Work holding options for the anvil - blacksmithing for beginners
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ส.ค. 2024
- Chasing your work around on the anvil can be very frustrating. Today we look at some holdfasts and other work holding options for the anvil. Including a modified pipe clamp style holdfast.
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Every time I do a search for a particular smithing topic I end up back on your channel. I've been subscribed for a long while and always recommend the channel to the kids that I do basic instruction for.
Glad to be able to help
I wish he had been my shop teacher 35 yrs ago,
Right! It is nice having this awesome archive of... Everything! 🍻
He is good I like that British smoking guy too
Yes, indeed. My shop teacher was an abusive d××k and I never had confidence until later when I learned by the people doing it for a living. Teaching someone to Smith is a gift for both people. Anyone that can't enjoy teaching smithing to younger people should grump off. Passing your knowledge, pain, and tips along is what makes things better. And, back to the original comment, Black Bear Forge is by far the best...especially for those with elbow tendinitis...listen to this guy. I'm smithing again because of him.
My shop teacher was equally good, Mr. Delzell. He shaped many boys into well adapted working men. I still have a couple of the projects I made in his classes around the house.
I’ve watched your channel for awhile. In response to your question regarding the commentary or not, I personally feel you really reach out and speak to beginners. I love the way you explain things. It’s because of you I started getting interested in blacksmithing. You made it not so intimidating. Thanks, it’s now one of my favorite things to do.
I second these sentiments 100%! Clear concise instruction while never being condecending. A vault style cabinet of information! Lol
I concur! Whenever I see or think of a new project at the forge, I always look to see if John has posted a video on it! I appreciate everyone who takes the time and money to make these videos, but in my view, no one presents the information as clearly as you do John.
I have 3 favourite You Tube blacksmithing posters, John, Torbjorn and Roy. Between the three of you and your wonderful videos, I think I have enough inspiration to keep me going for years.
0:08 me every second of blacksmithing
Lol. It happens to us all. I was just telling my neighbor who was humorously shocked when I dropped a hot leaf I was showing him how to make.
Just imagine how many times a tool or project was dropped, and they just cut it out the video?
I just started blacksmithing a few months ago and your videos are my main source of learning. You are incredibly knowledgeable, thorough and articulate. Your willingness to share your expertise just so people can learn is awesome. I came here this morning to learn how to forge a hold down and I got a lot more than just that. Thank you!!
Happy 4th of July!!!
Glad to help
I have seen this before but only today realized that I really need one. 20 minutes later, I am now the proud owner of my own "holdfast". many thanks from Sweden.
I am all over this... already ordered my 11/16 round. Thanks again as usual.
I like the fact that your not so technical, so many people make blacksmithing such a complicated science that it frustrates me. Thanks for the vid!
I made my hold down from an old crow bar. For long pieces I have a loop of dog chain hanging from the rafters. It has the hook on it so I can adjust the length. The chain holds the far end of the work piece and allows me to swing the hot end back and forth between the fire and anvil. The fire table and the anvil need to be compatible heights. You can have different hooks in the rafters to hang the chain in different places. I used to use an adjustable stand, but you still have to lift the work piece, place it accurately. You can't change the angle while your working it, and they fall over. Everyone's shop is arranged differently. Try and see if the dog chain works for you.
From Toledo Spain, i thank you for all the information on how to work the art of blacksmithing, I really like the educational way of working with iron,
Congratulations and I will continue watching your videos
Thanks for watching!
You are a great teacher. THANK YOU for all your help.
Has this ever happened to you? There has to be a better way! Absolutely love your videos.
Really good video! Thanks for all of your help! My little setup is starting to take shape thanks to your videos!
One thing I'd add to your video is for those who only have a budget gas forge, the work piece doesn't fit very well in the forge once you've put the bend in, so it's worth thinking about that before you put that bend in. Get it as close to the desired end-state first, and then put that bend in.
Thanks again for your help!
Finally getting around to making one of these. Using some steel I pulled out of some old crane mats.
I used a Harbor Freigh f-style clamp. Cut the fixed end off and welded on a 5/8's bolt and it works fine
One my old blacksmithing teacher used to use regularly is a chain with a weight on it, similar to what you have, but it was hooked to the butcher block or around the anvil at one end, and to hold things down we'd just throw the chain over the working metal and the anvil and it'd stay put.
Yup, made one of these a few months ago out of some scrap bar I found. Really handy.
As a woodworker I love holdfasts for their **speed** as well as the ease of putting pressure anywhere on the work. It seems to me that for forging they also have the advantage of saving time (and therefore heat) compared to messiing about with clamps & threads.
Thank you for the video. Very useful for the apprentice.
I typically have my 9 year old stepson hold whatever needs to be held. He enjoys being at the anvil with me. Otherwise, I typically make do with whatever suits the need. I love how blacksmiths creatively use whatever is at hand, or modifies another tool to suit the purpose.
Only a beginner,but just forged a hold fast,so easy and simple but will make forging a lot easier in future.👍👍
A quick and simple idea for the "financially challenged". I have a smaller pritchel hole. I used an old tire iron from the dump. Flatten the socket end and tweak the curve. Works awesome, material cost was zero, and took about 10 minutes work.
Good idea, I wonder what those are made of. Might be good steel for other things as well
i'd guess it's a medium carbon steel like a 1045 or similar. I never hardened it, didn't want it to snap on me. Been using it for over 10 years, lol.
The main reason I found you and kept watching is because you work alone. Was your hammer making alone that caught me, everyone uses a striker?! I have no one else crazy enough to come help me :) so your techniques are invaluable because of that. So thanks.
They just don't know what they're missing
1 of the very first things I made was a hold fast. It was crude but it works🤣 I wish I found this video sooner!
As long as it works
I love these funny beginnings of the videos. You Sir must be a great person, with so much knowledge, skills and experience in this craft, and also with good sense of humor. God bless you for doing these videos and sharing them with others. What a great time to live in, to be able to watch you from other side of the world. Thank you!
In a typical blacksmith shop, when things get to that point (the opening of the video), tools start to fly. lol
Thank you for your help. I'm starting with a simple cast iron anvil and work holding has been a nightmare.
Thank you for an expert peek into the amazing world of forging and smithing!
A
I am a newbie to blacksmithing, and my journey began a few months ago when I inherited my grandfather's old Vulcan anvil from his farm. Anyway, I just wanted to say that I really enjoy your way of teaching. For someone who has been smithing for many years, you still have an open mind and really get me thinking about the myriad of ways to work steel. I have been a steamfitter for 30 years and cannot believe that I just discovered this amazing trade. Thanks so much for taking the time and effort to teach your skills on here. It is a real pleasure to watch and learn from you!
I like your videos! One other option to prevent something from flying through the workshop, not really holding it down with a lot of force, is also a chain with a big wheight, that is fixed on the stump under your anvil and just reaches over the anvil. You put wour work piece on the anvil and just throw the chain with wheight over the anvil.
A lot of Great ideas Mr John!!!😇👍
Dag seems I pick up more information each time I rewatch your videos.
Thanks
You are my Wilford Brimley of blacksmithing and metal working! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I already had a good idea of how the hold fast worked but to hear it in plain English is much appreciated.
I’m sure there’s some things out there with simple explanations that I’ll have a hard time grasping the first time around so if this is a persistent habit of yours on this channel then I’m sure I’ve made a wise investment of my time by subscribing to you.
Lots of useful info and just what I have been wondering about lately.
Your old stuff is definitely a gold mine John, thanks!
Thank you.
1/16th to a 32nd undersized for holdfast shaft. Very frequently asked question. Outstanding, thank and you!
I took the screw half of a large c-clamp and welded a shank on that. I replaced the screw lever with a welded ring for ease and accessibility. Works well for heavy work
I need a hold fast!
Thank you John for all the ideas!
5 seconds in and that intro made me smile. Earned a sub. well done. glad I stumbled across your channel.
Glad you enjoyed it
I do not have a setup for working metal nor the knowledge to do so, but thank you so much for archiving your knowlege of skills that could soon be lost. I was on the edge of my seat watching you work above your cell phone, especially when you dropped the warm holdfast into the hole. You live dangerously!
I really appreciate your closing comments about safety glasses and safety in general. I am down one eye with the other eye at about 75%. Thanks for your videos and advice.
For those screw mounted items I've used a piece of pipe underneath with a hole drilled through the walls for the screw to run through and it rides up underneath the pritchel or hardie holes.
Very impressive the simple way you made that fasthold tool and specially the tip about using a cold roll rod and not having to forge it ,Thanks for the film very informative and simple .
There are certainly more exciting channels out there, but few as real-world informative as yours. Keep them coming!
I worked so hard to make my first hold-fast. You made it easy, thank you.
thanks for a great vid - I would really like to get into blacksmithing soo many things I'll need...
Finally :P after finding your channel, I have found a way to keep the hot steel from flying in the shop that requires little hands on time
Ok, now that I know that I have been making them out of too small of a rod, I will try again. Thanks! I bet I will FINALLY make a holdfast that works.
Thank you SO MUCH for making this video. I just made one of these today per your instructions, must've taken me only about ten minutes to forge. I'm really looking forward to using it. Wish I could shake your hand.
Made one today! Thank you for your videos!
Another Great Video John.Thanks for the Heads-Up for the Center Finding Ruler,McMaster-Carr,12"for Less than $7.00.
Thank you for this video John. I'm going to put one of these hold fast tools onto my to do list of tools to make. I was making my first leaf a couple days ago and I still had a good sized section of steel attached to my leaf. Well, as I was doing some cutting on that leaf, that darn thing jumped off my anvil 3 different times so that hold fast would have worked perfect for my project. As always sir, many thanks for a very informative and educational video. I sure learned some things tonight.
Just came in from my shop and said I need to make a hold fast. Nice timing! Thanks!
Sometimes I get lucky
Another excellent video. I don't know why I have not yet made a holdfast for my anvil. I must remedy that soon. This continues to be like a first rate correspondence course. i don't have to do each lesson exactly when you do them, but I have the information readily available and can do it at my pace. I am enjoying your videos --- and enjoying them because I'm learning a lot. Thanks again.
Those are some good tips, BB. The term or product you were trying to think of related to the pipe clamp, is "hillside washer". But without being epoxied under the anvil, it'd be something else to hassel with. Thanx for the tips.
I liked the way you made the flat end of the hold fast conform to the anvil face by simply tapping it while hot. When I made mine, I heated, bent, tried the fit, heated, bent, tried the fit again, until I got it right...too much work...duh!
I would also caution folks to not texture the bottom of the holdfast where it contacts the workpiece to try to obtain a "tighter" fit. If the work is hot where the holdfast makes contact, one could imprint the work.
I could rewatch your intro over and over. Great video. Spring tension hold down works pretty good also. Thanks John
Glad you liked it
hello. I love your videos because your explanations are simple and easy to understand. Your techniques are also very well filmed and it allows us to see how to proceed. it is certain that I will make this tool. have a nice day.
Can't beat traditional tried n tested over decades ,thanks for showing us how to simplify things ,nice vid John keep em coming .Ant from Wales UK .👍
Im just getting started in forging. Was so happy to buy the 1st few things that I forgot the most important one, the pliers. Been looking for ways to hold the steel so I can get started while I wait for them to b delivered. Thanks for the help
Love the one I got from you for woodworking. It’s perfect!
Spectacular advise and demonstration on this one. Thank you.
I made this today as I'm usually on my own in the forge and it came out really well. Works a treat as well, thankyou John. Love your channel, it's taught me so much
Glad you enjoyed it
That beginning was awesome, all professional and stuff!
I just watched Big Dog Forge make one of the hold fast. I need to make one. Both of you made it look easy. Thanks
I really like the hold down options you have shown in this video! I will be making both myself. Really enjoy your videos keep them coming.
Thank you for this video! I like the holdfast a lot, and I think it makes a great beginner's project, too.
Just made a hold fast based on these instructions - it really HOLDS FAST! Used 3/4" rebar, I think the ridges help lock it into the pritchel hole.
Excellent and well presented ideas. I think the pipe clamp one is quite interesting.
The order of operations is important in making a holdfast. I made one by shaping the bends first, then tried to flatten the jaw, it doesn't hold very well. Of course all I have is an anvil shaped piece of rail road track and an oxy-scoreline torch so far. Really have been more of a practicing beginner woodworker and haven't invested in blacksmithing equipment just yet.
Thanks for showing me how a professional does it. Actually makes more sense after seeing you do it.
I love your videos. Thank you for sharing this knowledge with the world.
I made one for myself out of 1X1/2 solid bar. It works great!
My vote is for the 'hold fast'. Easy on, easy tightened, easy loosened, easy off.
I am sure that is what I will use the most.
Me too. Seems easier than going through all of that while the piece is cooling.
Thank you so much for sending me the link . For the hold fast, I now know why the one I made doesn't work. The round stock is to small I used 1in. I have the Vevor 135lbs anvil and the Prichel hole in the front to me is in the wrong place and way too big. And pretty much unusable. Thanks again
That is the big problem with those anvils.
These videos are wonderfully done. Bravo
Great video, and you are right, a hold fast is fairly easy to make. Mastering it might take a few tries, but adjustments are easy
I ' m begining, very nice video, thanks a lot !!!
As an old Farrier I/we (my Uncle Johnny) used to cutoff about 1-1/2” - 2” piece of a rasp. Round off the corners and turn the rasp teeth pointing towards the pritchel hole and weld it in place. When you give it a tap it’ll bite down and hold your work solid. Also I use those pain in the arse mounting bars that GM loves to add to your trans shroud. No one puts them back on anyway. Lol but they’re made out of tool steel and plenty harder that just hot roll. There’s my 2 bits. On sundays when either of us would go over to the shop to get started for the week but make odd n end tools. On the Harness track and trainers are out jogging their horses n throws a shoe. They’d hear the ring of the anvil and cha ching there’s a quick $20-$30 bucks nobody would miss. After 40yrs later I think it ok to tell an Apprentice how to make a couple bucks
I really appreciate all you do for the black Smith community.... you got me doing a lot of thinking ..one using the pipe clamp and how to fasten tight to the anvil.when I have it done I will sent it to you and see what you think... thanks again for everything
Very good information here from a Man who knows his stuff.
love the pipe clamp idea! I have a couple old ones laying around too!
When I started I just used a large c clamp. Slid the clamp over the face of the anvil on top of the work piece and tightened it so it was clamped on the sides of the anvil. Then I made a hold fast using trampoline springs hooked,to both sides of the anvil stand. The,other ends of the spring I fastened,to a steel plate the width of the anvil. Put a handle,on it. It is pulled,over the piece and the tension caused by the springs holds it down. I am,going to make a traditional hold fast. Just seems easier to use. Thanks for the video!
I had a similar spring loaded hold down on a previous anvil. It worked pretty well, but doesn't fit this anvil
I’ve held work pieces in my legs before and I agree it’s very awkward, my next project is gonna be a hold down (as soon as I get a new anvil)
John, I see that I'll be making (one or two?) holdfasts for my anvil. Certainly one. Thank you for this video!
It would be hard to use two on most anvils.
hey, i made a simple holddown inspired by one that Dan "trust me I'm a blacksmith" showed. it's a length of chain, one end bolted on the "opposite to your working side" to the anvil stump and the other end fastened to a foot-stirrup or similar. for that i just forged out a length of reo bar. you simply drape the chain over the work on the anvil and keep pressure applied to the stirrup with your foot. the only thing so fiddle with is the right length of chain so you can get the right pressure on different size things, but I'm able to tweak or completely change it by having a D shackle connected to the attatching bolt and running it through different links. i use a length of railway track as an anvil so don't have a pritchel. it work excellently i reckon but you do get some movement. i like it. cheers John for excellent video.
Interesting idea. I will take a look at his video.
Great video John. Thank you for sharing all those options.
I saw you using this in other videos... Was wondering how you made it! Thanks for another great video!
In the contact portion is the file or score the contact head so it grips your work better.
200th Comment- Love these Videos.
Your Channel Is one of the best all around :)
Nice video once again Black Bear.
Just on the drill press vice grip, you should find that the thread is metric M12. Most seem to be that. Normally it shows it on the eye nut. You could extend the thread with a M12 coupling nut.
Thanks
I suspect that the thread on that pipe is BSP (British Standard Pipe), it became a de facto worldwide standard in its various sizes back in the mists of time and I have seen it everywhere from Italy to Indonesia and the Sahara. In the US you may have some other name for it. Also used on traditional bath tap fittings and even on brass compression fittings for copper pipe.
I have used most of those options , with the exception of the pipe clamp. My mainstay was the vise grip options. Visegrip clamps go for cheap at tractor supply store. You can bolt or rivet them to about anything. I stopped using the pritchel clamp after a failure that resulted in a serious injury.
Another good informative video! I, like you, stick to the more traditional ways of holding down my work. Far better than hacking up good tools to make something I already have. I still spend some time chasing and picking up work but it"s all part of the fun. I figure if things get too bad I will just put an anvil on the floor where I can be closer to my work. Keep the videos coming John!
I hadn't thought of just making the anvil at floor level.
I made NO WELD pipe version today. All I did was square up the round pipe cold and cut drilled a slot.
Thank you great video.
Great video, I made one of my own after watching and it works great. Thanks
Thanks for the great ideas!
Wow you and big dog back to back.. I need to make myself one of these. Thanks for the info.
If I had seen hios I probably would have waited to do this one. I hate to seem like I'm just following someone elses lead.
Black Bear Forge in your defense his was JUST about a holdfast. Yours was about lots of other things :)
Got some coil spring the right size work's great 👍. Bit of a juggle to use though
Found it!!! Thanks so much brother man!
You can set up the drill press mount vice grips to fit in the pritchell/hardy hole like the hold fast, you just need a tighter fit. They're used like that on welding tables
@02:58 😳🤯
This makes me think of all the ancient artifacts we’ve found and how we are completely baffled with their purpose; Simply because it’s one of those “you had to be there” moments to truly understand.
I had no idea this was the purpose of an anvil. But now that I’ve seen it, it becomes obvious why it has those features. We don’t have this epiphany with the ancients, Their technology is truly lost knowledge. Anvils man…
Good Idea ! I probably will go with the hold fast ! One because I have some material already,
So that will be my next job Zaza!