Every time I do a search for a particular smithing topic I end up back on your channel. I've been subscribed for a long while and always recommend the channel to the kids that I do basic instruction for.

@BlackBearForge

Ай бұрын

Glad to be able to help

I wish he had been my shop teacher 35 yrs ago,

@JacksonDunnoKnows

2 жыл бұрын

Right! It is nice having this awesome archive of... Everything! 🍻

@nephilimborn

2 жыл бұрын

He is good I like that British smoking guy too

@christophercrahen9302

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, indeed. My shop teacher was an abusive d××k and I never had confidence until later when I learned by the people doing it for a living. Teaching someone to Smith is a gift for both people. Anyone that can't enjoy teaching smithing to younger people should grump off. Passing your knowledge, pain, and tips along is what makes things better. And, back to the original comment, Black Bear Forge is by far the best...especially for those with elbow tendinitis...listen to this guy. I'm smithing again because of him.

@qwerty90615

Жыл бұрын

My shop teacher was equally good, Mr. Delzell. He shaped many boys into well adapted working men. I still have a couple of the projects I made in his classes around the house.

I’ve watched your channel for awhile. In response to your question regarding the commentary or not, I personally feel you really reach out and speak to beginners. I love the way you explain things. It’s because of you I started getting interested in blacksmithing. You made it not so intimidating. Thanks, it’s now one of my favorite things to do.

@xrexc3179

3 жыл бұрын

I second these sentiments 100%! Clear concise instruction while never being condecending. A vault style cabinet of information! Lol

@stevegriffiths8906

Жыл бұрын

I concur! Whenever I see or think of a new project at the forge, I always look to see if John has posted a video on it! I appreciate everyone who takes the time and money to make these videos, but in my view, no one presents the information as clearly as you do John. I have 3 favourite You Tube blacksmithing posters, John, Torbjorn and Roy. Between the three of you and your wonderful videos, I think I have enough inspiration to keep me going for years.

0:08 me every second of blacksmithing

@JacksonDunnoKnows

2 жыл бұрын

Lol. It happens to us all. I was just telling my neighbor who was humorously shocked when I dropped a hot leaf I was showing him how to make. Just imagine how many times a tool or project was dropped, and they just cut it out the video?

I am all over this... already ordered my 11/16 round. Thanks again as usual.

I just started blacksmithing a few months ago and your videos are my main source of learning. You are incredibly knowledgeable, thorough and articulate. Your willingness to share your expertise just so people can learn is awesome. I came here this morning to learn how to forge a hold down and I got a lot more than just that. Thank you!! Happy 4th of July!!!

@BlackBearForge

11 ай бұрын

Glad to help

You are a great teacher. THANK YOU for all your help.

I have seen this before but only today realized that I really need one. 20 minutes later, I am now the proud owner of my own "holdfast". many thanks from Sweden.

Thank you for the video. Very useful for the apprentice.

From Toledo Spain, i thank you for all the information on how to work the art of blacksmithing, I really like the educational way of working with iron, Congratulations and I will continue watching your videos

@BlackBearForge

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Finally getting around to making one of these. Using some steel I pulled out of some old crane mats.

I used a Harbor Freigh f-style clamp. Cut the fixed end off and welded on a 5/8's bolt and it works fine

Really good video! Thanks for all of your help! My little setup is starting to take shape thanks to your videos! One thing I'd add to your video is for those who only have a budget gas forge, the work piece doesn't fit very well in the forge once you've put the bend in, so it's worth thinking about that before you put that bend in. Get it as close to the desired end-state first, and then put that bend in. Thanks again for your help!

Yup, made one of these a few months ago out of some scrap bar I found. Really handy.

I made my hold down from an old crow bar. For long pieces I have a loop of dog chain hanging from the rafters. It has the hook on it so I can adjust the length. The chain holds the far end of the work piece and allows me to swing the hot end back and forth between the fire and anvil. The fire table and the anvil need to be compatible heights. You can have different hooks in the rafters to hang the chain in different places. I used to use an adjustable stand, but you still have to lift the work piece, place it accurately. You can't change the angle while your working it, and they fall over. Everyone's shop is arranged differently. Try and see if the dog chain works for you.

I like the fact that your not so technical, so many people make blacksmithing such a complicated science that it frustrates me. Thanks for the vid!

A lot of Great ideas Mr John!!!😇👍

Made one today! Thank you for your videos!

1 of the very first things I made was a hold fast. It was crude but it works🤣 I wish I found this video sooner!

@BlackBearForge

3 жыл бұрын

As long as it works

Has this ever happened to you? There has to be a better way! Absolutely love your videos.

I love these funny beginnings of the videos. You Sir must be a great person, with so much knowledge, skills and experience in this craft, and also with good sense of humor. God bless you for doing these videos and sharing them with others. What a great time to live in, to be able to watch you from other side of the world. Thank you!

@jamesmcmillen4828

6 жыл бұрын

In a typical blacksmith shop, when things get to that point (the opening of the video), tools start to fly. lol

As a woodworker I love holdfasts for their **speed** as well as the ease of putting pressure anywhere on the work. It seems to me that for forging they also have the advantage of saving time (and therefore heat) compared to messiing about with clamps & threads.

One my old blacksmithing teacher used to use regularly is a chain with a weight on it, similar to what you have, but it was hooked to the butcher block or around the anvil at one end, and to hold things down we'd just throw the chain over the working metal and the anvil and it'd stay put.

Love the one I got from you for woodworking. It’s perfect!

Great video John. Thank you for sharing all those options.

I ' m begining, very nice video, thanks a lot !!!

love the pipe clamp idea! I have a couple old ones laying around too!

Thank you for this video! I like the holdfast a lot, and I think it makes a great beginner's project, too.

Spectacular advise and demonstration on this one. Thank you.

That beginning was awesome, all professional and stuff!

Your videos are very helpful, thank you!

I need a hold fast! Thank you John for all the ideas!

Excellent information, thanks for sharing it. 👍

I just watched Big Dog Forge make one of the hold fast. I need to make one. Both of you made it look easy. Thanks

I really like the hold down options you have shown in this video! I will be making both myself. Really enjoy your videos keep them coming.

Great video, I made one of my own after watching and it works great. Thanks

thanks for a great vid - I would really like to get into blacksmithing soo many things I'll need...

These videos are wonderfully done. Bravo

I worked so hard to make my first hold-fast. You made it easy, thank you.

Excellent and well presented ideas. I think the pipe clamp one is quite interesting.

Great information John, thanks

Dag seems I pick up more information each time I rewatch your videos. Thanks

1/16th to a 32nd undersized for holdfast shaft. Very frequently asked question. Outstanding, thank and you!

Just made one and its awesome.

There are certainly more exciting channels out there, but few as real-world informative as yours. Keep them coming!

The main reason I found you and kept watching is because you work alone. Was your hammer making alone that caught me, everyone uses a striker?! I have no one else crazy enough to come help me :) so your techniques are invaluable because of that. So thanks.

@BlackBearForge

6 жыл бұрын

They just don't know what they're missing

Can't beat traditional tried n tested over decades ,thanks for showing us how to simplify things ,nice vid John keep em coming .Ant from Wales UK .👍

You are my Wilford Brimley of blacksmithing and metal working! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Very impressive the simple way you made that fasthold tool and specially the tip about using a cold roll rod and not having to forge it ,Thanks for the film very informative and simple .

Another Great Video John.Thanks for the Heads-Up for the Center Finding Ruler,McMaster-Carr,12"for Less than $7.00.

brilliant tutorial video- much appreciated

Very good information here from a Man who knows his stuff.

Only a beginner,but just forged a hold fast,so easy and simple but will make forging a lot easier in future.👍👍

I typically have my 9 year old stepson hold whatever needs to be held. He enjoys being at the anvil with me. Otherwise, I typically make do with whatever suits the need. I love how blacksmiths creatively use whatever is at hand, or modifies another tool to suit the purpose.

Thank you for this video John. I'm going to put one of these hold fast tools onto my to do list of tools to make. I was making my first leaf a couple days ago and I still had a good sized section of steel attached to my leaf. Well, as I was doing some cutting on that leaf, that darn thing jumped off my anvil 3 different times so that hold fast would have worked perfect for my project. As always sir, many thanks for a very informative and educational video. I sure learned some things tonight.

Can’t wait to make my own!!

Another excellent video. I don't know why I have not yet made a holdfast for my anvil. I must remedy that soon. This continues to be like a first rate correspondence course. i don't have to do each lesson exactly when you do them, but I have the information readily available and can do it at my pace. I am enjoying your videos --- and enjoying them because I'm learning a lot. Thanks again.

I really appreciate all you do for the black Smith community.... you got me doing a lot of thinking ..one using the pipe clamp and how to fasten tight to the anvil.when I have it done I will sent it to you and see what you think... thanks again for everything

Thanks for the great ideas!

Found it!!! Thanks so much brother man!

hello. I love your videos because your explanations are simple and easy to understand. Your techniques are also very well filmed and it allows us to see how to proceed. it is certain that I will make this tool. have a nice day.

Finally :P after finding your channel, I have found a way to keep the hot steel from flying in the shop that requires little hands on time

More great tips. Many thanks.

Ok, now that I know that I have been making them out of too small of a rod, I will try again. Thanks! I bet I will FINALLY make a holdfast that works.

I do not have a setup for working metal nor the knowledge to do so, but thank you so much for archiving your knowlege of skills that could soon be lost. I was on the edge of my seat watching you work above your cell phone, especially when you dropped the warm holdfast into the hole. You live dangerously!

Thank you SO MUCH for making this video. I just made one of these today per your instructions, must've taken me only about ten minutes to forge. I'm really looking forward to using it. Wish I could shake your hand.

Great video, and you are right, a hold fast is fairly easy to make. Mastering it might take a few tries, but adjustments are easy

I love your videos. Thank you for sharing this knowledge with the world.

@abechappelle1077

Жыл бұрын

I made one for myself out of 1X1/2 solid bar. It works great!

Im just getting started in forging. Was so happy to buy the 1st few things that I forgot the most important one, the pliers. Been looking for ways to hold the steel so I can get started while I wait for them to b delivered. Thanks for the help

Thank you for your help. I'm starting with a simple cast iron anvil and work holding has been a nightmare. Thank you for an expert peek into the amazing world of forging and smithing! A

Great ideas, thank you!

I could rewatch your intro over and over. Great video. Spring tension hold down works pretty good also. Thanks John

@BlackBearForge

6 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it

I am a newbie to blacksmithing, and my journey began a few months ago when I inherited my grandfather's old Vulcan anvil from his farm. Anyway, I just wanted to say that I really enjoy your way of teaching. For someone who has been smithing for many years, you still have an open mind and really get me thinking about the myriad of ways to work steel. I have been a steamfitter for 30 years and cannot believe that I just discovered this amazing trade. Thanks so much for taking the time and effort to teach your skills on here. It is a real pleasure to watch and learn from you!

Thank you for the lesson.

Lots of useful info and just what I have been wondering about lately. Your old stuff is definitely a gold mine John, thanks!

@BlackBearForge

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you.

Just came in from my shop and said I need to make a hold fast. Nice timing! Thanks!

@BlackBearForge

6 жыл бұрын

Sometimes I get lucky

I saw you using this in other videos... Was wondering how you made it! Thanks for another great video!

Thank you great video.

5 seconds in and that intro made me smile. Earned a sub. well done. glad I stumbled across your channel.

@BlackBearForge

5 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

I really appreciate your closing comments about safety glasses and safety in general. I am down one eye with the other eye at about 75%. Thanks for your videos and advice.

Good Idea ! I probably will go with the hold fast ! One because I have some material already, So that will be my next job Zaza!

John, I see that I'll be making (one or two?) holdfasts for my anvil. Certainly one. Thank you for this video!

@BlackBearForge

4 жыл бұрын

It would be hard to use two on most anvils.

Thank u! 1st thing im maken on my new anvil

The order of operations is important in making a holdfast. I made one by shaping the bends first, then tried to flatten the jaw, it doesn't hold very well. Of course all I have is an anvil shaped piece of rail road track and an oxy-scoreline torch so far. Really have been more of a practicing beginner woodworker and haven't invested in blacksmithing equipment just yet. Thanks for showing me how a professional does it. Actually makes more sense after seeing you do it.

Those are some good tips, BB. The term or product you were trying to think of related to the pipe clamp, is "hillside washer". But without being epoxied under the anvil, it'd be something else to hassel with. Thanx for the tips.

I made this today as I'm usually on my own in the forge and it came out really well. Works a treat as well, thankyou John. Love your channel, it's taught me so much

@BlackBearForge

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

A quick and simple idea for the "financially challenged". I have a smaller pritchel hole. I used an old tire iron from the dump. Flatten the socket end and tweak the curve. Works awesome, material cost was zero, and took about 10 minutes work.

@BlackBearForge

6 жыл бұрын

Good idea, I wonder what those are made of. Might be good steel for other things as well

@JarlSeamus

6 жыл бұрын

i'd guess it's a medium carbon steel like a 1045 or similar. I never hardened it, didn't want it to snap on me. Been using it for over 10 years, lol.

I have used most of those options , with the exception of the pipe clamp. My mainstay was the vise grip options. Visegrip clamps go for cheap at tractor supply store. You can bolt or rivet them to about anything. I stopped using the pritchel clamp after a failure that resulted in a serious injury.

For those screw mounted items I've used a piece of pipe underneath with a hole drilled through the walls for the screw to run through and it rides up underneath the pritchel or hardie holes.

Well done, thank you.

I already had a good idea of how the hold fast worked but to hear it in plain English is much appreciated. I’m sure there’s some things out there with simple explanations that I’ll have a hard time grasping the first time around so if this is a persistent habit of yours on this channel then I’m sure I’ve made a wise investment of my time by subscribing to you.

just what I was looking for thanks

Another fine video

Great ideas

Great stuff mate.

I think you're great blacksmith. I always watched you!

@BlackBearForge

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you

I took the screw half of a large c-clamp and welded a shank on that. I replaced the screw lever with a welded ring for ease and accessibility. Works well for heavy work

I liked the way you made the flat end of the hold fast conform to the anvil face by simply tapping it while hot. When I made mine, I heated, bent, tried the fit, heated, bent, tried the fit again, until I got it right...too much work...duh! I would also caution folks to not texture the bottom of the holdfast where it contacts the workpiece to try to obtain a "tighter" fit. If the work is hot where the holdfast makes contact, one could imprint the work.

Just made a hold fast based on these instructions - it really HOLDS FAST! Used 3/4" rebar, I think the ridges help lock it into the pritchel hole.

I like your videos! One other option to prevent something from flying through the workshop, not really holding it down with a lot of force, is also a chain with a big wheight, that is fixed on the stump under your anvil and just reaches over the anvil. You put wour work piece on the anvil and just throw the chain with wheight over the anvil.