Forging A Hold Fast

[@ChristCenteredIronworks]

Great job on the explanation Tim!

[@paulorchard7960]

Have made a few from old claw bars, hexagonal in shape but work well if they are sized for the pritchel hole , almost useless if too small!

[@rogersrabbithole8417]

Very cool demonstration Tim, The mild steel would work for me just fine !!!!! Thank you !!!!!

[@liamscott6172]

Very good educational video Tim 🖒

[@keithdevers3772]

I made my first hold fast a few days ago. I wish I would've watched this first. But it turned out alright.

[@johnjude2685]

Hi Tim Mine ideal is the contact point is smooth...I haven't done it yet but the underneath contact point is slick. I planning to take my cutoff grinder and ruff it up such as a hammer head . Thanks Tim for more help

[@davidhillman7004]

Than you mysteries explaned

[@deliaguzman1138]

Thank you for explaining the geometry of how these things work! I just forged one, and I did it by feel--based on what I've seen online. I think I need to look at it again now and do some fine tuning per your instruction. Thanks!

[@BIGDOGFORGE]

Glad it helped!

[@mullenj315]

Thanks Tim, I can now rework mine so that it will be more effective.

[@petertricker792]

You make it look so simple. Thank you, Reverend Tim.

[@ronthacker211]

Great shape... good job

[@jackreeves3001]

Love the way you share your knowledge.

[@messmer777]

I use hold fasts for woodworking all the time, I have a woodworking bench with no vise, just holdfasts and battens. Cool video!

[@brettsayers7768]

I have seen them made before, the worst part was there was no explanation on how they worked. You have done a fine job on getting it right, thanks Tim.

[@PaulFontaniniArtist]

Great tips, I just made a Hold Fast after watching this video and it works perfect. I made it out a length of coil spring 5/8" diam.Thanks for the great tips.

[@markweiss9858]

Great job. Good to see the respect that you had for your fellow blacksmiths

[@gjacobson76]

Great explanation and presentation. Thank you!

[@larryking606]

I had made one of mystery steel , I spark tested it and it Had a great spark ! I believe it had high carbon content ! I watched you carefully and I could see what I had done wrong ! I will try and fix it tomorrow ! Thank you so much ! This Old Man is still learning !. Have a Blessed Day ! Keep Hammering !

[@coffeesstudios2122]

Nice fix to James's issue thanks Tim.

[@denniscollins1857]

Thanks Tim, makes it look easy.

[@Uncle_Bucks_Forge]

You really made that look easy.

[@rjjrjjr]

This is great, thanks!

[@csykesforge7220]

Nice Alec Steele hammer . Love the hold fast btw

[@csykesforge7220]

Simple and fast

[@dethlife111]

such a simple tool yet so effective. i have a bunch of these that i used on my wood bench dont know why i stopped using them. clamps can be a hassle

[@jojomama4787]

Damn fella,I've seen these made and have wanted to make me one for a while but you explained not only the how but also the why...thank you so much,excellent subject,excellent video!

[@daviddahl4148]

Thanks for sharing Tim.

[@oljames1687]

..Now i know the how's & why's it works, Thanks Exalted Master of Metal Mashing !! it took me 4-5 times before i got mine to work finally...!

[@dougfranklin6338]

I made mine out of coil spring. Without know what I'm doing a few months ago. Works great but a little diff than yours ie the curl on the foot. But I think everything else is about right with yours. I don't know how to treat it so I just normalized it a couple time. Thank you. Ps still not sure about treating it.

[@rossiskier08]

Great video! A few questions if anyone can help me out: 1. Would this work with a hardy hole? Unfortunately do not have a Pritchel hole 2. If so would round stock still work? Or should it match the hardy hole? 3. And if not, do you have any work hold-down suggestions for a guy with a cast iron HF anvil and a piece of railroad track? Thanks!

[@BIGDOGFORGE]

Use a piece of round that just fits in to your hardy hole. The 4 flat sides will work just as if it were a round hole... Have fun and thanks for watching.

[@rossiskier08]

@@BIGDOGFORGE I’ll give it a go, thanks!

[@flybyscy]

Thank you Tim. How would you heat treat it if it was made from car coil spring?

[@BIGDOGFORGE]

No heat treat coil spring is good the way it is.

[@flybyscy]

@@BIGDOGFORGE Thanks Tim

[@althesmith]

Used 1045 for mine, just enough spring.

[@johnjude2677]

As I to have 1.25 in band saw what is a good use for it....I was thinking parring knife or carving blades.

[@OrionsAnvil]

Great explanation. It seems like the pritchel in my Star anvil isn't completely straight, maybe a little curved. Its also about 1/2" diameter. Would the not perfectly straight hole affect the holding power? And is less than 1/2" even strong enough for a decent hold down? Sorry if these are dumb questions but I'm trying to decide if I should make one for the pritchel or the hardy. Thanks

[@brentgreer5830]

I have a lot of coil spring but wasn't planning on tempering it when I was done. If you suggest hardening and tempering it, what degree do you suggest tempering it at? Straw or blue coloring?

[@kegcoffeetable]

good video man

[@joehammond222]

Just subbed brother

[@bentoombs]

I made one exactly like that about the same material and I couldn't get mine to work. I wonder if I just got the Triangular pattern like you were talking about off or just wasn't hitting it hard enough. I guess I might not have quenched it either would that have anything to do with it?

[@richardbryant7972]

I tried making one for my hardy hole didn’t work at all, maybe try one for Pritchel hole

[@gedhuffadine5796]

Does re bar work

[@BIGDOGFORGE]

Yes it works very well

[@mtrivedi3013]

Can u make a knife without power tools??

[@bentoombs]

M Trivedi absolutely you can make knifs without power tools.I make knifs all the time. All you really need is heat, good hammer control and a file .That's for you Roy. Lol knife. Find you some railroad spikes those are perfect to practice on not going to make a great knife but easy to work