Its shank is slid loosely into a “dog” hole in the bench or anvil until the tip of its hook touches the work.

It is set by hitting its top with a mallet or hammer, which causes the shaft to wedge tightly against the sides of the hole.

Contemporary holdfasts are commonly designed to fit in 3⁄4 inch (19 mm) holes, somewhat narrower than had been traditional.

[2] Scrap pieces of wood or leather are often used between the holdfast and the workpiece to prevent marring it.

[4] They are also described and illustrated in early European books on woodworking, such as Joseph Moxon's 1678 edition of Mechanick Exercises and André Jacob Roubo's 1774 L'Art du Menuisier.