Simple alternative to a dishing stump. Getting started.

Before accruing as many tools as I have now I used to be stuck for space, unable to find a piece of wood large enough and was in dire need of a dishing stump or form.
I managed to get hold of the bottom of an oxygen cylinder from the Iron Dwarf (Dave Hodges) here in the UK. I used it for everything, sometimes incorrectly, but these days it is a solid work horse tool of the workshop and I would utterly recommend getting hold of one.
I took a look for Dave's website and couldn't find one, butu I know he's still trading. You can find him at the International Living History Festival each year, or simply google him, he's not too hard to find.
livinghistoryfestival.wordpre...

[@willies.b7705]

Gran consejo, muchas gracias por compartir sus conocimientos!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@ToddMcMahon]

About a year ago you posted "10 Second Tip # 17" where you mention how well your air tank bottom dishing form works. I took that information to heart, and in the last year I've managed to pick up three gas cylinders (for free!) that all have different dished bottoms. I haven't cut the bottoms off yet, as I am still debating what kind of stand I want to use with them, and I do not know how tall I want them to be. I was planning on filling them with sand and welding a bottom plate onto them. Can't wait to use them! :-) Love your channel. I've learned so much from you already! Thank you sir!

[@andywright2606]

What a great idea. Going to have to start looking for one of those.Thanks for sharing the info 👍⚒

[@SwallowForge]

You can build a floor standing version, filled with sand.... if only I could remember who did the 'how to' tutorial.... oh yeah... it was me :) you can add the link to the list if you like :)

[@SwallowForge]

Plus we still need to get together..maybe a joint project for Chalke Valley?

[@GreenleafWorkshop]

hello mate yes to the joint project, just need to narrow down what it will be, and I'll look up the video and get it added. All well with you?

[@philbimpson8758]

Nice work shop. Peace and love from Liverpool England

[@GreenleafWorkshop]

thanks mate, if you're up Liverpool way you should look up Fred Ryall, Ryall Armouries, does some splendid work.

[@jorgeguanche5327]

Nice!!!!...thanks for the mini tour💕

[@GreenleafWorkshop]

My pleasure. My workshop is tiny, hence the tight angles on a lot of the films I do :)

[@tomk3478]

It's funny, but I knew about the oxygen tank trick, but I really want to see that large wooden block you've got stakes poking out of. I'm looking at that and really would love a more detailed look if you have the time. Thanks!

[@GreenleafWorkshop]

Sure, although it might be the swage block that's resting on a stump, but I can try and take a look next time I remember and have a camera with me.

[@keithkempenich6401]

A couple of points I'd add: You can cut off the tanks so that they sit at the proper hammering height. All of our dishing tanks are about 3-4 feet high and sit directly on the ground. We strap several of them together with a rachet strap and they are very stable. That brings me to the next point, that at least in the US, different types of gas cylinders have different dishes in the bottom. It is worth inspecting many tanks because you can find them in many different depths that are suitable for different jobs. We have 5 that are all different. I have also heard of people cutting the dishes off short and filling them with sand to make them heavier and deaden the ring you get when hammering into them.

[@GreenleafWorkshop]

Keith, nice points all round. I kept mine short because when I got it the chap was mailing it to me and I had no real idea what I was doing, I like it now though as I've limited floor space and move it around a lot. I like the idea of the sand, I hadn't thought of that.

[@keithkempenich6401]

@@GreenleafWorkshop I am interested in making some small, portable ones for that reason, too. Do you do anything to keep the dish from wandering as you're hammering into it? I imagine it moves with each strike.

[@GreenleafWorkshop]

In the video you can see a bit of bar poking up. I just make sure the dish is over that and it doesn't go anywhere :) not the cleverest solution but it works well enough for me.