Crucible Holdfast

The Crucible holdfast, made from ductile iron in a Cincinnati family foundry that has been in business since 1854. It is based on a French design salvaged from a barn.

Since Roman times, the iron holdfast has been an essential piece of workbench equipment for carpenters, joiners and cabinetmakers. Yet many of us struggle with holdfasts that work inconsistently or, in thick workbench tops, not at all.

This holdfast works consistently in benches from 2" to 8" thick for three reasons: a tight fit between the shaft and hole, a rough surface finish and a shaft that is not tapered. Because of these qualities, it will also clamp objects as much as 8" off the benchtop.

Over ten years, Crucible studied holdfasts of various shapes and sizes in workbench tops both thick and thin: their own designs in salvaged wrought iron, traditional designs forged from 18th-century pattern books, and modern grey iron holdfasts that broke in normal everyday use. The only one that never failed was a rusted French example salvaged from a barn, which cinched down every time it was struck, even in benchtops 6" or 8" thick.

The Crucible holdfast takes the best qualities of that French holdfast, especially its 1" untapered, rough shaft. Unlike blacksmith-made holdfasts, it is made from ductile iron instead of scarce wrought iron. Ductile iron is virtually unbreakable and has enough spring to clamp tightly and release crisply.

The holdfast is shipped in its rough-cast state with no surface protection against rust or tarnish. Rust adds to the grip and has no disadvantages, so allow it to tarnish and age. Never oil it, and never let oil get into the holdfast holes on your bench. Because each holdfast is individually made, ground by hand and textured to improve its grip, there is significant variation from tool to tool. Small casting voids and other artifacts of the casting process are not defects.

Specifications:
Weight: 5 lb (2.3 kg)
Shaft length: 17" (432 mm)
Beak extends 6-5/8" (168 mm) from the shaft
For a 1" (25 mm) diameter hole, reamed to match your particular holdfast
Instructions for fitting the holdfast to your workbench included
Made in the United States