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EbinH

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Hi there, My name is Ebin and im 17 - Im currently live in Texas. Ive been a lurker for a while, i just figured out I could post without an account (I think the feature is broken, I've been trying since may)  Im a beginner in this art, but now I've finally got a set up ready. so be easy on me, hopefully ill get an account made or something.

 

For now, youll just have to enjoy yourself to a look at my sloppy hammer and metal work. I dont own a pair of tongs so I'm using a welder glove to grab the metal (it gives me about 10 15, 20 seconds. and its been working alright, when trying to do small stuff i use needle nose plyers, they don't work and often times the metal jumps out at me. My vice grip is older then sin and when i try to make nails the metal just falls out after about 4 hits. 

Currently welding up a forge aswell, I built the anvil stand myself and im using the schools shop Screenshot-2024-11-12-093429.png

I have been reading and using Randy Mcdaniel's "A Blacksmith Primer" for all my advice

I love this art to much to let anything stop me though, if you have any tool recommendations tell me please!.

Thank you for reading!

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Welcome aboard Ebin, glad to have you. If you put your general location in the header you'll have a much better chance of  meeting members living within visiting distance. 

If you click on your Avatar at the top left of your post you'll see you are indeed a member. Let's hope you continue to be successful at the craft even if you don't know it till someone says so. :rolleyes:

I take it the anvil in the pic is yours yes? It LOOKS a little too high from here. A good way to gauge the height that works best for YOU is to stand relaxed next to the anvil face in your work shoes and let your clenched fist hang at your side. It doesn't need to be clenched hard, just closed. The face of the anvil should be between your knuckles and wrist. This is a departure point adjusting up or down might be necessary. You will have to adjust your blows according to the hammer you're using. But knuckles to wrist height is a good place to start. 

Twist tongs are EZ PZ to make. You'll need some strap stock of suitable weight, say 5/16" x 3/4" or 1". Cut two lengths a little longer than your forearm from finger tips to the point of your elbow.

Next clamp the two together matched up and drill a 5/16" hole about 3" from one end. bolt or rivet them together, if you rivet them work the halves like scissors while it cools so they aren't locked together.

Now comes the twisty part, clamp the bit end (the short end measured from the pivot is the bits) in the vise about 1/2"+ up from the pivot. Heat it up with a torch to a bright red or low orange and using an adjustable wrench and twist 90*

You'll want to open and close it as it cools so it doesn't bind up.

Your next step is to forge the bits to fit what you need to hold. For round bits (to hold round stock) mark where you wish the shape, heat the bits and forge a piece of the desired round stock down into the bits. Doing this between the partially open jaws of a vise works nicely. Use a couple short sections of angle iron in the vise jaws as slips so the vise's teeth doesn't scar the work. Break the edges on the angle iron so they don't cut into the bits. When you get one bit forged to fit the stock flip it over and forge the bit's other jaw to fit the stock.

These are very basic and not as strong as more common smithing tongs. On the gripping hand they'll work well enough to forge basic projects. Including your first few pair of forged tongs.

There are a number of tong making how to videos on Iforge, I'll let YOU look for. The videos here are pretty well vetted by members, we CAN be merciless towards urban myth or idiots in the shop. Safety is VERY important to us and we'll call unsafe practices as soon as we see them.

Go to yard, garage, estate, etc. sales and find yourself some more tools, I've gotten several pairs of tongs, I don't know how many nice hammers and other really useful shop stuff. 

Do NOT get crazy about heavy hammers, you can do yourself serious even permanent soft tissue damage swinging too heavy a hammer. 2 to 2 1/2 lbs. is plenty to do good work without doing yourself an injury, if you need a 4lb or larger hammer get someone to strike for you with a sledge hammer.

Take regular breaks, one of the hardest things to learn beginning is when you're getting tired. There are lots of signs but they won't show until you become better at the anvil so just schedule breaks.

There are lots of things to talk about but I tend to get too wordy so I'll sign off for now and please don't hesitate to ask for help.

Frosty The Lucky.

 

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Welcome aboard from 7500' in SE Wyomomg.  Glad to have you.

I agree with everything Frosty has said.  Basic tongs are pretty easy to make but other "grabbers" can work too, channel locks, vise grips, even a pair of slip joint pliers.  Also, if you work on the end of longer stock you can hold the end in your bare hand, steel is a fairly poor conductor of heat and you can do this with steel when you couldn't with other metals such as copper or aluminum.

There are some good you tube videos out there (and some really BAD ones.  Bad to the point of being dangerous)  I like Black Bear Forge, JPL Services (our own Jennifer), Torbjorn Ahman from Sweden, and Christ Centered Ironworks.  Some folk like Alec Steele but I find his presentation style kind of annoying.

There are also lots of good print books out there which you can buy or get through Interlibrary Loan at your local public library (or maybe even your school library).

"By hammer and hand all arts do stand."

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