glen56 Posted December 26, 2010 Share Posted December 26, 2010 hi all ,great site ,saw a pic of someones anvil and they used a motorcycle chain as a hold down tool ,couldn't see clear enough to see how it worked ,anybody seen this type of device ,cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim McCoy Posted December 27, 2010 Share Posted December 27, 2010 Those that I have seen work well. One end is usually attached semi pemanantly ... the other end has a wieght on it. Once the piece you need to smack is laid on the anvil the timing chain is draped over the work piece and the links allow for a reasonably secure hold down. Regular chain can work also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfootnampa Posted December 27, 2010 Share Posted December 27, 2010 I have my anvil rigged with such a chain. I have it attached to a staple driven into the anvil's stump base on one end and since my chain is longish I have not needed to weight it... I just drape it over the metal that I am wanting to chisel or punch and then I have both hands free... one to hold the punch or chisel and the other to hammer with. It needn't totally immobilize the hot iron... just hold it in place while I line up the punch or chisel. After the first strike the chisel or punch can help to hold it in place. I use a large piece of 1/4" angle iron as a cutting table when I am chiseling and bolsters or the hardy hole when punching through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glen56 Posted December 27, 2010 Author Share Posted December 27, 2010 ahh so its just draped over the anvil ,thought it may have been clamped with some type of foot operated clamp ,thanks for that will fire the forge 2 morrow and put it in place,glen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tzonoqua Posted December 27, 2010 Share Posted December 27, 2010 Hi, It may have been mine you were thinking about.... I have one of these on my big anvil... mine is attached to the stump on one side of the anvil and the other end has a large square "stirrup" that you place your foot in to hold the chain down securely over the piece you are working... hope these photos help, don't have any of me actually using it, but you should get the idea... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glen56 Posted December 27, 2010 Author Share Posted December 27, 2010 thanks for that, i make a lot of odd shaped things and would be better to hold it firmly,will go to the forge and make something up ,nice looking smithy you have there,will take some pics and send them to the site soon as i figre out how to shrink them down ,cheers ,glen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric sprado Posted December 28, 2010 Share Posted December 28, 2010 That nice fellow from Canada who has lots of blacksmith stuff on YouTube has a YouTube video on hold downs that includes one with a bike chain. Google search should find it. I'm having a Senior moment and can't remember his name... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric sprado Posted December 28, 2010 Share Posted December 28, 2010 That nice fellow from Canada who has lots of blacksmith stuff on YouTube has a YouTube video on hold downs that includes one with a bike chain. Google search should find it. I'm having a Senior moment and can't remember his name... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naz Posted December 28, 2010 Share Posted December 28, 2010 That would be David Robertson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glen56 Posted December 28, 2010 Author Share Posted December 28, 2010 great very helpful clip,got stuckin yesterday and made up a version,will send a pic when i learn how reduce photo's{been trying for a long time will wise up eventualy}thanks all,glen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlW Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 For the last four years I've been having success with a ~2' length of relatively fine (short links) welded chain from the hardware store. One end connected to the stump between the anvil's feet on the far side from me, and an 8# sash weight on the near side. It's an easy pick up, it grips well enough to keep the work from jumping around too much, and I don't need to stand on one foot to use it. I'm curious to compare conventional link chain to bicycle or motorcycle drive-chain... the ... uh... mono-directionality could be good, could be bad... hmmm. - Carl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Colleen, I like that stirrup that you have attached to the end of that, good idea. That way you can really hold your work down tight, no flying away that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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