Comments on: Where to Put Holes for Holdfasts – One Man’s Opinion

By: Megan Fitzpatrick

Megan Fitzpatrick — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 22:10:06 +0000

Sorry Pete,
We don’t always see the comments from posts that are more than a couple days old. We’re always happy to answer questions – so with older posts, I recommend you email one of us directly.

As to your question – those are hand-forged holdfasts from Peter Ross (the LN ones are shaped the same, but I can see Peter’s maker’s stamp atop the pad in the picture). I don’t yet have any LN holdfasts, so I can’t comment as to how they compare to the Gramercy (which I do have, and which work as well as my hand-forged ones; they aren’t as attractive, but that doesn’t matter as to their efficacy). I’ll ask Chris to respond re the LN ones when he’s back in town.

By: pvanderlugt

pvanderlugt — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 17:19:41 +0000

Why do I not rate a reply? Because I am asking about the products of two vendors? Have I offended the blogger? For some reason I fail to get responses to questions on both this site and LAP. Despite being a fairly good customer of both companies.

If I’ve offended or asked inappropriate questions, at least let me know so that amends can be made.

Pete

By: derek.eder

derek.eder — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 21:47:45 +0000

I have an Auriou holdfast with an 18mm diameter (0.7″ or 23/32″, a millimeter shy of 3/4″) post. How much oversize do you usually drill the hole?

Thanks,

- Idiot servant

By: rkamarowski

rkamarowski — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 15:08:58 +0000

For those looking for holdfasts contact Scott Stager at Someday Forge (bksmithsps@gmail.com) He’s just starting out, so the price is to be determined, but I’m very happy with them.

bob k.

By: mickmtb

mickmtb — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 08:55:30 +0000

hi
I brought your book and built a roubo bench its great just as you described in the book.
The reason I’m leaving this is I’m moving to france at some point and while looking at property I saw this very old carpenters bench in what is described as a carpenters shed, it has a leg vice and holdfast the end apears to be shaped ! if you want the picture of it let me know

cheers
mick

By: Wagner99

Wagner99 — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 03:49:23 +0000

You’ve got a nice bench. I bought a pair of Peter Ross’ hand-forged holddowns and I love them. They are about 13″ tall with a span of 8″ for a 3/4 hole. Very rugged. The undercut comment was a vg one. Ross’ are not cheap, about $150/pair. Email Peter at Rosspm@msn.com and ask him if 5.25″work. I would guess a slight angle change in his forging could fit any depth. I got his “pennyfoot” holddowns. Way cool.

By: jasonvonkruse

jasonvonkruse — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 01:48:39 +0000

With such a nice top, I would just buy some from Lee Valley. They don’t look like the traditional ones, but they work just like them and they work in ANY thickness of top. Cheers

By: Megan Fitzpatrick

Megan Fitzpatrick — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 18:20:15 +0000

Those are bench dogs – and those brass ones are from Lee Valley Tools: http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=31127&cat=1,41637,41645,31127

By: Jonathan Szczepanski

Jonathan Szczepanski — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:34:13 +0000

Chris -

Lee Valley now has a dog hole bushing that “…accept the 1/2″ diameter post of common desk lamps and magnifiers.” ACK!

http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/page.aspx?p=70534&cat=51&ap=1

By: kpinvt

kpinvt — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:10:14 +0000

I’m sorry I haven’t read everything you’ve written or filmed on the subject of workbenches. Could you please tell me what the brass thingies hiding in the dog holes are? I’m thinking they’re some kind of stop. Or bottle opener.