Tips & Tricks: One-handed hold-down

I carve a lot of spoons. Most of the post-bandsaw shaping takes place with the work secured in my bench vise. However, sometimes I need more positioning flexibility. It turns out that a spreader bar clamp is just the thing. You can remove its reversible jaw in order to slip the bar through a standard 3/4"-dia. dog hole. Replacing the jaw in its normal orientation—but below the benchtop—then creates a very effective bench hold-down. It can be operated with one hand so I can quickly and easily reposition a workpiece as needed to finish shaping and smoothing it.