holdfast not working
NewsGroups | Search | About
Login Password
Register Now! Lost Password?
 alt.crafts.blacksmithing    Post an article   get this group's latest topics as an RSS feed add this group's latest topics to your My MSN content add this group's latest topics to your My Yahoo content
Subject Author Date
holdfast not working Rob 12-28-2006
Posted by Rob on December 28, 2006, 9:46 am
Please log in for more thread options
I am finally getting back in the fire after a very long hiatus. I may
have to go back on the wagon, though, as there is a burn ban right now
in my county. However, it was raining last weekend, so I took
advantage and forged a holdfast. I have never made one before, but I
have certainly seen them up close and personal. The problem is that
when I put it into the pritchel hole and tap it in, it doesn't lock
into place. The shaft is contacting the top and bottom edges of the
hole, but no dice. Here are some facts about the set up. The holdfast
is made from an old spade drill bit and has about a 1/4" shaft. The
pritchel hole is about 1/2" in diameter. The face of the anvil was
very swaybacked and gouged when I acquired it, and I repaired it with
hardfacing rod, but some of the weld puddle spilled into the hardie and
pritchel holes (where can I find a die grinder bit to grind that out?),
so the edge of the holes are not sharp. The anvil has a steel face on
a cast body.

Any thoughts on what the problem might be?

Thanks,
Rob


Posted by Carl on December 28, 2006, 11:03 am
Please log in for more thread options
When Rob put fingers to keys it was 12/28/06 9:46 AM...

> ...forged a holdfast... The problem is that
> when I put it into the pritchel hole and tap it in, it doesn't lock
> into place.

>
> Any thoughts on what the problem might be?

When you hold the shank vertical, the 'gripper' needs to be well below
the height of the bend. Especially with a 1/4" shank in a 1/2" hole.
Y'know, it just might be that 1/4" isn't going to grip at all. My
holdfasts are 3/8" for 1/2" holes, they work ok. 7/16" would be better.

I've come to really like the chain-with-a-weight slung over the anvil as
a hold-down. Easy to use, fast, and doesn't pop out all of a sudden.

Sash-weight chain and a small sash-weight are about perfect.

--
Carl
Prospect Hill Forge: The Blacksmithing Classroom
http://prospecthillforge.com

Posted by Rob on December 28, 2006, 3:01 pm
Please log in for more thread options

Carl wrote:
> When Rob put fingers to keys it was 12/28/06 9:46 AM...
>
>
> Sash-weight chain and a small sash-weight are about perfect.

What does a sash-weight chain look like?

Rob


Posted by Carl on December 28, 2006, 10:56 pm
Please log in for more thread options
When Rob put fingers to keys it was 12/28/06 3:01 PM...

> Carl wrote:
>> When Rob put fingers to keys it was 12/28/06 9:46 AM...
>>
>>
>> Sash-weight chain and a small sash-weight are about perfect.
>
> What does a sash-weight chain look like?


pictures at:
http://www.sashchain.com

Posted by on January 1, 2007, 3:52 am
Please log in for more thread options
> > What does a sash-weight chain look like?
> http://www.sashchain.com

LOL! That's how I made it through high school! :)
Because I can guess the right answer like crazy. :)

That's exactly what I was picturing even tho I had no better idea
than the OP did. :)

Alvin grinning from ear to ear in AZ :)

Similar ThreadsPosted
Vintage machine shop plans and metal working August 18, 2005, 3:22 am

The site map in XML format XML site map
 Contact Us | Privacy Policy