Woodworking Bench Holdfasts

Before the advent of the modern vise holdfasts used to come in all sorts of sizes. All of the cost effective bent rod type holdfasts that i ve used can withstand the weight of my benches with a single light tap. And yet peter s holdfasts looked like they had leaped right from the pages of joseph moxon like something you might buy at the local ironmongers in 1678.

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Bench hold downs surface clamps get a quick firm and fuss free hold on workpieces on your work table or workbench.

Woodworking bench holdfasts. I don t really want to drill holes in my new bench and find that the wood is too soft for the holdfasts to work. A tight fit between the shaft and hole a rough surface finish and the fact that its shaft isn t tapered. A holdfast is a historical metal workbench fixture that wedges into a workbench top holding your workpiece down firmly as you cut joints. It is easy to do with these types of clamps known generally as holdfasts.

Shoot i d pay that. The holdfast was sufficiently important to rate almost half a page in moxon s mechanicks exercises 1678 the first book on woodworking in english. Similar to why i avoid a tail vice. It also had a 7 8 diameter shaft that wouldn t fit in the pre drilled holes of many commercial benches.

The holdfasts were about 70 to 80 each. The woodcraft large bench holdfast 145479 19 99 was the only product we tested that had an angle greater than 90 it was 93 between the shaft and the pad. Workbenches were covered with holes top and side for clamping work everywhere. To me holdfasts woodworking aren t about force.

They re about speed and keeping both hands free. This method of clamping is perfect for projects that need frequent reorientation while planning carving or working. But there was a problem. This holdfast works consistently in benches from 2 to 8 thick for three reasons.

I don t need any holdfasts. In my woodworking school i own 10 workbenches and about 30 holdfasts so i ve got a lot of experience with using and troubleshooting different holdfasts with different styles of workbenches. This small holdfast is made from solid ductile iron with a 3 1 2 throat an overall length of 8 1 4 and a 11 16 round shank. Heck i have some holdfasts that i plan to sell.

And because of these qualities it also will clamp objects as much as 8 off the benchtop. My question is do you think these holdfasts would work in a 3 5 inch bench top made of radiata pine all that i could find easily and affordably for my first hand tool project here in nz. Fulton work bench holdfast 16 1 2 inch long with 7 inch reach and 7 8 inch diameter.