Nick Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 These are a little pair of ember tongs or a 'smoker's companion', from the mid 17th to 18th century. Unlike the large pipe tongs kept at the hearth, these are only 4.75" long and so are portable. Some had a hardened upper arm that could be used as a fire steel, but I wanted to get the joint right first. I made the male half a little short, but there is very little play in the hinge. The female half was started with a hacksaw, then opened up with a thin chisel and forged to shape with a thin shim. The upper arm was shouldered at each side of the joint and the leaf was forged down then filed to clean up. The spring is from a hacksaw blade. The end of the lower arm is a pipe tamper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Coke Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Greetings Nick, Very nice work.. I too smoke a pipe and will have to try a set.. Super joint work.. Would be fun at demos Forge on and make beautiful things Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLMartin Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 They seem just fine. Very nice show for the website. Thank you for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Another beautiful piece Nick. We're going to have to vote you a title of some kind if you keep doing such high end work. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Mullins Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Smokers get all the neat gadgets, but I guess I'll just have to admire. Nice work on that piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davor Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Love the pipe tool, I saw the replicas before but only now I see it in scale and in use. I’m a pipe smoker also. Great work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GNJC Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Yes, nicely done. There are few things better than making something useful that you can use every day and get pleasure from every time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Posted November 23, 2013 Author Share Posted November 23, 2013 Thanks, gents. I was pleased how they turned out, I was worried something was going to go wrong when drilling the joint for the rivet, but it came out just right. My 4-year-old pushed the pedal on my drill press to drill the holes, he was very proud that he helped make them. Davor, I didn't realize how small the originals were either at first until I started looking deeper. I saw one that was over an inch shorter than mine, very delicate and graceful. Frosty, thanks, I'll do my best :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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