Ben Hoover Posted September 22, 2019 Share Posted September 22, 2019 Now I have to make more. I've made five so far, cutting the paddles, sanding and then forging and attaching the hooks. Simple project, but folks seem to like the concept. Still have a way to go, but folks like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arkie Posted September 22, 2019 Share Posted September 22, 2019 Charcoal is nowhere near as bad as coal when it comes to smoke. If you're using charcoal, you should have no problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 22, 2019 Share Posted September 22, 2019 23 hours ago, GolFisHunt said: I completed my first set of tongs from scratch today. Butt ugly Where's the ugly part? Take a close up and mark it clearly or we're going to set our opinions to default. Looks good, very good for a first pair. Pretty don't move metal. Good job all round Laynne. I have a 6" Indian Chief vise too. The heat shield on your forge will probably need a pass through so you can heat farther from the end of your stock. You'll notice soon enough and I strongly doubt you'll have trouble dealing. Nice heart, well done. My only issue is how darned neat your shop is, makes me think there's something wrong with one of us. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlpservicesinc Posted September 22, 2019 Share Posted September 22, 2019 Carving hatchet from last weekend hardened and tempered an Long poll., medium beard throwing hawk made at demo. Golfishhunt. nice tongs. Well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laynne Posted September 22, 2019 Share Posted September 22, 2019 On 9/22/2019 at 6:19 PM, Frosty said: Good job all round Laynne. I have a 6" Indian Chief vise too. The heat shield on your forge will probably need a pass through so you can heat farther from the end of your stock. Thanks Frosty, The heat shield isn't attached so it's completely removable if the wind is calm, doesn't happen often in Kansas. I can rotate it to have an eight inch gap to work longer pieces. The vise has 5 1/2 inch jaws with faint serrations, closes evenly. I think it is missing a thrust washer on the movable jaw. It took two weeks of soaking, tapping, and a little torch to get the screw freed up. Laynne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GolFisHunt Posted September 24, 2019 Share Posted September 24, 2019 I appreciate the kind words everyone. I am in no way disappointed with my efforts or the functionality of my tongs. The aesthetics may be a bit lacking, but, as a wise chilly man recently said, "pretty don't move metal". One tong came out of the forge a bit sparkly on the tip. I missed my mark on the rein set down, I think that's the correct term, making the reins and bosses different in lengths, and the bows different in shape. One rein is a bit more bent than the other. They do, however, hold the intended stock securely and in line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlpservicesinc Posted September 24, 2019 Share Posted September 24, 2019 yes, very good tongs for sure. Well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GolFisHunt Posted September 24, 2019 Share Posted September 24, 2019 Thanks, hope to do better next time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anachronist58 Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 Hope to do as well as you have, next time. Good on ya, Robert Taylor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GolFisHunt Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 Tried my hand at slitting and drifting today. I'll call this a success after the functionality test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 Very nice. The dimple is a bit off-center, but the symmetry is otherwise quite good and the slant at the end of the handle gives a good contrast. Nice even width on the ring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 Looks good. Now make 100 more and you'll get it down to a science. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GolFisHunt Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 Quite right, it is a bit off center. Probably less noticable after proper testing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlpservicesinc Posted September 26, 2019 Share Posted September 26, 2019 Golfishunt, 43 years smithing and I have never made a bottle opener. but that for sure looks like it will open a bottle. It's great seeing right off that you have a desire to make clean well proportioned forgings. Keep it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GolFisHunt Posted September 26, 2019 Share Posted September 26, 2019 Thanks! I'm Dave. It seamed like a good project to try slitting and drifting. The functionality test was a success, by the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnut Posted September 26, 2019 Share Posted September 26, 2019 23 hours ago, Chris The Curious said: Now make 100 more and you'll get it down to a science. I watched a video on here somewhere of a production run of bottle openers being made using a hydraulic press. It was pretty cool. If I get a minute I'll try to look it up. Pnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyBones Posted September 26, 2019 Share Posted September 26, 2019 Was it tested with both hands though? Seems more testing is in order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GolFisHunt Posted September 26, 2019 Share Posted September 26, 2019 It is definitely a right handed opener. I'll work on the dexterity of the next one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheechWizard Posted September 26, 2019 Share Posted September 26, 2019 just finished these up. second hawk, 6th knife i believe. the tomahawk is leaf spring and the bowie was an old heller file Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted Ewert Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 Nice work everyone, great to see so many people making interesting projects. A buddy of mine wanted me to make him a campfire poker after his friends showed up at the last camp-out with pokers "made by a real blacksmith". His only requirement was "something twisty in the middle". Sooo... this is what I came up with. I forge welded the head on and pinned the horns through the top so they wouldn't move. I told him that it was patterned after the greater horned roadrunner. Known to inhabit isolated areas of the south west, it is often seen in the company of the famed Jackalope. I was in a bar once in Tucson and a gentleman told me of a rare encounter he had with one of these critters. As the story went, the horned Roadrunner was surrounded by a pack of hungry coyotes, circling in for the kill. As they approached, the roadrunner took off like a bullet, went straight under one coyote and sliced him open with them horns like a ripe tomato. The rest of the pack scattered with their tails between their legs. People may wonder if this story is true or not, but this guy was a full blooded Irishman and swore he only had a drop or two before witnessing the amazing event. So there ya go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 Sounds like a good story to me............of course, I'm part Irish! Bet your friend will like the poker. Looks good to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheechWizard Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 that is so sick ted, the black horned griffin who can be seen diving into the firey depths to stoke the flame so as the age of fire may live on.... think ive been playing to much dark souls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 Got this great heavy dolly for free a little while back. And the forge table has been feeling low at 28 inches to the rim. Cut the dolly and welded in some 2 inch angle so it fits under the forge legs and brings the top up to a nice waist high 36 inches. Plumbed and ducted an electric blower for those projects (thick wrought and bloomery iron) the hand crank, and my arm, are not quite up for. Too hot to light a fire and try it out yesterday, but maybe this weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 3 hours ago, Ted Ewert said: sliced him open with them horns like a ripe tomato. Maybe he had a dram more than he remembered if he was seeing road runners with horns like a ripe tomato. Wonder what he was drinking and where I can find some. That is a WICKED COOL poker Ted, I love it. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted Ewert Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 Thanks guys, I appreciate the feedback! Frosty, I think he'd gotten hold of a bottle of Absinthe at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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