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Rating:  - Black and Decker Workmate 425
Putting this item together was a daunting task until I finally looked at the picture of the assembly on the packing box and figured it out. It's too bad that the instruction sheet didn't have the same picture. Pounding in the capture pins on the two handles was a bit difficult, but I figured out how to do that too.
It's a fairly heavy duty work bench and folds up flat for ease of storing. I needed such an item and was pleased with it. The price was also reasonable.
RMT
Rating:  - An excellent design
First, I must mention that the Workmate I'm writing about is not new -- it is the Workmate 400 model. My wife won it in a contest nearly 25 years ago; when we got married, she gave it to me.
I rate it 5 stars because it is an excellent design. I use it mainly for holding boards when cutting with the circular saw and holding my chopsaw. With the legs splayed out, it is very stable.
The top is particle board held to the metal frame with steel bolts. It has stood up well; I've tossed it in the back of vehicles and hauled it around the yard in the Garden Way cart and it's never given me any problems. It just works.
If the current model is built as well as this model is, I wouldn't have a second thought about replacing it.
Rating: - Extras not really worth it
This workbench allows the small front part to be moved to a vertical position but actually that also makes the standard horizontal position less stable. I am not sure how the plastic guides that maintain the middle and back panes are going to hold over time. This looks a little bit cheap and would probably not sustain any intensive usage.
I am not sure this is worth the extra cost compared to a Workmate 225.
Rating:  - poor quality control and assembly instructions
The package of parts is missing the 2 vise screws, the 2 pins, the 2 pivot nuts. In addition, the instructions are not clear --- I never did even get through this one, the second step (the first step is to empty the carton ): #2 Assemble two top blocks to the underside of the rear jaw by fitting the raised posts on the top blocks into the smaller holes of the rear jaw. Insert bolts through the rear jaw and into top blocks and tighten with supplied wrench. (fig.2)"
It was not clear until I checked back on the Amazon photo which was the "rear jaw". Guessing that it was the largest of the three wooden pieces, I found that the "raised post", the only one to which the bolt screws in, does not fit in the "smaller"- not the smallest - of the five holes.
So, this "workmate" is useless and disappointing.
Rating: - B&D Workmate 425
I have used this product for about 15 years. My old one had a small worktop and required the use to two separate latches for setup and takedown. It was so old the rubber feet were gone and the legs didn't work right. My experience with these units has been excellent. It folds up compactly, fits in a small space and doesn't weigh very much. It works well. I like it and have two of the 425s'. In my comparisons with competitive products or other models in the B&D line I would again pick this unit first.
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