Posted: 12/16/2009 5:21:41 PM EDT
| Does anyone have a Black N Decker Workmate is it something I could drill for a vise then build uppers on? I rent a home and move frequently so want a bench that does the job but is moveable. |
A Black N Decker Workmate is not a workbench. At best is it an over price sawhorse. You will find it is too light for what you want to do. Built yourself a simple workbench out of 2x4s and plywood. You'll find extra weight and size a plus.
Here are some plan to get you started. There are a ton of free woodworking plans on the net. http://www.eaa1000.av.org/technicl/worktabl/tablefig.htm http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/workshop/bench/below20.html http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_improvement/furniture/1273396.html |
| For what you want to do, you could get away with clamping a vise to a kitchen table for nearly everything. A Workmate will work just fine, and is field expedient. It was my bench for years when I was an apartment dweller myself, and I built a lot of cabinets on apartment balconies with it. When you torque the barrel nut, you will either need to weight down or step on the opposing legs to keep it from flipping. Otherwise it will work just fine. |
|
Quoted:
A Black N Decker Workmate is not a workbench. At best is it an over price sawhorse. You will find it is too light for what you want to do. Built yourself a simple workbench out of 2x4s and plywood. You'll find extra weight and size a plus.
Here are some plan to get you started. There are a ton of free woodworking plans on the net. http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/workshop/bench/below20.html Thats the one I built, but used 1/2" plywood for bottom shelf & 3/4" plywood for top. Its strong/sturdy, very good build. |
|
Quoted: Quoted: A Black N Decker Workmate is not a workbench. At best is it an over price sawhorse. You will find it is too light for what you want to do. Built yourself a simple workbench out of 2x4s and plywood. You'll find extra weight and size a plus.Here are some plan to get you started. There are a ton of free woodworking plans on the net. http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/workshop/bench/below20.html Thats the one I built, but used 1/2" plywood for bottom shelf & 3/4" plywood for top. Its strong/sturdy, very good build. I think this would be the best for you OP. It is a very sturdy and proven design and it is somewhat modular so when you move you can just take a few screws out and its ready to be thrown in the truck/Uhaul. |
| When I had an apartment I just used a medium sized harbor freight vise bolted to a 2 or 3 foot piece of 2x6 wood. You just countersink the bolt holes a little on the bottom so it can sit flat on a table or whatever and clamp it down with c-clamps. If you need super torque you can just stand on the wood or even park a car on it (had to do that once to get a flywheel of a crankshaft). |
|
Quoted:
When I had an apartment I just used a medium sized harbor freight vise bolted to a 2 or 3 foot piece of 2x6 wood. You just countersink the bolt holes a little on the bottom so it can sit flat on a table or whatever and clamp it down with c-clamps. If you need super torque you can just stand on the wood or even park a car on it (had to do that once to get a flywheel of a crankshaft). GREAT POST! I live in a townhouse so I think that's what I'll do! 
|