Being Left handed i finally started to keep the horn to my left or hammer hand..... I never thought about using it opposite and the hardy hole becoming more dangerous and that is a point well taken, thank you :). Now files??? that's a whole different story as all files in my opinion are made for right handed people. I find turning the point of the file towards me and using the far right side of my anvil i need to file towards me for the best results... I've never seen any mention by anyone about that I would love to see a video on how other left handed people deal with that
@michaelandersen54536 жыл бұрын
I know this a older video but I made my stand for my first real anvil this weekend and watched how you mounted and reduced the ring. As usual a very educational video which helped me make some decisions. Thank you again. If it doesn’t rain in the morning I think I’m going to bang on some red hot metal tomorrow
@MrGoocherson4 жыл бұрын
I got hold of an old farriers anvil, heavily worn on the horn and the edge if the horn is on your tong side, now i know why blacksmiths "stand at the horn", and im delighted i don't need to start buying hardfacing welding rods, thank you!
@tomalealso2 жыл бұрын
you make a compelling argument, so i will check that out. I had always put the horn to my tong side and I agree the anvil needs to be about knuckle height. I have seen so many videos about reducing the ring of the anvil, personally I like the ring of the anvil, it is kind of comforting to me. I want my anvil secure for sure but if I took the ring out I am concerned that I will deaden the rebound and that is not a good thing, at least to me.
@brianfalls58944 жыл бұрын
As always, your videos are very instructive John. I'm seriously considering getting into blacksmithing and I never even thought about which side of the anvil I should place the horn on. That is some very useful info there and trust me when I say this, I'll not forget either.
@faelwolf11775 жыл бұрын
Like most things, if it's safe, and works better for you, that's the way to do it. It's your shop, and your tools, and you're the boss of your shop. Simple enough. Why should you set up your shop to please someone else? Good video, so tired of people who insist theirs is the only way.
@leonarddoubleday71554 жыл бұрын
G'Day i'm from Australia and Blacksmith tool's are hard to get not many places to bay tool so watching your video as help me a great deal i have made a few thing's now i think your video are great please keep doing them. Regards leonard
@garygraham29743 жыл бұрын
Hi that is my favorite subject that you talk about
@TheOldaz14 жыл бұрын
Well said John. Personally I like the horn under the hammer for the very reasons you explain, although my friend (who is a master farrier) always has the horn under the tongs. He doesn't like my "arrangement" most because he's a foot shorter than me. He has always said orientation is what suits you, you're usually the only one who has to use what you arranged and if it works for you it must be right.
@michaelmarks13913 жыл бұрын
Thank you for going out of your way to accommodate left handed smiths. Left handed people like myself live in a world that is not designed for us and the annoyances, difficulties, and outright dangers that go with that are rarely acknowledged.
@SirFuseable7 жыл бұрын
You have some very good points. I have a strong preference for the horn under the hammer hand but I also find that for some jobs I prefer my anvil oriented differently. With it weighing only 182 lbs (plus the stand) it's easy enough to turn around as and when required. As you say, it's a tool and I don't like having my tools locked into any single position.
@BlackBearForge7 жыл бұрын
I agree that it is handy to me able to move an anvil at times. But you would be amazed at how much more efficient your work is when it doesn't move.
@jetblackstar7 жыл бұрын
I now want my sat nav to say "in 200 yards turn to your tong hand"
@thejosuchav6 жыл бұрын
So much Yes
@jamesmcmillen48287 жыл бұрын
Glad to hear that you are open minded about this topic. I typically orient my anvil in the "farrier's position"...tong hand over horn. A few guys have roasted me about this. I agree that its personal preference and comfort. I'll give switching sides a try, as you do bring up the good point of needing a hardy tool for an extended period of time. The most common reason that I get as to why I'm doing it wrong...."because that's they way it is!" lol
@BlackBearForge7 жыл бұрын
It seems like "because so and so said so is the reason I hear".
@garethbaus5471 Жыл бұрын
I don't have a strong opinion on horn direction since I don't do a whole lot of work on the horn a lot and would be perfectly content with using a bick in the hardy hole on an anvil with no built in horn. I recently got an idea for noise reduction from the shop where I recently started working. Hanging a weight from one of the holes in the heel of a London pattern anvil (it doesn't necessarily matter which hole) makes an even bigger difference than magnets under the horn.
@hosiercraft96757 жыл бұрын
Well John, , there is always someone who wants their way to be the right one. We know the right one is the one that works for the Smith. Because of fatigue, I often switch tong and hammer hands so I can keep going without having mistakes at least to finish working that heat. But as always great information.
@richardwatkins84532 жыл бұрын
Thank you, very helpful. Just setting up my first anvil and this video gives a very objective and practical discussion of why you might prefer one orientation over the other. It helped me decide which way to go - to start with anyway. Also like the idea about trying it for a bit before making a firm decision
@brettsayers77687 жыл бұрын
Great explanation on anvil placement, that has really helped me decide where to have my anvil whilst working
@bhazen4065 жыл бұрын
Love the second anvil you brought out im currently on the hunt for one
@aarronshannon82995 жыл бұрын
i ordered my anvil on amazon it was branded by happybuy fairly cheap and multiple sizes
@TheRustyGarageandHomestead7 жыл бұрын
You had some really good points. Honestly as a beginner I never really thought about the differences on the anvil orientation. Thanks for all the knowledge you put out, your full of information. It's taken me about 2 months but I believe I have watched every video you have put up. I look forward to see what new videos u post each day. Thanks again your neighbor in the panhandle state
@BlackBearForge7 жыл бұрын
I truly appreciate you watching all of the videos, but some of those early ones were pretty bad.
@TheRustyGarageandHomestead7 жыл бұрын
Black Bear Forge lol they all have some useful information in them. Your video quality and sound are alot better than earlier videos. Your moving in the right direction keep it up
@pascualvasquezjr.62857 жыл бұрын
Everyone's perception generally becomes our truth and our reality. Right is mostly a matter of preference. Thank you for addressing this in a manner that allows for our differences. I truly enjoy and learn from your videos.
@paulorchard79604 жыл бұрын
Good points there John, think i’ll turn mine around so the horn is under my hammer hand! Thanks mate.
@billwoehl30513 жыл бұрын
Idea 💡: put the forge straight out in line with the horn and heal, then you can work at either orientation 🤔
@jaspermurphy44652 жыл бұрын
Thank you sir ,
@stevesyncox98932 жыл бұрын
Always enjoy your info. Thanks John.
@neiljborja Жыл бұрын
At my university where I picked up blacksmithing, we had a rule that you never had cutters in the Hardie hole unless you were cutting. We had a bronze hammer too for cutting with the Hardie, I guess the instructors got tired of fixing mangled Hardie cutters.
@BlacksmithTWD5 жыл бұрын
I'm used to standing in between the fire and the anvil, so I tend to walk about the anvil a lot anyhow. My main anvil also has a 3th feature, on one side the corner is mostly rounded, for most jobs I like to have the rounded side towards me, but that means the hardy hole is at my hammer hand.
@tannernewman31982 жыл бұрын
My being ambidextrous I’m going to orient my anvil to where I can work on both sides of it. As a rule of thumb for me, regardless of which side the horn is on. I’m going to keep the hardy hole side on whichever tong hand I’m using because all it takes is forgetting to take the hardy tool out once and that would make for a bad day. But like you mentioned it’s everyone’s personal preference. So for me if I have a London style anvil like yours for working right handed I’ll work on the side with the horn to my right and I’ll use the other side of the anvil when I’m working left handed with the horn to my left.
@thomasarussellsr5 жыл бұрын
Thanks, John. Hardy under the tong hand makes perfect sense to me.
@5x5357 жыл бұрын
Another big thank you for analyzing this question so thoroughly and helping me understand the whys behind the different opinions. Another great video!
@andrewjaye29814 жыл бұрын
This is great help for someone just getting started. You really explain things very well. Thanks.
@jakeradcliff36527 жыл бұрын
Excellent vid! Thank you for sharing your insight on this topic. A lot of instructors will skip this and say the anvil placement is "this way" just because that's how it's done. I especially like how you couch the terms hammer hand vs. tong hand instead of saying left or right.
@kensmapleleafretirement5 жыл бұрын
Thank you for taking the time to make this video for us....
@stephenolivo7 жыл бұрын
Well done. Covered most of what I talk to people about. The only real thing I would add to this that I didn't notice you talking about the angle of the stock on the horn. This is one thing that I find much easier to work with when the horn is on my hammer hand as the angle is more open for me and if the horn is on my tong hand I am being squeezed between the stock/tongs and the anvil plus reaching over the anvil to work on the horn or bend. I will often turn my anvil around as needed even working from the ends of it. But generally I set it up with horn to the hammer hand.
@BlackBearForge7 жыл бұрын
Good point. Thanks
@yoitsgunattack2 жыл бұрын
what I like the most is when horns and hardies are on the same side and put those both on the tong side. cant hit with hammer hand and also i feel its natural to put the 2nd most used part of the anvil under where the arm naturally rests.
@glennwiebe51287 жыл бұрын
Excellent presentation of this hot and often divisive topic. I'm left handed and have my horn under my hammer hand for all of the benefits you mentioned. I also have my anvil slightly higher than "normal" and have found that my orientation has another benefit. With the horn under my left/hammer hand, I am much less likely to hit the anvil with my knuckles while working. When I began forging almost 10 years ago, I had my anvil turned the other way and many times bashed my knuckles on the face. Now that rarely occurs. Thanks again. Keep forging!
@BlackBearForge7 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the input, that was an issue I hadn't thought about
@JoshHefnerX3 жыл бұрын
Seems like a lot of which side, would be determinate on whether you use the horn or hardie tools more often. Thanks for the vid!
@JustinTopp5 жыл бұрын
I like horn under my hammer handle and I’m right handed. But I often walk around the whole anvil a lot to get weird angles. I like the hardy to the left under my tong hand because I use hardy tools more than the horn
@johnroot82157 жыл бұрын
Wise and practical counsel. Thanks!
@andrewperry6055 жыл бұрын
Bugger. I thought I'd nearly worked out what anvil I wanted, now I think I want one like your wife's. Thanks for the informative video
@松田もしくろす5 жыл бұрын
It looks like what I have. Mine is a Peddinghaus made by the Ridgid tool company. They are one of the last fully forged anvils left. Others are cast or machined. The face is somehow hardened and tempered. I am not 100% sure but Ruffinghaus may also make one in this pattern, but I do not know the technical details. Both are shipped and are expensive anvils. Both need dressing when you get them as the edges are rather sharp. I got a deal on mine because Ridgid was (it may still be) the same company as the plumbing tool maker so I had it shipped to Home Depot for free by way of the Ridgid tool representative. Remember that a German anvil prints the weight in Kilos on the side, and anvils easily reach weights over 100 kilos. Why Ridgid moved its operations overseas I do not know. Fewer things are made in the good old USA anymore.
@buckwildxp16 жыл бұрын
Super helpful video, sir! Thank you! Gonna be getting the chainsaw out tomorrow, my stump is definitely why I'm leaving hammer marks in everything. It's TOO TALL! How I haven't figured that out on my own, I'm ashamed to admit, but your video made it crystal clear. Sub for sure!
@kansasprairieforge29184 жыл бұрын
My Anvil is a NC Calvary Anvil and the Hardie hole is just in front of the step. So it's oriented under my tong hand being right-handed. I've gotten used to this orientation. So I don't have the danger of a hot cut getting in the way. However, hardie tools need to be adapted to fit over the step. This is sometimes problematic. But with a little bit of design changes to hardie tools it's doable.
@roadhandviking27415 жыл бұрын
I make knives , tomahawks and a lot of this and that. I greatly appreciate your advice and information .
@vanpat527 жыл бұрын
This makes sense for me; thanks hello from Belgium
@NeilGraham.I.M.F5 жыл бұрын
Very helpful john. I just got my 1st real anvil n this answered all my ?s
@jjppres7 жыл бұрын
Finally I get to comment. I had been watching you on an android tablet and the ability to comment wasn't available. My anvil is set like yours for no other reason that it feels comfortable that way. I think if your going to be working and the ability to be semi-comfortable while doing so is there then why not use it. It is just that far more natural and comfortable.
@BlackBearForge7 жыл бұрын
Comfort over a long days work can be very important.
@broadusthompson16667 жыл бұрын
There’s another benefit of working with the horn towards your hammer, if you choke up on a long handle or have to do work angling your hammer blows the horn provides clearance for your hammer handle where the other way around you’d bang the handle into the face near the hardy before hitting the work.
@willoughbyforge93982 жыл бұрын
We farriers use the horn much more then a hardy. We use the horn to turn the branches on shoes. But to each there own .
@deanrantz11125 жыл бұрын
I have a small shop and I orient my horn side to my right (Hammer hand).....Only because I have my horn facing in towards the inside so I wont accidentally walk into it and get skewered
@GONE2VT8027 жыл бұрын
Great information John. Thank you!
@Glenacus7 жыл бұрын
now that sir is a very useful video good job
@robphone48957 жыл бұрын
Good points!
@scottreynolds48277 жыл бұрын
John, I like your style because I agree; London pattern is horn to right for a right handed hammer. Makes more sense as you gave the facts. I have them both directions ( multiple anvils) and the above works best. I agree about the use of hardie shank tooling. Remove it if you must. Leave it if your tooling is opposite the hammer, and is safe to do so. I do work around the anvil but not straddling the horn! I understand that the traditional method of London pattern placement is horn to left if you hammer with your right. I never understood that. Take care and keep the videos comming!!
@BlackBearForge7 жыл бұрын
I think some of that horn under the tongs hand way of doing things is because it make it easier to bend horse shoes. Since i don't shoe horses and most smiths don't, I prefer the other way around.
@scottreynolds48277 жыл бұрын
Black Bear Forge Like I said, I have multiple anvils and yes, that is how I forge shoes. Learned that way and to do it another feels uncomfortable. I learned to play BANJO first, then guitar. Yes, backwards I know. So when playing guitar......I play it like a BANJO if I'm setting down; nestled between my knees. LOL But that feels natural to me.
@BlackBearForge7 жыл бұрын
I tried to learn guitar several times but never enjoyed it enough to stick with it. Then I took up the banjo and really like that although I have been so busy the last few years that I don't practice like I should.
@shadowcastre7 жыл бұрын
As always.. good information! For me, as I'm right handed (hammer hand) horn left or right makes no difference. I can work either with no problem... There is only one thing that determines my anvil orientation. I'm right handed so the hardy hole Always goes to the left for all the safety reasons you mentioned. Thanks for the video...
@Aminuts20097 жыл бұрын
I've seen people almost come to blows over this subject. I think the best explanation I've read was, if you're making tooling and use the hardy more. Put that side under your hammer. Most people are right handed so that would go to the right. If you work as an artist and use the horn more. Then the horn should be on the right. Made sense to me. Personally I walk around my anvils and use the side that's best suited to the work I am doing at the moment.
@gregsmith32897 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the info. I’m right handed and I like the horn under my tong hand. But my hardy hole is in the horn. I have a Weird nc tool farriers anvil.
@bentoombs7 жыл бұрын
The great thing is we all have both. If you walk to the other side it flips everything a hundred eighty degrees. Might not salve everything but I walk around mine all the time
@ronthacker2117 жыл бұрын
Yet another great video. i like the horn to my left (tong hand) and closest to the forge. it also keeps the horn away from my traffic lane. with limited space, i rarely (if ever) walk between the horn and the forge.
@BlackBearForge7 жыл бұрын
I have bruised my leg on many occasions by walking to close to the horn.
@bogomir676 жыл бұрын
I Thing that if I would use the hardy like at 2:30 I would turn the hardy 90° and align the piece parallel with the sides of the anvil by turning myself clockwise a little (rather than stepping over). However, the danger with the hardy under the hammer hand is still present and IMHO the strongest argument for having the horn under the hammer hand. I need to consider this, since I can't position my anvil in a way that I can walk all around it.
@1889michaelcraig6 жыл бұрын
My step father always used to tell me "boy you could break the horn off of an Anvil" all the time when I was a kid lol
@randallhackworth421 Жыл бұрын
Just as I’m thinking, would it be OK to just leave enough space to work all the way around it, John says or you can leave enough space so you can work all the way around😂
@popgrubbs7 жыл бұрын
I never considered the hardie tool. I guess that's because I don't have any yet. I just wood fired my portable forge today to make sure all the parts are working properly. I'm going to order some coal next, but I'm turning my anvil around. I like all my fingers.
@scottsalgren20247 жыл бұрын
You're right. It's all about preference, even for hard core advocates of a particular orientation. But, I guess I shouldn't chime in yet as I do not have an anvil. 8 inches rail.
@eviltwinx6 жыл бұрын
I’m with you on anvil height. I like setting it a bit higher so I don’t have to bend over. My stand is filled with sand so I can easily adjust the height.
@truegritbulldog7 жыл бұрын
Another great video! Keep it up.
@TufStockdogs6 жыл бұрын
Good job buddy thank you for sharing that
@forge521007 жыл бұрын
Don't have a strong opinion on it, but my anvil is set up with the horn to the left for most operations. That said, I have no problem walking around the anvil and working from any side. Also, since my anvil is a German pattern Refflinghaus the hardy is up near the horn there's no issue with hardy tools which I remove for the most part. This is just what seems natural to me after working on this anvil for a few years. A different anvil I might do differently.
@elvisguerrero14945 жыл бұрын
great video with always very useful information , but what if you find a great deal on a NC standard farriers anvil and the hardy hole is right next to the horn ??????
@lawrenwimberly73115 жыл бұрын
brother, I'm right there with ya... I'm right handed and keep my horn to the right... If I could post a pic I'd show ya
@strongsadventures7 жыл бұрын
Thanks for another great video.
@eliallore55066 жыл бұрын
I was always told to have hardy hole at your tong hand. Reason was safety. In case you forget to pull hardy tool out, you do not accidentally swing down onto it. Possibly causing great injuries.
@BlackBearForge6 жыл бұрын
I believe I tried to make that point in this video
@eliallore55066 жыл бұрын
Yes you did. My comment was more of an agreement and support of what you said then a stand alone comment. Love your vids, thank you.
@billwoehl30515 жыл бұрын
Idea, if taller material, instead of lowering the anvil, just have a handy step you can stand on like a small pallet. Or a couple, for more room to work on.
@bdamian-ic7sh5 жыл бұрын
How does one make an anvil work quietly in a shop with a concrete floor? Seriously considering on making the investment to get into blacksmithing and my garage is on a slab.
@UsDiYoNa2 жыл бұрын
I keep the horn under my hammer hand, step to the side to work on the horn.
@TheFlypress4 жыл бұрын
I noticed a rather nice deep throat fly press in the background , I have a similar item (made up loads of tooling for it and find it a very versatile machine )which I love ,do you use this much ?
@BlackBearForge4 жыл бұрын
I need to use it more than I do. But I'll need to make more tooling
@TheFlypress4 жыл бұрын
@@BlackBearForge as yet haven't run out of ideas for tooling for mine (,even works in a power cut:) 6.0 tonnes of force (its a 6N) to play with but can also be used very gently ...love watching your stuff by the way ..compulsive viewing ...
@3870TheDad7 жыл бұрын
As always, another great information video. Great questions and answers. Love your videos, John!!
@patdoherty38056 жыл бұрын
What is the block (with the different shaped holes) called that is sitting between your anvils?
@BlackBearForge6 жыл бұрын
That is a swage block kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4iTiWWEh7yoq8U
@Mr1nferno5 жыл бұрын
I built a lazy Suzanne anvil block so I can rotate it however I need it
@dougfranklin63387 жыл бұрын
I just watched an older video of yours. You showed the regulator on your gas forge and the different psi you use. I have been in the world of metals most my life. But just now getting into Black Smith. Iv used gas bottles for ever and when I can I through away the regulators and use flow meters not even sure if there is a flow meter for propane but reason I don't like regs is they loose their accuracy where flow meter is less likely. My question is. Is that amount of accuracy Important on a gas forge. It is in a lot of different welding types Thank you for your time and sorry for a long post
@BlackBearForge7 жыл бұрын
I would say that the accuracy is less important than adjusting to achieve the results you want. I rare;y look at the gauge.
@dougfranklin63387 жыл бұрын
Black Bear Forge thank you I didn't think it would matter as much on that
@Qrunch3 жыл бұрын
Safety first… That’s the way I like it.
@johnwest47887 жыл бұрын
I don't know if there is any truth to this but I've heard that in the old days the master smith would work on one side of the anvil and the apprentice on the other side; that the apprentice would then become so used to working the other side that when he became a master smith he would continue to work on the side he was on as an apprentice.
@BlackBearForge7 жыл бұрын
I have heard that as well. It could be true
@jeffreyzariczny2067 жыл бұрын
I've watched a lot of your videos and I was wondering what kind of anvil you used? It looks pretty big too
@BlackBearForge7 жыл бұрын
It doesn't have a makers name, but those that are more educated on that topic think it's a Hay Budden
@DedObed2 жыл бұрын
Dear John, thank you for sharing an American perspective on the matter! It surprised me that the only smith-anvil orientation you reject is actually (very close to) The Position of the Austrian school -- and man, did they know to smith! Here kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZrdn5t4frZ3pas, a 6th generation blacksmith talks about it -- that the driving principle is to have the hammer swing perpendicular to the workpiece and unobstructed by any anvil features. (The video is in Czech, but a smith will make sense of it anyway and there's some really cool content on the channel!) Keep up the great work, of all the blacksmithing channel from across the ocean, I like yours the most!
@matthewhall60877 жыл бұрын
Dont matter in less you have turning cams. On the side
@gateway88336 жыл бұрын
Every time I’m watching your video when you start hammering my cat taps my IPad and changes the video.
@BlackBearForge6 жыл бұрын
Silly cat
@007-b9n7 жыл бұрын
I think has a beginners I well keep the horn to my right( I am right handed). The safety thing is a big deal for me. Hell I keep touching hot metal with my bare hand. Lol
@BlackBearForge7 жыл бұрын
Oh you'll never stop doing that. You will do it less often, but it will still happen
@joelegrand59035 жыл бұрын
I vote for horn under my hammer hand, I have 2 London style anvil, one is a small 15 pound & the other is 150. Would love for you to have a woman blacksmith on you video, if not your wife then some one you know. My daughter would not work metal, to dirty, but there are women who would like to get into blacksmith.
@jonas24313 жыл бұрын
Awesome didnt know your wife was into forging. Thats sweet
@humeanity23937 жыл бұрын
As Salam Alaikum nother good video... don't have an issue being ambidextrous 😁.... still good to understand
@jetblackstar7 жыл бұрын
Hume Anity Wa Alaikum Salaam, we'll then the whole video was useful to you if you can use both the left and right handed tips :) lucky thing. Must help build muscles evenly, not just your hammer hand lol. +black bear forge for what it's worth I apologies for us British building a lop sided anvil :)
@probablynot57676 жыл бұрын
Just become ambidextrous
@jimbrown9885 Жыл бұрын
Easy way to remember: "the 2 H's" ...Hammer side + Horn side. Not Hammer side + Hardy side. ...doh!
@ralphbryant4575 Жыл бұрын
Talk about totally unnecessary "technical analysis" of common sense.