I have two of these that worked fine until the fixed end snapped off. being a cheapskate i kept them around figuring they might be good for something. cleaning up yesterday i looked at them and an idea struck me: why not use them as holdfasts? here it is:
what remains should be plenty strong since it’s better reinforced and doesnt have as much torque applied to it. the dud end stays in place and is held beneath the bench through 3/4” dog holes. the only other modification (other than breaking the original product) is to remove the rivet at the other end (vise grips to the rescue!). to use it you just remove the moving clamp, pass it up through the dog holes, and reaffix the clamp. to make it easier you could probably rig a swinging pin on the bottom (fixed end) so you could make it pass through the top.
16 comments so far
Dan Hux
home | projects | blog
577 posts in 4387 days
#1 posted 10-26-2009 10:12 PM
I have those,,I can’t get that lucky,,, the ratchet end breaks on me..
-- Dan Hux,,,,Raleigh, NC https://whitdaniel.com
RexMcKinnon
home | projects | blog
2593 posts in 4208 days
#2 posted 10-26-2009 10:16 PM
I have 2 with a broken retchet ends also. LOL
-- If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail!
a1Jim
home | projects | blog
118161 posts in 4590 days
#3 posted 10-26-2009 11:09 PM
HF rides again. although I have purchased some good tools from them.
-- https://www.artisticwoodstudio.com/videos
teenagewoodworker
home | projects | blog
2727 posts in 4781 days
#4 posted 10-26-2009 11:44 PM
very nice… my ratchet ends are the ones that break too but ive used that technique on my bench plenty of times…. works great
Kent Shepherd
home | projects | blog
2718 posts in 4299 days
#5 posted 10-27-2009 12:11 AM
I have found that Harbor Freight makes great boat anchors.
-- http://shepherdtoolandsupply.com/
Napaman
home | projects | blog
5534 posts in 5090 days
#6 posted 10-27-2009 12:14 AM
good idea…I just bought a bunch last month when they were on sale at 1.99….now I will know what to do if they break…
-- Matt--Proud LJ since 2007
Cantputjamontoast
home | projects | blog
416 posts in 4445 days
#7 posted 10-27-2009 12:29 AM
IRWIN will replace theirs for FREE if they break. I know first hand
-- "Not skilled enough to wipe jam on toast!"
AaronK
home | projects | blog
1512 posts in 4477 days
#8 posted 10-27-2009 12:37 AM
so strange for the other part to break. oh well, it’s HF after all. they’re like radio shack is with electronics – even if you dont think anything like that could possibly break, they will prove you wrong!
anyway, for 1.99 they are hard to pass up – as matt can attest – and when they fail at least some of them can have a second life.
eastside
home | projects | blog
97 posts in 4274 days
#9 posted 10-27-2009 01:13 AM
I belive that harbor freight will replace them also. No sale slip needed, just walk into the store with the broken one and leave with new one’s.
-- Mike, Westport MA.
ROY53
home | projects | blog
77 posts in 4191 days
#10 posted 10-27-2009 04:54 AM
I made new ends for mine out of scrap oak.
-- Roy L, Arizona
Pete_Jud
home | projects | blog
424 posts in 4766 days
#11 posted 10-27-2009 05:53 AM
every one that had the red handles has broke, I took them back and the manager said that I was out of luck. Left them at the counter.
-- Life is to short to own an ugly boat.
scrappy
home | projects | blog
3507 posts in 4443 days
#12 posted 10-27-2009 06:01 AM
Thanks for the idea. I have 1 broken and 1 godd (so far) Could use a hold down so this is great for me.
Thanks for the inovative idea.
Scrappy
-- Scrap Wood's the best...the projects are smaller, and so is the mess!
Mike Gager
home | projects | blog
665 posts in 4280 days
#13 posted 10-27-2009 02:42 PM
i have several of those broken clamps. but at like $1 per clamp what can you expect?
i will say they work good as long as you dont put too much pressure on them. for light clamping deeds they work great
Greg Wurst
home | projects | blog
798 posts in 4845 days
#14 posted 10-27-2009 06:26 PM
Like most, the ratchets break on mine. They are dirt cheap on sale so if I break a few no big deal.
-- You're a unique and special person, just like everyone else.
Bob #2
home | projects | blog
3810 posts in 5034 days
#15 posted 10-27-2009 06:40 PM
I hate em,No grip, they slip, and at worst, they break.
They could do a lot better with very little effort and a few pennies more for materials.
But, it you are buying them why bother?
Bob
-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner
View all comments »
showing 1 through 15 of 16 comments
Have your say...