Ronn W 1,135 Report post Posted December 29, 2018 Opinion time. Who makes the best hold fast for the money? Never had any and am thinknling about getting a couple. I have a 3" maple top with 3/4" holes. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chestnut 2,549 Report post Posted December 29, 2018 https://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/store/item/MS-HOLDFAST.XX/Holdfasts_by_Gramercy_Tools Others are more expensive but they all are the same. These are the ones i have that i told you about and they work great for me. Is your top really 3"? Looked thinner than that.... huh. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tony Wilkins 125 Report post Posted December 29, 2018 My two are from blacksmith Peter Ross and they are exceptional but they were $85 bucks a few years ago. One thing I’ve heard about the TFWW holdfasts That Chestnut has is occasionally they are too smooth to hold in certain benches. However, sanding or dimpling seems to usually fix it. Also heard good things about the one from black bear forge. There’s been several that have come out in 5he last year or so. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SawDustB 858 Report post Posted December 29, 2018 1 hour ago, Chestnut said: https://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/store/item/MS-HOLDFAST.XX/Holdfasts_by_Gramercy_Tools Others are more expensive but they all are the same. These are the ones i have that i told you about and they work great for me. Is your top really 3"? Looked thinner than that.... huh. I have to agree, for the money I don't see how you can beat these. I love my pair of them. I glued leather on the business end, which helped them grip much better. They work well in both my sliding dead man, which is 1 3/4", as well as in my 4" top (both hard maple). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom King 2,286 Report post Posted December 29, 2018 I was going to make some myself, but after pricing A36 rod, with shipping, the material cost alone was close to half what the Gramarcy ones cost. Then there was gas on top of that, and probably screwing up a couple to find just the right spring. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chet 3,361 Report post Posted December 29, 2018 Yea, the Gramercy hold fasts are real nice. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RichardA 3,539 Report post Posted December 29, 2018 You can't beat the Gramercy ones for just plain holding power. There are plenty of others, but most have some little trick or two. Gramercy hold fasts, hold fast period. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ronn W 1,135 Report post Posted December 29, 2018 1 hour ago, Chestnut said: Is your top really 3"? Looked thinner than that.... huh. Good eye - it's really 2 3/4" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wdwerker 7,604 Report post Posted December 29, 2018 I use vacuum clamping with a foot valve so I can’t speak on holdfasts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
..Kev 5,460 Report post Posted December 29, 2018 Another vote for Gramercy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drzaius 1,513 Report post Posted December 29, 2018 Gramercy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stephen Prunier 12 Report post Posted January 5 I also have a pair of Gramercy hold-fast. If you get a set take some sandpaper to the shaft. It will help them grab better in the hole. For the money, there really good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ronn W 1,135 Report post Posted January 5 Based on general consensus of thei illustrious group of sawdust creators, I have purchase a pair Gramercy hold fasts. I also made a wood mallet. It's a little light but it works. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RichardA 3,539 Report post Posted January 5 48 minutes ago, Ronn W said: Based on general consensus of thei illustrious group of sawdust creators, I have purchase a pair Gramercy hold fasts. I also made a wood mallet. It's a little light but it works. Use some contact cement and glue some leather pieces on them, It'll hold better and not mar your work piece. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AmishElectricCo 5 Report post Posted January 9 Another +1 for Gramercy holdfasts. I had to rough mine up with some 80 grit sandpaper. My bench top is thicker than most (3 1/2"), and they simply would not work out of the box. I also used a very smooth boring bit for my dog holes, so that might have been a factor also. The holdfasts work great now, though! Definitely hard to beat for the price! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KenMasco 34 Report post Posted January 9 I have two of the Gramercy hold fasts and love them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SimonR 40 Report post Posted January 11 On 29/12/2018 at 1:02 PM, SawDustB said: I have to agree, for the money I don't see how you can beat these. I love my pair of them. I glued leather on the business end, which helped them grip much better. They work well in both my sliding dead man, which is 1 3/4", as well as in my 4" top (both hard maple). Could you find them in Canada or did you have to order them from TFWW? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Minnesota Steve 181 Report post Posted January 11 19 minutes ago, SimonR said: Could you find them in Canada or did you have to order them from TFWW? Check Lee Valley... they have a deal to sell Gramercy tools in Canada. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SimonR 40 Report post Posted January 11 35 minutes ago, Minnesota Steve said: Check Lee Valley... they have a deal to sell Gramercy tools in Canada. wow never thought to check lee valley for these since they have the Veritas Holdfasts...sure enough they sell them thanks a lot! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drzaius 1,513 Report post Posted January 11 That's where I got mine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SawDustB 858 Report post Posted January 12 21 hours ago, SimonR said: Could you find them in Canada or did you have to order them from TFWW? Yes, mine are from Lee Valley too. Considering they're about 1/3 of the cost of the Veritas ones and work well, it's not a hard choice. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SeventyFix 247 Report post Posted Tuesday at 04:13 PM On 12/29/2018 at 10:56 AM, Chestnut said: https://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/store/item/MS-HOLDFAST.XX/Holdfasts_by_Gramercy_Tools Others are more expensive but they all are the same. These are the ones i have that i told you about and they work great for me. Is your top really 3"? Looked thinner than that.... huh. +1 I bought a pair of these while making my Guild Split Top Roubo. Take some rough sand paper and twist them around a few times. After that, they bound well in the bench top. Never had a problem with them. Made in the USA. Enough said. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim DaddyO 262 Report post Posted Tuesday at 04:41 PM Another +1 for the Gramercy. I got mine from Lee Valley also. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
