Use a Workmate and Portable Tools – Full-Size Results from a Portable Shop
The Black and Decker Workmate is probably the most underrated woodworking platform in existence. It’s not glamorous, it doesn’t look like a real workbench, and it costs less than most hand planes. But with the right techniques and portable tools, a Workmate can support a surprising amount of serious woodworking – particularly for small-shop users who can’t afford the space or cost of a traditional bench and full machine lineup.
What the Workmate Does Well
The Workmate’s core function is a vise with a wide, adjustable clamping width. The jaws can hold boards flat for edge planing, stand boards on end for face work, clamp jigs in place for router operations, and secure assembled pieces for fitting and marking. The work surface folds down for storage and locks open for use – the whole unit fits behind a door or in a closet. This is what makes it the foundation of the portable shop.
Portable Tools That Pair With the Workmate
The track saw is the most important companion to the Workmate for woodworking. It cuts sheet goods and dimensional lumber accurately, produces almost no airborne dust with a connected extractor, and doesn’t require a table saw to make accurate rip and crosscuts. A track clamped to the Workmate top gives you a cutting guide for panels. A router secured in a purchased or shop-made router table insert converts the Workmate into a router table for edge profiles and rabbets.
Techniques Specific to Workmate Use
Clamping is different on a Workmate than on a fixed bench. The jaws provide clamping force perpendicular to the top surface. For clamping across the top (holding a panel flat while routing), use F-clamps or bar clamps through the holes in the Workmate top. For edge work, grip boards in the jaws with the work surface facing you. The Workmate handles surprisingly well for hand planing if you secure the board with a bench stop or dog mounted in the jaw holes.
Limitations and Workarounds
The Workmate vibrates more than a fixed bench under impact – mallet work and chopping mortises require additional stability. Setting the Workmate on non-slip rubber feet and working near a wall that you can brace against helps significantly. For very long boards, a portable roller stand supports the outfeed end. The Workmate top is too flexible for reliable reference work – always use a separate reliable reference surface (a machinist’s square or a known-flat piece of plywood) for squaring up frames and assemblies.
Key Projects for the Workmate Shop
- Small cabinets with track-saw-cut plywood, assembled with pocket screws and edge banding
- Picture frames, small boxes, and jewelry boxes with a miter box and router
- Furniture repairs and modifications that don’t require starting from rough lumber
- Small shop furniture – benches, shelving, simple tables – from dimensional lumber
FAQ
Which Workmate model should I buy?
The Workmate 425 (the heavier steel model) is more stable than the lighter plastic models and worth the extra cost for woodworking use. The plastic models are fine for home repair and light holding tasks but flex too much for woodworking with any real load.
Can I replace the Workmate top with something better?
Yes. Many small-shop woodworkers replace the stock top with a piece of 3/4-inch MDF or plywood cut to fit, then drill dog holes and add accessories. This gives you a flatter, more rigid work surface that integrates better with commercial workholding accessories.