Ranchmanben

Hammer day. The square face one is for me and the tiny one is for Pinecone. It might still be a little big for a 3 year old but she’ll grow into it.

When I was a kid, my sister and I would find them by the hand full. I always keep an eye out for them and they’ve gotten fairly scarce. I see them because of my I watch for them and I’m outside all the time. Their numbers have really dropped though. Both of those tiny guys wandered into the barn while I was forging and I wouldn’t have put it past either of my dogs to see how they taste.

I’ve got a couple of dogs that roll around with me all the time but I settled on the name Hornytoad Forge because these little fellas will occasionally wander into the shop. The bigger one was a couple of years ago and the tiny one showed up today. I always relocate them to the safety of a bush. I see the adults somewhat regularly, not near as often as I did as I kid, but the babies speak to my soul.

There’s a British farrier tool maker, Jon Nunn, that makes tongs and nippers in this fashion, with a rivet. I doubt they are individually hand forged but they sure are pretty. Pictures are pretty tough to come by though.

Thanks Mark, I’m still working out how to use a power hammer to make hammers. Should have shot me a message, I’m usually around. Clarendon is a nice little town.

Good deal, you never know though.

I’m not gonna lie, that vise doesn’t look like it’ll take much striking.

These are my power hammer tongs I like the most.

I’ve never really gotten the hang of the brazeal type tongs either. I recently built a set of tongs for this kind of work that I really like. I’ll try to snag a picture tomorrow.

1.25 lb round hammer done just for fun. The handle is recycled from another hammer.

Couple of rounding hammers, selection of tongs, center punch, handled hot cut, 3/8” handled round punch, wire brush, silver streak pencil, cheap brass caliper and safety glasses are the standard kit but I usually throw in more tools that are task specific.

Interior: 19.75" × 11.00" × 7.60" Weight 12 pounds A lot of the competitive farrier I know use these. Plenty of room and had wheels. Comes at a hefty price but it ought to last.

3/4” square mild steel will be plenty stout enough. I prefer to make most of my tong from 3/8”x1” mild steel or 3/4” round sucker rod. How are you going to be using the 1.5” material, on a power hammer, with a striker or solo on the anvil? What are you wanting to make? Those sorts of things help decide how robust these tongs need to be. I’d save the 1045 for other projects.

Trying out a new gas forge.

That’s incredible!

As Tom said, it depends on where you’re located. I’m in the Texas panhandle and would jump on it at that price even if it needed more work than it sounds like it needs.

Titanium tong for 3/16” flat.

Built a set of titanium tong myself today! Starting size 5/8” round and I didn’t bump up enough material for for a suitable sized boss so I sized them for 3/16” flat. They should be handy for working on bottle openers. Not my best work but now I know how this material works and am looking forward to the next time I can snag some.

Old farm equipment is a good idea! Anything in particular I should be looking for?

Thomas, it’s odd that I can’t find any since I live in a fairly old town, for the Texas panhandle at least. There are wagon tyres galor decorating yards. Few people are willing to part with what I’m after. I might possibly have a lead digging through Charles Goodnights old trash pit but we’ll see how that turns out.

JHCC- that’s going to turn out great! For the life of me, I can seem to find any wrought iron around these parts.

Man, that looks killer! That style is right up my alley for what I like to make too. How is the top attatched to the base?

I think it looks pretty dang good! I always thought those looked like they’d be awkward to use but that hasn’t stopped me from wanting one just to have. Made a bottle opener for a buddy out of some leftover cable damascus which has lead to other people wanting them. More openers are in my future

Picked up a few pto shafts out of 1948-52 Ford tractors. I assume is 4140ish but I’m going to have to do a little experimenting to see how it heat treats.