Simian Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 Hi Guys & Gals. More questions from a noob, sorry. I've just got hold of some wrought Iron - old sheep fencing - and I've tried upsetting some short sections. worked hot, it moved like butter, and no splitting1! However, these small pieces (now around 1" cube) are hard to hold with my basic tong selection. Do I need to make some tiny specific tongs, or am I trying to do things that are just too small? Any pointers welcome, thanks all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rojo Pedro Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 Making tongs for specific uses is why blacksmiths have so many tongs. 'You can't hit it if you can't hold it' Have fun and send pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anvil Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 yup, thats it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 I find that the best tongs for holding small work, are shoeing tongs that Farriers use. I find them very cheap at junk shops and yard sales and they are easy to reform/adjust to the work. Last count I have 7 pair and never pass them up when out junking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazz Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 Many times, small work pieces can have a piece of rebar, rod, bar stock or pipe welded to them to take the place of the tongs. After forging, it is cut off. You can also use the bar stock (sheep fencing? - I don't know what that is) and upset the end as needed and cut off the piece you need from that. I have upset the ends of bar stock by heating the end of the bar and then throwing them down onto a steel block on the floor. A rosebud torch is handy for that so just the very end of the bar is heated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simian Posted January 30, 2023 Author Share Posted January 30, 2023 Thanks Guys, teeny tiny tongs it is! I don't want to weld to this unnecessarily. Gazz, this is sheep fencing; Essentially old estate fencing to hold sheep in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 Most fencing like that are made from old sucker rod, at least around here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simian Posted January 31, 2023 Author Share Posted January 31, 2023 100% wrought - it has a grain, and tears when you bend it. I had to google sucker rod - not much of that style of oil extraction going on in the UK! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hefty Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 On 1/31/2023 at 8:28 AM, Simian said: Gazz, this is sheep fencing; Judging by the shades of paint on the grass, it's freshly painted sheep fencing (Sorry, couldn't help but notice) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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