Black & Decker Black and Decker WM125 Portable Workbench - Workmate 125

This is maybe the most versitile tool I have ever owned; I love it. It is the extra pair of hands I need when I don't have another pair around. It isn't heavy duty but overall, I'd buy it again and again and again. I highly recomment it!

The workmate 125 is a nice simple homeowner grade work bench. As others have commented, assembly instructions are poor, with diagrams unclear and out of sequence with steps. The most frustrating part of assembly was the smallest parts involved. The pins used to secure the handles are way to hard for the average homeowner to install as described with a hammer. I had to compress them with large locking pliers then drive them in with a hammer and punch. The smallest part, overlooked by quality control, made the Workmate unusable without extra tooling that the target market may not have at hand. I now have several of the these and this is not a once off problem. Once assembled, easy to use, strong and very versatile.

The instructions are kind of brutal, but you can find videos on Youtube where people will talk you through it. What my question might be here is if someone would actually physically die if B&D chose a more practical way to secure the handles to the vice screw than this ridiculous metal pin that has to be *hammered* into place obscenely hard. Scratched the finish on both sides because I way underestimated the force needed to drive this stupid pin and you have to hold the vice screw while doing it. Absolutely brainless, and nothing that couldn't be accomplished with a simple metal screw or threaded insert.

a 3rd hand is helpful for assembly . it would be helpful if a center plank were provided . no complaints otherwise .