BLACK+DECKERWorkmate® 825 Deluxe Dual-Height Workbench, WM825-XJ

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

As with other comments, once table elements fitted ( head-scratching), this is a worthy workbench, does all that my 40year old other B&D bench does. Whilst sturdy it is by no means as robust as my original, thinner metal. Used it quite a few times since purchase, very pleased overall, like the one-handed jaws open/close facility. I would recommend this product.

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.

Bought as a replacement for my husband’s old one that I inadvertently sawed through many years ago. He was still using it but moaned every time he got it out as one of the wooden pieces was shorter! He is well pleased now because this one is bigger and better.

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.

My dad had one all through growing up and when I moved out it was so useful I bought my own. I like how both side turn at the same time using the belt, and the vertical clamp feature has been useful on occasion, although it would be much more useful if it opened wider. The bench also isn't the same height has most A frames I've used, so be aware of that.