ArtMetal

You can use anything that works. I have used a thick rubbery pad about 6"/12" that I bought in a Tandy store a long time ago. I have also put pitch on a board and that worked very well. The problem with not using pitch is that it is hard to hold your metal down with one hand while holding a chasing tool and a chasing hammer. If you are hammering the item, even an anvil works because you are thinning the metal where you strike thus raising the surface on the other side. It's hard to get much detail though. What exactly area you trying to do and with what metal?

marilyn