"Backyard Blacksmithing" pounding iron on the forge this evening!

Yep I was talking about a hold down tool. The ones I’ve seen look like the one in this picture. Made of round stock that’s just bent up. Although I like the heavy duty one that fishingpol found the picture of.

As for anvil mounting I think I may take mine off the block it’s on and turn it 90 degrees and flatten off the top of the block. It seems a bit loose as well as the block has some wear spots in it. At the same time though I hate to do anything to it because the wear tells a story from somewhere!

 

blacksmith has a tool steel anvil, which are known to be loud. Chain wrap or straps can help.

J. Dirt, any chance of pulling the strap fasteners on one side of the base and either moving the straps a little and refastening them.

I ended up buying a few feet of rusty chain to match the aging and secured mine down.

 

I cleaned her up a bit this morning and snugged it up a bit just by hammering in the straps a touch. Then had to try it out of course! Made myself a water can tool out of a piece of 1/2” round bar.

 

That's a good dipper cup. I drilled a few small holes in the bottom of mine to sprinkle a water ring around the coals when the fire spreads more than I like. It's a good tool to have around.

 

Hmmmm good idea! Me and my unsteady hands might have a tendency to accidentally wash out the fire by just trying to pour it on. I might give that a try!

 

Looking good brother! Looks like you caught the smithing fever! At least it will keep you out of trouble and you can mke stuff for your house. That anvil turned out beautifully. I must say your watering can looks better than mine. I never took the time to make one, mine is a pump sprayer!

 

I ran a 120 grit flap disc over the top then a crimped wire brush over the rest of it. Followed up with a coat of I think it was 5w20 that was open on the shelf.

 

Heck yeah that's what I did when I got my anvil. It was rusty and looked pretty bad but once I got the crud off of it it turned out to be a diamond in the rought!

 

Had a few minutes this morning for some Heatin’ N’ Beatin’ made my hold down from some 1/2” round bar. I’m thinking I need to raise the gooseneck a bit higher, but it works!
Took two tries....this is what happens when you walk away for a second while taking a heat.

 

Ouch! You’ll get it worked out.

 

That must have been sparking quite a bit when it came out of the forge. That was somewhere around 2,500 degrees. Amazing what some forced air can do mixed with fuel. Fun stuff even if something gets wrecked once in a while.

Hold down looks good.

 

I went to grab a chisel then got side tracked at the grinder for a second or two then I remembered!!! I grabbed the end to pull the whole piece out and that 6” end was laying on the fire!

 

That’s a sick set up right there!!!!

 

Scotty, that’s a beautiful anvil rest you made there.

 

What size is that anvil? In the 300 range?

 

I have the twin to Scott's anvil, both came from the same place except Scott's is in much nicer shape! I need to make some repairs to mine then it will be as good as new hummm now I just need ro find the time to do it!

 

Joe nice job on the hold down tool! That's yet another thing that I'd like to make for myself.