Comments on: Improved Phil Koontz Holdfasts

By: carter

carter — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 13:37:16 +0000

Chris, I just built your original Roubo workbench from your Workbenches book and I drilled three holes in the top for the Phil Koontz holdfasts. One of the holes works great the other two won’t stick the holdfast when I strike them with a mallet. Do you know how to fix the holes so they can work properly? Also, do you have any recommendation when I drill the new holes? I love the bench and the and the holdfasts.

By: sqmorgan

sqmorgan — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 01:41:25 +0000

Chris, Just got my set in the mail today..Thanks for the recommendation. Now I just have to build that Roubo!

By: sqmorgan

sqmorgan — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 01:40:07 +0000

Chris,

By: Megan Fitzpatrick

Megan Fitzpatrick — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:20:22 +0000

Not sure – but I know if you shoot an e-mail to Phil with the question, he’ll respond (I’d hate to quote what I _think_ is the price and be wrong…)

By: DavidBignell

DavidBignell — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 14:59:59 +0000

These are amazing, I went to the website and also saw they are sold out. Does anyone know the cost so I can plan to add them into my studio. Thanks

By: Danny H.

Danny H. — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:30:28 +0000

So Chris,
I just ordered a set of holdfasts from Gramercy Tools for the more traditional workbench that I’ll be making soon. Is there an ideal thickness for the top of my bench for these to work best?

By: cheekygeek

cheekygeek — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 13:30:14 +0000

I’ve got one of Phil’s gorgeous holdfasts (i’m assuming the older style) and it is the very embodiment of the William Morris quote:

“Have nothing in your (workshop) that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful”

By: djmueller1

djmueller1 — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:57:59 +0000

Imagine, adults getting excited about a rod of bent iron. It’s crazy, a throw-back to dying crafts, passion before production, and not making a fortune (at least in monetary value). Imagine, it’s all good, nah – the better: salvation of our roots, and that which makes us humble in knowing that far too few have taken this path toward – well, should I say, anarchy?

By: Phil Koontz

Phil Koontz — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:37:19 +0000

Hi Megan–

I have to keep apologizing about that web site, and I’m always willing to do it again–I’m sorry, it’s about 8 years out of date.

I have contacted the website developer (actually, it’s my sister–) and will get it done sometime soon. Meanwhile, email works much better.

If it’s Alaska pics or yak you are interested in, here’s my blog.
http://pdknz.livejournal.com/

Also, let me mention my alter-ego, Jake the Russian. It was actually Jake who made the holdfasts that renaissanceww mentions in the note below. You can tell because the touchmark is a “Devil’s tail” instead of my racoon face. We toss the holdfast trade back and forth, and as it happens, I’m the on-duty smith just now. I kinda hope he gets back from Sabbatical pretty soon. Some of Jake’s work is at

https://picasaweb.google.com/jakesiron/MetalWorkByJakePogrebinsky#5175816605364380610

and

http://jakepog.deviantart.com/gallery/

By: Megan Fitzpatrick

Megan Fitzpatrick — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:43:40 +0000

Huh. There _was_ but you’re right – it wasn’t working. And now it is. Thanks!