jhl.verona Posted June 20, 2013 Report Share Posted June 20, 2013 Every now and again a simple, efficient, and clever solution to everyday woodworking problems sweeps across the Internet. Here's one that takes 10 minutes of your time, a piece of scrap and a holdfast - but a clamp will do too. A five minute video for those who use hand planes, but don't necessarily have a tail vise - or any sort of vise for that matter. Tried and tested - works as advertised! John 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddie Posted June 20, 2013 Report Share Posted June 20, 2013 One thing i learned in a pinch recently is the hold down clamps that come with miter saws will fit in the round holes on my bench. It actually worked, i was impressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted June 20, 2013 Report Share Posted June 20, 2013 Nice video. I'm gonna check out some of his other podcasts as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted June 20, 2013 Report Share Posted June 20, 2013 Thanks for the heads up John. Such a simple idea. I'm off out to the shop to make one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveM Posted June 20, 2013 Report Share Posted June 20, 2013 That is outstanding! Thanks for sharing it and your own methods for holding the board. I'm currently trying to make do with a non-woodworking workbench without holdfast holes and the only area I can clamp into is the front edge. This will help me come up with a way to hold my work till that new bench is finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mds2 Posted June 20, 2013 Report Share Posted June 20, 2013 Really is a great tip. I struggled for quite a while trying to hold things to my bench different ways. I did finally get a tail vise, which in my opinion was the greatest single addition to my bench. But having seen this beforehand I would have tried this method without a doubt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Slack Posted June 20, 2013 Report Share Posted June 20, 2013 Thanks for that video. One thing that stopped me from building a bench is the cost of the accessories. This practical approach is encouraging. Thanks for sharing. Every now and again a simple, efficient, and clever solution to everyday woodworking problems sweeps across the Internet. Here's one that takes 10 minutes of your time, a piece of scrap and a holdfast - but a clamp will do too. A five minute video for those who use hand planes, but don't necessarily have a tail vise - or any sort of vise for that matter. Tried and tested - works as advertised! John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G S Haydon Posted June 20, 2013 Report Share Posted June 20, 2013 John, I caught up with this video and it's great! Richard seems a decent guy too. I posted a few questions about holdfasts on British workbenches and he was really quick and helpful with his response. I was so taken with the idea that I think I will omit the tail vice from my build and see how I go. I will be checking in on his site regularly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted June 20, 2013 Report Share Posted June 20, 2013 I think I will omit the tail vice from my build Blasphemy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G S Haydon Posted June 20, 2013 Report Share Posted June 20, 2013 Blasphemy! Thought you would approve . I might actually be starting the beast next week. I finished the #4 refurb tonight and I can't face restoring another tool for a while. Once the bench is done I think I can face doing some more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mds2 Posted June 21, 2013 Report Share Posted June 21, 2013 Blasphemy! I agree. I think in the long run you will regret it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncumb.fc Posted June 21, 2013 Report Share Posted June 21, 2013 One disadvantage I can see, of an otherwise great solution! How do you hold something that isn't square, or a uniform shape? When I carve the front of an instrument I put the two ends between the bench dogs so that the force runs down the centre line of the work... I think this would be much harder with the above method... Obviously not everyone needs to carve a front, but I am sure that there are other points when this might be a problem... Fraser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhl.verona Posted June 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2013 I completely agree that it's not a good holding tool for carving. It's fine for planing though, possibly with non rectangular boards too. It works because as you plane some of the force is sideways, the work piece is pushed into the notch which causes the 'V' notched board to increase its grip. I found it better to put the dog close to the opposite corner, and not in the middle, otherwise the board slipped away when I planed the right hand side. I'm left handed, the 'V' notch board was to my left. The board I was planing was not completely rectangular either. More of a trapezoid since I'm trying to use all of the board for a little (oddly shaped) stool. I don't have a tail vice, so this is a really useful jig to me. Before I used a batten clamped sideways. I had to use two clamps one each side,so this is much more practical. Thank you Richard Maguire! John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted June 22, 2013 Report Share Posted June 22, 2013 Many times I have needed to hold a board without a clamp on the top. I can see myself making a few battens to use in the shop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baok Posted June 23, 2013 Report Share Posted June 23, 2013 This is pretty eye-opening. I want to go try it. Examples like this always seem to involve planing a small board and at least half the time, I an trying to plane something much longer or something on edge that is awkward to hold. I need to study more examples like this to learn all the old ways of holding things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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