Hold-It Bench Clamps
Hold-It Bench Clamps from Jay Owens
Hold-It Bench Clamps

This is a set of adaptable interlocking clamps that provide modular vise like work holding capabilities on a variety of benches. I first had the idea for these clamps when I was doing work on a door to install at my home. I didn't have a good way to hold it vertically and other than large permanently mounted vises there is not a good way to hold work pieces vertically. these consist of a clamp that mounts to a bench and another clamp that mounts to the workpiece. The bench clamp has a wide foot and the workpiece clamp has a unique angled quick release that allows it to be pushed closed. The workpiece clamp mounts to the bench clamp in various orientations depending on the operation and workpiece size. This product also won a Pro Tool Innovation Award for Clamping in 2025. Like all other Rockler products in my portfolio, while I was the primary designer. These were developed in collaboration with a small team of designers and woodworkers who all help make these products a success.

My original idea was to have two identical interlocking clamps with a knob holding them together, this evolved into explore several other ideas including a cam clamp.
Through prototyping we went back to a simpler solution with a dedicated workpiece and bench clamp, where the workpiece clamp has a quick release.
We also moved from a knob holding the clamps together to a 3/8 countersunk screw so that the user could really tighten the clamps together. For material we went back and forth between cast aluminum and plastic, eventually landing on cast aluminum for strength.
The aesthetics draw inspiration from all Rockler clamps using the ribs as design features. I wanted the clamps to flow together when locked in place but also have their own unique styling. The angled back on the workpiece clamp is for more than aesthetics. It angles the quick release and this allows the thread to easily be pushed closed for quick clamping of a variety of thicknesses. the open capacities were determined based on common sizes of workpieces and benches.
In addition to the screw, each mounting location between the two clamps is keyed for a very tight fit that won't shift. We added on board storage for the hex wrench that allows the user to re configure the clamps.
I produced a Keyshot animation for the carousel images on the website to show how the clamp reconfigures.
Another inspiration for the size and look of these clamps was snowboard vises, these can also be used for edge tuning a snowboard or skis.
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Hold-It Bench Clamps

This is a set of adaptable interlocking clamps that provide modular vise like work holding capabilities on a variety of benches. I first had the idea for these clamps when I was doing work on a door to install at my home. I didn't have a good way to hold it vertically and other than large permanently mounted vises there is not a good way to hold work pieces vertically. these consist of a clamp that mounts to a bench and another clamp that mounts to the workpiece. The bench clamp has a wide foot and the workpiece clamp has a unique angled quick release that allows it to be pushed closed. The workpiece clamp mounts to the bench clamp in various orientations depending on the operation and workpiece size. This product also won a Pro Tool Innovation Award for Clamping in 2025. Like all other Rockler products in my portfolio, while I was the primary designer. These were developed in collaboration with a small team of designers and woodworkers who all help make these products a success.

Jay Owens
Industrial Designer Minneapolis, MN