Plugging at it
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North Thetford ,Vermont
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Thank you for the advice, the anvil has moved around some. I’ll put more thought into it. If I know myself as well as I think I do, it will be less than a day after the meet before I try.
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Thank you. I believe all talented craftsmen are a pleasure to watch, and, it’s blacksmithing. That may lead me down another path...... I don’t have to worry about too many steps to the anvil or vise.
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Here’s where I ended up when I posed myself the same question. I am no blacksmith, and have never purchased tongs, or used commercial tongs, so have nothing to compare them to. I find that this pair can hold to 3/16 to 1/2 inch stock without having to stretch my grip I don't believe the serrations do anything, though the in line groove on the small jaw helps stabilize smaller stock when held straight out the jaws. I find these tongs agreeable for making hooks and other small items that the stock changes in dimension and shape , good grip without having to switch tongs , and plenty of room for things to hang out the side. I had posted my first pair of these and was advised to put the cross slot on the larger jaw. Advice taken and utilized, with good results.
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Good afternoon from North Thetford ,Vermont. It all started with the brother in law wanting to make knives. I never knew what a little air and charcoal could do to a file. He left the craft before even starting. I unfortunately got hooked. No knives mind you, I witnessed all the frustration. I floundered and bled and burned myself and read a book or two. Then I realized that the best information I found web surfing was usually at IFI. Then I set to absorbing as much as I could here. I did hit my first hammer in last fall at Ben’s Mill in Vermont and plan to make the New England Blacksmiths spring meet. A couple pictures of my whomping coop. The coop for the chickens that I was only to use one winter to cover my tools(four years ago). The chickens ended up with a different coop, although they do visit. Thank You to all who share on this site . Sid
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Thank you. I have many pairs of ugly tongs. I didn’t know tongs aren’t for beginners until I found IFI. I had to stop and do some skill building for a while. Now I use tongs for skill building. These are retired for safety reasons.
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Loosely inspired by Brazeal ultimate tongs. I find they grip a wider range of stock sizes and shapes without adjustment. They grip well as the stock changes size and around bumps and curves. All mild steel, 1/2 & 5/8 round. Slowly but surely the forging improves.
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Thank you. I believe I'll do that, once I figure out the how without making a mess of things.
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I've been following the tong section lately. This is my attempt to put this newly gathered info and skills practice together. The blanks were 5/8 round. The first thing they got after the picture is another trip to the fire to bring the inner jaw up and in at the nose to fit 3/16 round. Very grippy. Very versatile.
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I thank the curmudgeons for recommending Weygers, for style and hold down.He suggests leaf spring, I have found that mild is far less work for a prototype sort of tool. When the time comes... I thank you for your kind words also.
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Thank you, and thanks to all who have shared on this site and others. I haven't been able to take any classes or get to meets, yet. IFI has been an excellent resource, and I have an even greater respect for those folks who taught themselves pre- internet.
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A few new helpers and a thingy to hold them down. All mild, 1/4x3/4 and 1x3/4. The ball swage needs some love as you can see. A little practice run to learn a bit before I go for tool steel for material. All in all a very productive weekend, pair and a half of tongs too! ( I'm real slow, learning it all as I go.)
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May I suggest the Abana Curriculum. Controlled Hand Forging. It certainly helped me after thrashing about for Eighteen months.
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Hello Everyone, first posting for me. Thanks to all for the wealth of information shared here. Frosty posted something about rope and hammer and bungee cords... I think I can work with this. I tried it out with a flatter today. Finally, that third hand.