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 Post subject: I love my holdfasts
PostPosted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 5:41 pm 
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Joined: Tue Dec 17, 2013 10:52 pm
Posts: 2953
First name: Don
Last Name: Parker
City: Charleston
State: West Virginia
Zip/Postal Code: 25314
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Sometimes, the simplest tools are the coolest. I'm building some cabinets for my wife. Holding down a large panel without leaving a mark, and without taking forever in between adjustments, can be a struggle. Enter the holdfast. Whack it on its head to make it hang on, whack it on its back to make it let go. Easy peasy. Profoundly satisfying to work with, and a whole lot faster than anything that screws down.

Attachment:
Holdfast 1.jpg


Attachment:
Holdfast 2.jpg


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These users thanked the author doncaparker for the post (total 3): DannyV (Fri Aug 25, 2017 11:27 am) • James Orr (Thu Aug 24, 2017 5:53 pm) • Imbler (Thu Aug 24, 2017 5:49 pm)
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 Post subject: Re: I love my holdfasts
PostPosted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 7:40 pm 
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Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:35 pm
Posts: 2951
Location: United States
First name: Joe
Last Name: Beaver
City: Lake Forest
State: California
Focus: Build
Those are pretty cool. Where did you get them? I don't believe I've seen them around

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 Post subject: Re: I love my holdfasts
PostPosted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 8:27 pm 
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Koa
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Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 3:14 am
Posts: 982
Location: Shefford, Québec
First name: Tim
Last Name: Mullin
City: Shefford
State: QC
Zip/Postal Code: J2M 1R5
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
Joe Beaver wrote:
Where did you get them? I don't believe I've seen them around

Lee Valley has had them for as long as I can remember.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk


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 Post subject: Re: I love my holdfasts
PostPosted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 8:48 pm 
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Joined: Tue Dec 17, 2013 10:52 pm
Posts: 2953
First name: Don
Last Name: Parker
City: Charleston
State: West Virginia
Zip/Postal Code: 25314
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Mine are Gramercy Tools holdfasts. I got them from Tools For Working Wood. Lee Valley sells them, too.


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 Post subject: Re: I love my holdfasts
PostPosted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 9:12 pm 
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Joined: Sat Feb 02, 2008 12:15 pm
Posts: 474
Location: Santa Barbara, Ca
First name: John "jd"
City: Santa Barbara
State: Ca
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
I have a pair or cheap cast iron ones and a pair from Gramercy. There is no comparison. Gramercy works great and get used all of the time. The cast iron ones are junk and only get occasional use as bench dogs.


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 Post subject: Re: I love my holdfasts
PostPosted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 10:42 pm 
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Koa
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Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2013 7:33 am
Posts: 1831
First name: Willard
Last Name: Guthrie
City: Cumberland
State: Maryland 21502
Zip/Postal Code: 21502
Country: United State
Focus: Repair
Status: Semi-pro
We have been using the Gramercy holdfasts for a year or so - useful for holding jigs and fixtures, as well as securing bench hooks and shooting boards. At under $40 per pair, they are much less expensive than equivalent options, which include Crucible Tools ductile cast iron ($135 per holdfast), Lie-Nielsen ductile cast iron ($50 per holdfast), blacksmith made forged items from several makers ($50-$150 per holdfast), and the adjustable Lee Valley model (my least favorite of the ones we have trialed - $89 per).

One thing to do with the Gramercy holdfast to address any slippage is to score the polished steel of the shaft...80 grit paper used radially works well.

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 Post subject: Re: I love my holdfasts
PostPosted: Sat Aug 26, 2017 8:28 pm 
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Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2013 4:58 pm
Posts: 1449
First name: Ed
Last Name: Minch
City: Chestertown
State: MD
Zip/Postal Code: 21620
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Beware the cast holdfasts - a friend had one break at the bend. I use a couple another friend made for me, and they work perfectly in my 3-1/4" thick benchtop. Here is what I was working on Yesterday:

Ed


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