Holding a workpiece to a flat surface

[chunkolini]

More for the wood botherers but will also work for metal.
Cheapo f clamps or whatever they are called, drill and slot a hole n the workbench and use them upside down.

This one is a bit too close to the edge of the bench, now I have holes all over the place.

Chunko'.

 

[Shox Dr]

They are called Bench Dogs

Expensive if you buy the propa' ones

 

[Hitch]

Id have said a bit more like a holdfast rather than a dog.

 

[Shox Dr]

meh! one and the same.

There are many types, from plain stops, uprights to clamps etc

 

[Hitch]

Id love a nice hardwood proper woodworking bench with some nice handmade holdfasts.
Be nice, the workmate is alright for now though

On the subject, i have a couple of lever operated clamp things that go through the holes in a workmate, theyre okay for light holding.

 

[keith19]

Strong magnets are good for holding lightweight steel to steel worktops. No holes needed, and place them where you like. I changed the top of my cheapie screwfix workmate to steel, for welding jobs.
Got another woodtop one for woodwork, in the loft...

 

[CKJDJK]

Check out Aldi, they have an offer on Sunday for G clamps and F clamps sets gor a tenner. Cheep enough to get covered in spatter.

 

[knoba]

Nice one, Chunko!

Chunko
This one is a bit too close to the edge of the bench, now I have holes all over the place.

Maybe, maybe not...

Check these out, below. If your bench top is thick enough; a round hole could be made in the bench top, and some appropriate sized metal tubing flush fitted, your hold-fasts could "swivel" to any position desired. They'd also take dogs too... (perhaps even, a large jack russell...).





This bench design also accommodates hold-fasts (& dogs) in the leg uprights.

 

[Robotstar5]

On the subject, i have a couple of lever operated clamp things that go through the holes in a workmate, theyre okay for light holding.

I bought a couple of those, a bit disappointed they would only hold a workpiece 10-15mm thick