Rob Browne

When you think 1" is heavy you don't get much time to worry. Just get everything at hand you need and finish off a job you have underway.

As you can see I don't take on the big stuff :)

How long did it take to make? How much an hour do you charge for your work? Cost of materials? Design time? Cost of design time? Maintenance of equipment used to make the object?

Start with the maths and you will get an idea. Also, remember that these are works of art more than just a functional piece of equipment so they can get a bit of a premium but, as you are doing, its better to sell a BIT cheaper while you are establishing your reputation to get known.

Hate to say it Dave but $250 might be a bit light on still but its definitely in the right direction from the last project.

Fantastic work there, congrats.

All valid arguments and the mathematics will win in the end.

If you are a hobby smith then making basic tools is a great way to improve your skills and gives you forge time in a sturctured way. I think I spend more time making tools than the final article. However, if you decide to buy your tools so you can get right into those projects you want to do then that is a valid argument as well. Afterall many of us spend LOTS more on other hobbies than $40 here or there on a set of tongs that will last a lifetime if they are looked after properly.

Now, for professional smiths the equation is relatively simpiler. If you have paying work lined up which will make more money in the time it takes to make the tool then buy it and claim it as a tax deduction. If you have no paying work lined up at the time then use the time to tool up and keep your hand in.

Could you imagine selecting your hammer? Your work would be icey cold before you made up your mind. That, or totally burnt up in a shower of sparks. Thanks for the photos.

$40 for that! I would pay that in US funny money and ship it here for that price.

Don't sell yourself short.

If you take Sam's advice make sure you leave a gap so long work can be laid across the forge.

Just goes to prove that ventillation is essential. Does not matter what type of forge you run they all put out LOTS of nasties, especially carbon monoxide, and ventillation is absolutely essential. Sometimes its good that i work in a lean to :)

I thought about a speed control and actually had a place for one but was told I could not use it on the 115 volt motor with a capacitor starter on it. Does anyone know if this is true or not. I would like to use a speed control if possible. If I cannot do it I have very good control with the gate valve. THANKS for the input.

Firebug,

Amazing work and it looks like its nearly got it all. The only "extra" I would add is a speed control on your blower. At over 200 cfm it will just about blow your fire out of the pot and choking it down with a gate will just add load to the motor. I have a 90 cfm blower that has a variable control and most times it is hardly working at all. Use the speed controller to regulate the speed you need for the job and turn the air on and off with the gate instead of trying to control a hurricane.

Just my two bobs worth..................

Thankyou. This is a treasure for many of us.

I like the design where you have one split jaw and one solid. Makes for a very versitile set of tongs.

One thing I haven't seen posted yet is to heat your iron slowly and thoroughly. Make sure it is HOT right through so you are not trying to move squishy outside metal around a harder core. Not really an issue on small stuff but as the section gets bigger its possible to be burning the outside and have a relatively cool and hard core.

Great post JW. Must have been a bit of poetic justice for you :)

In your case with a huge workshop ready made and only 10 minutes away with security the answer is a no brainer. Why would you bother building a home shop and filling up your living area when you have that already laid on?

And I thought I was the master of understatement!!

Can't answer any of your questions but would like to say your forge is an impressive bit of kit. Nice model for my venture into the world of gassers.

Now that has to be the best read I've had for quite a while.............

Jock,

Have a look in the laundry section of your local supermarket. Borax is commonly used as a water softner and is in this section in Oz at least. Make sure its pure borax though.

Ian,

You are right that its a GREAT act that Glenn does each year and it must cost him to put it on.

Pity its only once a year..................

Dale,

If numbers are limited next year. Put me down NOW!!!

Great job. Love the handle design, elegant and simple.

Great piece of work there. Its surely going to be an heirloom for whoever eventually buys it.

Just back from getting hammered.

We had a brilliant time great company, great food and great information.

It was just a "bit" of culture shock to go from my little rivet forge to Moony's. I could not even find a set of tongs to hold anything below 1/2"!! At home I reckon 1/2" is getting rather large.......

Of course thanks and comments are in order:

• Moony - for hosting the event and for the tips on hammer technique. Boy, it feels strange but I'm sure it will become more natural with practice.
• Dale - for helping organise the event and working toward its success all weekend.
• "Little" Jeremy - great to put a face to a name. Strange to think I have virtually chatted with him many times but could walk past him in the street and not know. Strange world we live in. If nothing else, I think I would recognise a Aspen tree now. This great big bloke was punching out some of the most delicate work, aspen leaves, at the event and it was a real pleasure to watch. I really learnt lots from him by just watching.
• Other faces for names include Longstrider, he still didn't leave that chopper for my kitchen set, even after all my hints. Monstermetal, Ian R and Ratel.
• One of my mates came down and had never done any forging. One of the blokes there took him under his wing and he proudly displayed a wall hook and gum leaf to his wife and kids yesterday. He may be hooked......
• The industrial boys are in a world of their own. I did lots of watching and learnt a lot but they don't play with small stuff like I do. Still the techniques are the same, just need applying in a slightly different way. They really love their power hammers.
• The others all contributed to my blacksmithing knowledge and I thank them. Not by name but just as important. We all learn something from everyone we meet in life and I learnt lots this weekend.
• Reckon I will be changing from coal to coke now with an electric blower. The lack of white smoke/fumes was a pleasure and the constant fire with the blower made things MUCH easier to use.
• The coupla furnace was an interesting display. Sure shows why steel was so precious in earlier times.
• The Rich Hale knife that was raffled was a thing of great beauty. It certainly displayed the combination of forging, finishing and art. It went to one of the apprentices who will really appreciate it for the skill needed to produce an item like that and be suitably proud to be the owner.
  

Impressive effort to make your first set of tongs like that. Well done!

I agree with the others. Keep those as they are and make some others with grooves, the collection never ends.