As I have highlighted before, workholding is crucial to getting good joinery results; it does not matter whether power tools or hand tools are used – workholding is important. Of course, I could use the tail vise to hold this work piece; but then I would be routing the groove while holding my torso at a weird angle.
While at the workbench, I seldom reach for regular clamps any more, except for glue-ups. These days, a mixture of the very old and the very new combine to provide me with terrific workholding capability. The Gramercy Tools holdfasts do a great job on their own; however, the router-cum-edge guide generate sufficient torque to move the work piece, risking a bad cut. Add the new Leigh hold-down clamp, to provide a no-slip solution.
I combined the old and the new, and managed to get what I needed: zero movement of the work piece. I like zero movement when I machine a work piece. I was very happy with this clamping arrangement.
The router itself is a whole other issue. I will write about it in another blog post.
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