A Lasting Impression?

by | Sep 26, 2013 | 19 comments

Life is like physics; you don’t get owt for nowt! And we become so attuned to this that it’s no surprise we’re septical when something sounds too good to be true.
When I published our video on the holdfast and the batten I was confused as to why so many people were shocked to find that it worked. But then I realised that something this simple would look pretty suspect if you’re used to using a much more complex or expensive means to hold your work down.
I’m a simple man so I like simple things. Getting by without much more than a stick for securing my work suits me well!

The Notched Batten

Along with some odd remarks (such as being asked if the video was a round about way to sell tail vices?) I’ve received quite a few questions querying how the batten should be made, so I wanted to cover those quickly.
Does the angle need to be absolutely specific? What should the thickness be? Will it work if it’s shorter?

I know it might seem appealing to add a bit of science to things but this really is a simple solution. There are no specifics required so long as you do things something like. I do like to give it a fair width though for strength,  2″ is a good starting point.
The principle will be the same if you use a clamp instead of a holdfast and you can go shorter if your bench top is limited on space, just make sure the area you need to work in is kept nice and clear. The important thing is probably to just play around and see what works for you. I have a good variety of sizes so I’d definitely encourage trying a few out. Maybe take three minutes and make three battens – all different?

I have a workbench in mind at the moment which I’m trying to find time to build and it will be a bench that has to rely solely on holding methods like this – this is when these basic techniques come in to their own. I think if you can design from the off to suit simple holding methods then you’ll be quids in. Of course if you already have a tail vice in your bench then the batten will seem less important.

I’d be really keen to know if anyone has stuck with the batten after the initial trials. Has it made a lasting impression in the workshop now you’ve had chance to play around? Or did it make it back over to the fire wood pile? Has it been able to replace a previous holding method?

The Holdfast and the Batten Video can be viewed here.

Related Posts

About Richard Maguire

About Richard Maguire

As a professional hand tool woodworker, Richard found hand tools to be the far more efficient solution for a one man workshop. Richard runs 'The English Woodworker' as an online resource and video education for those looking for a fuss free approach to building fine furniture by hand. Learn More About Richard & The English Woodworker.

19 Comments

  1. Don

    Richard,

    I want to thank you for your videos which has eased my efforts in holding product and has done it’s part to increase my enjoyment of the craft. As to the batten – yes, it certainly works well and I’ve made one that is 1/2″ and one that is 1/4″ for 1/2″ material. They are both in reach at all times. I also use it for holding material for hinge mortising – even works fairly well on taller items.

    Reply
    • Richard

      Thanks Don, it’s great to hear you’re keeping the battens to hand. Have these replaced a vice for you or have you always used some form of stop?

      Reply
  2. david o'sullivan

    i for one honestly could not believe had easy and simple this method was and it really works and works well. the brilliance of it is your work is not as such clamped but held secure .all one needs to do is flip it over .i had a scrap piece of mdf and just tried it eyeballed the angle i had it made in 2 minutes

    Reply
    • Richard

      It’s the ease of flipping the work over that I love as well. It’s surprising how much this can speed things up when you have a lot of similar parts to plane up. Cheers.

      Reply
  3. mike murray

    The only woodworking project I have worked on recently where I could have used the batten has been the wall cupboard. I didn’t use it on any of it that I can remember. I could have used it when I was trying out the coffin smoother but I didn’t. That’s not to say that I wasn’t impressed with how well the batten worked when I did try it. Pretty slick idea actually. If a person makes it out of thin enough stock, it won’t be in the way when planning. I kept the batten I made and it is laying on the shelf under my bench. The more projects I get in to in the future the more I think a batten might come in handy.
    If you design a bench like you mentioned, I’m wondering what spacing you would have between the two rows of bench dog holes and would you offset the holes? (That’s assuming you would make it with two rows) I would imagine the row spacing is determined by the reach of the holdfast arms?

    Reply
    • Richard

      Since I won’t be installing a tail vice I’ll be laying out the dog holes in a much less structured way than in the majority of my benches. I’ll probably start out with minimal holes towards the back of the top for holdfasts and have a fixed stop towards the front left. When I get working I’ll be able to try out various holding methods and add holes as necessary.

      Reply
  4. Cas Sedgwick

    I tried it, use it, and like it. It’s fast,it’s simple, and it works like a charm!

    Reply
    • Richard

      Thanks Cas!

      Reply
  5. Paul Chapman

    I wouldn’t the holdfast and batten in my normal workbench because I like my tail vice too much. However, when working away from home doing jobs for relatives, I’ll often take my Workmate, for which I’ve made a top to give me a larger working area. This has rows of 3/4″ dog holes and the holdfast and batten will work well on that.

    Reply
    • Richard

      Cheers Paul, I like the sound of your amended Workmate, you’ll have to let me know how you get on if you ever give the batten a try in there. But you’re right, if you’ve got a vice to hand then there’s not the same need.

      Reply
  6. Kevin M

    As soon as I get a pair of hold fasts I intend on adding the batten to help clamp my work. I did not build my bench with a tail vise, and have been regretting it. Unfortunately I can’t add one due to the design of the bench. The hold fast and batten fits my needs perfectly.

    Reply
  7. Dave

    I like it, have used it and will again. I like simple stuff that works, even though I have a fully equipped shop.

    Reply
  8. Ford

    I have been using the batten for about a month now and it is fantastic. Thank you for posting this. I have a Roubo style bench with no tail vise; only a leg vise, planing stop, and holdfasts. I do all my stock prep with hand planes and traversing the grain is essential to be able to thickness lumber by hand in any type of efficient manner. Previously, I was using 2 battens held perpendicular to the stock with hold fasts. This worked, but the holdfasts always seemed to get in the way when traversing and there was a high risk of hitting the holdfast with the plane. Your method gets the holdfast out of the way and holds the board amazingly well. The only modifications I made were to glue some sandpaper to the underside of the batten to eliminate and chances of it slipping. I also had to bore some more holdfast holes towards the back of my bench top to accommodate wider stock. As a testament to how well the batten works, I just finished preparing the boards for the carcase of a chest. The boards were 42″ x 16″ and the batten held them without an issue traversing with my jack plane while thicknessing. Thank you!

    -Ford

    Reply
  9. Jonathan

    I tried the batton, and immediately saw its value and liked it in use-it works even tough I screwed it to the bench (not having holdfasts at present) and is easily made/adapted-doesnt require yet more expensive outlay of £££’s-tight-wad tyke me! Some ideas and methods are instant hits, this is one of them….
    At present I am mid way through refurbing my bench, instead of re-planing the top which was badly hacked, and splattered with plaster and concrete etc, I am simply turning the boards over (10 x 2/5 x 1 pitch pine) and refixing them, plus adding beefy new leg assemblies. However I will definately be adopting this batton method on a permanent basis. LOL and I intend to get a pair of hold fast’s as well.

    Reply
  10. ScottV

    I would really like to see your vise-less workbench design.

    Benches like Ian Kirby that shun the tail vise AND dog-holes in favor of a single steel vise and planing stop seem a bit too spartan for practical work, but I can see a bench that makes good use of hold-fasts, stops and wedges being quite serviceable.

    Reply
  11. Jeff

    Great series. I tried this on my small simple bench after your initial post and its works really well. In fact it is ideal if you are caught without a bench. I recently planed some wood perfectly well on my daughters kitchen table using nothing more than two clamps and a notched stick. Oh and a plane.

    What I like is the simplicity and speed. I also really liked your video on drilling holes perpendicularly with another notched stick. My notched stick collection is growing – long, short, stout and tall; but I’m still hankering after a nice well appointed bench. 🙂

    Reply
  12. Karl F. Newman

    I have never had a bench vice. Not a “real” one anyhow, for holding stuff on edge I use a thing I saw decades ago in a Smithsonian or National Geographic article about Pompei. it’s 2 blocks @ 2″ x 2″ x 10″ clench nailed to the left corner of a bench at a slight angle to each other. the a third block with that angle cut into it but with a little toe left to catch the board that you jamb in. I was using a batten nailed or screwed to the bench top for face planning.
    I have been using the batten and holdfast for over 5 years now. My only response is “why did I wait so long to get a holdfast?”
    Thank you for your blog.
    Don’t bother visiting my website, it’s just my ramblings.

    Reply
    • Eric Dobson

      Your reverse psychology at the end worked perfectly… I just browsed a bit and subscribed to your blog.

      Reply
  13. VALERIO D'ANGELO

    HI RICHARD, VERY GOOD JOB, LIKE IT.
    BUT MY FIRST ATTEMPT WITH THIS TECHNIQUE, THAT I LIKE, WAS WITH A LAMINATED PIECE OF FIR, WITH KNOTS HERE AND THERE, ONE BOARD WITH THE GRAIN GOING IN ONE WAY, THE ADIACENT BOARD WITH REVERSE GRAIN IN IT, AN SO ON, YOU COUL IMAGINE.
    A GOOD KNOT WAS IN THE DOWN LEFT CORNER, AND WHN I HITTED IT, THE BATTENT WON’T HOLD, HE SLIPPED, BECAUSE I WAS RUGGING THE BOARD WITH THE SCRUB. I TRYED IN EVERY MANNER POSSIBLE, BUT NOTHING.
    HAD YOU ANY ADVICE FOR THESE TYPES OF DIFFICULT WORK IN DIFFICULT WOODS, USING SOME METHODS FOR CLAMPING ON THE WORKBENCH’S TOP?
    THANKS,
    VALERIO.

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to Updates:

Related Posts:

Sunday And We’re Back

The day is Sunday, at least it is as I write this. The sun is also really shining. It’s also my first day off in quite some time. I’m sat with my notebook on a bit of beach that may as well be Mars. I come here quite regularly to write, think, sing? And in the...

I’m Sorry For Using Power…

(...YOUR WORDS NOT MINE) Can't Be Bothered To Read, Click Play: https://www.theenglishwoodworker.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/power-tool-guilt.mp3 We've come to the end of the workbenches so today I'm grouping my machines in to a corner of the workshop as tightly as...

Ever Wish You Were Your Dog?

It just sits there, dreaming in its bed, which is a suitcase. A lovely vintage suitcase, my lovely vintage suitcase. He gets out every now and then for some grub or a walk of which he takes himself, and can shit were ever he likes. How lovely it must be, to be that...

We Teach Online

Practical Hand Tool Education

Watch immediately on PC, tablet or mobile

Browse All Projects