Collection: Chopping & Charcuterie Boards

The HDS (Hold Down System) is a compact, portable woodworking workbench and clamping solution that instantly turns any flat surface — a kitchen table, sawhorse, worktop, or even the floor — into a professional-grade clamping station in under 60 seconds. It features a 20mm dog-hole grid on a 96mm spacing (fully MFT-compatible) plus integrated clamp slots and a 288mm front overhang for secure vertical clamping.

Setup takes less than one minute. Simply place the two precision-machined boards on your surface, align them, insert the four included bolts, and tighten. No tools beyond a simple wrench or socket are needed. When you’re finished, it flat-packs into two easy-to-store boards.

Assembled dimensions are 576mm wide × 480mm deep with a generous 288mm front overhang. The compact footprint makes it ideal for small workshops, garages, or on-site work while still giving you plenty of clamping real estate.

Each board is CNC-machined from durable 25mm MDF in the UK. The double-board design with bolted construction creates a rock-solid platform that handles all typical DIY woodworking tasks — planing, sanding, routing, assembly, and power-tool work. Minor cosmetic machining marks may be present but do not affect performance.

Yes — 100%. The dog holes are spaced on the industry-standard 96mm grid with 20mm diameter holes, so it works perfectly with all Festool MFT-style bench dogs, track clamps, dog vice clamps, and third-party 20mm accessories. You’re not locked into an expensive ecosystem.

The HDS delivers the same 20mm dog-hole clamping versatility and precision as an MFT table but at a fraction of the cost and weight. It doesn’t require a dedicated heavy table frame — it simply drops onto any surface you already own. Many woodworkers use the HDS as their everyday “MFT-style” solution and keep the full Festool system for large production work.

The base HDS includes the two CNC-machined 25mm boards and four assembly bolts. Our prebuilt Starter, Lite, Elite, and Master Packs bundle everything you need: aluminium bench dogs, heavy-duty track clamps, dog vice clamps, and anti-slip plugs — all at a significant saving compared to buying accessories separately.

Yes. The system is designed for both indoor and outdoor use. It works on any reasonably flat, stable surface and flat-packs easily into a van or car boot for on-site carpentry, furniture making, or job-site work.

100% — it’s one of the simplest and most affordable ways to get serious clamping power without buying or building a full workbench. Weekend makers and DIY woodworkers love how quickly they can start working accurately and safely.

Yes, applying a treatment such as an MDF Primer will help seal the material to prevent moisture ingress. It will also strengthen the material further improving the durability of your system

It flat-packs into two slim boards that can be stored vertically against a wall, under a bench, or in a cupboard. Many customers leave it assembled and simply stand it upright alongside their existing bench.

We also offer full DIY build plans (PDF download) with exact cutting lists and instructions so you can make additional boards or custom sizes using 25mm plywood or MDF.

Yes — all HDS systems come with our standard customer satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not completely happy within 30 days, simply return it for a full refund (see our returns policy for details).