they are like 3-sided boxes whereas the old one was solid). I'm sure they are really strong, but I'm wary as to how I pick it up in case I injure my hands on the edges.

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 .

Good product. Not the easiest to get used to and quite heavy