Holdfast

[Chris Vandiver]

Does anyone here know where I can find a good holdfast? Preferably handmade?

Thanks,
Chris

[Stephen Massman]

I have heard good things about these.

http://www.woodcraft.com/Family/2005080/2005080.aspx

[Barry Vabeach]

toolsforworkingwood http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/ has a great holdfast - don't know if it is handmade because the site is down temporarily - I bought one a few years ago and love it.

[Paul Davis]

I got a pair from Phil Koontz and Jake Pogrebinsky in Galena AK. The email exchange was almost worth the cost by itself, but I put a high premium on originality in character. :) These pictures will give you an idea what you'd be getting:

http://www.tidewaterblacksmiths.org/8.html (http://www.tidewaterblacksmiths.org/8.html)

Compared to the usual craigslist experience of having to go to the bank to get cash (who carries cash?) to hand to someone in person for a dirty, rusty, probably broken tool, Phil's suggestion that I wait until Jake has made me a pair, I've received them in the mail, and finally made sure I like them, before mailing him a personal check, is refreshing. I'd pay extra for that experience, too.

Here's their website. You can contact Phil this way:

http://www.galenavillageblacksmith.com/index.html

And here's a picture of the actual devices, with a pretty good schwarzing to go with:

http://blog.woodworking-magazine.com/blog/CommentView,guid,8c7d63e2-907a-4a57-84c6-cb15507f3f4b.aspx

[Griph0n Brown]

Perfect tools made by hand. They were a pleasure to deal with and the holdfasts are a pleasure to work with.

[David Gendron]

an other one for Jake and Phil hold fast, the best for the hand made one! The Gramecy tool hold fast are realy good to, but not as "sexy"!

[Joe McMahon]

Let me be #4 for Jake & Phil. Outstanding work at a reasonable price!

[Graham Hughes (CA)]

The Gramercy holdfasts (http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/Merchant/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=toolshop&Product_Code=MS-HOLDFAST.XX&Category_Code=&Search=holdfast) are what I've used, and they're excellent. They're mild steel so they will rust, but they work very well and the price is right. If you really want handmade then I hear good things about Phil's, or you can try to find a local blacksmith.

[Rick Lasita]

Agree with Graham, I bought two of these after I broke the cast iron versions, outstanding value.
Rick
firstlightwoodworking.blogspot.com

[John Stan]

I have the holdfasts from Galena (Jake and Phil). They are great and they had them here in a weeks time.

-John

[Tom Stovell]

an other one for Jake and Phil hold fast, the best for the hand made one! The Gramercy tool hold fast are realy good to, but not as "sexy"!

You can't go wrong with either.

Tom

[Phillip Pattee]

Check out this thread: http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=114625&highlight=hold+fast Many of us, myself included, are very happy with Harry Strasil'l hold fasts.

[David Gendron]

I forgot to say that I do have a set of Jr. Starsil hold fast and they do work good... they are a little softer(way more springny) than the two other one mantion above! I uses them on my saw bench!

[Chris Vandiver]

Hey guys, Thanks for all the great advice. I really appreciate it.


Chris

[Jim Koepke]

The only hold fasts I have ever used were made by Jr. Strasil, so my opinion has limited value. That said, they work fine for me.

jim

[Chris Vandiver]

I sent a Pm to Harry Strasil to see if he's interested in making some.

Jim- Is it raining at your place? It is raining hard here on the Puget Sound.

Chris

[Jeff Skory]

I also have a pair of Jr.'s holdfasts. I had never used holdfasts before (or had a true workbench before, but I can tell you that these are one of my most used tools. Love them!

[Jim Koepke]

Jim- Is it raining at your place? It is raining hard here on the Puget Sound.

I think it rained some. Most of the day was spent driving my wife to Sea-Tac so she could fly to California. There were some heavy downpours on I-5. Even with light traffic it slowed to 30 mph.

jim

[Jon Crowley]

I have a Gramercy one, and love it. Inexpensive compared to most others, and works very well.

[Bob Glenn]

Don Weber in Paint Lick, Kentucky has made some out of car coil springs. He may be willing to sell some. I think he has a website.