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Sometimes, the simplest tools are the coolest. I'm building some cabinets for my wife. Holding down a large panel without leaving a mark, and without taking forever in between adjustments, can be a struggle. Enter the holdfast. Whack it on its head to make it hang on, whack it on its back to make it let go. Easy peasy. Profoundly satisfying to work with, and a whole lot faster than anything that screws down.

Those are pretty cool. Where did you get them? I don't believe I've seen them around

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Lee Valley has had them for as long as I can remember.


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Mine are Gramercy Tools holdfasts. I got them from Tools For Working Wood. Lee Valley sells them, too.

I have a pair or cheap cast iron ones and a pair from Gramercy. There is no comparison. Gramercy works great and get used all of the time. The cast iron ones are junk and only get occasional use as bench dogs.

We have been using the Gramercy holdfasts for a year or so - useful for holding jigs and fixtures, as well as securing bench hooks and shooting boards. At under $40 per pair, they are much less expensive than equivalent options, which include Crucible Tools ductile cast iron ($135 per holdfast), Lie-Nielsen ductile cast iron ($50 per holdfast), blacksmith made forged items from several makers ($50-$150 per holdfast), and the adjustable Lee Valley model (my least favorite of the ones we have trialed - $89 per).

One thing to do with the Gramercy holdfast to address any slippage is to score the polished steel of the shaft...80 grit paper used radially works well.

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For the times they are a changin'

- Bob Dylan

Beware the cast holdfasts - a friend had one break at the bend. I use a couple another friend made for me, and they work perfectly in my 3-1/4" thick benchtop. Here is what I was working on Yesterday:

Ed