Comments on: French my Bench

By: ayous

ayous — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:33:41 +0000

A handmade French holdfast can be found at Auriou toolworks here : http://www.forge-de-saint-juery.com/auriou-holdfast/ in France or here in the US : http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/auriou-forged-holdfast.aspx
otherwise leevalley or lie-nielsen, but they are smaller…

By: Fred

Fred — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:52:58 +0000

I am in the process of building my workbench and I want to get a couple of good holdfasts. Does anyone know where I can get a good one? I’m not sure of the quality of the one from rockler. They also only show one size.
Thanks in advance,
Fred

http://www.tampabaywoodworking.com

By: Megan Fitzpatrick

Megan Fitzpatrick — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 05:33:24 +0000

My petite Roubo has a laminated pine top – and if the thicknesses of your boards allow for it, you can cut the mortises before adding the laminations that will become the fourth mortise walls — a little easier/quicker that way.

By: artagain

artagain — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:00:09 +0000

Chris,

I’m about to embark on building my first Roubo, exactly like the August 2010 issue. Do you foresee any issues with the mortise and tenons if I choose to use a laminated cherry top instead of the two slabs you’ve used?
Thanks

By: Megan Fitzpatrick

Megan Fitzpatrick — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 12:47:41 +0000

Well, it depends. Do you have an end vise or wagon vise? If so, your dog holes should be in line with the dog on the vise (that way you can pinch between the vise dog and one in the benchtop). And the typical spacing is 3″ apart on center – that will keep you from having to spend a lot of time fussing around with the vise, because you won’t have to move it far in either direction to find a workholding sweet spot.

By: hallamjeff

hallamjeff — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 00:07:38 +0000

I was thinking about resurfacing my bench soon and leaving it unfinished. The underside would still have the existing finish on it though… Should I strip both sides to avoid catastrophic cupping?

By: neptunoPW

neptunoPW — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 13:52:38 +0000

Could you tell me how to space the holfast holes, both in line and from the edge?

many thanks

Pedro

By: neptunoPW

neptunoPW — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 13:52:23 +0000

Could you tell me how to spade the holfast holes, both in line and from the edge?

many thanks

Pedro

By: switzforge

switzforge — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 21:29:15 +0000

I’ve been meaning to make some hold fasts. Maybe this is just the insperation I need. I wonder if being made from actual wrought iron, as opposed to the mild steel we use today, makes any difference.

By: Brett

Brett — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 13:38:22 +0000

Or grab a meat-tenderizing hammer and beat the snot out of the benchtop.