What should my first project be?

[OddWasTaken]

I see a lot of people saying that I should make tongs as a first project, and that's what I'm considering. Is that a good idea or should I try something simpler?

[ThomasPowers]

Something simpler!!!!!!!!!!!  I start students on S hooks and that's with me with 40 years experience standing over there shoulder helping them out.

[Irondragon Forge ClayWorks]

Tongs are good after you have good hammer control. That usually involves doing tapers, hammering square to octagon to round then back to square and making a lot of s-hooks like Thomas said. Making them will help build muscles which help with hammer control.

Once you have the basics down then try a set of tongs, but don't be discouraged, if they don't look like you want. After you have made a couple of dozen of them they will pass the test.

[pnut]

In the first few weeks I made lots of s hooks, a set of fire tools, a nail header, a little punch to make the nail header (I learned the importance of keeping a punch cool too), another little punch to make the nail header, some horseshoe hearts, a loggerhead, and lots of nails. This video might help you out. https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/49180-the-big-8-blacksmithing-techniques/

The part that gave me the most trouble with tongs in the beginning was setting down and isolating the bits without a cold shut. I was using too sharp of an edge. After I radiused the edge of my anvil a little more it took care of the problem. 

Pnut

[Frazer]

A chisel, a drift, a punch, leaves (can be a little key chain or something), lots of leaves, a coal rake (if you use coal), a fire poker... just to name a few!

Make things you'll actually use! Tools are especially useful starting out and many of them teach some of the basic techniques that will be useful on future projects.