Work holding options for the anvil - blacksmithing for beginners
Вставка
- Опубліковано 8 кві 2018
- 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.
Thank you for watching. Black Bear Forge is a small one person shop located in Southern Colorado.
If you would like to take a more active role in the production of these videos, you may provide financial support through one of the two links below.
www.paypal.me/BlackBearForge
Or you may set up a monthly contribution through Patreon
/ blackbearforge
Find my shop on line at:
www.blackbearforge.com
www.blackbearforge.etsy.com
/ blackbearforge
/ black-bear-forge-20986...
The following list provides just a few resources to help you find supplies and equipment for blacksmithing.
www.piehtoolco.com/
www.centaurforge.com/
www.blacksmithsdepot.com/
www.blacksmithbolt.com/
www.oldworldanvils.com/
www.nimbaanvils.com/
fontaninianvilandtool.com/
www.abana.org/
www.mcmaster.com
kensironstore.com/
Blacksmithing and related activities can be hazardous. These videos are not a substitute for competent professional instruction. Your safety is your sole responsibility. Always use appropriate safety equipment including eye and ear protection when working in the shop. Follow manufactures safety guidelines for the use of all equipment. In the event something shown in one of these videos seems unsafe, it is up to you to make the appropriate changes to protect yourself.
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?
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 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.
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!
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.
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!
Finally getting around to making one of these. Using some steel I pulled out of some old crane mats.
You are a great teacher. THANK YOU for all your help.
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.
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
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.
1/16th to a 32nd undersized for holdfast shaft. Very frequently asked question. Outstanding, thank and you!
Thank you for the video. Very useful for the apprentice.
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!
Only a beginner,but just forged a hold fast,so easy and simple but will make forging a lot easier in future.👍👍
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
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 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.
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.
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.
A lot of Great ideas Mr John!!!😇👍
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.
Great video John. Thank you for sharing all those options.
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
Your videos are very helpful, thank you!
Thanks for the great ideas!
Great ideas, thank you!
Found it!!! Thanks so much brother man!
Made one today! Thank you for your videos!
brilliant tutorial video- much appreciated
Great information John, thanks
I worked so hard to make my first hold-fast. You made it easy, thank you.
Excellent information, thanks for sharing it. 👍
thanks for a great vid - I would really like to get into blacksmithing soo many things I'll need...
Spectacular advise and demonstration on this one. Thank you.
Just made one and its awesome.
Has this ever happened to you? There has to be a better way! Absolutely love your videos.
These videos are wonderfully done. Bravo
Love the one I got from you for woodworking. It’s perfect!
That beginning was awesome, all professional and stuff!
More great tips. Many thanks.
love the pipe clamp idea! I have a couple old ones laying around too!
I need a hold fast!
Thank you John for all the ideas!
Great video, I made one of my own after watching and it works great. Thanks
Dag seems I pick up more information each time I rewatch your videos.
Thanks
5 seconds in and that intro made me smile. Earned a sub. well done. glad I stumbled across your channel.
Glad you enjoyed it
Thank you for this video! I like the holdfast a lot, and I think it makes a great beginner's project, too.
Excellent and well presented ideas. I think the pipe clamp one is quite interesting.
I ' m begining, very nice video, thanks a lot !!!
Can’t wait to make my own!!
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.
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 .
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
Thank you for the lesson.
Thank you great video.
You are my Wilford Brimley of blacksmithing and metal working! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
There are certainly more exciting channels out there, but few as real-world informative as yours. Keep them coming!
Another fine video
Very good information here from a Man who knows his stuff.
the best teacher
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!
Just came in from my shop and said I need to make a hold fast. Nice timing! Thanks!
Sometimes I get lucky
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
just what I was looking for thanks
Another Great Video John.Thanks for the Heads-Up for the Center Finding Ruler,McMaster-Carr,12"for Less than $7.00.
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.
Great stuff mate.
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.
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!
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 .👍
Well done, thank you.
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.
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
I could rewatch your intro over and over. Great video. Spring tension hold down works pretty good also. Thanks John
Glad you liked it
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 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.
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!
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
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.
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
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
Thank u! 1st thing im maken on my new anvil
Nice work
Thanks
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.
Great ideas
200th Comment- Love these Videos.
Your Channel Is one of the best all around :)
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.
Ty for the vid, this will come in handy
Good infornational video.
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.
I think you're great blacksmith. I always watched you!
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
I saw you using this in other videos... Was wondering how you made it! Thanks for another great video!
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.