- Today, we're looking at six different methods
that you can use to hold down your next woodworking project.
We're gonna start off with the most expensive ones first
and then work our way down from there.
The first method is to use a holdfast,
which work in conjunction with bench dog holes,
which are three-quarter
or one-inch holes drilled into a solid bench.
I have two styles here for us to look at.
Both of them clamp on the surface of the material.
The first style works by inserting it
into the bench dog hole and then using the screw clamp
to tighten the work down.
The second style works almost the same as the first.
But with this one,
you have to use a mallet to drive the holdfast in place.
Then, to remove it,
you simply tap on the end here,
and it comes out just like it went in.
Both of these holdfasts are easy to move
from one hole to another for very fast clamping.
Now some of you may be wondering,
"How's it possible that holdfast
can stay in the hole without being mechanically attached?"
Well, it's because the hole is sized slightly larger
than the holdfast itself,
so it angles itself into the hole,
creating friction both at the top and the bottom.
In addition, because holdfasts
don't apply pressure straight down due to their design,
it holds everything in tension,
keeping them wedged in place.
It's a simple design, but very, very effective.
The second method is to use bench dogs.
Bench dogs are made out of metal or wood,
and they slide into
the previously mentioned bench dog holes.
By themselves,
they can be used as a stop to hold material from sliding.
But when used along with a vice that has a hole as well,
you're able to clamp the work down.
This time, without having anything on the surface.
And because bench dog holes
are drilled normally down the length of the bench,
you get flexibility to adjust for almost any size project.
These two methods are the most expensive, without a doubt.
Not only do you need to buy the holdfast and the bench dogs,
but you need to have a bench with a vice.
And depending on which way you go, that can be costly.
The third method, and maybe the most obvious,
is to use woodworking clamps.
However, there are many different styles.
So which ones work the best?
A lot of DIY and some professionals like these quick clamps
because they are low cost and easy to use.
Plus, they're multifunctional,
meaning you can reverse them
for clamping or spreading things apart.
However, sometimes they don't hold tight enough,
and that's where the F-style clamp
or bar clamp comes to the rescue.
They provide a lot more clamping power
for those projects that need the extra hold.
However, even within that category,
there are some differences.
And the biggest one is the difference
between a clutch version and a professional version.
The clutch style has these metal plates called clutches
that are used to release the sliding arm on the bar,
which means you first have to squeeze them
to make your adjustments,
which takes time.
And sometimes they catch, which can be annoying,
compared to the professional version,
which doesn't have a clutch,
making it at least 75% faster to clamp something down.
Like I said, these clamps do hold extremely tight.
And if you get these deep versions,
you can have a much further reach
from the edge of your work surface.
With all of that said,
I do recommend these F-style clamps
for holding your material down securely.
The fourth method would be to use T-track hold-downs,
which slide into T-tracks.
These T-tracks can either be machined
into cast iron like this,
or you can buy them separately
and then install them into your workbench top.
These are very popular right now
and are a great option for holding almost anything down.
The fifth method is one that is often overlooked
because it doesn't really hold things down,
rather, it holds things in place,
and that is a router mat.
Router mats are pretty much the same thing as drawer liners
or the non-slip mat that's used under an area rug.
Surprisingly enough,
they work fantastic for holding work in place
while routing or sanding.
And last but not least is double-sided tape.
Woodworking double-sided tape is really,
really handy to have in the shop.
It works great for holding almost anything down or in place,
including jigs or templates for routing.
And all you need to do is add a few strips,
peel it back, and stick it.
Then to remove it,
get something flat like a pry bar and gently remove it.
As you can see, each method is different from the other one,
which gives you plenty of options.
Now all you have to do is figure out which one
or a combination of them
that's gonna work the best for your current project.
If you'd like to stay up to date
on what's happening at Training Hands Academy
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And more importantly,
if there is any way that I can pray for you and your family,
just let me know.
I would love the opportunity to do so.
Thank you so much for watching this video. God bless.
(upbeat music)