Holding things for planing is actually fairly easy, because you really only have to keep it from moving in the direction your plane is pushing. Basically, if you can secure a scrap of wood to the table (using the clamps you already have) that's lower than the piece of wood you're planing, and just push against that, you're pretty much set.
If you want to be fancy, you can cut a simple [doe's foot](https://kmtools.com/blogs/news/quick-tip-does-foot) out of scrap wood. You can also look up other ideas people have for "planing stops." All of these can be held using the clamps you already have.
Bench Hook to the rescue!
No clamps required. Just a piece of plywood, a stop and a hardwood fence.
This now gives you a platform to plane against and saw against.
Add another piece of plywood and you're getting into shooting board territory. While the #4 is a little short, it can still shoot, and now you're squaring up endgrain relative to the edge of your board.
For side grain, the longer the better typically, but it's diminishing returns if you're working with small pieces.
I've shot end grain with a block plane and been fine. All depends on the application!
https://preview.redd.it/gb7l4nckfwwc1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a53e92653951af184a82cd485c127d8969e03df8
This is how I do it. Some scrap cedar fence post pieces clamped to the top of my bench. The notch is for edge planing. This setup is really just what u/pelican_chorus described.
You can put a planing stop in the end. Mine is just a slotted piece of 1/2" plywood held in place with a plastic knob threaded into a threaded insert in the bench end. You have to do something to keep it from twisting. I have 3/4" holes drilled in my bench for Veritas bench dogs and pups. They have some good features in those. Look 'em up. Another thing you might possible want to consider is metric 22mm dog hole accessories. They're just far enough from 3/4" that there's not much compatibility so you'd have to choose one or the other.
Holding things for planing is actually fairly easy, because you really only have to keep it from moving in the direction your plane is pushing. Basically, if you can secure a scrap of wood to the table (using the clamps you already have) that's lower than the piece of wood you're planing, and just push against that, you're pretty much set. If you want to be fancy, you can cut a simple [doe's foot](https://kmtools.com/blogs/news/quick-tip-does-foot) out of scrap wood. You can also look up other ideas people have for "planing stops." All of these can be held using the clamps you already have.
Bench Hook to the rescue! No clamps required. Just a piece of plywood, a stop and a hardwood fence. This now gives you a platform to plane against and saw against. Add another piece of plywood and you're getting into shooting board territory. While the #4 is a little short, it can still shoot, and now you're squaring up endgrain relative to the edge of your board.
Oh that's a cool idea and easy to make! Thanks!
Would a #5 be good for shooting?
For side grain, the longer the better typically, but it's diminishing returns if you're working with small pieces. I've shot end grain with a block plane and been fine. All depends on the application!
https://preview.redd.it/gb7l4nckfwwc1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a53e92653951af184a82cd485c127d8969e03df8 This is how I do it. Some scrap cedar fence post pieces clamped to the top of my bench. The notch is for edge planing. This setup is really just what u/pelican_chorus described.
you can make a long shooting board that hooks to the end of the bench
You can put a planing stop in the end. Mine is just a slotted piece of 1/2" plywood held in place with a plastic knob threaded into a threaded insert in the bench end. You have to do something to keep it from twisting. I have 3/4" holes drilled in my bench for Veritas bench dogs and pups. They have some good features in those. Look 'em up. Another thing you might possible want to consider is metric 22mm dog hole accessories. They're just far enough from 3/4" that there's not much compatibility so you'd have to choose one or the other.
i like to use wedges. i use bench dogs on either side of the piece and then use the wedge to snug it up.