Comments on: Authentic Holdfasts from Peter Ross

By: JoshLovesIt

JoshLovesIt — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 03:31:10 +0000

I also purchased the Gramercy holdfasts, and drilled a nice 3/4″ hole in my 3.5″ thick workbench top. The holdfast didn’t work, so I widened it to 13/16″, as “hammerguy” suggested. Still didn’t work. Any other ideas please?

By: hammerguy

hammerguy — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 05:02:32 +0000

I have forged a few holdfasts out of 3/4″ stock and have found that the holes in a thick bench should be about 13/16″ or 20mm in order for the holdfast to work. The stem has to be able to tilt slightly in the hole. It also seems to help if there is some spring to the portion near the pad. If you realy don’t want to alter the dog holes, you can reduce the size of the stem. Determine how much you want to reduce the diameter and divide that by two. Place some tape that distance from the tips of the teeth of a hacksaw as a depth guide. Cut a spiral down the length of the stem. Use an angle grinder or bench grinder to remove the excess material down to the base of the spiral. A bit of draw filing to remove the last traces of the spiral will clean it up nicely, and you should be at the diameter you need for the holdfast to work.

By: esincox

esincox — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:20:37 +0000

Er… not “build a Finley Bench”, but “build Finley a bench”.

You know, my one year old son, Finley (ask Megan to show you pictures on FB)… build him a bench after I build mine… so I can start looking for a whole other set of tools.

Ok, I DO already have two of the 043s.

Maybe I’d loan him one.

Maybe.

But he’s going to have to save up for his own Peter Ross holdfasts.

By: Medullaryray

Medullaryray — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 05:08:22 +0000

Wow! I’ll have to second that. Just returned from Lee Vining/Mono Lake/Yosemite and ate at the Whoa Nellie a couple of times. Highly recommended!

By: Christopher Schwarz

Christopher Schwarz — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 22:45:08 +0000

Uh, “Finley” bench? Que?

By: esincox

esincox — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 19:09:44 +0000

“…and immediately put them into use on my daughter’s old school Roubo workbench.”

And? Did Lucy swallow the chocolate-coated this-was-for-Katie’s-bench-not-mine justification pill?

If so, I’m going to have to build Finley a bench after I build mine…

By: Affinity Millworks

Affinity Millworks — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:55:20 +0000

Our shop is right next to Chef point! Top notch food.http://affinitymillworksinc.com/

By: texasbelliott

texasbelliott — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:26:28 +0000

It’s tremendous to see modern craftsmen, such as Peter are getting some attention. Guys like this are a rare breed these days. Here’s to a resurgence of individuals who have a passion for their craft!

By: Paul Moldo

Paul Moldo — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 10:44:23 +0000

Chris. I have a 4″ thick Roubo and my Gramercy holdfasts did not work. Joel suggested I widen the dog holes from the underside, which I’m not prepared to do. How do Peter’s holdfasts work on such a thick top when the Gramercy ones don’t?

By: Steve_OH

Steve_OH — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 01:54:40 +0000

You need to visit the Tioga Gas Mart/Whoa Nellie Deli at the junction of CA 120 and US 395 near Lee Vining CA: http://www.whoanelliedeli.com/

-Steve