Archie Zietman Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Hello. Yesterday I finally took one minute (literally) and made myself what in glassblowing is called a yoke. It's one of this y shaped things which allows you to support long pieces of work in the forge, without it falling out. It is amazingly useful. I can finally make multiple 3 foot toasting forks, or shepherd's hooks at a time, it's soooo useful, and makes forging more pleasurable, not having to balance things in the forge. What are some simple tools which you have made, which madea huge difference in your forging? be merry, Archie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
civilwarblacksmith Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Hey Archie, How bout a picture bud? Be neat to see your work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 I've generally heard it called a "third hand". When we built a gasser from an old O2 tank I welded on some sq tubing on both sides so I could slide a piece of 3/8" sq stock with the end bent so it would go across the front of the forge and one for the rear of the forge on the other side. It's a *heavy* forge and so can generally take the stock I use without tipping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 I built the extending stock support on my new gasser to run out about 16". The rest itself is a firebrick and 4 1/2" wide so the total rest length is about 20-21". Below that I built an extending tong rack that can be flipped over to extend the stock support another 10" or so. The attached pic shows the stock rest and tong rack extended a ways. The tong rack's right side up in the pic. This set up is copied on the opposite side if I need to heat the centers of long stock. Overall with both rests and racks extended it's about 78". I have a couple helpers I can set up if that isn't enough. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
civilwarblacksmith Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 I have gotten to where I don't usually have the time to make the tools I need. It's all I can do right now to make the product. I have a fella at my blacksmith guild make the tools for me. Little things like bending jigs bent U-shaped for hooks or eyes I do on the spot. Ya don't get paid if the product ain't made! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zsartell Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 I usually find it just as enjoyable to make the tools as it is to make the product that you need the tools for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Me too. Part of it is the longevity of the work. Once a product is finished it's done. A tool lives on as you use it. I get a great deal of satisfaction from a tool or piece of equipment that does what I wanted when I thought it up. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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