Hi, I recently got a new workbench. My old bench had 3/4″ dogholes that worked great with my holdfasts. However, the new bench has 1″ dogholes. Any tips on where to acquire 1″ holdfasts?
The 3/4″ “work” but do end up an an angle that appears to dent the dogholes significantly.
Cheers.
Replies
Crucible tool sells them. They are a part of Lost Art Press.
Holy $$$$. That's quite the price tag. 2 holdfast for almost the same price as LN smoother?
totally agree, that is an insulting price for a single hold-fast. 'hold fast' in your resolve not to overpay 4x for boutique tools
Prices aren't insulting, congratulatory, or anything in between. It's a cost. If you don't like it, don't buy it. The price isn't insulting, but you were.
The holdfast in question is the only 1" holdfast on the market I know of. It's cast, malleable iron, heat treated and hand finished to have the right rigidity and flexibility. All made by small businesses in the US. They are massive, weighing several times what cheap holdfasts weigh. They have a longer reach, and can hold much taller pieces than anything else on the market.
If I had a bench with existing 1" holes, I wouldn't spend the time and work to plug the holes and make new ones. I would rather build something than futz around with a bench. Spending a few extra bucks for the Crucible holdfast would be a no-brainer for me.
Drill some 3/4" holes?
Eh, not to keen on drilling new holes in the Sjöberg bench.
Can you add collars to the holes in place??
You might contact these people. They stock for 3/4" holes but it would be worth asking if they could have some made for your larger holes. They are simply forming stock wire.
I have the 3/4" version and they are excellent.
https://toolsforworkingwood.com/store/item/MS-HOLDFAST.02?searchterm=holdfasts
Can you fabricate a pair of bushings with a collar? In other words, a bushing with a 3/4" diameter hole and an outside diameter of 1", with a collar to keep it from falling through the 1" hole? You might even find something like this at McMaster-Carr, Grainger, etc. of perhaps even a local farm implement store.
You could also plug the existing holes and re-drill them for your 3/4" holdfasts.
Best bet might be to bite the bullet and spring for new ones.
Just out of curiosity, were the dog holes specified in the sales info, or were they a suprise? With so many accesories made for 3/4" holes it seems like a defacto standard.
Two thoughts:
- If you have the money... Crucible tools are outstanding products made with thought, care, and love in America. You will own these hold fasts for the rest of your life and support good people in the process.
- If you have the time... plug the holes, work with the bench for a bit, then, when you decide where you need dog holes, drill them. It's a workbench... no need to be precious about it.
Have you asked the vendor that sold you the workbench?
I have a pair of the Cruciles - they work well. However, I also have the Sjobergs Holdfast Elite clamps which are less expensive and ended up being my "go to" (easy to use, reliable clamping pressure).
Glue a dowel into the existing dog hole then drill into the dowel to the desired diameter.
I have the same issue with the same brand bench. I did find a 1-inch holdfast from Highland and it didn't fit--too fat and too long. Then I concluded that the holes are 25 millimeter--they are, after all, made in Sweden. The one that didn't fit was 25.4 millimeter--one inch. I have searched diligently for non-3/4 holdfasts and have had no luck. Some folks eschew them and put square holes in their benches, so clearly it's not a universal tool.
There is a guy on the bay that makes and sells hold downs for 1" holes. Design seems similar to the gramercy tool one. He makes them from 7/8" rod. That would be 22.2mm, and should work in either 1" or 25mm holes. Trying one is easier than plugging and redrilling.
+1 on 3steers' comment. I would look around for a blacksmith. There's one in Waco, Tx. More info at https://www.homesteadcraftvillage.com/ I know they could make you some, but I have no idea on cost and shipping.
I'd be surprised if a blacksmith-made one costs less than the Crucible holdfast. (But I'm also surprised there's a commercial bench other than the Benchcrafted ones, which comes w/a Crucible Holdfast, that has 1"-dia. holes.)
I have 2 3/4" holdfasts that Peter Ross made about 10 or 15 years ago. They cost more back then than the Crucible holdfast does now.
Even going the blacksmith route is iffy unless you find a blacksmith that’s made 25mm holdfasts before. Not only will they cost you more than Crucible, you may end up with a holdfast shaped object if the fella hasn’t got his holdfast chops down just right yet. I own both Crucible and Lie Nielsen holdfasts; the Crucible’s get used 19 out of 20 times over the Lie-Nielsen ones and I probably only hold on to them because I like the low profile. If I was buying holdfasts for my father, a son in law, or a friend… it’d be Crucible all the way. I can get by with inferior items sometimes, but when giving a gift, I don’t give anything that’s not the highest of workmanship. Go with the Crucible 👍
The Crucible holdfast has a shaft that is 17 inches long. That would not work in my Sjoberg bench because it has a shelf--actually the top of the tool cabinets--about a foot below the work surface.
You can cut them...
Check etsy, some of the hold fast blacksmiths have reviews from Sojberg bench owners