BLACK+DECKER Workmate 536 Dual-Height Workbench, WM536-XJ

I bought this as something to help me with some basic joinery. I simply don't have space for a proper workbench and woodworking vise. Having read some of the other reviews and researched a lot I was expecting something of very poor quality but was happy to pay the discounted price and risk it. I'm glad I did as it's actually exceeded my expectations. I wanted to post this review to challenge some of the points that others have made. Firstly, the instructions. Yes, they are very poor, but not beyond the realms of human intelligence. After a bit of trial and error and thought I was able to figure out which bit went where and to be honest I enjoyed the problem solving exercise. Secondly the plastic. Yes, it's got plastic bits and plastic is not as good as metal. But it's not cheap plastic, it's the better quality kind that is fit for purpose providing you're careful and remember that it is plastic. It's cheaper and cheaper is ok if it works. And it works. Thirdly, the metal. It's not thick, but it's sheet steel pressed into load bearing shapes. This makes it lightweight but sturdy. It easily supports my weight sitting on the bench top (I'm 6'2" with a 52" waist and I wear 4XL so I think it's fair to say I'm obese) and there are no razor sharp edges. Some of them could be a little better finished and are a bit on the rough side but none that you'd really be touching for any reason. One reviewer mentioned the leg springs on the four legs being dangerous. Mine has no leg springs, just 4 moulded plastic guides that use a bit of gentle friction to keep them open or closed. The top is made from bamboo. Very strong and hard. One surface is marked and the other isn't. The ruled surface might come in handy if you don't need anything too accurate. The bench dogs are plastic. They have useful grooves in them for supporting round objects. They're not amazing but they are handy and will clamp short pieces of wood solidly enough for planing. I've managed to plane wood on mine and cut mortises and tenons to make a 6' by 3' dinner table. Would a proper work bench be more sturdy? Yes. But if you're creative with how you support the wood and use your body weight to keep the workmate from wobbling a little then it's actually fine. Sharp tools help as well. It's been perfect for my needs and space limitations. My one regret is that I didn't get the slightly longer one as there'd be a little more room for working on smaller projects and bits of wood while straddling it.

Great workmate to have, new one to replace a 20year old one. Nicely packed and now to assemble it. Thanks for a good service from Amazon.

The B and D work mate is well enough made and excellent for the price . However it is very tricky to build looks easy but I assure you it is not . B and D need to move with the time and refer to an online instruction video. We found an online video on you tube and that got us down the right track the guy was amazing but then we realised that the brackets were still on the wrong way ! Lucky my new builder from New Zealand was on site and he sorted it !

This product is the best amazon purchase I have ever made. The Workmate is fantastic, I found it to be incredibly helpful when recently making some gates and it is currently supporting a sculpture I am constructing. The clamp jaws are sturdy, and the pegs allow you to clamp irregular shapes. I have used this Workmate to saw, chisel and sand wood it proved to be a sturdy platform which held the work piece securely. The framework is made from robust powder-coated steel and the bamboo jaws seem very durable. There are a few plastic parts (the bits for clamping irregular shapes and the ends of the handles) but even these seem very solid and the plastic clamps are less likely to leave marks on softer materials when you secure them. I was in two minds about purchasing this product after reading the mixed reviews, but I am very glad I did. I generally don't leave reviews but I felt that the one-star reviews were very unfair and this motivated me to post this. At £35 (although the price does seem to fluctuate up to £50) this product is incredibly good value, especially when you consider the durable steel construction and how useful it is. I found this product to be so useful that I asked for another for Christmas, and was very happy and grateful when I received it.

Just put this together... the instructions aren't the clearest!! But a simple search on YouTube and you'll find plenty of clips showing you how to put it together if you struggle. Note there is a small metal pin to secure each handle, you need a hammer to hit it securely into place... seems an odd thing to do to a plastic fitting but it works well enough. Once constructed it seems very stable and secure and the double height set up is a bonus. Bought for home DIY and light metal work, looks like it will be suitable and should last the test of time.. for sub £40 (same product is £70 in Wickes at time of writing !!) you can't go wrong. Recommended. Update: after 18 months of abuse this little bench is still going strong. It’s taken some serious hammer and all is still solid and robust.. for the price paid you can’t go wrong.

The BLACK+DECKER Workmate is a game-changer for any DIY enthusiast or professional. Its dual-height feature is incredibly practical, allowing me to use it as both a sturdy workbench and a reliable sawhorse. The heavy-duty steel frame can handle significant weight without wobbling, making it perfect for cutting, sanding, and assembling projects. The clamping system is one of the standout features—it securely holds materials of various sizes, ensuring precision and safety during use. Setting it up and folding it away is straightforward, and its compact, foldable design makes it easy to store when not in use. I’ve used it for everything from woodworking to minor repairs, and it has held up exceptionally well. The durability and versatility are impressive, especially at this price point. Pros: Dual-height design for added flexibility. Heavy-duty construction for stability and durability. Easy to set up, fold, and store. Versatile clamping system for secure material handling. I rate this product 10 out of 10 A reliable and versatile workbench that’s perfect for a wide range of tasks. Highly recommended for anyone looking to upgrade their workspace!

Im giving 5 stars for the assembled bench. BUT, putting it together was a pain. The instructions are very vague. Only pictures to go by, and not very detailed. Trial and error, but eventually got there.

I have written hundreds of reviews in regards to items sold through Amazon. The good, the bad and, sometimes, the ugly This review is based on my personal opinions gleaned as a result of decades of experiences in a professional occupation, using firearms for close to fifty years, outdoor pursuits, DIY, as a consumer, a property owner and raising a family. REVIEW This Black and Decker 536 is sold As a prime item through Amazon at a cost of £39.40 (August 2017) Includes delivery for prime members Prime items come with a promise of next day delivery. You cannot rely on the next day delivery promise. There is no indication as to any potential additional postage charges for non prime members. The bench was delivered quickly. The instructions with the bench are useless. The diagrams do not have enough detail to make it at all easy to work out what is what. Fortunately, I have had a number of such benches over the years and a lot of practical experience in assembling all manner of equipment. It is not absolutely essential to have a third hand but it will make assembly substantially easier. The bench itself is reasonably well made although the finish is not as clean as I would like it to be Several of the parts of the metallic legs are deeply scratched and have sharp edges. The springs on the closing part of the bench are very thin, lightweight and I have NO confidence that they will last. I believe they will be the first item to fail on the bench. The "legs" which make the bench dual height snap into place firmly but are reliant on plastic components which are also likely to fail due to wear and tear. The "vice" will do it's job to hold some items. The plug in plastic holders are also of a lesser quality than those I have had with B&D benches in the past. Bear in mind that they are a hardened plastic which have No padding and likely to mark wood and the design is such that work, unless very shallow will not be held in place for anything rigorous. Sanding or planing as examples, especially with power tools. The bench is however stable enough to use with appropriate clamps to allow completion of such jobs. Overall, the bench will do its basic job. The adjustable height is handy if you want to work on a taller item but not starting at floor level. This, at Amazon was the best value I could find. I hope that this review has been of assistance to you the potential buyer. If so please click on the useful review Thank you. DD

- Ottima reinterpretazione, in chiave moderna ed ergonomica di banco morsa d'antica falegnameria. Per stabilità statica, versatilità d'impiego, semplicità di manovra e praticità d'uso è sicuramente il top di gamma in relata a work bench di dimensioni, peso e costo di ben altra classe.

Çok sağlam ve pratik bir ürün

Does what it says on the tin. Perfect for occasional projects. Perfect for apartment living.

Creo que es una gran compra para quien busca un banco de trabajo básico muy estable, cómodo, muy compacto una vez plegado y de fácil montaje. El mayor inconveniente son las instrucciones de montaje, que sin mínimas. Los materiales parecen ser de buena calidad.

Als ich mich auf die Suche nach einer vernünftigen und preiswerten »Werkbank« machte, habe ich selbstverständlich auch bei den diversen Modellen/Marken die Rezensionen gelesen. Am Ende habe ich mich also für die Black&Decker Werkbank WM536 entscheiden, die einen guten Eindruck machte. Der Aufbau der Werkbank ist nicht weiter schwierig und ziemlich zügig erledigt; dazu sollte man die Montageanleitung besser nicht zurate ziehen, denn die ist wirklich als seltsam zu bezeichnen. Mit etwas Geschick und der Fähigkeit auch dreidimensional zu denken, ist die Angelegenheit in 15–20 Minuten erledigt. Entgegen der Montageanleitung benötigt man zur Montage lediglich eine Wasserpumpenzange, um die Sicherungssplinte bei den Kurbeln einzupressen und die bereits vorhandene »Nuss«, um praktisch per Handkraft die Schrauben anzuziehen. Mit einer Ratsche bekommt man schnell das Problem, etwas zu viel Kraft anzusetzen und das Gewinde im Kunststoffteil regelrecht zu zerreißen. Handfest reicht also völlig aus. Ich habe bei den Schrauben zusätzlich noch Unterlegscheiben eingelegt, damit sich der Druck auf einer größeren Fläche verteilt und die Platte bei den Bohrlöchern intakt bleibt. Positiv: - absolut Standfest - Tragkraft deutlich höher als hier angegeben; nämlich 250 kg statt die angegebenen 160 kg - mit etwas über 10 kg auch sehr leicht - die aufgedruckten Maßbänder sind sogar genau - sehr anständige Verarbeitung - ein wirklich guter Preis für diese Werkbank Negativ: - die Arbeitsplatten sind an manchen Stellen eingedellt; jedoch nur auf der Oberseite - die Rahmenkonstruktion ist nicht ganz rechtwinklig, sodass man bei dem Ausrichten der Arbeitsplatten etwas tricksen muss Gesamtbewertung: Die Werkbank WM536 ist für den Heimwerker ganz sicher ausreichend; die eine oder andere Hilfe wie Schutzbacken kann man sich selbst bauen. Wer etwas Talent hat, kann sich sogar Halterungen für Bandschleifer usw. bauen und damit einen stationären Bandschleifer schaffen und Holz wie auch Metall oder Kunststoff in Form zu bringen. Man kann sich auch sehr einfach zwei größere Platten, die auf den vorhandenen montiert werden, herstellen und größere Werkstücke bearbeiten. Ich bin mit dieser Werkbank schon sehr zufrieden. Alles in allem lässt sich dafür auch eine Kaufempfehlung aussprechen, denn das Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis passt schon.