Workmate 79-001 Accessories
Guidemate 79-015
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The Guidemate 79-015 accessory for the Workmate was introduced in mid-1979 at the price of $18.99. Within just a few years, the name had changed to the Workmate Drill Guide, but the model number remained 79-015 Type 1.
Black & Decker literature described it as follows:
"Held in Workmate, used to drill holes at any angle from 0 to 90 degrees. Holds drill for free hand drilling horizontally, vertically or at an angle. Mounted vertically, it's a drill press. Holds drill for grinding, buffing. Acts as a level, with vertical, horizontal indicators. 1" inches/metric scale. For use with most popular 1/4" and 3/8" power drills and any Workmate."
The box for the Guidemate also says "Accepts most popular 1/4" and 3/8" drills". This was undoubtedly true in 1979, but drills are very different today. Drills of that time generally had a pistol-style handle and a body with a central portion three or four inches long with more-or-less parallel sides and a uniform cross-section like a slightly squashed circle. The Guidemate depends on this shape to mount the drill using only a stainless steel hose clamp around its middle. You can see this depicted in the illustration from the Guidemate manual above right.
Most modern drills have T-style handles for better balance, which puts the handle right where the Guidemate's band clamp has to go. Modern drills with pistol-style handles often have bodies that are tapered to some degree, causing the drill to sit at an angle in the Guidemate drill holder. For the Guidemate to work, the drill bit must be perfectly aligned with the direction that the drill holder slides in the Guidemate body. The Guidemate has an adjustment that can compensate for a small amount of taper in the drill body, but it is too limited for the taper on modern drills. I tried to mount several different drills in the Guidemate and none of them would fit it properly.
The Guidemate doesn't seem like a promising accessory for the Workmate. However, I'm going to be on the lookout at estate sales for a vintage drill that will let me try it out. When I find one, I'll update this report. If you have used a Guidemate and have any comments about it, please contact me.
Black & Decker literature described it as follows:
"Held in Workmate, used to drill holes at any angle from 0 to 90 degrees. Holds drill for free hand drilling horizontally, vertically or at an angle. Mounted vertically, it's a drill press. Holds drill for grinding, buffing. Acts as a level, with vertical, horizontal indicators. 1" inches/metric scale. For use with most popular 1/4" and 3/8" power drills and any Workmate."
The box for the Guidemate also says "Accepts most popular 1/4" and 3/8" drills". This was undoubtedly true in 1979, but drills are very different today. Drills of that time generally had a pistol-style handle and a body with a central portion three or four inches long with more-or-less parallel sides and a uniform cross-section like a slightly squashed circle. The Guidemate depends on this shape to mount the drill using only a stainless steel hose clamp around its middle. You can see this depicted in the illustration from the Guidemate manual above right.
Most modern drills have T-style handles for better balance, which puts the handle right where the Guidemate's band clamp has to go. Modern drills with pistol-style handles often have bodies that are tapered to some degree, causing the drill to sit at an angle in the Guidemate drill holder. For the Guidemate to work, the drill bit must be perfectly aligned with the direction that the drill holder slides in the Guidemate body. The Guidemate has an adjustment that can compensate for a small amount of taper in the drill body, but it is too limited for the taper on modern drills. I tried to mount several different drills in the Guidemate and none of them would fit it properly.
The Guidemate doesn't seem like a promising accessory for the Workmate. However, I'm going to be on the lookout at estate sales for a vintage drill that will let me try it out. When I find one, I'll update this report. If you have used a Guidemate and have any comments about it, please contact me.