What is this?

[Timmah80]

I found two of these in my dads garage and was wondering what it is. He has worked in the automotive industry for 35+ years, he's a packrat, and he does some wood working, if that helps anyone. Any answers or guesses are appreciated.



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[RodKirby]

"Hold-downs" - usually clamped to a rip fence. Then the "bent" arm is positioned so that the workpiece is held down

[LCHIEN]

yes, Rod's right. - the flat things are springy and keep pressure on the top of the wood.
I'd seen them before but couldn't remember until Rod popped it out.

[WayneJ]

Most often there are two of them. When attached to the rip fence, one holds the work piece down and one on the short end of the rod to hold the wrok piece to the fence. Like having two feather boards, one on the rip fence and the other one on the table top. HTH
Wayne

[Stytooner]

The wisemen have spoken. I concure and have nothing to add except to use them every chance you get.

[TheRic]

what are the pros and cons of one of these vs a feather board?

[Russianwolf]

what are the pros and cons of one of these vs a feather board?

These work better on rough or irregular stock, whereas featherboards work better on surfaced stock. Reason being is featherboards have more surface contact with the stock.

[LCHIEN]

Most often there are two of them. When attached to the rip fence, one holds the work piece down and one on the short end of the rod to hold the wrok piece to the fence. Like having two feather boards, one on the rip fence and the other one on the table top. HTH
Wayne

Good point!

Move the metal spring thingy from the main beam to the short 90 degree portion and it'll hold the workpiece to the fence as well as the other one holding the workpiece down to the table. You'll have to remove the fence clamp to get the spring off and then reassemble in the desired configuration.

[LarryG]

While I'll candidly admit that I just flat don't know what else they might be, these sure look like funny table saw hold-downs to me. I don't understand how the clamp part works. The thumbscrew part is obvious, but that round post thingie looks like it's meant to go into some sort of pivot hole. How would this attach to a rip fence?

[LCHIEN]

While I'll candidly admit that I just flat don't know what else they might be, these sure look like funny table saw hold-downs to me. I don't understand how the clamp part works. The thumbscrew part is obvious, but that round post thingie looks like it's meant to go into some sort of pivot hole. How would this attach to a rip fence?

Round post goes on one side (left) of the rip fence, thumb screw to the other side (right). Looks like it could chew up the aesthetics of your saw real fast, between the dent the post would make and the scratches from the thumbscrew and an aluminum BT3 rip fence.
Rotate the flat spring thingy so that the rounded part is contacting the wood.

[LarryG]

Round post goes on one side (left) of the rip fence, thumb screw to the other side (right). Looks like it could chew up the aesthetics of your saw real fast, between the dent the post would make and the scratches from the thumbscrew and an aluminum BT3 rip fence.

That's exactly what makes no sense to me. Why the round post? Why not just a flat jaw, like on the other side?

The flanges to each side of the post are a mystery, too. They have a hole, as if to allow this doo-hickey to be mounted permanently to something.

I agree that these are likely some sort of hold-down device, but I don't think they're for a table saw rip fence.

[Russianwolf]

That's exactly what makes no sense to me. Why the round post? Why not just a flat jaw, like on the other side?

The flanges to each side of the post are a mystery, too. They have a hole, as if to allow this doo-hickey to be mounted permanently to something.

I agree that these are likely some sort of hold-down device, but I don't think they're for a table saw rip fence.

the clamps may be specific to one specific fence, maybe one that has a hole in the top for the post to insert into. They should be able to be modified easily to work on any though.

[WayneJ]

This thingy is sold by sears.Part ## 171.3230 Hold down clamp. You put an auxiliary fence on your rip fence.Bore a hole in the top edge to fit the round knob. then screw it down using the small holes along side the knob. The one I have does not have the thumb screw part on it. I works pretty good but I like my bench dog feather boards better. The one I have I got from the OBSO table for a dollar a while back. The new kit had two rods and four spring fingers in it. The kit says it fits a T.S. or RAS. Hope this clears it up
Wayne

[LarryG]

The kit says it fits a T.S. or RAS. Hope this clears it up

It does me for me ... and I appear to be the Lone Doubter.

Attaching to an auxiliary fence makes sense. Thanks for filling in the gaps.

[Timmah80]

Thanks for the information, yet another mystery solved.