Aubrey Posted March 2, 2019 Share Posted March 2, 2019 Okay ... after about four tries, I managed to make something that ALMOST resembles a pair of tongs. They are ugly, and yeah I used the belt grinder on them to smooth up the reins a little. I had hoped to fit these things for 5/8 or maybe even 3/4 inch stock. But I'm starting to think with a boss that's only an inch or so that won't be possible. Could I get some suggestions on where to go from here please? (I hope the pics don't cause a pickle) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted March 2, 2019 Share Posted March 2, 2019 What size stock did you start with? Your first tongs look a lot better than my first one did. I think thicker stock would let you forge a heavier bit & boss for stock like 5/8 or 3/4 of course that would require drawing the reigns more work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted March 2, 2019 Author Share Posted March 2, 2019 I forged these from 5/8 round. I was pretty clueless about riveting. A little less clueless now. Would like to fashion one of Alec Steele's "monkey tools" to make some rivets. I had to forge a punch to punch the hole, then rough out a quick drift to make the rivet fit. I am happy enough to admit that I'm stumbling blind in the dark here. The only learning source I have is pretty much right here. Information and trying. Watching and Trying. Okay my rant is over. So if I wanted to utilize these, how big a stock could I adjust them to without completely destroying what little progress I've actually made? So is there a rule of thumb I can know about? Like what size to start with to forge a bit to fit the size stock I want to work? Oh, the chart just now showed up. I looked through that, even downloaded it to my phone. I'll do some more studying on that. Maybe I can make some sense of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted March 2, 2019 Share Posted March 2, 2019 It's a good start. Look at the chart to see what size they will be best for, and go with that. Then think about what you learned from these, and make another pair! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted March 2, 2019 Author Share Posted March 2, 2019 Thanks! I am definitely going to make another pair! I get kind of OCD on things. I fixate, and do it over and over again until I like the result. Can't tell you how many tong "blanks" I made trying to get rolling. But I am in a position to where I can't do anything else with them until I have a pair to hold them with. haha! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted March 2, 2019 Share Posted March 2, 2019 Repetition is the mother of learning. Let me say that again. Repetition is the mother of learning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted March 2, 2019 Share Posted March 2, 2019 Nice first pair! Well done. My first couple pair of tongs are pretty poor, your's came out much nicer. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted March 2, 2019 Share Posted March 2, 2019 6 hours ago, JHCC said: Repetition is the mother of learning. However... “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted March 2, 2019 Share Posted March 2, 2019 Perhaps, but only if you expect a different result from an identical action. If you are deliberately, consciously, and continually trying to do better each time, that’s a different matter. Either way, whatever we repeat becomes habit: “practice makes permanent.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted March 3, 2019 Share Posted March 3, 2019 Insanity is asking a blacksmith the same question and expecting to get the same answer. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted March 4, 2019 Author Share Posted March 4, 2019 Hey I really appreciate the comments. I was able to adjust them (sort of) to fit some 1/4" flat. Next pair will be much better. Been working on a pair I watched a guy make from some 1/4" x 1" flat bar but my results after drawing out 4" of material just didn't quite reach a length equal to the 12 or so inches he managed. I'm using a propane forge and my now hairless hands are telling me I need longer reins. Haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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