Any preferred alternatives to the Bench puppies/holdfasts?

[Matt Lau]

Dear Creekers,

I'm ramping up to get back into woodworking (thanks to encouragement from Stan).
One thing that I've been reviewing are holdfasts and clamping.

I've found my Grammercy holdfasts to be very useful and intuitive--but a bit loud when I use my mallet on them. I've also got some Bench puppies from Lee Valley, but find the constant turning to be a bit annoying (I'll need to find where I put them I used them once, and put them back in box).

Do you guys have any favorite alternatives?

I was looking on the Festool forums, and festool has some $57 plastic thing that only needs one hand.
There's also a $35 thing from armor tools that looks interesting. http://www.rockler.com/armor-p7-hh-auto-adjust-hold-down-dog-clamp
http://www.rockler.com/armor-p7-il-auto-adjust-in-line-dog-clamp
http://www.amazon.com/Festool-488030-Clamping-ElemenTS-2-Pack/dp/B000JNEC1Q/ref=pd_sim_469_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=31QCqcCyKGL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=17B9WXTK1C2ZTDY7TVQ1

I found a free coffee table on the sidewalk a few weeks ago that would be perfect for a portable Japanese style workbench (with some work, of course).
It's an ugly laminated oak slab that is 4 cm thick with some really strange looking legs screwed on.
I won't have too many regrets with any holes that I stick in the thing, or cuts.

[Prashun Patel]

What's the purpose of the work holding? For chopping and paring or for planing?

With a vise and some planing stops, I am finding my need for hard clamping diminished recently. So, look into bench hooks and planing stops.

You might also consider installing a wagon vise.

The only issue I have with your toggle clamp is that the handle prevents planing.

Last, if you like hold fasts except for the noise, then Veritas makes one that sets with a knob. THere are also 'hold down clamps' from places like Grizzly and Pony that can be bolted to your bench.

[Frank Martin]

I have been using the Veritas hold-down for the last 14 years and they have worked great for me.

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=31149&cat=1,41637

I believe this is the same one that Prashun mentioned.

[Matt Lau]

Thanks! I tend to over complicate stuff in a pretty silly manner sometimes.

I guess that I need to just make some shavings.

[Kirby Krieger]

Grammercy holdfasts to be very useful and intuitive--but a bit loud

I use and recommend, in addition to the screw-actuated Lee-Valley hold-downs mentioned, their quick-release hold-down (http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?cat=1,41637&p=70930). You might be interested in the getting the short posts. (And do not rely on the tape that is supplied with the leather pad — it is insufficient.)

I don't use a vise (don't have one). I couldn't get by without the stop built into my Siemsen-style Nicholson bench. I often set a small stick against the stop, resting against a (round) wooden dog in a holdfast hole, and, further along, resting against a holdfast post in a holdfast hole. The holes are placed so that this stick runs perpendicular to my bench. The stick is held on the far side of the bench with the holdfast. This gives me about 18" of a flat, low, stop — perfect for most of the planing I do. If I need to further support the board being worked, I'll use a "doe's foot (http://www.popularwoodworking.com/woodworking-blogs/chris-schwarz-blog/modern-high-traction-foot)" on the far corner opposite the "stick-stop".

[Kees Heiden]

I have used a rubber mallet on my holdfasts for some time. Works fine and is a lot quieter.

[Frederick Skelly]

I have used a rubber mallet on my holdfasts for some time. Works fine and is a lot quieter.


Me too. I have the Grammercy and love them.