Ted T

Rich has the credentials to accurately say what he has said. I would pay attention to his comments. Wisdom will tell you that when someone does something that is done near the edge of the cliff, many fall over. What a surpise! Life can be very fragial, why take the chance? I would stay with proven methods of safe operating habits. Younger; or inexperenced people who may read this thread who may think it is OK to take a chance. I have also seen the results of bad judgement many, many times. Please be safe!

Very well done. Very well thought out! Thank YOU!

Greetings Kendall Welcome to I Forge Iron! Where do you live in Utah? I live in Duchesne Utah, and know of several blacksmiths from all around the state. Have you joined the “Bonneville Forge Council” yet? If not; then here are a couple of phone numbers to call for information. 125 South 500 East Salem, Utah 84653 801-400-4990 3991 2nd Street Ogden, UT 80144 801-393-4164 I wish you the very best as you pursue the process of obtaining skill in this fine craft. Ted Throckmorton

What type and size of horseshoe nail should you use for your projects? As I write this, I am not trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill, but it may sound like it. It is not big deal to make one or two items for a hobby project. And it would most likely not be important to be knowledgeable about the background of the material you are using. So I am writing this more directed for someone who is serious about cost/benefit issues for making a profit; where in the long run, knowledge counts. I have had people will say: “A horseshoe nail is a horseshoe nail, what’s the big deal?” When you are creating small products, small details mean a lot and are a big deal when purchasing expensive nails. When using Horseshoe Nails as your base material, the length and thickness of the shank coupled with the mass and pattern of the head all has to be considered for each project. As an example of what I mean about choosing the correct type of nail to use for different projects, it would be important to know that the range of nails from which to choose from is vast. Just one brand of horseshoe nails; Mustad, the world’s largest Farrier manufacturer and supplier, produces just over 320 different types of nails! Horseshoe Nails are of all different sizes and designs to accommodate a large range of horses; from very large draft horses, down to very small pones. Also the design of the nail has to take in account how the horse is used and what surface type they will be on mostly! The horseshoe nail has these parts: beveled point, blade or shank, neck, head, and the crown or top. So; to choose wisely which size and type of nails to use for different projects you need to do your homework about horseshoe nails if you are serious about using them for you base material. For example “Only”; if you want more Mass in the head of the nail to make small spoons, then you may want to consider buying the European-style of nail that has a wider square head, offering more contact than the standard rectangular American head. Each head style comes in an array of blade and head shapes and sizes. Example: A Regular Head is a little larger than city head. Another consideration is the thickness and length of the blade, especially if you are making rings. Horseshoe Nail Rings. It is important to learn what type of horseshoe nails to use so they will fit different sizes of fingers and have a fitting design on the head. Always clip and “dull” the point! Safety Issue: When making Horseshoe Nails Rings, make sure you blunt the point end so it will be safe for use. Tip: I have made a few of these items in my life time, so I use simple jigs, and do some preliminary bending based on the type and thickness of nail that I use. I know you will figure it out! My best to you!

John; thank you! Well! It doesn’t get much better than this. I got up this morning; fixed coffee and found this post on I Forge Iron. I set back, drank my coffee and watched John forge an axe. Yup! It doesn’t get much better than that! :) W E L C O M E T O “I F O R G E I R O N” Thanks for Posting. Ted Throckmorton

I am grateful that your re-start button worked. :) My best to you and your good wife!

Wesley; I enjoy watching you work. It saves me a lot of energy! :) Please keep making video’s. Because of your video’s, there is a profitable balance of information exchanged between blacksmiths and yourself that benefits all of us. Your willingness to put your words into action says a lot about how serious you are about this remarkable craft. Not everyone has the confidence to have their forging methods and work products closely scrutinized. I know from talking to you that you are unstoppable and love the craft. It shows! My best to you! Ted Throckmorton

Forging small Parts I apologize; I can see that my explanation has a lot to be desired. :blink: There are too many assumptions left to the imagination. I will attempt to stumble over it again! Please keep in mind; that it is a very simple concept that I did not explain well, and it should not be given to “Over Thinking” about its use. It is indeed as simple as a cookie sheet with sides on it so the small objects will not fall off and be lost in the coal or coke. Control, Heat, and Manage Small Items. A hot box gives you a means of controlling the heat (for many parts at the same time) just by simply placing the hot box sensibly with-in your coke/coal forge, or in your gas forge just by pulling it to the front and then pushing it back under the burner. There are a few more subtle, but simple aspects of this process that I will not attempt to confuse anyone or myself with such as having to do with thickness of the box, combining, pre-heating, and walk through. When I used a hot box in a gas forge, I used my single burner forge. The goal was to save on gas! Although; when I was a government blacksmith I just set the hot box in the coke! The objective is to be cost efficient when forging small items as well as if you were forging large items. But; early on I found that forging a lot of small parts at one time can be akin to a “skill with-in a skill” to forge efficiently. To be successful at forging many small parts at the same time, a number of factors line up that need to be considered, prepared for, and simultaneously combined. Note: I just backed up to this point and cut off some of the “Over Thinking” part of my post! It was boring. <_< My mind rushes back over a 60 year period to too many situations similar to what we are talking about. So as not to digress, I will say: The End! -_- My best to you as you enjoy the greatest craft to the ones that it is. Ted Throckmorton

Kathy Thank You for keeping us posted. I am slow at responding sometime, but not slow to care. It is quite obvious that many people found here at I Forge Iron support Eric, yourself, and also the people who “know and love Eric” with sincere support that is nurtured with prayer and their best wishes. At a time like this their prayers are indispensable. I have experienced that “Prayer and Positive Support given from the Heart” is priceless; and is more powerful than anything that I have the vocabulary to express. I believe the prayers of support were actually triggered when Eric signed onto I Forge Iron. My experience is that it would be no accident that Eric would be directly and indirectly associated with people who have a common interest in Forging Steel; but in addition, that the same people would also have hearts that have already been formed with Love for their neighbor. I say all of that, to say this: Even though you may get tired or concerned at times, something greater is at work in your lives. Hang onto that thought. My very best for you and yours! Ted Throckmorton

Frank Congratulations. I agree totally with what SmoothBore stated: “That's quite a milestone”. As I have gotten older, I also find that it has become more important to highlight notable events in my life. At this time; I have done more in my past than I will ever do in the amount of time that is left in my future. So I hold tightly to my memories that are filled with the times I spent standing in my favorite place; and that was to stand at the forge and anvil. I knew that when I was forging, I lost track of all of the problems of the world and other things that was fighting for voice in my mind. And that was because I was so busy trying to outsmart a piece of steel that need my full attention (and learned skills) to manipulate hot steel as I had intended without getting burned! I hope for another productive 50 years for you Frank! Just a note: I too am celebrating a 50 year anniversary. I was discharged from the US Army 50 years ago today (March 22, 2013)! I am thankful for every day (18,250 days) of it. Some I knew had (0) days. My Best to you Frank. You have made a positive and everlasting impression in the footprint of the blacksmithing world. If you just think about what you have accomplished; it is amazing how it works. Just add the numerous amounts of people that you have responded to here at I Forge Iron with your knowledge and experience; coupled with all of the students that you have taught in your Blacksmithing School, it adds up to a whole heap of teaching! No doubt they will “in-turn” pass along what you have taught them, and it goes on and on from there. Ted Throckmorton

Danny; Hello I am a little slow as you know. Just think about how long it took me to send back the rest of the materials that you sent me. And; “I was moving at my fastest speed”. :) I know that I am slow at getting this to ya; but you, your wife, and your family have been on my(our) mind from the get-go! This is a fine kettle of fish! But I won’t give up on ya! I expect to see you healed and enjoying life again. I would suppose and expect that you would know that “you and yours” are being remembered vigilantly as we pray. My best to you Sir and your family! Ted Throckmorton

Mark – GOOD ON YOU! :) I used to get a huge satisfaction when I happen to drive by homes that I had constructed railing for many years ago, although I could not see them from the street. Sometime (40 years later) I would even recall the extra work it took to get a challenging stair railing to fit perfect. My identity was always on the line. No one knew or cared about who built them except me. But my good memories are still paying off. That is why I get excited when I hear other people do well. The pay check of knowing what you have accomplished will be gaining interest for the rest of your life. So I can just imagine how your new experience would add validation to who you are as a craftsman! Congratulations. When you win! We all win! My best to you Ted Throckmorton

Deliberate and Perfect Practice A person needs to make his self available to a competent source of training in order to learn “Deliberate and Perfect Practice” right at the start, so they are not trying to unlearn bad habits at the same time. You must put yourself in a position to receive instructions that will teach you how to perform “Deliberate & Perfect Practice”. How to do “Deliberate & Perfect Practice” most likely needs to be taught by a qualified blacksmith who understands the elements required to master each skill of operation. A qualified instructor will quickly guide you into using the correct method of handling tools, keeping your tools dressed correctly, anvil etiquette, attributes of steel coupled with heat treatment, safety in all of its forums, and how to determine the order of operations based on, but not limited to elements of (shape, size, thickness, type of steel and end product), and hammer control. There is much more. The process of leaning may be taught differently by different instructors, but yet there is a predictable outcome. The advantage of having an instructor is that corrections are made on the spot. They will not allow you to start to practice bad or unsafe habits right from the get go! If corrections are not made in a timely manner, a person can get real good at doing something that is real bad; real fast. Then your bad or un-safe habit becomes etched into your cellular and muscle memory, resulting in a bad habit being formed, that needs to be reversed. It takes a great deal of effort to change a habit good or bad. And it is not worth rushing into a bad training situation just because a person is in a hurry to get started. If money is an issue, then it is a separate issue that needs to be figured out so you can afford to pay for the proper training required. Most of people (us) have had to work for whatever they have. So waiting while you save up money is not wasted time if you will study. If a person has to work for what they have: they are more likely to value what they have worked for and will use it. The order of how things seem to work: Work, save money, = Pay for training. My first choice of training (above and beyond studying, and video’s) that I would suggest is that your training would be in the form of a qualified instructor (one on one, or in a school setting). Although no matter how you are trained, what you learn and what you are willing to do with it; is all up to you. Studying good books about blacksmithing skills and watching good blacksmithing videos should always be considered as a natural and constant activity in your learning curve. It all comes at a cost. The acceptation is when you find someone who is qualified to teach you for free. First thought: A personal instructor such as “Brian Brazeal Blacksmith” will fill your plate of knowledge quickly and in the long run it will be most likely be a cost saving to you if you are serious about becoming a blacksmith of note! Second thought: Attend a blacksmithing school. Third thought: Most Blacksmith organizations have people who may be willing to coach a person who is just beginning. Sometime a blacksmith organization will sponsor a “Hammer-in” that would be a good place to learn. They will most likely put on a demonstration that is usually valuable. People who join a blacksmithing group are most likely going to meet people who will assist them. Plus training materials are usually available. Note: This all cost money where I live. And sometime a lot of money! Forth thought: Study reading materials such as books, internet information, and videos. Sometime (most of the time) several levels of consideration is simultaneously taking place while forging. Safety and safe operations must always encompass the whole process. The proper tools needs to be selected, dressed if necessary, and the tongs need to be properly adjusted to fit the material used. I have observed many hobby type blacksmiths disregard adjusting their tongs to fit the material used. Or do a preliminary walk through to make sure all tools are set out and are available when they start to forge. Or check the area around the forge for clutter to make sure it is clear so you do not trip before starting to forge. If they were trained properly this would not be the case. Proper fitting of tongs to the material that are to be used needs to be addressed as you are taught. I have seen many hobby type blacksmiths who are not concerned about the properly fitting and adjustment tongs to fit the material. A competent instructor understands all of this and will assist you by filling in the gaps until you are fully aware of the process and decisions that need to be made in a timely manner. To learn blacksmithing is no different than any other situation in life. Life comes at a cost. There is a price to pay for everything in one form or another. There is also a price to pay to learn any trade including blacksmithing. It may be in the form of time, energy, trade, or money; but for sure it takes an effort and there will be a cost to pay. If you are in a position to learn from someone that that is qualified and will teach you for free, that would be a bonus There are as many blacksmithing levels of skill as there are blacksmiths. Each person has a level and a standard of his own. No two are exactly the same. So what may seem competent and acceptable to one person is not acceptable to the other. I would suggest that you take whatever effort it takes to find and pay for an instructor who will teach you how to do each step of the operational skills properly. It seems as though some people do not recognize that everything worth learning will cost in some way and the price must be paid. But the learning curve is quickly shortened when a person receives competent instructions.

There is a book called "Wayne Goddar's.$50 Knife Shop (Revised)" I would spend money on that . Then wait until you have enough money to buy each tool or material. I cereainly understand about not haveing money to do something. So it sounds like you would just have to go at it at a slow pace until you can buy or TRADE for what you need. Trading is an option. If not, then waiting and taking a longer time to assemble your tools and material sounds like another option. Only you can manage your priority of how your money is spent. I wish you the best! Ted T.

Danny "Thank You" Danny for posting. You are speaking about a topic that is constantly and caringly close to my heart. Thank You SSgt Brian Arnold for your service and associated sacrifice. Danny you have just helped put a name of a soldier and a situation into our awareness that needs to never be forgotten. Thank God it is one we celebrate with a smile and not tears. The price of our freedom to be able to choose a life that we desire to live comes at a great price. Having seen all too many times when flags were presented, headstones placed, and I have experienced the very thunderous voice of silence because no words could rightfully express the experience. To Those Who Know, “Know”. To those who don’t know, no words can explain, Remember, and Never Forget! I also know all too well about the unseen scars that trouble many of our military service men and women. I am speaking about scars that do not always show on the outside, but fester on the inside. Some wounds and scares are quite visible, and others are masked by our human desire to be healthy and normal. But time and experience has shown that the invisible scars will eventually surface and also needs the same proper attention and care that would be given to that of a visibly injured soldier. What our service men and women do for us each day, all day, is un-payable by us “up-front”. But we can ease the severity of their situation with showing kindness, Love, and opportunity. Although I sit each day in a comfortable chair watching TV and eating Twinkie’s and Bonbons, I have the subconscious awareness that men and women are sacrificing their safety and comfort 24/7 for me and mine. So for those who are finally at peace, “Thank You” to them and their families! And for those who live among us who bear visible and invisible scares for our sake; Thank You! and God be with you! Respectfully Ted Throckmorton

Mark; I have tried to get a hold of you. But I did have a nice chat with the lady who now has your old phone number! Although I have not posted sooner, Patty, yourself and your family has been constantly in our thoughts of hope, and in our prayers. I know that you know that you are in good hands, hands that heal and give life! That gives me some peace, thank you! Reflections of our own experiences have been tempered with the knowledge of Romans 8:28 that supported our peace. With the prayers of all of these blacksmith brothers, added to the prayers of your family and friends, WOW, powerful! Our continued best to You and Yours! Ted Throckmorton <><

Here in Utah, to say that “you have attended Frank’s school “is like having a badge that quickly speaks well about the quality your training background. And it is all good. I have never heard anything negative said about Franks School! Frank always brings interesting points of view and supports I Forge Iron with his experience!

Trade Secrets This is long! I respond because you all are valuable to me. Short version: Happy New Year! Long version: read only if you need something to do! Trade Secrets? Or, is it “Basic Skills Reconfigured” to meet the need of the project? I believe that I have never figured out anything that someone else has not done first. All I have ever done is so ordered the basics in such a way to get the result that I needed. That is not a trade secret; I consider it to be the challenge and the enjoyment of forging to have an opportunity to figure out the order of operations as to obtain the results I needed. I have done some things that I have never seen anyone else do in the way I do it. But that is not a trade secret because when a person who has become proficient with the basics and has the same need arise, he may do the same thing I have done and even better! No surprise! The basics of forging are a secret to people who do not possess the skills. That is because they have not yet paid the price to unlock the knowledge to learn the basics yet. But that is true with any trade! People, Skills, Desire, Attitudes’, Time, Our Time’s, Locations, Financial, Interests, Sacrifice, Patience, Understanding, and Life Situations! I figure all of this has something that goes back to someone asking about trade secrets. There are BLACKSMITH’S who have paid the high price to obtain their skill level of excellence in the craft of forging (blacksmithing), and then there are people who are at a zero point (just starting) and anywhere in-between who are trying to aim their compass correctly at becoming proficient in the craft of Blacksmithing. I have read through this thread realizing that “Honest Perspective Based Experience” is being expressed by each contributor. I could not argue against any one of them. If everyone’s view was exactly the same, I would have to deeply question any accuracy of my lifetime of observing people and life situations and how they seem to unfold. Over the past 60 years of being in the craft I have met or observed many blacksmiths. Their backgrounds are as varied and different as there are fingerprints. We are all different, but have a common bond of interest! Just the factor of the person’s age of when they entered the craft, and then the time period in history that they entered the craft plays a great significance of their perspective about the craft and life in general How, and who, was a mentor to that person when they first got started in the craft plays a large role in a person’s perception and prospective of how the person values the price paid for the knowledge of the craft. I don’t have trade secrets, although I have had 60 wonderful years exposure to the craft of blacksmithing. There were tons of sweaty long hour days, the sacrifice of no insurance for my family, a few burns, and I have met many wonderful and some not so wonderful people. Nothing that I have ever experienced in life could fill that need to have the continuous tranquility and fulfillment of creating something from a blob of steel into something that was useful or beautiful for the interested eye to view! My time at the forge was always spent focused on the work I was doing. I learned early that if my mind was somewhere else, that I would get burned or mess something up. It is the greatest mental therapy I could have subjected myself to. 60 years of exposure to the craft does not qualify me to be a highly skilled blacksmith. It only means that I have made observations (correctly and incorrectly) over the years. I have made a living at the trade of blacksmithing / welding that supported my family in the early days. I have been employed by a government agency as a blacksmith and also opened three different shops over the years. It took me three times to get it right! I was no business man. I say all of that to say this: I have seen in person and over the internet (I Forge Iron) many, blacksmiths and blade smiths that in a relatively short time grew past my skill level very quickly. And that was because (everything being equal such as desire and potential ability) the information is now made available in abundance and they took advantage if it! I say good for them! I have picked up on the idea that many times people who are asking questions here at I Forge Iron have never been mentored in any positive fashion and do not understand the values involved. That does not make them bad people, but people that need to be informed. Many times the ONLY MENTOR they have found to start with to become a blacksmith, bladesmith, or a sword smith, is right here at “I Forge Iron”. Their personal life situations are reflected back through the nature of questions and attitudes of how and what they ask. I suggest that they have no idea of the actual cost in time, money sweat, burns, time away from family they missed, vacations that could never be taken, and sweating out the lean times of the business that is involved, and many more costs of learning the craft. And then when they (new people/blacksmiths) ask questions that could rightfully up-set people who have paid the due’s to learn the trade, it could easily up set most of us unless we consider Who, What , Why, and also that this is the internet. I believe I Forge Iron was established with the spirit of teaching, learning, and relationships. And I agree that sometime it is easy to forget the above foundational principal due to the repetition of the disproportional information exchange between the volume of beginners and proven craftsman. Here for an example of a “drop in the bucket” expense to learn how to do a process differently than I was originally taught. Example; of my cost to go to just one mid-winter three day Hammer-in (Sub zero temps). The main attraction was a paid instructor. Here is a quick summary of my base costs not counting Dues and Iron in the Hat. Gas: $88.00 dollars. Motel: $270.00. Admission: $300.00. Total = $658.00 dollars. I counted the costs as a bargain because I learned one new way to combine the basic foundational skills of forging. I know of well groomed blacksmiths found here at I Forge Iron who trained themselves and are successful. I consider that to be awesome, but not all people are capable of doing that. There was nothing like blacksmith groups, written material, video’s to learn from, or what we have here at I Forge Iron that was affordable or available when I started, except blacksmiths that were short on temper and believed that a boy should be seen and not heard. I paid a price! I have been a cop, a prison guard, bounty hunter, and an investigator. I have seen many young people thrown away by our society. Young people who brought tears to my eyes at the time, and even now when I think of them. Young people who had no one to ask questions too. Young people who have never had a kind word said to them much less a mentor in their life, who are now serving life sentences in prison. I truly believe that young people are in a different boat than what I ever knew off. They have a demand put on them to learn a large amount of information in a very short time. And that is the new name of life’s game. Yes we had pressure when I was young. They do also, but it is different. Everything they do now has to be learned quickly, or go to the back of the line. It seems only natural that they want to speed learn something that takes whatever time it takes depending on their ability and ability to make training available to them. But they just don’t all seem to pick up on that right away! And for some people: Only the members found here at I Forge Iron can assist to help fill that “knowledge of blacksmithing” gap with the milk of human kindness and patents. We now enjoy the opportunity to have full access and availability to an enormity of information that is easily obtainable. It is amazing to me. Just look at our “YOUNG SMITH’S”. They all got off of the couch and got busy. Many people do not have a couch to get off of much less someone to encourage them. I suggest that we consider being as patent as possible and be blacksmith mentors. We may be just typing to a New YOUNG BLACKSMITH that needs a friendly boost and understanding.

Yes! - And I adjusted my operation so it did not bother him. It is a matter of respect! I suggest that we always put yourself in their shoes. It is up to you to so order your operation so it will not disrespect your neighbor's lives. Just as it would be if it was your neighbor disturbing your peace! I had a very sick neighbor at one time, and took no chance of disrupting his needed rest! I feel it is important to be a good neighbor. I believe that sometimes, your situation may demand that you find another location to do your forging. Or that YOU take measures to soundproof your forge area and deaden the sound of your anvil if that is an issue. A person can choose to be a part of the problem, or choose to be a part of the cure. I also suggest that you get your neighbor involved and invite your neighbor over and let him do some forging. That approach has worked wonders many times to change attitudes! With his input, try different things out to reduce the sound and ask your neighbor if it is working OK? Best of Forging to you!

Dale; I could not express adequately the appreciation I have for all that Mr. Richard Thibeau (Richard) has done for me personally. When I was having computer problems he stepped up and assisted me in solving my problems. He has given such good advice about many things also. And then one day; out of the blue I received a package from Richard. It was a beautifully crafted “Diagonal Peen” Hammer! I kept it in a location where I could see it each day. It reminded me of what we are all supposed to end up doing for each other. I could not have been more pleased. When someone makes something for me as Richard did, I treat it as though it is a treasure. And that is because the seed of giving is a treasure. I am also aware of many other things that Richard has done such as donating time and money, assisting, and encouraging other people. Note: “Other people”, also includes young people. I cannot help but to believe that people like Richard who has served our country so honorably in the military by giving unselfishly and freely of themselves (but not cheaply), afterward seem to continue serving and keep on giving to the people that they (Richard) put their life on the line for. They seem to have hearts designed for service. So it is no surprise to me to hear what you said about Richard Dale. We are fortunate to associate with men and women such as Richard. http://www.dancingfrogforge.com/furnishings01.htm I am pleased that the goal was reached. If the world would send leaves that were forged with love to each other, I doubt that there would be more war. My Best Wishes to the Project! Ted Throckmorton

It would not let me see the other photos unless I signed in. I am not a member of facebook I find the photo very interesting.

Stewart, I wish I had said that!!! A good, short, to the point summary! "Safety is a situational issue, and should always be at the forefront of a blacksmith's thinking"

Gaylan, I think you put the cream on the pie with your imput. You all have contributed to a topic that I think needed more attention . Good on all of you!. I feel that I am better informed

I second what Dale said "WOW" If you want, I will send you a photo of my head! All you would need to make a copy of it would be a Bowling Ball and some Broom Straw! -_- Come to think of it! Please stay with your plan. It is awsome!!!!

You bring up a very important issue. That is because you are responsible to make a decision that takes some consideration and the exercise of wisdom on your part. It seem as though “all of the kings horses and all of the kings men have discussed and argued the proper way to do many things here at I Forge Iron” and everyone feels their way is correct. Sometime general consciences seems to be reached and then; “Of Course”, that reasoning seems to be overturned at a later date because someone argues more intensive and more often about how right they are. Thus, leaving the issue unresolved for the less experienced person to deal with. So this is what I am suggesting, beings you ask! YOU as a BLACKSMITH must make your own mind up about what is the best way for YOU to do something. Your training and knowledge must be put into operation. That is why they are asking a blacksmith to assist with the merit badge. You do not want a Attorneys, Jurors, and or a Judge to tell you if you were right or wrong about when you should or should not wear gloves. Knowledge is powerful I suggest that you study the existing posts carefully about when, where, why, and what type of glove should or should not be worn. Here are some, but not limited to the following issues with gloves. 1. Loose fitting gloves may allow hot steel to find its way into the glove. 2. Heat can melt the glove around your fingers. 3. Wearing gloves makes it easy for something to grab them. 4. If they are too tight, you cannot get it off in time to prevent damage. 5. You may lose the sensitivity required for the skill you are doing. 6. There are any more reasons. One of the discussions can be found here: http://www.iforgeiro...gain-yet-again/ Analyze each process you will have the scouts perform. I believe you will find that some operations may require just one glove on the tong holding hand, or on the chisel holding hand to protect from radiant heat, while others may not require any gloves to be used at all. It will be up to you to decide. If they use a wire wheel as opposed to a wire brush, be very cautious. I consider the wire wheel as one of the most dangerous devices in my shop. It likes to grab and eat gloves or anything else it can get a hold of. Your main strength is going to be to understand the process; and then determine the limitations of each boy for what you are requiring them to do, and then give good solid instructions and strong supervision of each operation. Situational awareness is essential. I wish you the best!