[TheForge] Smithing Question

[John Switzer]

An old fashion hold fast that cams into the pritchel hole works OK.

I have had good success with a yoke that goes around the heel of the anvil, 
this has a T handle on top and a ring below the ring is attached to a stiff 
spring mounted on the anvil stand.  You lift up on the handle and slip the 
work under the yoke and the spring pulls the works down firm. Quick and 
easy to use without losing to much heat.

A vice grip type drill press clamp can be easily modified to fit into your 
hardy hole.

Francis Whitaker had a pipe clamp the fit in the hardy hole with a wedge to 
hold it in place.

Francis also used a helper stand and then hung a weight suspended from a 
chain with a large hook on the bar he was working to hold it in place. Just 
make sure the weight won't ben your 1/2 bar.

You cold also weld a vice grip to the top of a helper stand to clamp the 
work to the stand.

Find an apprentice to help hold the work or strike for you (wife, child, 
neighbor)

Hold the stock between you thighs.

Hold fasts and hold down devices work well and are a practical solution in 
a small shop, the treadle hammer is great, but a holding device is much 
simpler to make costs less and doesn't take up as much floor space in a 
small shop.  Yes, I do have a treadle hammer and a fly press.  Both are a 
great way to do veining, but I still do small leaves at the anvil,


>Greetings,
>
>I was making leaves the other day from 1/2" round stock.  Small ivy leaf 
>shape.  When it came time to vein, I used a helper stand to hold the work 
>across the anvil to use the hammer and veining tool without holding the 
>piece.  Although fairly stable, I found the piece jumping around a bit 
>under blows from a 3 lb hammer.  I've seen designs for spring type hold 
>downs that drape over the work on the anvil.  What are some of the common 
>methods or devices that some of you more experienced smiths are 
>using?  Any good reference material?  Thanks.
>
>Regards,
>Bill Woolley
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John Switzer
7019 Burnt Mill Rd
Beulah, CO 81023
(719) 485-3109