Jefferson Swivel and Secretary

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Hold Fasts that hold fast

I have always been fascinated with a pair of hold fasts, the little bent metal tools you see everyone using in hand tool work. Seemed so cool to be able to set a work piece in place, anywhere you have a hole. I had never owed a pair till about a month or two ago. First I bought a cheap pair from Rockler, they were cast iron pot metal, about 8 or 9 good whacks and, BAM, broken in two. I thought great just my luck, but what I realized, and what most of you probably already know, is that even though those were "cheapies", I still found a tool that is a must in the shop. I don't know how I ever got by without a pair for so long now. Now I needed a real pair that will hold up indefinitely and not snap once I wrap on it with a bit of force. That's when I started looking around online for a new pair. I ran across a pair of Gramercy's from www.toolsforworkingwood.com WOW these things are great. For $32 you get 2 that are solid steel and not going to break. I built me a little bench that I use for carving chair seats out,  drilled a dozen or so holes in it and I use that bench for so much more now.  These are the best tools for holding work in place, plus you get to get some fustration out if you need a little vent time. I don't know why it took me so long to get a pair of these, guess it takes some people a little longer to catch on.

5 comments:

  1. Without question, the best holdfasts I ever had, no reason they won't last forever. I kept breaking the cast iron ones.

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  2. Out of the two I've owned, Yeah these are my pick too. The cast iron ones just aren't meant to be used by woodworkers who use a wooden mallet to set them, Ha Ha!

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  4. If you ever need one made with a longer reach or anything, let me know. I'm just north of you in Springfield.

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  5. Groves,
    That may very well be a good possibility. Give me your Email or Email me @ pinehillprimitives@yahoo.com I'd like to know what other stuff you might be able to make too.

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