Where to get good hold downs

[William M Johnson]

Where do you guys get the "whack a mole" hold downs for your benches. I made the mistake of buying the ones from Rockler and they lasted exactly one whack. Not only were they cast they were apparantly made from Taiwainium.

Bill

[Andy Hsieh]

tools for working wood - joel - holds downs work and are cheap
next step would be if your looking for flare
you could either check phil Koonts of Galena Blacksmith or Don weber

30-35 bucks for a pair over a TFWW
boutique blacksmithy pairs will run upwards of 90 bucks but are worth the extra moula if you got it.

Also, how thick is your benchtop?

[Joel Goodman]

I have a great pair that Harry Strasil made. I would see if he's making any more. If not TWW has some that people speak well of.

[Jerome Hanby]

I have a great pair that Harry Strasil made. .

Me too. Favorite tools that I own!

[Jim Koepke]

Another one who is so happy with Harry's, that if he were going to make more, I would seriously consider buying another pair.

Not sure that they are needed, but when something is that good, I like to have extras.

jim

[harry strasil]

Blacksmith shop has no heat, so holdfasts are on hold LOL. There are 8 people on the list waiting on theirs currently.

[Augusto Orosco]

Blacksmith shop has no heat, so holdfasts are on hold LOL. There are 8 people on the list waiting on theirs currently.

Hey, Harry... I didn't know you were making those for sell. I am in no rush (still haven't started my 'real' workbench!), but I wouldn't mind being added to the waiting list for when the sun heats up your shop. It reminds me of my Dad buying good CDs before he even got a CD player... but we have to take advantage when opportunity knocks!

(yeah, he ended up with a CD player... about 3 years after starting his CD collection!)

P.S. Apologies to the OP, I don't mean to highjack the thread.

[Mitch Barker]

I bought a pair about a month ago, and I can't get over how well they work. How can something so simple, be so useful and yet be so unappreciated by most of the woodwroking world. Of course you do need a solid bench with dog holes...

[Richard Jones]

My Gramercy's came from TFWW. I'm a big boy, I hit hard, I have abused them (oh, the shame............) and they are still intact and still working correctly. Nicely made, absolutely zero problems in several years.

Rich

[David Gendron]

You allready had all the best makers, the only one I don,t have are the Webber's. but with 6 hold fast right now I don't need more! Jr. are good, more spring to them than The Phil konz one and the stifest one are the Gramercy. Jr., are great for thiner stuff. the Phil Konz are my go to one but again just preference here!

[harry strasil]

Your on the list Augusto, I presume you want them for 3/4 holes, I have an order for a pair to fit the european benches with the 1 inch holes. Just don't make the mistake of polishing the shanks of mine as they are rough on purpose so they won't slip loose in the holes while in use.

[Augusto Orosco]

Your on the list Augusto, I presume you want them for 3/4 holes, I have an order for a pair to fit the european benches with the 1 inch holes. Just don't make the mistake of polishing the shanks of mine as they are rough on purpose so they won't slip loose in the holes while in use.

Yes, 3/4 holes! Thanks!

(I'll send you a PM)

[Mark Maleski]

I noticed recently that TheBestThings is now carrying holdfasts made by the blacksmith shop in Williamsburg (they're fairly pricey). My Gramercy holdfasts work wonderfully and have held up for years now - I have no need for anything additional. But if I were in the market, I'd be tempted by the ones from TBT.

[Bob Glenn]

I was at Don Weber's place last fall and he showed me how he makes them. He used old coil car springs. He says after he straightens the spring and forms the hold fast, he doesn't even bother to further heat treat them, as they are sufficient right off the anvil.

[David Gendron]

I think Bob Glenn, have one of the Williamsburg black smith shop hold fast also sold by The Best Thing, and was reporting that the shank was not a common size... Maybe Bob can write back obout that!

[harry strasil]

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=129933&highlight=williamsburg post #29

[John Stan]

Where do you guys get the "whack a mole" hold downs for your benches. I made the mistake of buying the ones from Rockler and they lasted exactly one whack. Not only were they cast they were apparantly made from Taiwainium.

Bill

Mine are from Jake the russian (Galena Toolworks) in Alaska. Phil Koonts refers the work to Jake. I love mine and had them in a weeks time.

[John Sanford]

The Veritas is quite nice also. Spendy, but you don't have to keep a whacker handy to use it, and it's got a long reach.

[Richard Niemiec]

I'm the one ordering the 1" holdfasts from Jr. as my bench has the larger holes and there's no other workable alternatives out there, and from the reviews of his 3/4 versions you can't do better and would likely do worse (but Joel's are reportedly ok for 3/4" holes). Once the weather breaks in Nebraska (its been a cold one for Jr.) there's gonna be at least 8 happy campers.

[Bob Glenn]

I think Bob Glenn, have one of the Williamsburg black smith shop hold fast also sold by The Best Thing, and was reporting that the shank was not a common size... Maybe Bob can write back obout that!

Yes, David, I bought two hand forged hold fasts at Williamsburg. They told me they were made from 3/4 stock, however, despite comparing all they had in stock and selecting the smallest (they were visibly different) I am still going to have to grind on the shanks to get them to fit in my 3/4 inch holes. I suppose I could use them in one inch holes, but I don't want to enlarge all the holes in my benches. They were 58 bucks a piece, but the extra expense is warranted since I use them at eighteen century reenactments.

[harry strasil]

I wonder if anyone has ever tried making holdfasts out of wood?

And to be authentic Bob, you are going to have to file them to size. LOL

[Tom Adger]

Get Jorgensen hold down clamps from Peachtree Woodworking Supply. They are USA made, from a long-time reputable company, and won't shatter after one or two hammer hits.

[paul cottingham]

I have a great pair that Harry Strasil made. I would see if he's making any more. If not TWW has some that people speak well of.

Me, too. One of my most used and well made tools.

[Alex Botkin]

You can get some hold downs made by Jorgensen - they seem to be decent quality. Here's one source
http://dilegnosupply.com/Clamping/jorgensen_bench_holddown_clamps.htm

I'm sure you can others as well.

You might also want to put a small bevel 1/16 to 1/8 say 22 degrees around the edge of your bench hole this would help prevent damaging the top of the bench.