Thread: Blacksmith made holdfasts

Just 'running it up the flagpole to ... '
... see who shoots the guy who uses that phrase ...

1 - belt sander ... with Pagie's permission?

2 - sacrifice or create 1 hole for the sake of trying it out?

3 - create a hole in a block of wood held in a vice, to try it out?
(might not want to whack that too hard)

4 - seek nearest post office.

Paul.

Duck Paul

To be honest, I'm certain the holdfast will work as intended in a suitably sized hole, so I don't feel I need to explore that aspect.

The one thing I did want to compare is the working height of the holdfast as I see that as a major area for concern. As it happens, when I lay Pagie's iron over the top of one of mine, it's obvious that, relative to the stem and the foot, the bend is much higher. I would deem that undesirable as it would get in the way of operations and reaching across the bench etc.

Again, relatively, the foot doesn't curve up as much with the result, I'm surmising, it would be inclined to dig into the work piece… unless you were to use a protective scrap of wood… a thing I'm not want to do.

I thought the rust was to make it grip. I think of a bench as sacrificial. When it has too many holes I'll make another.

The Mystery of Holdfasts | Popular Woodworking Magazine

Hey Paul,

FenceFurniture did that already, but don't worry I won't tell anyone!

Toby

I know

it initially looked like it was a new thread or updated ...

but no ...

Has anyone mentioned this ???



http://www.popularwoodworking.com/wo...9&rid=53402787

In case anyone in Adelaide is interested, I just had 4 made up by a blacksmith for $80 (using Ian's CAD drawings). If anyone needs any, I can forward his details on

This nice old original is for sale on eBay ATM.

eBay Australia: Buy new & used fashion, electronics & home d

Rob

Sweet. One in the wild!

These go with it

I have been interested in making some hold downs for some time and have access to the right facilities.

Really just need to get some bar stock. Maybe I missed it but what sort of diameter bar stock to hole size difference works best - and it probably varies to some degree with bench thickness.

My thinking is that 16 (or 5/8) may be ok with 19 (3/4) holes. I note wouldwood diagram uses 18m bar however any bar stock could be made to those dimensions. Could always hammer down the shaft a little - its do-able but alot of messing around to do many that way - best just to get the right size bar stock.

If I was going to make a few it would be best to make a jigto aid bending to require radii and angles etc.