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I like slot jaw tongs. I've found them to be pretty versatile for holding both round and flat stock. I've never used a pair of box jaw tongs for flat stock though. I think it all boils down to proper sizing really. No matter what stock and tongs you use. 

Pnut

7 hours ago, BillyBones said:

impression so far is this is not a beginners book. There is some info that is lacking that the author, in my opinion, was thinking as common knowledge. For most of us here yes it is common knowledge but for someone who is just starting a little more in depth descriptions and photos would be nice.

I thought the same thing. It definitely doesn't delve into the basics like drawing out etc but the projects are pretty simple if you have a basic understanding of the 8 primary techniques. It's definitely not a book for a complete beginner. 

Pnut

On 7/27/2021 at 10:30 PM, Jbob322 said:

My punches are just sharpened rock chisels so I dont know if I need a different punch and Im not sure how to make one.

Here's a Black Bear forge video of forging a hammer eye punch and drift. 

 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iMQkY7hJF0M 

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16 hours ago, ThomasPowers said:

Thanks!  the biggest single impediment to many people trying to get into blacksmithing is thinking they need to buy a London Pattern Anvil. 

Thinking I needed this or that to get started helped me waste a LOT of time that could have been spent actually blacksmithing. Finally running across the JABOD and improvised anvil threads here was an eye opening experience. I was beating hot steel within a few days. I always tell people, "Just get started with whatever you have access too because waiting on the perfect forge, perfect anvil, perfect hammer or whatever will have you waiting forever."

Pnut

On 7/19/2021 at 11:29 AM, ThomasPowers said:

I believe that coal tar was an active ingredient in some hair dyes.  Hopefully that's been changed out like the lead acetate used in some progressive dyes has been. 

It's still an active ingredient in many OTC psoriasis treatments. I use it on occasion. 

Pnut

Glad I could help. 

Pnut

1 hour ago, Chenier said:

Got to fire up the forge again, this time coated with Plistix (thanks, Glenn!). Wow, does that make a difference

Took my forge from a high orange to what appears to be an almost white incandescence. It really does make a difference. It's a lot more durable than I thought it would be too. 

Pnut

They're excellent videos as well as having his English accent in them. 

Pnut

Haven't done anything in the shop but im in Louisville for a concert and I'm hoping cumberland elkhorn coal and coke is open on Saturdays so I can grab a bag or two of coal. Fingers crossed because they're not answering the phone yet. 

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Not at all. I rather enjoy it haha. 

Pnut

We had to cut our own switch and woe betide the fool child that tried to cut an inadequate one. 

Pnut

I bought it a few months ago and it's the best instructional text on Blacksmithing I've ran across so far. I'm ordering volume two soon.  He has a bunch of YouTube videos too. Be forewarned, if you watch his videos you'll hear his accent in your head whenever you read the books.

At the rubber refinery all machine operators were issued their own lock and tag. It's strange to say it because it was such a dirty and hard job but I actually miss it. Truthfully I don't think my body could handle it anymore. I think the years I spent working there have a lot to do with the state of my back and joints today. 

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8 hours ago, George N. M. said:

I had forgotten that until you used the phrase "locked out."

I got on people's nerves at the rubber refinery with my obsessive adherence to lock out tag out procedure. I like all my limbs attached and unsqished. I actually had an argument with one of the old timers over it and yes, he was missing two fingers on his right hand. Time passes and some folks tend to get complacent I suppose. 

Pnut

I seemed to have missed this topic. Great idea John. I've been wanting some punch tongs and tools for them for a while so I can get my hand farther away from the hot stock. I don't like wearing a glove so I thought they would be a good alternative.  I really like the cam idea. I haven't tried making any because of the problem with variation in sizes of the tools and jaws as you pointed out. You've found a pretty elegant solution. Kudos. 

Pnut

If you connect the right side of the waist strap to the right shoulder strap in the back it should straighten it out. Might take some fiddling with it to get it right but I'm pretty sure it's doable.

Pnut

Hope things get better for you Charles. Although I've never actually met you I count you as a friend and I hate to see friends having a hard time. If there's anything I can do just let me know. 

Pnut

15 hours ago, sidesaddle queen said:

i use mostly small hammers ..  5 0z to 20 oz.. i have small  hands and work with thin metal..  most small hammers have very small handles.. then tend to rotate of if do not grip. 

There's an excellent description of how to dress a hammer handle and the reasons behind it in Mark Aspery's The Skills of a Blacksmith vol. 1. If you look at the shape your hand makes if it was gripping a hammer you'll see it's basically a rectangle with two diagonal corners relieved. I'd post the pictures from the book but alas they're copyrighted material so it's a no go. 

Pnut

What this nail test doesn't take into account is that you don't only strike full face flat blows when smithing. 

Pnut

It's been said before but that would make the perfect blower for a charcoal jabod if it's not strong enough for coal. I'd love to have that little fella for my jabod. Currently I have to lug out a forty pound buffalo no.700 every time I use it. I love my blower but portability goes a long way in my book. 

Pnut

Here's a picture of the first jabod trench style firepot I made. The tuyere is one inch schedule forty pipe that's ~3in below the top of the box and about three quarters of an inch above the bottom of the trench floor so I could burn coal also. I later substituted bricks for the mounds I made from clay because I made them too thin and they cracked. Hard to believe that was almost three years ago.

Pnut

19 hours ago, ThomasPowers said:

(Dang Nabbit; I just gave away another secret tip; like the one about cutting stock to be pointed at an angle rather than at 90 deg,....double dang nabbit!)

It's in the Mark Aspery books too but it's a secret so please try to keep it under your hat

I had a run in with an elk on a mountain trail in Perry county KY. He wasn't budging and my only option was to glissade down about a hundred feet of scree before he made me regret my choice to go hiking that day. We surprised each other as he seemed just as startled to see me as I was to see him. 

Pnut

Howdy. What part of the bluegrass state are you from if you don't mind me asking. I'm in Northern KY Grant County to be specific. If you ever get up this way give me a shout. 

Welcome aboard, be safe, and remember it's supposed to be fun. 

Pnut

Maybe a couple bricks on only one side so you can bank the coal against it and still be able to coke your coal. Is the forge in the electric blower conversion thread the forge you are using? 

Pnut

3 minutes ago, Jobtiel1 said:

I've been trying for a few months already and unfortunately I can't get it to work

This is going to sound silly but have you tried using two bricks stacked up per side? 

Pnut