anvil question

[Godspeed]

Ok i made an anvil (doing the best i can with what i have), and i also would like to make some hardy tools. could someone tell me what size the hardy hole is on a real anvil? i'm thinking 1" square but i'm not sure.
Also, same question about the pritchel hole.
Adam

 

[Doug Lester]

Hardy holes vary in size. I've seen them from 3/4" to 1 1/2" square but 1" is quite common and that's what many of the commercially available hardy tools are made for. Of course, if you get a hardy tool that has a post that's too large you can grind/file it down or shim it if the post is too small. Pritchel holes are made for hot punching metal, which is more of a general blacksmithing task. You can make a pritchel block with various size holes if you need such a thing. Some smiths rig a hold-down fixture to work in the prtichel hole to sort of give them a third hand. To be honest, I've never used the pritchel hole on my anvils. You might want to check out "The Backyard Blacksmith" by Laurili Sims. She shows several ideas on fabrication your own blacksmithing tools.

Doug Lester

 

[Godspeed]

Thank you sir!