Francis Trez Cole

great info thanks frosty

Frosty it was interesting the pine paint starer from the depot came in very handy yes that is the normal color. The next thing will be to set up an anodizing station. have the battery charger. just need tanks and die.

nope that is what you get when you trade the old worn out wife for a nice young one.

Decided to play with some aluminum made this pin put of 1/4" stock

there is a Alro metals there just set up an account and order

I am working on my second set of children. Christmas break they each made there own marsh mellow fork

Just keep at it. Join FABA and come to a south west meeting I give you a hand

When looking at metal the easy way to test it is a spark test. after doing that. I try oil first as a quench, then if it dose not get hard enough. I use a salt bath like the gunther quench, and last of all water. When you make hammers 1045 is Ok at best. 4140 through 4340 are great choices. 3" of steel is a lot to hammer for a first try. I would start out with a 1 3/4" to 2" piece first. But if you just want to go through the steps there is nothing wrong with mild steel a lot better choice then clay.

an other great video. You make very fine tools. Would you adjust the opening to accommodate larger stock?

I took mine apart and shaped them into scrolling tongs then riveted them back together. much easier Once you have the shape right Just get some 1045 and make your own. it will take a few tries but you will get it.

as time moves forward we get new tools 10 years ago you would not think of an induction forge. Welding on reins with an arc welder that was Bill Epps but he did it just to hold it in place so it was easier to do a forge weld. There are people out there are always going to be purest. Smiths make the tools the need to help get the job done. Da Vinci designed a power hammer. It is all in how you represent your self to the customer. Do not say one thing then give them an other.

they are good and basic

they make good tongs for sure

I have a class through the community collage here that is at the other end of the country from Frosty? Are you somewhere in between?

you are showing a lot of improvement

nice you only get better from here. Then get some 1045 and make tongs out of that is what the tong companies use

I was making tools before I started I lit my first fire. made my forge and bellows. once I lit the fire I started with a fire rake and a shovel and watering can. Every time I lite a forge I make a tool of some type

I get my H 13 at work there are Alro metals all over the east coast and in Ohio

I use S-7 to make punches, chisels and tools for making animal heads. it is a good air harden steel. But for something solid like a nail header is it a waste of good tool steel.

an other choice is a you pull auto parts yard they give away tire irons here. Just walk around and you can find springs on the ground. I like to just go to a metal supplier and pick some 1/2" square stock its not that expensive it you stick to hot roll

improving every time make them make tongs ten times and you will get it. Do it 100 times and you find a better way to do it. Check you working temperature. You have a cold shunt right behind the boss. Also check the radius of the edge of your anvil to sharp of a corner can cause problems as well. you are on the right path. Do not be OCD every thing you make will not be perfect. To much time heating the metal and to hot can work against you. Try some 1045 steel that is what the professional tong maker use. 3/4" is a real good size. Also do not complete each step first heat set up you jaw, Boss,and reins next heat go back and refine them work it a little at a time to keep the balance. Flat jaw tongs the jaws should be tapered not flat. You want thickness where the jaw meets the boss

much better i find it helpful to never hit the boss on the inside it should always be face down on the anvil if you anvil is not flat make a bottom tool to fit in your hardie hole. I have a block that I use just for that propose. keep at it you are getting it

what I have found the key in the classes I teach. Is the first class students work on half face hammer blows. That is the key to good tongs. good hammer control and not trying to do each step all the way through. Going back and forth to each step the jaw, boss and reins. Keeping a good balance and a eye on proportion.

learn to make flat jaw tongs first they work for 90% of what you will ever make. What you learn in the process is proper proportions of the Jaw, Boss and Reins. once you have that down get some 1045 that is what the tong makers use.

Learn about spark testing metal. That will tell you a lot