[TheForge] Re: Holdfast

[Mike Spencer]

> I have been trying to make a holdfast for doing hot cutting. I have
> the shape right (I think) but I am having trouble. 

The holdfast is a great idea.  I have made one each of every type I
seen or read about.  None of them work. I must be a moron or something.

> The darn thing won't stay in the the hardie hole.

Just so.

> ...the Holdfast EJECTED itself up a good two feet in the air.

Been there, done that.

My solution, stolen in part, IIRC, from Pat Comstock, is a chain
holdfast.

      + 2' piece of 3/4" plywood or a board

      + Eyebolt near one end of the board

      + Bicycle or motorcycle roller chain attached to the eyebolt

      + Carabiner or similar on the other end of the chain

      + Hook or eyebolt on the off side of the anvil block on to which
        the chain can be snapped.

Board sits on the floor on the nigh side of the anvil like a treadle,
The chain goes over the anvil to the hook.  Put the workpiece under
the chain and stand on the treadle.

A further refinement is to put a few links of 1/8" ordinary chain on
the treadle end of the roller chain and a keyhole plate on the
treadle's eyebolt.  Then the treadle height can be adjusted to
accommodate a larger piece of stock that would otherwise make the
treadle too high for good hammering posture.

Some people use a stirrup instead of a board/treadle but then they
spend several seconds trying to get their boot into the stirrup.
The board is better.

When not in use, unsnap from the stump and hang on the tool rack.


FWIW,
- Mike

-- 
Michael Spencer                  Nova Scotia, Canada       .~. 
                                                           /V\ 
mspencer at tallships.ca                                     /( )\
http://home.tallships.ca/mspencer/                        ^^-^^