Thread: Workbench Hold-down Vs Bench dogs

I use both about equally. Dogs can be used independently of either vice, but if both front and tail vice chops are bored to accept dogs, then it makes them so much more versatile.

Round dog holes will accept both hold-downs and (round) dogs and again, make the dogs more adaptable because they can be rotated to accommodate odd-shaped work.

From a purely indolent viewpoint, round dog holes are also simpler to produce.

I agree with WW

Round or square doesn't matter, just give me lots of them. With regards to the hold-downs, I like the Gramercy hold downs as they are very simple to use and quick. Although I wouldn't mind a LV or Record style winder, the Gramercy holdfasts and clamps do the job until I can afford one or two of the others.

I have been going through the same thoughts recently too, but have settled for the Walko bench clamps. They sit flat on your workbench against the workpiece so they don't impede the accessability to the job. Can't wait untill they arrive in the post.

As for hold downs, watch out for the cast iron ones that seem to abound on the 'Web - they may last one or two uses, but they WILL break. The Grammercy ones that Groggy refers to are actually forged from steel rod, not cast, and they will last for generations.

The cast ones can usually be detected easily in photos or in person as they all seem to have a seam running up the shaft and into the head from the 2 piece mold used in the foundry. They also sometimes have a thickened head with a square cross section, but some old drop forged hold down also have the same head - the cast ones seem to have been made by using a drop forged hold down as the pattern.

If you can find someone who does 'real' decorative iron work, or a hobby blacksmith, it is relatively easy to have a couple made by hand from 20mm (3/4") mild steel rod - these tools are also used by blacksmiths when working alone to hold hot metal to the anvil for striking.

Benchdogs, gotta love 'em. I found today that bench dogs are good if you are working on a piece but need to keep moving it after a few eg chisel cuts. The hold-down is great if you are going to be working longer than a few seconds on the edge of a board.

cheers
Wendy

Thanks for the inputs.
I went with both. Got a cheap set of dogs and hold downs from Carbatec. I just couldn't justify the cost of the Veritas etc.
I put two rows of holes behind each vice and a couple of sets of holes equally spaced between the vices. All aligned in a matrix to give the best clamping variety I could think of.

I use the plastic dogs from carbatec and they do a fine job, I also recently purchased a pair of Gramercy hold downs and find them to be usefull for other situations.