# Work Hold down systems **URL:** \ **Category:** General Chat\ **Created:** [August 30, 2026, 8:57pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/work-hold-down-systems/6529 "2026-08-30T20:57:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DCCOnline](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/dcconline/32/6836_2.png) [@DCCOnline](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/DCCOnline)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 8:57pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/work-hold-down-systems/6529/1 "2026-08-30T20:57:49Z")
Work holding systems that have worked for you… ---
**Author:** ![DCCOnline](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/dcconline/32/6836_2.png) [@DCCOnline](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/DCCOnline)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 9:02pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/work-hold-down-systems/6529/2 "2026-08-30T21:02:40Z")
As many of you may have noticed - I am still seeking the right solution for holding work down. Yes- The Black box is my first choice… But more than half my projects are of the smaller size. between 6x6 and 20 x 48 size items. What is working for you- I have used double sided tape, t-track, screws, and wedges- I have never tried airweights or another style of mechanical hold downs… ---
**Author:** ![PaulC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9a140/32.png) [@PaulC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/PaulC)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 10:07pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/work-hold-down-systems/6529/3 "2026-08-30T22:07:37Z")
For a long time I used a 3M double sided tape. It had a little flex when pushed from the side so it wasn’t ideal. Next I tried the masking tape/super glue/accelerator combo(tape on the spoil board, tape on the part, super glue on one piece of tape, accelerator on the other, smash it together). Made for a stiffer connection. I have been trying bench dog solutions for holding thing in place and they seem promising. ---
**Author:** ![DCCOnline](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/dcconline/32/6836_2.png) [@DCCOnline](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/DCCOnline)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 11:04pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/work-hold-down-systems/6529/4 "2026-08-30T23:04:37Z")
I have done the super-glue thing- and it works- except when it bleeds through and the project gets messed up or the spoil board has chunks come out with the tape… I don’t/haven’t done a lot of full sheet work, so the Blackbox idea is a bit over-kill. I do need to make a bunch of melamine cabinets in the near future- so using the blackbox might be a good thing in the short term. But then what? ---
**Author:** ![fostinoguitars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8baadc/32.png) [@fostinoguitars](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/fostinoguitars)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 12:19am UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/work-hold-down-systems/6529/5 "2026-08-31T00:19:48Z")
Have you looked at Airweights? Great company with lots of options for different sized vacuum tables. Also check into making your own vacuum jigs. I took a class with Tom Dalia that was vacuum jig specify but guitar related. Lots of info. ---
**Author:** ![djdelorie](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/djdelorie/32/515_2.png) [@djdelorie](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/djdelorie)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 2:46am UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/work-hold-down-systems/6529/6 "2026-08-31T02:46:52Z")
I’ve had pretty good luck with a 3D-printed downward wedge. I screw a fixed part with spacer against the edge of the wood, then a wedge gets screwed down between them to press against the wood as well as pull it down. That lets me mill the whole top. If I don’t need full access, I have a range of 3D-printed clips of various heights I use. ---
**Author:** ![SkyScraperGuitars](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/skyscraperguitars/32/3492_2.png) [@SkyScraperGuitars](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/SkyScraperGuitars)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 3:38am UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/work-hold-down-systems/6529/7 "2026-08-31T03:38:23Z")
Not sure what type of parts you’re making but here’s a couple quick thoughts… - Plastic pin nails work if your material is thin enough (1" or less seems to work) - You can thread inserts into your main spoil board in a grid pattern, then you can make what I call “work boards” that thread into the inserts. You can use T-track, threaded inserts, vacuum boards, clamps of all sorts and sizes, wedges, etc, etc. - You can use blue tape and superglue (my typical choice on prototype projects - If I can work it into the design, I like to use 1/4-20 bolts, you just gotta make sure you’re clear of the toolpath I also do a fair amount of machine work. That’s where I learned that often you spend over 1/2 your time addressing the work holding needs of your part… I can say this - every minute I put into designing work holding saves me an hour down the road. It’s a PITA to make yourself do it, but it’s a necessary part of the process.