These simple workbench brackets secure boards that are too wide or too long for my front vise to handle. The brackets wrap around the front edge of any workbench and hold F-style track clamps.

The clamps I use are made by Micro-Jig, and they fit into dovetail-shaped slots. The top plate of each bracket is held in place with a benchdog. A dovetail slot in the front face holds the base of the F-clamp.

The bottom plate is just a short stub that wraps around the lower edge of the benchtop. The brackets can be slid anywhere along the front edge of the bench—for example, to hold boards on edge or to hold a wide board end-grain-up for dovetailing.

—SRIKANTH PATANKAR, Westfield, N.J.

Best Tip!

Srikanth Patankar is a pediatric anesthesiologist. After 33 years in practice and 30 years as a woodworker, he is nearing retirement and spending more time in the shop. When he immigrated to the United States 40 years ago, he knew nothing about woodworking. His first projects were planters, potting tables, Adirondack chairs, and trellises. When his wife brought home some issues of FWW from the library, Srikanth was inspired to take his new hobby to the next level.

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