K. Bryan Morgan

That is a very good possibility. This box is in my shed and subject to sub-zero temps every year. And I have no idea how old they are.

Yes, the breaker on my service. I had it happen to me again the other day. I have it on a 30 amp circut and I over loaded it with a log that was just alittle too big for it to split.

Awesome work there Brian. I have a hot cut made by champion that is almost the same configuration as yours. It has the curved top where the cutting edge is. The sides are straight however. The hardy post is angled like yours and its made for a 1 - 1/4" hardy hole. My Hardy hole is 1" but I use it anyway. I'm cutting hot steel, so it has no ill effect to my hardy hole. It's about 60 yrs old. judging from the old mine site I got it from. The cutting edge isn't quite as curved as yours is though. I'll post a picture of it as soon as I get my camera some batteries.

I have one of those 4 ton Ryobi log splitters and they trip the breaker when they are over loaded. I've done it a couple of times. No harm to the unit. Just flip the breaker and get back to splitting.

A question. I've seen pictures of the bowies with the brass or bronze backing he is talking about in pictures. How did they do that originally?

Here's my version of the three shoulder method. I know I have a long way to go to get a pair thats real nice. But I will be making more now that I see the right way to do it. I have a working pair of tongs. They are still rough by any measure of quality, but they do work. I guess thats the final test isn't it?

I do believe your right about that Frosty.

Yes Frosty shipping up to Alaska truely is a pain in the wallet. I gotta say though that I really enjoy it here. I finished up a pair of tongs yesterday. Made a J hook with them. Posted about it. The last few days have been busy at the forge, and will continue. Its been great. I remember the post vises you have and am really envious of them. Mine is a 4 inch weighs about 40 lbs. Not huge but sure nice to have. I mailed it up USPS and it wasn't all that expencive really. Just took a long time to get here. My sister mailed up some pictures for me to have UPS and it cost her a small fortune and they weigh a fraction of what the vise does.

I don't have a welder but thanks for the suggestion. Thanks Alec.

Hey there everyone. I finally got to use some of the information that I learned at the Dennis Manning class a few weeks ago in Palmer. First let me say that it was a very good event. Lots of people and lots of cool setups to look at. I’ll be posting pics of the once I get them sized smaller for the site. There are a lot of pics. I was able to get a good set of tongs made at last. It was a lot of fun to do. And I really enjoyed it. So much in fact that I promptly used them to make a J hook as soon as I got them finished. It did take me a couple of days to get them done. My knee does limit how long I can stand. But all in all I like how they turned out. One thing I did notice was that I had a crack in the reign behind the boss. I’ll use them until they break then I’ll make that side again. I set out to make them for 1/4″ – 3/8″ sized stock. And I succeeded. So all in all I’m very happy with the outcome.

I agree with you 100% Frosty. Unfortunately for air freight these days you have to be a "Known Carrier" these days because of Homeland Security Regulations. I tried to get my anvil up here air freight because of cost and couldn't do it because Incandecent Ironworks wasn't on the list. So I shipped it barge and truck. But, it turned out ok. The people there worked hard to get me the best price and I was happy with the shipping cost, $325ish. Which was much better than the almost $1000 asked for by a large known freight company that will remain nameless. I also agree that when I'm buying a tool, not an antique, I just don't see a reason to pay collector prices. If the want that much because, "I'm a collector and thats how much I want for it", then I don't need it that bad. Horders and collectors ruin things for those of us who have use for the items by driving prices up. I don't begrudge anyone a profit, but a resonable markup if you please.

Exactly Thomas, thats what I paid for mine. For a larger post vice say in the 6" 95-100 lb range I can see paying more. But $600 for a 4" or 5" post vice. Not likely.

I did E-mail him and let him know about this thread. If he looks he will see. I also told him what I paid for my post vise and how much it cost me to ship it up here. He didn't reply as yet. Maybe he will wake up. Then again maybe not. :blink:

Ya thats a funny one too...it would look great in your yard he says. I guess it takes all kinds.

Yes Thomas, Fairbanks Alaska. Seemed way over priced to me. Very unrealistic.

I found this on craigslist today. http://fairbanks.craigslist.org/for/1854544655.html $600 for a post vise. Is this a joke? Oh, or a 150 lb to 300 lb anvil. Then he gets to choose which post vise you get.

Yes your exactly right DE 2. Another tool he showed us out to make was a triangle punch out of spring steel. Used to punch cuts into the hole so when you set the rivet it locks in, and doesn't move on that side anymore. So in essence the rivet is fixed. The side of the jaws that moves is the side that is up. If that makes sense. The side of the reigns that is going down when you open your hand. So the rivet really doesn't move at all. Just the one side of the tong.

I took a class with Dennis Manning one week ago here in Palmer Ak. What an eye opener. I have tons of practice ahead of me. We also made some tools to make the tongs easier to finish. One being a rivet set, both bottom and top. Learned how to properly punch and drift the boss for maximum strength. Saw how to make several types of jaws. I know this is not an easy thing to do, making tongs. I have made a few using the twist method and they never have turned out well. Making tongs isn't an easy thing to do well. So I bought a few so I could work with some good tongs while I was making bad tongs, until I can make good tongs.

Dale, All I can say is that I hope they bring these two people to justice.

From what I understand there is one company left in the United States that is making flat ware. Right now they are using 18-8 stainless.

It would be very nice if we knew where you were so someone from that area could chime in. It may be that you will need to use coal as no coke supply is near enough. Of course some coals become coke. So in essence you would be making your own. It may be that you have no coal or coke supply near by and would have to use charcoal. It is how blacksmiths forged for several thousand years. But, it all hinges on where you are.

Steve, so sorry to hear that your dad is so ill. Prayers to you and your family from mine.

I totally understand what you are saying Sam, and you too Youngdylan. My father fought in WWII, out of his entire highschool graduating class, he was the only one who came home alive. My dad hated the Japanese for his entire life. Never did reconcile his feelings. That war was over long ago and our brave men and women who stood against that tyranny will not be long with us. I for one, honor their memory. I grew up hearing about the horrors of what happened in those times. I fully understand the meaning of the symbols and also understand well what your saying. I just don't let an emblem dictate to me is all.

Personally I would put those tongs to work. Not a thing wrong with them. I wouldn't grind off anything. But that's just me. They are worth more money unaltered. But I would use them.