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  1. #1
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    Default Blacksmith Made Holdfasts2

    There is an older thread with an almost identical name but I was not permitted to resurrect it. It's a pity that nothing ever came from from all the interest shown with regard to a bulk purchase or the like but I expect that avenue was well explored at the time.

    I've recently had a local blacksmith make a couple for me based on Woodwould's Hold Down design. I must say, I was a little disappointed when I picked them up anticipating that they would resemble a shop-bought pair but they did not and were clearly pretty rough. The stems were a very long way from being smooth and although I requested they be made from 19 mm or 3/4 " bar, either they weren't or the forging process altered the geometry.
    They were also covered in forge carbon as were my hands and everything else until I remedied that little issue.

    This is what they looked like:
    Hf1.jpgI had started working on the lower one with some 120 W&D in an attempt to not only make it round but also to get it to fit into the 19/20 mm dog holes in my workbench. This effort was going to take a very long time indeed so I decided to attack them with my new belt/disc sander with great effect. Not only did I achieve a good fit in the dog holes but I also tried to achieve a flat contact surface between the metal and the job but, as you can see, I aborted this tedious task in favour of sticking a disc of leather or even cork on the business end.

    Hf2.jpg Hf3.jpg The stems ended up being surprisingly round but I don't think this really matters as some hfs are hexagonal, aren't they?

    Couple of final points:
    1. They work! But because my workbench top is sealed with poly (don't ask - seemed like a good idea at the time) and perhaps because the business end of the hf doesn't make perfect contact, I can get some rotatory movement of the piece being held down. Not sure that this is a major problem because one is unlikely to use only one hf and the option of using a 'stick' interests me.
    2. They cost $50 for the pair. Pricey, I thought. But then again...
    Last edited by Dovetail; 24th February 2014 at 06:26 PM. Reason: Omitted word

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  3. #2
    Old gunnie's Avatar
    Old gunnie is offline Old dog, learning new tricks (but slowly)
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    Hey DT, they look great!

    I actually prefer the original look. Got a bit of old world charm about them, but not much good if they don't work or they make a mess.

    Are you thinking of doing a production run? Could use a couple meself!

    Cheers
    OG.
    Some give pleasure where ever they go, others whenever they go!

  4. #3
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    Default Gamercy Holdfasts

    Get in touch with Colen Clenton as he is bringing in the Gramercy Holdfasts, ignore the pricing as this is a US link.

    Contact him through the HNT Gordon web site or catch up with him at the wood shows this year
    Jim Carroll
    One Good Turn Deserves Another. CWS, Vicmarc, Robert Sorby, Woodcut, Tormek, Woodfast
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  5. #4
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    I am quite happy with the mcjing ones. Not as flash as some but do the job.
    Regards
    John

  6. #5
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    The tapered ends that go into the bench do look a tad on the rough side. I would have just rounded those ends off on a lathe so then there would have been no need to put those end into a forge. Besides roughing up the end, if they were left too long in the forge they would lose some metal meaning they are less likely to fit properly in the dog holes.

  7. #6
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    Those 19mm holdfasts look like mean beasts - they ought to have tremendous holding power!

    If you are interested in trying holdfasts, and can't get your hands on metal jobs, try wood! After Berlin & Bushmiller alerted us to them in the home-made vises thread, I've been happily using my 'bench ducks' for a while now & am very happy with them. I was going to make some heavier models with 1" shafts, but the 3/4" shafts (Spotted Gum) seem to be adequate & are holding up well. You may be surprised by how firmly these gadgets can stick things on your bench; not as solidly as those 3/4" metal bars, perhaps, but plenty solid enough for anything I've needed.

    I tried a couple of different head/shaft angles, and they all worked ok. I meant to go on & experiment to see if there is an optimum angle, but the prototypes are working so well I haven't gotten round to the 'production' models, yet (typically!). Apart from costing nothing but a bit of time to make, the big appeal of these wooden hold-downs to me is that the large bearing area & softer material are less likely to mark the workpiece than metal....

    Cheers,
    IW

  8. #7
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    I think I may have started the original thread? I tried numerous blacksmiths and fabricators and hit dead end after dead end. I think many of them couldn't understand the concept of the hold down so couldn't estimate time or tolerances needed. Also the idea of a functional object seemed to concern some who were very keen to point out they only did decorative work , while others seemed insulted by its simplicity. All in all I was disappointed in our metalworking brothers response, gave up and ended up making wooden ones like my namesake.

  9. #8
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    Ian. I understand your frustration and I'm sorry and sad that you had such a hard time trying to find someone to make such a basic tool! Most modern (self taught) blacksmiths aren't (or sadly, inclined to be) the toolmakers our early colonial smiths were (most early farmers learnt of necessity to make a useable tool also). You should be able to find someone in Victoria who can copy from an example or Photo. Here is an early design by Peter Ross one of America's foremost experts on historic forged iron work http://mcnabbsstation.blogspot.com.a...old-fasts.html

    Have you tried the ABA of (Vic) there are certainly many members there that have the skills make the above holdfasts, but I agree finding one incline to is another matter, you can only ask ! http://www.abavic.org.au/
    Graeme

  10. #9
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    You could do it yourself..
    http://www.blacksmithing.com.au/

    Or there maybe someone there willing to do it. I was thinking of asking myself after I get to build a bench.
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  11. #10
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    Thanks Guys , I'm probably going to do it myself, when I find that free weekend , after I've got all the other more important stuff done.
    For me they are just a tool , handy to have but not the be all and end all of woodworking for me.
    The effort in chasing local smiths was just starting outweigh the benefit. Though if I find someone who's willing , I'll let you all know.

  12. #11
    FenceFurniture's Avatar
    FenceFurniture is offline The prize lies beneath - hidden in full view
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    I used a Gramercy Holdfast last weekend at Sturt Gallery (Clenton was there with them). They work very well. Note that they are not cast iron, but formed steel wire.
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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  13. #12
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    Looks like FF and I have been onto Col Clenton in tandem. I had no idea that Gramercy holdfasts were available in Aus but Jim Carroll had pointed me in Col's direction although I had to get to him via Terry Gordon (HNT Gordon) who was most accommodating as usual.

    Cheers
    Brian

  14. #13
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    I got a pair of Gramercy holdfasts from the US when I bought Benchcrafted vices for my Roubo bench build. The fasts are wonderful and comparatively cheap. But the postage is a killer!
    Warm Regards, Luckyduck

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