Blacksmithing Essentials: Hammers, Anvils, and Hold Downs

There is no more iconic duo in craftsmanship than the hammer and the anvil. But if you walk into a smithy, you won’t just see one hammer; you’ll see a rack of them.

Why? Because moving metal is physics, and different shapes apply force in different ways.

The Hammer Rack: A Breakdown

1. Cross Peen (The Workhorse)

The wedge on the back runs perpendicular to the handle. It’s used for spreading metal along the length of the bar. It is the most common hammer you will see.

2. Rounding Hammer (The Modern Favorite)

Popularized by farriers (and Brian Brazeal), this hammer has one flat face and one rounded face. The round face moves metal aggressively from the center out, while the flat face smoothes.

3. Straight Peen

Like the cross peen, but the wedge runs parallel to the handle. Useful for spreading metal sideways without hitting your tongs.

The Anvil: Taming the Ring

My wife bought me a 254lb Peter Wright anvil for our anniversary (best gift ever). It was a huge upgrade from my railroad track, but it had one problem: The Ring.

A loud anvil isn’t just annoying; it damages your hearing.

How to Silence an Anvil

1. Mount it tight: Use heavy lag bolts to strap it to your stump. The less it vibrates, the quieter it is.
2. Silicone Caulk: Put a bed of silicone under the base before bolting it down. It acts as a sound damper.
3. Magnets: Stick a large speaker magnet under the heel or horn. It disrupts the harmonic vibration.
4. Chains: Wrap a heavy chain around the waist of the anvil.

Hold Downs (The Third Hand)

If you are working alone, you will eventually run out of hands. A Hold Fast (or Hold Down) is a simple bar that wedges into the pritchel hole of your anvil to clamp your work down tight.

DIY Hold Fast Project:

1. Take a piece of round stock slightly smaller than your pritchel hole.
2. Bend it into a “7” shape.
3. Flatten the pad.
4. That’s it. Tension does the rest.

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Ready to start hammering?