Best holdfasts for not much money...

[dbhost]

Althought this isn't needed now, I haven't managed to break all of them, but my Rockler cast iron hold fasts stink. I am hoping to get an idea of what is on the market that won't just fall to pieces when you give it a light tap with a mallet...

So what are you guys and gals using, and how much did they run?

[pelligrini]

The 'not much money' will probably negate my reccomendation for the best holdfast. Allthough the Veritas isn't like a traditional, whack with a mallet, holdfast I absolutely love mine. I have a Jorgenson cast iron, but it only gets used if I really have to.

There's a guy over on SMC that supposedly makes some very nice holdfasts. I can't remember how much they run, but I believe they aren't as expensive as the $77 Veritas. I've been thinking about getting a couple.

[dbhost]

I admit I am fishing for something specific here. There are the holdfasts that look like they started life as a steel rod, are bent to shape and then the hold down pad flattened. I know the Veritas ones you mention, and they are nice, but a LOT more pricey than my 2011 budget can handle...

[LarryG]

I have a magazine article at home that has a comparo test of holdfasts ... about five or six different ones, if memory serves. I'll dig it out tonight and will let you know what it has to say.

[BigguyZ]

Not sure if this is the same article Larry mentioned, but here's some info.

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/to...y_of_holdfasts

[pelligrini]

The Gramercy holdfasts are pretty highly reccomended over in the Neander forum at SMC too. They're cheaper than I thought; $18 for one or $32 for two.
http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/i...MS-HOLDFAST.XX
I've been thinking of getting a pair of the Gramercys for myself.

Harry 'Jr.' Strasil over at SMC also makes some well regarded holdfasts. I don't know how much they run though.

The veritas is really spendy for a holddown. I picked up the sorter rod for mine. With the short rod I can leave my planer cart under my bench and moving the holddown from doghole to doghole is a lot easier. Most of the stuff I do will fit under the shorter rod.

[dbhost]

Thanks guys. It's the Grammercy holdfast that I was looking for...

Is toolsforworkingwood any good to deal with?

[LarryG]

Not sure if this is the same article Larry mentioned, but here's some info.

That's it! Figures ... the one time I didn't check to see if the article I wanted was available online (because it virtually never is), you found it.

Is toolsforworkingwood any good to deal with?

Yes.

[pelligrini]

Is toolsforworkingwood any good to deal with?

I haven't heard anything bad about them, just good stuff. Don't poke around their site too much you could blow your 2011 and 2012 budget easily.

[BigguyZ]

Yeah, after reading that article and a couple more, it makes me want to pick a couple holdfasts up (until today, I didn't even know those things were called holdfasts).

But I kinda want those really cool hand made ones with the leafs... Luckily for me, I need a new stove much more.

[chopnhack]

I wonder how hard it would be to make your own from bar stock? I'm thinking propane torch, cinder block, piece of plate steel on top of block and baby sledge
Your thoughts..

[TCOTTLE]

I took a picture with some dimensions of what I wanted to a local blacksmith last week, we will see what he comes up with, that might be an option for you...I did it because he is going to throw me some business, so I thought we could just trade some money back and forth, heh heh.

[chopnhack]

That's cool, please remember to post back with what he makes you!