I attached a piece of 3/4-in. plywood to the top of my workbench so that I could use hold-down clamps for a special project. Since then, I’ve discovered that this plywood top, by giving me the freedom to screw jigs, stops and fences anywhere I like, has changed the way I work. For example, I install standard hold-down clamps anywhere I need them by simply screwing large pan-head screws into the plywood benchtop. The possibilities seem to be endless. Once the job at hand is completed, I remove the screws to return to a normal flat work surface. And if I want to return to the pristine surface of the original bench, I remove the plywood.

Oscar Williams, Lincoln, Nebr.

Fine Woodworking Magazine, August 1993 No. 101

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