[TheForge] Re: Acme Hold down

[Mike Spencer]

Bruce wrote:

> Recently I experimented with a super-simple hold-down, the purpose
> of which was simply to keep a workpiece ON the anvil, not to hold it
> down so firmly.  You all know of it: A chain. Put a nail in the back
> side of your stump and another in the front side.  Put a link of
> chain over each, after running it across the top of the anvil.  Now
> either leave enough slack in the chain to hook your foot in the
> front side, or else rig some sort of pedal in front.  Voila.  Worked
> like a champ for operations like punching.

I second that.

Some modifications:

  + Use roller chain, roughly motorcycle-sized.  Doesn't woggle so
    much.  Improves device from hold-kinda to holdfast. :-)

  + Yes on the wooden foot treadle -- just a piece of board or plywood
    with an eye-bolt at one end. It wastes time & effort, distracts
    attention, breaks your rhythm, trying to get your foot into a loop
    of chain or a stirrup.

  + Connect the roller chain to the treadle with several links of light
    (3/16"?) plain chain and a little keyhole plate. Then, while the
    work is heating, you can adjust the length of the chain so that
    the treadle is at a convenient height for the workpiece. Only
    useful if you need to hold a piece of 1/4x1 one time and, say, a
    piece of 2" round or large irregular shape another time.

FWIW,
- Mike

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