Hold downs and augers

[Derek Cohen]

There is a technique to using augers in hard wood that I would like to pass on.


What has this to do with hold downs? Well, I have two Gramercy hold downs, and they are great. I also have a single Veritas hold down, and have wanted another as I think that they are the best. But I kept putting off buying one as the Australian Dollar has gone to Hell and they are now really expensive. But, about a week ago I came across two being sold extremely cheaply - the seller was really offering them as a gift - and I was the first to respond. Now I have three!


Storing the Gramercy hold downs has been easy enough. They simply slot into holes in the bench leg ...


https://i.postimg.cc/Z5XfGcCR/2a.jpg


The Veritas hold down is more of a problem. They cannot go into a leg like this as they project too far. As a result, the one I have lived in a dog hole on the bench ...


https://i.postimg.cc/Qt3ftdgZ/3a.jpg


This is not ideal as it takes up wanted real estate. The bench is just 80" long.


I came up with a solution to drill holes in the bench leg, but on the outside, so they face inwards ..


https://i.postimg.cc/wvQ0sYFy/4a.jpg


Two issues here: the first is that there is a sliding deadman to consider. This is about 1 1/4" thick Jarrah, as seen in the first photo, and the 3/4" holes must not interfere with it. The second is that, while the holes for the Gramercy hold downs went through 3" of leg, the Veritas holes will need to clear 5" solid Jarrah.


The method here is used by all augers. I have Russell Jennings, Irwin and, as used here, Wood Owl, a Japanese make. The Wood Owl are the best I have used. They have 3 cutting faces verses the 2 on other augers.


https://i.postimg.cc/3Nr9XfbL/5a.jpg


The hex shank is, I believe, 7/16" across. This fits the 10" Stanley 2101 Bell brace I am using here.


https://i.postimg.cc/QC6m0g2j/6a.jpg


https://i.postimg.cc/HW36YHVF/7a.jpg


If you have ever tried to use a brace and auger in hard wood, you will hear recommendations to get augers with fine lead screws (and that coarse lead screws are for soft wood). In my experience, it really makes no difference what you use in really hard woods. For interest, the Jarrah here came from roof trusses rescued when we completed a renovation 15 or so years ago. They had been baking in the West Australian sun for 15 years prior to that (yes, 30 years ago, West Australian home builders were still using Jarrah to build roofs!). Trying to drill through this wood requires a huge amount of down force and forearms like Popeye.


Enter the pilot hole.


The idea is to drill a hole slightly smaller than the lead screw ...


https://i.postimg.cc/Gh2q9NDt/8a.jpg


Once this is done - noting that my drill bit was 1" too short to clear the leg - you can begin using the bit and brace ...


https://i.postimg.cc/TY4Qb9j9/9a.jpg


The pilot hole provides the lead screw with enough side wall to grip, without also making it create a hole to enter. The force now needed to drill is a tiny percentage of that otherwise need. Below I am just balancing the brace and turning the arm. It feeds itself through the leg ...


https://i.postimg.cc/brqV6wd9/10a.jpg


https://i.postimg.cc/sxK6bChd/10-1a.jpg


Keep drilling until the tip of the lead screw just peeps out the other side ...


https://i.postimg.cc/qBG5NyZb/11a.jpg


Then drill back from this side ...


https://i.postimg.cc/tCSv5ybF/12a.jpg


This prevents spelching (blow out).


The holes are actually very clean. This is the worst - any damage here was actually caused by pulling out the auger bit ...


https://i.postimg.cc/J44dZ0f1/13a.jpg


The edges were chamfered ..


https://i.postimg.cc/3xkSf6rV/14a.jpg

[Derek Cohen]

For interest, I used this large chamfer bit from Lee Valley, which was also used 7 years ago when I added some round dog holes to the bench ...


https://i.postimg.cc/PqZ6TwwM/15a.jpg


Final result ...


https://i.postimg.cc/pdHnghY8/16a.jpg


Regards from Perth


Derek

[William Fretwell]

So do you prefer turning the knob to tapping the Gramercy? Can't be as fast to turn and undo as tap to undo.

[Derek Cohen]

Hi William

I have a video demonstrating how easy it is to use the Gramercy. They are excellent. The Veritas have a longer reach, and are not restricted for placement. Traditional hold downs, like the Gramercy, require space behind them to release with a hammer. There are times when this is not easy. The Veritas simply require a twist of the nob. They also permit a viable downforce.

Two products, both very usable and similar, with a difference that makes them desirable as a team.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Phil Mueller]

Nice solution, Derek. I don’t own traditional hold downs, instead opting for the Veritas ones you have. My thinking was just that I don’t need to keep a mallet around to use them. Drop them in a hole, a few turns of the knob and you’re done.

[Tom M King]

Very nice, and looks good too! Nice find on the new pair.

[Jim Koepke]

Derek's image of a square clamped to his bench's leg reminded me of an easy to make alignment tool for boring holes:

433273

This makes it easy to sight on two axis when boring on a horizontal surface.

433274

This one isn't glued. It is a good idea to check before using if it has been sitting in a drawer or on a shelf awhile.

jtk