What are they?
These are fantastic woodworking devices, used to hold your work to the bench, and they've been in use around the world since Roman times. They are simple to use and very effective. The ones for sale here are all hand made, using traditional methods and a small forge by experienced craftsmen as a cottage industry. They are not mass produced so every one has very slight differences, which is what you expect with hand made workmanship. They are all hand stamped with our logo so you know you are not getting a cheap copy, or something banged out by machines.
They are used for quickly and easily securing a workpiece by applying pressure to hold the work piece down. You can fit them into holes drilled anywhere on your bench top or front apron. but I would recommend that you drill a regular pattern of holes to give yourself plenty of versatility.
Fitting the Holdfasts:
They are made from 18mm steel and for this reason you will need to fit them in the following manner: (1) Plan the hole positions on your bench. (2) Drill through with a 19mm Auger.
Many benches come pre drilled with 19mm holes and these holdfasts will work really well in these holes.
FAQ:
What is the minimum thickness of bench top? I would normally recommend 50mm but if you have a bench top made of a hardwood, 40mm is adequate.
What is the maximum thickness of bench top that I can use? I've had customers report that even with a 4 inch thick bench top in solid beech, the holdfasts work extremely well. As for thicker bench tops, I really couldn't say, other than that if you are really using more than 4 inches thickness for your bench top, it could be a bit of an overkill!
My bench top is only 20mm thick, can I still use the holdfasts? Yes, but only if you glue/screw blocks of wood under the holes to increase the thickness to around 50mm.
I have 25mm diameter holes in my bench top, can I still use holdfasts? Yes, but not in those holes as they will be too loose. Instead, glue dowel into the existing holes and drill adjacent holes of 19mm (3/4') diameter.
What is the ideal size of holes for these holdfasts? 19mm or 3/4" . For anything larger than 20mm, see previous question.
What size are the holdfasts? The reach is 7 1/2" and the length from top to bottom is just over 13". About 10" of the stem will fit into the bench.
Do you make larger holdfasts for timber framers? Yes, we make 25mm diameter holdfasts which are simply enormous, but very effective.
Using the Holdfasts:
NOTE: The stem (straight part) needs cleaning to remove the oil before use. The best solvent is unleaded petrol. If the protective oil is not thoroughly removed, this will affect how well they grip.
Always use a packing piece between the hold down and the work piece as the considerable clamping pressure will leave an indentation. To secure the clamp, pop it into the hole and give it a sharp hard tap on the top, either with a wooden mallet or a steel hammer. Bear in mind a steel hammer will leave marks on top of the clamp, but this does not affect the performance. To free off the hold down clamp, either knock it sideways or tap the back, either method will release the clamp.
Care of your Holdfasts:
Every now and again, apply a small amount of light machine oil to the top curved part. Dab most of it off with a rag to leave a very light film. This will prevent the salts on your hands from causing rusty fingerprints, particularly in warm, damp environments.
Quality:
We use steel from a local stockholder, covered by BS970, pt 1, 1996 and as such is fully guaranteed to meet all the requirements of the British Standards given.