Nohone

I agree with all that you are saying, tongs are better than channel-locks, but I never said they were not. The channel-lock serves it purpose, why hate on the poor channel-lock? It works! Sure, not as good as something else, but it works. @TimothyMiller That pain would be excruciating! I hate burns! But of course it's subjective, you only feel that terrible pain because you're in a flesh costume! It definitely is not as desirable like good feelings are, but all feelings are subjective. Don't get lost in them, just enjoy them...or in the case of the burn, try to enjoy it! lol...The burn is already tearing through flesh, the least you can do is show the wound some love and understanding, no? No more freeding the troll, This thread is now locked

Knowledge is beautiful, without it, I would not be able to even respond to you! But knowledge is nothing without something to hold it. Knowledge by itself is useless. Knowledge is only knowledge when there is an experiencer, and then, when there is an experiencer, then knowledge becomes an experience. It is best not to confuse the experience with the experiencer. You are the experiencer, not the experience. Simple observation, no? If I place hot steel on an anvil and strike directly downward with the hammer, the steel will begin to flatten. Now I know that when these conditions are satisfied, this result will occur! Beautiful observation, but it is only an observation, albeit a repeatable observation. Best not to get caught up with the experience. Great that I know something I did not, but altogether, all that matters is you, the experiencer. Knowledge, as an experience, is just a "Feelie". Without you, the feelie is nothingness. So rejoice in the fact that you give knowledge life! And who would have known we would get existential in this silly topic! I never know what's at the end of a corner...

I gave you an honest answer too. :rolleyes:

Why do my unconventional assertions bother you folk? What with all the predictions of physical injury or financial disaster? You make these predictions under the guise of experience, but I know that these predictions are NOT based under any experience, but are made because your egos are wounded. Your predictions are of the same nature as when Child "A" calls Child "B" stupid because Child "B" is doing something different than what Child "A's" parents have taught him.

I didn't say tongs weren't better lol. That entire post you quoted actually had nothing to do with tongs. That's odd.

Life is pretty simple, Ron, The possibility to heat metal and move it to creative will has been around longer than these methods devised. It has it's own way of being. Our understanding of things will always be subjective, but not of greater or lesser quality than any other person's subjective experience. Don't let my assertions upset you, you needn't confirm your beliefs with my physical injury. Something that is true will stand on its own, regardless of other conditions. Continue believing your ways and doing what you do with complete joy. It doesn't matter what you do or what you believe, just do it with joy. If it is not done with joy, it is not worth doing.

I need something to hold metal, the pliers work. There is no right direction, only one that suits you. RR spikes don't make good knifes? I hear that a lot, I think it's nonsense. When you compare the spike to what knives are made from today, sure they are a bit sub par, but a knife is a knife. RR spikes can't hold edges? Then sharpen it. It'll still cut, sure it'll dull faster, but it works. These ideas that one way is better than another way is self limiting. You do what works for you, not because the majority say so. Are we not artists?

Thank you for your information sir, that's quite a relief. Those pliers serve as great tongs, and I hate using tongs, but the dragon breath of my gas forge is punishing.

This is a picture of the channel lock plier I am using as a pair of tongs to hold railroad spikes. I saw it being used on a YouTube video of some chap making a knife out of a RR spike. As you can see, I already used them, but the shiny metal on the pliers concerned me, as I know this is a property of galvanized steel. I used it outside, I don't know if that helps.

I have tongs. I have made them with the tools I have. They work great. Look my friends... I am simply asking for ideas. What is it with these complexities? Just give me ideas. Some of you did, thank you, but why I am thanking you for answering a question? Only because there are so many who do not. Now answering questions has become a luxury. "How do I get to the market from here?" "Well you know some people in the 3rd world don't have cars..." *Facepalm* This is like a slot machine, I pull the lever hoping to get gold and all I get are pennies!....and I don't even like Vegas! It's not as if I can't make my own ideas. I can, everyone can. I just want yours. I want to know, very simply, what you think I can make with what I have. I want to know your opinion on whether or not I need more stuff. And I know how it is in this "3rd world" some of you brought up. I am from the "3rd world", and it's still apart of the same world as the "1st world". Why are we talking about man-made worlds here anyway? How boring. The human world has little to do with the real world. I just want ideas of what I can do with metal with the stuff I have. Tell tell me the item names, you needn't even tell me how to do it, I just want to know the names of the items I can make, so that I can research it on my own. So far, I got many tools for ideas. Great ideas! I didn't know what some of them were, so I looked them up, now I know their function and I know how to make them. Any artistic ideas you guys can come up with? Maybe with photos too?

I could find anything if I really wanted to. Finding a vise is not my concern. After rereading my original post I can see I definitely was not clear, I apologize for that. I like adapting to unfavorable odds, so I don't care to purchase anymore tools until I have learned to do with what I have. When I no longer feel like I need the vise, then I will purchase the vise. Why you should see my smithy set-up, any wrong turn I make will either singe off my beard or cause property damage. I did that on purpose! I am still new to this, so I am not sure what I can make with what I have, that is why I am asking. I'd just like some ideas to ponder about. From the ideas you give me, more ideas from myself will sprout. So please feel free to continue giving me ideas, I like the ideas given already, but more will certainly help.

Topic pretty much states it. I have with me a 2 burner economy gas forge from diamondback forge, 180lb anvil, cross pein and ball pein hammer, and one pair of tongs. Unfortunately I don't have a vise, grinder, chop saw, or drill press, although I do have limited access to them, it's a long drive, and I'd rather adapt to just what I have. To cut cold metal, I use a cold chisel. It's a bit of a pain, but I manage. I know I can make knives with what I've got, but I am looking for other simpler artistic/useful things I can make and sell for some chump change to keep me going. I'm kind of new, and I barely know how to forge weld. Please feel free to share your ideas. So far I know I can make... Eating utensils BBQ turner S hooks P.S: I like putting twists on my work, but since I don't have a vise I am having a bit of trouble figuring out a practical way to make twists with just what I've got. If you have an idea, feel free to share.

Yeah ThomasPowers, I've read that as quite a popular choice for a easily made gas forge stand. I went ahead and bought 6 cinderblocks. Two cinderblocks served as the base, with two more stacked on the base, and two more stacked on the middle. It's pretty sturdy, as long as someone doesn't lean on it lol. I put the gas forge on top of that, and I was smithing today, no problems at all.

I like the way you think.

So I got the 2 burner economy model gas forge. It's about 14 inches long. I was thinking of putting together a stand made of cinderblock or some type of sturdy brick. The "stand" would actually be a cube made out of 27 pieces of cinderblock, and I was just gonna put the gas forge on top of that. My only concern is the heat emanating from the bottom of the gasforge. Will the heat mess up the cinderblock considerably? Not that I care about the cinderblock being messed up, my only concern is that if the cinderblock begins to break apart, then I risk the gas forge falling. If the heat will rapidly crack the cinderblock, suppose I topped my "cinderblock cube stand" with firebrick. Can anyone see any noticeable issues with this?

Plywood sounds like a good idea. Thank you. I personally do not care about the concrete floor. It's a backyard, no one lives in the backyard, and my smithy is completely out of site, in some corner. But the people living here don't want marks on the concrete. Beats me why. They're the ones who told me to get tarp, I agreed forgetting that tarp is flammable. So yes it's kind of a retarded obstacle, but I don't mind it.

Lol, ok ok tarp is no good. What about a bed sheet? Or perhaps a plank of dry wood? I hear wood absorbs heat like a champ so im just wondering.

Yeah I figured I'd just have to be careful as I can to minimize dropping the steel, and if i do, I need to pick it up right fast. I was gonna put down tarp over the concrete floor just for added protection, but then the tarp package said its flammable, so I didnt get it. Does anything think the flammable tarp would be too unsafe?

I am planning on having my smithy on an already built concrete floor. Nothing is going to be bolted in. I am wondering, if I were to accidentally drop red hot steel on a concrete floor, what would happen to the concrete? I'd imagine a mark is left afterwards? Is it possible to clean this off?

I intend on using a gas forge anyway, even though I prefer a coal forge since I am the most familiar with them. The gas forge just seems to be more neighbor friendly and cleaner. Not that I have any problem with dirt, but the people in my house do. I am attending blacksmith classes in my area, but we only use coal forges. I was going to ask the instructors there on their opinion on the gas forge I intend to use.

Good call. Apparently just about all of these are capable of reaching welding temps. I am probably going to get the 2 burner blacksmith forge.

lol, XXXXXXXXXXX, I just checked the price on those diamond back gas forges you recommended and they are incredibly cheap compared to the ridiculous prices I have been seeing on coal forges. Thank you sir, you have enlightened me. From what I have been hearing about "cons" from gas forges, is that they are loud. I guess these models are not very loud. Which one do you have? Right now I am still a novice when it comes to blacksmithing, but I intend on making relatively bigger projects, but nothing huge. Do these things guzzle gas pretty fast?

Yeah I guess a coal forge at that porch area would be a bad idea anyway because of the neighbors. A gas forge could work there, but then I'd have to worry about the noise there. My neighbors probably won't cry about the noise of a hammer, but the noise that gas forges make might be pushing it. I just may also have to invest in building a small canoe to get over the river of tears. :rolleyes: So do you think running a coal forge under the overhang would be a bad idea if left how it is? Is this because of the fire scale the forge would leave under the overhang? Yeah I guess I could get a sheet metal chimney, but I am trying to set up this smithy without doing anything permanent to the house. If I were to work under the overhang, I would have just bought a fan tall enough to blow all the smoke out. I would have placed it far enough so it won't affect the coal forge too much, but just enough to blow away the smoke. But if a coal forge is going to permanently blacken the overhang, then that's going to be an issue, unless there is a work around? Besides getting a gas forge. I could put a coal forge in the fire pit, assuming I bought a coal forge small enough to fit in it. That's another option. I don't have a forge yet, right now I am trying to find a place for the smithy.

So I've decided to say "********* it", and just drop a bunch of cash on a smithy. Thing is, is I don't want to spend cash on something I don't really need. One of those things I am of the impression I probably do not really need is a blacksmith's shed, although it would be nice, I can't afford it and I have no idea how to make one. So I thought i would just buy a canopy. The picture below is where the smithy will be located... The fence to the left is the fence bordering my neighbor. My plan was to buy a canopy with a high roof and place it in the cement space. I was then going to buy tarp and stick it on all the sides around the canopy ceiling. This is so that I can help protect against the elements, but when I am smithing, I was going to open up the tarp closest to the grass to allow for ventilation. Since I will be using a coal forge, I want to try and prevent as much smoke blowing into my neighbor's yard as I can. I figure using something like tarp would at least help block out most of the smoke, but I really have no idea. Can anyone think of reasons why this could be a bad idea? And then possibly provide a solution? If this will cause me too much trouble, I do have a possible alternative. Below is another portion of my backyard that might work, but I fear for the low ceiling. I was going to move that rusted and broken workout set, and just put all the smithy stuff in that area. I wouldn't have to worry about neighbors or ventilation, and the rain at least wouldn't be hitting the stuff directly. Thoughts?

Practice is good, but the meaning must be understood. To practice smithing is to learn more about smithing by smithing. So DO smithing. Jump into it and be absolutely total when you do it. You learn best when you are highly alert and vibrant. Be mindful while you practice. Be highly alert, highly aware. Raise each blow with full awareness, and strike with full awareness. You will receive much greater results. When you are more aware, then boredom starts to die. Boredom is idiotic. It happens when you are mechanical. No staple or nail is the same, life flows and is always in a flux, be alive and aware for every moment and you will find that every moment is new. Your 47th nail is beautiful and unique when created whilst you were aware, so too is the 48th and the 49th. Being mechanical and without awareness will still earn you results, but it will be a grind, because you're not really there. More mistakes will happen, the process will not be pleasurable. So practice, but be alive when you do it. When you are alert of every movement and every intent while you smith, it becomes a meditation, a kind of spiritual practice. Perhaps you will learn more about yourself in the process of being aware.