Holdfast - what have you got?

[Cabinetman]

Don’t know what happened but you will need to expand the previous post to see my comment or here it is again. I am in the states at the moment and Gramercy holdfast are $40 a pair so I think somebody was lifting your leg! Or you can get them from Germany for about €45 a pair plus costs of course. Ian

 

[city17]

I've got these (the top Juuma ones) from Fine Tools: 3/4 Inch Bench Hold Downs FINE TOOLS (fine-tools.com)

They're really affordable compared to all others I've seen, but really well built. Can't really see how I would ever break these, and they work really well too.

 

[sneggysteve]

I’ve got a couple of gramercy ones which were great value for money - not sure if you can get them easily now post brexit. I’ve also got an auriou holdfast which is an absolute beast.

I tend to use the gramercy ones as the go-to as they are a bit lighter, and the auriou when I really want something to stay put.

+1 gramercy

 

[Fanous]

You don's say if you are a powertool user or prefer to wield the mallet, in which case your requirements are different and the workbench more substantial.

As a powertool user, albeit envious of those skilled with the mallet I only need a less substantial bench and use a few dogs with microjig dovetail slots to meet my needs, a very good all round flexible solution for me.

I consider myself a hybrid woodworker. I like using powertools, but I quite often reach for a chisel and have a blast with it.

 

[Orraloon]

They may be $44 a pair in the US but here in OZ $66 each. I could only find one supplier for them here. Our importers like to have a little mark up. Being at the ends of the earth we have less options. International postage is also giving us the rough end of the pineapple.
Regards
John

 

[boggy]

These come up quite often in '.vide greniers' (Boot sales) here in France where they are clled 'valets' and can be bought for one or two €'s.

 

[Sandyn]

These look fairly easy to make. are there any advantages to the different shapes? Some are quite angular, others have different radius curves.

 

[Farm Labourer]

Gramercy. I have two but as has been mentioned unless it's really big tend to use just one and a bench dog to stop things moving.

 

[Fanous]

I've ordered the pair of Sjobergs clamps - Already have a Sjoberg vice, so I already like them a bit. But also don't feel like hammering. So the decision was made

Thank you all for dropping the notes.