The Jawhorse

[tkarlmann]

Jawhorse vs. Workmate ? No contest

Workmate: Can anyone tell me how they justify any version of a Workmate? Every time I see one of these in a store over the years, I try to play with it -- to see how it might work out. EVERY time I have done this exercise, I walk up to this thing, and BAM -- it hits me right in the shins -- before I can reach the work. How on earth can you ever get close enough to this contraption to work on something?? I just do not get it. I think it's for uneducated LOMLs to buy their WW-ing hubby for Chirstmas.

UPDATE!!!!! : Oh. OK, the Workmate just got better -- since I viewed the vid on youtube, funny how that works. Apparently I failed to notice that the twisty-knobs are ganged (to a point) and that you work on your Stuff from the end -- then use the shin-bashing step to put your foot on to steady the whole thing out. Still don't want one.

Jawhorse: Bought one, like it. It's very heavy, but clamps very well. I like the idea of three legs so it won't wobble. I like that it folds up. Attachments -- I don't own any -- I'd rather not even look at them lest I become tempted -- just make your own "attachments" from good ol' 2x4's!!

[thestinker]

I have a work mate that I dug out of a dumpster. I put a new top on it and it works pretty good, especially when you consider the cash I have invested in it. I have seen the jaw horse and really want to get one, I just can't seem to justify spending the money on the jaw horse for the amount of use I think I would get out of it. I don't use my work mate that much so I can't see replacing it with something I don't think I would use that much. Also, I'm still hoping to pull 1 out of a dumpster

[Al R.]

Workmate: Can anyone tell me how they justify any version of a Workmate? Every time I see one of these in a store over the years, I try to play with it -- to see how it might work out. EVERY time I have done this exercise, I walk up to this thing, and BAM -- it hits me right in the shins -- before I can reach the work. How on earth can you ever get close enough to this contraption to work on something?? I just do not get it. I think it's for uneducated LOMLs to buy their WW-ing hubby for Chirstmas.

UPDATE!!!!! : Oh. OK, the Workmate just got better -- since I viewed the vid on youtube, funny how that works. Apparently I failed to notice that the twisty-knobs are ganged (to a point) and that you work on your Stuff from the end -- then use the shin-bashing step to put your foot on to steady the whole thing out. Still don't want one.

Jawhorse: Bought one, like it. It's very heavy, but clamps very well. I like the idea of three legs so it won't wobble. I like that it folds up. Attachments -- I don't own any -- I'd rather not even look at them lest I become tempted -- just make your own "attachments" from good ol' 2x4's!!

I you decide in the future to buy at least one of their attachments I suggest you get the Jawhorse RK9109 Plywood Jaw Accessory Attachment. I am in the process to make my shop twice the size I have now (little by little) and because so far I hadn’t been able to reach that privilege I have not a big-professional bench as I would like, then what I did in the past was building up in my open garage a provisional bench with shop-made horses. Sometimes if the work was not too extensive I could either use a small bench I have or another provisional one I also get by installing a thick plywood-sheet over my table-saw-router-table together.

Well all of this description was to say that since I have the Jawhorse, and using the Plywood attachment, I do not need to take much time as before building the bench with shop-made horses, etc. It is easy and quick, and you can use it also to cut long panels wherever you take the Jaw horse with you.

[tkarlmann]

Jawhorse Accessories

I you decide in the future to buy at least one of their attachments I suggest you get the Jawhorse RK9109 Plywood Jaw Accessory Attachment.

OK, you got me to look at the Jawhorse accessories. The plywood jaws only allow me a 52" grip, so that I could only crosscut a 4'x8' plywood sheet. I put 2x4's on the floor to do that now. If I need a length-wise cut -- I'm back on the floor with my 2x4's anyway.

I had to look at the "Work Table" accessory -- it makes the Jawhorse look like the Workmate!! I guess it might be OK for odd-shaped pieces where you can clamp them using dog-holes.

[Al R.]

OK, you got me to look at the Jawhorse accessories. The plywood jaws only allow me a 52" grip, so that I could only crosscut a 4'x8' plywood sheet. I put 2x4's on the floor to do that now. If I need a length-wise cut -- I'm back on the floor with my 2x4's anyway.
I had to look at the "Work Table" accessory -- it makes the Jawhorse look like the Workmate!! I guess it might be OK for odd-shaped pieces where you can clamp them using dog-holes.

I think that 4X8 is pretty good for that little thing, plus you can just put the 4X8 sheet and use it as a work-table if you are not at home doing some work in another house; or if you just want to use it let say on the backyard for an extra table for anything. If you use a longer 2x4 you can extend it as well.

I bought the Log Jaw, Welding Station and Plywood accessories.

The “work table” accessory has been rejected by many as of poor quality for the price it has. I saw one and it did not convince me as well; but maybe what is not useful to one can be useful to you.

[L. D. Jeffries]

My LOML got me a WorkMate for an Xmas present many years ago, back when they were made of metal rather than plastic. LOVE it, just love it! Yes it does wack your ankles if you don't pay attention but the rest of the features out-do its faults. My voe for the WorkMate!

[dkerfoot]

I have two workmates. I got one new back in the 80's and picked the 2nd one up at a garage sale a few years back. I keep one in my shop and one in the garage. I added a back "table" to the garage one, thinking I'd use it for clamping bigger stuff. It is about 2' deep. I have not really used the extra capacity, it just makes it heavier to lug around.

I am thinking about the jawhorse for Christmas. (They are $179 everywhere). That is a lot for a clamp on a tripod, but I use the workmates all the time and the jawhorse is much more robust. If I use it as much as I do the workmates, it would be well worth it. If I use it as much as I have that P-C Dovetail jig I just had to own, then maybe not so much...

Isn't that the challenge? Trying to figure out which tools we will still be using 20 years from now? If we knew for sure, it would be worth it to get the very best. And if we knew for sure what we shouldn't waste money on, we'd have the money to buy the very best of what we actually will use.

[tkarlmann]

I am thinking about the jawhorse for Christmas. (They are $179 everywhere). That is a lot for a clamp on a tripod, but I use the workmates all the time and the jawhorse is much more robust. If I use it as much as I do the workmates, it would be well worth it. If I use it as much as I have that P-C Dovetail jig I just had to own, then maybe not so much...

I hear you! I also have the P-C dovetail jig -- I don't think I've ever used it. The jawhorse, on the other hand is quite useful. It acts as a second person to hold stuff. I have even used it to hold an item for finishing done outside (in warmer weather)

Yup, it's heavy, but the clamp is strong.

Have a Merry.....

[phi1l]

I'm thinking that there will start to be some big discounts by spring. Particularly if the news on the economy does not improve drastically by then.

[wardprobst]

I'm thinking that there will start to be some big discounts by spring. Particularly if the news on the economy does not improve drastically by then.

Doubt it, I've been watching them for several years and have yet to catch them on sale or even miss them on sale.
DP

[tkarlmann]

Doubt it, I've been watching them for several years and have yet to catch them on sale or even miss them on sale.
DP

The jawhorse isn't the greatest quality tool out there, but as many have said about the HF tools, like the $24 1" benchtop belt sander, -- how good does it need to be? It gets the job done.

For me, it's unlike the Workmate, which seems to be a solution looking for a problem -- no offense to those who really like it though.

[phi1l]

Doubt it, I've been watching them for several years and have yet to catch them on sale or even miss them on sale.
DP

You might be right, but consider the Dremel Tool, Roto-Zip, Little Giant latter, & Fein MF tool.
As all of those were about to go off patent, they put out a flurry of advertising, & infomercials while they kept the price points high. Then, you started seeing the knockoffs. The infomercial flurry is an indication to me that there is a Central Machinery product in the pipeline.

[eezlock]

Jawhorse

I call it the Jawhoss. It looks like one of those gizmos that everything up front
looks good, but what are they not telling you about any extra attachments and such. I can see where it has it's place in the realm of the handyman or DIYer
or homeowner but for a woodworking shop....eh, I don't know about that!

I have an 1980's model original workmate that is still in near new shape
and it does more than I could expect and still hangs in there. These old workhorses were the best of their breed as far as I'm concerned.The newer versions are too flimsy and cheaply built for me! Another good feature of the old workmate is, if the wooden clamp jaws get too beat up through a lot of
use and abuse...they are easy enough to replace.

It is hard to imagine a hold it all, universal work table/bench that can do everything it claims and not have some drawbacks and limitations.When you have one, the shortcoming will be soon exposed I guess.

[Photojosh]

Doubt it, I've been watching them for several years and have yet to catch them on sale or even miss them on sale.
DP

My local indie hardware place had them for $150 during their "ladies night" holiday sale. That's as cheap as I've seen them.

FWIW, I find mine very useful in a one-man (and not a giant of a man) shop. Very helpful and quick for lots of stuff. No, not a "must have" for even a home shop. But I'm happy I have mine.