Beautiful craft... I have been an industrial union blacksmith for almost 30 years, utilizing gigantic power hammers, to forge ingots of steel, having been heated in gigantic blast furnaces, that weigh up to 20,000 pounds... and I still consider all blacksmith work to be more art, than science. He may be simply forging a set of tongs, but to me it is a work of art!
Baroness Linda Baron thank you... I have been involved with the forging of steel, one way or another, for almost the last 30 years... And I can still walk into the shop, on any given day, and when I see that 85,000 Ton, Counter blow hammer, forging a 20,000 pound ingot, that took us 4 days to core-heat, in a 2400 degree blast furnace, I am still amazed, like a little kid, on Christmas morning... There is just something so primal, about the forming of hot metal... I am proud of the last 30 years of my life. Physically taxing? Yes. Without a doubt. But it is what I chose, and like I said, I am proud to have worked on the projects that I have been involved in, over the last 30 years... Thank you for your kind words, Baroness. ;-) Paul, the Union Blacksmith.
***** true, I have actually witnessed, and was a crew member of, the forging of the largest ingots of titanium ever, thus far. It was in 2009, we designed special dies, and incredibly complex material handling hardware (also forged by us!) to forge equal halves of the sphere that will be the new "Alvin" deep see submersible, for Bob Ballard, at Woods Hole Oceanographic. It has walls that are 4 inches thick, that will take them far below crush depth. And we had to be very careful, as we pancaked the titanium ingot to begin with, and then we had to re-heat it, and then forge it over an oval shaped mandrel, to give it the shape of the sphere. Every engineer at the shop was on hand, the day that we did this, in a three column, 150,000 ton press, in the aerospace building at Ladish, Building 66. A lot of rocket history for NASA, has come out of that building! If too much energy would have been exerted to quickly, we could have pushed the metal too far down the mandrel, and decreased the wall thickness by too much, in effect "stretching" the metal, which would have destroyed the part, so it was a very gradual process, but had to be done before we lost too much heat, which would not have allowed the part to deform properly. It really was a masterpiece of Engineering, and it was incredible to see! I was on the crew that set the dies up, working with a very skilled overhead crane operator, and worked with oiling the dies, as the part was forged. The Discovery Channel was there, making a documentary about the new submersible, and we got our picture on the front page of The New York Times the next day, as they did a front page article about the submersible themselves. It really is a big highlight in the 30 years that I have been forging steel. BUT... When you mention the "little things" I had to respond! I stand in awe of craftsmen like yourself! You guys heat the steel, and then forge it, with nothing but a pair of tongs and a hammer, a complex idea in your head, and both of your hands. Ornamental, aesthetic forging, absolutely fascinates me. Look at the hand work that goes into a curved iron staircase sometime, or the beautiful gate in front of a Manor home, with forged grape leaves, and butterflies... Or the hand hammered hardware on the door to a church, in medieval Italy... That is where some real, true skill comes in! There is no doubt, that I am very proud of the abilities that I have had, to be able to use brute force, and blast furnaces, to forge the immense projects I have worked on in my 30 years in the trade. But never sell yourself short! The "little things", as you put it, are where one can see the true beauty of the art form of Blacksmithing. It shows, in every imprint of a 'smith's hammer, on the door hinge of that medieval church... Or the barrel of a Minuteman's musket, forged in the colonies... You, my friend, carry on that tradition! I get folks safely into the sky, and then safely landed, with the jet engine and landing gears that we forge for Boeing, and Rolls Royce Aerospace... But you help give them quality of life, when they get home, and drive thru the front gate, with all of the beautiful hand forged leaves and dragonflys...and then they pull a bottle of wine out, from the hand forged wine rack, they have in their kitchen. So we both play a part, in a world that most people never know, or even begin to understand... But always be proud my friend, even if you are on the smaller end of the spectrum. Awesomeness comes in small packages! Forge on, my proud Blacksmith Brother!
sorry for the late reply paul, that is an amazing story and i thank you so much for sending the time to write that, inspiring words to read, so very true. a fun fact for you, i could hit the rolls royce building with an arrow and a decent bow from where i am sat, i live near to where they built concorde at filton airfield here in bristol, uk. my grandad used to work at rolls as most people did around here. sadly the airfield is now slowly being turned into, yet another housing estate but the rolls royce and gkn buildings will remain i think, and also the airstrip. i have seen many amazing planes fly over my house and land in the airfield. Thank you for your kind words again. Nathan
this dude knows how to make a video. The lighting was perfect. You hear the sounds of what it is like to work with metal with no background noise and the video quality is clean. Every time I watch I spend hours in the shop. Great work on the bit tongs as well as a quality video.
This has been an excellent refresher, having had a few years away from the fire, to forge life, I needed to recall the order in which to do the set downs and the more I watched the more it all came flooding back thank you !
I've enjoyed watching this video for quite a while. I made the 2 halves of a pair of tongs several years ago. I never finished because life had other plans. I had also made both sides identical and thought that I had really screwed up. I'd never made tongs before. Had I known that I was doing it exactly right, I would have found the time and finished them up. I did not. I destroyed one side and used it for knifemaking projects. Please know, that I have been sharing, posting and recommending "Newbies" and all manner of newcomers to the world of blacksmithing. I have been encouraging them to watch this video in its entirety because there are several who want to know how to make a pair of tongs. I've seen all kinds and so many different approaches and variations. I find this one to be the best because of how simple, straightforward and direct its approach is to tong making. I also find it the most informative and without too many longwinded explanations about the making process. That is how I learn. First by watching, then by doing. Great video... very informative, thank you!
This is a really great video and I learned a load watching it. The little comments/instructions are very helpful for getting into your head. Thanks for putting in the time.
One of the most helpful videos I have ever watched, not even black smithing videos but in general! Was so thorough and all the different angles with each separate piece, thank you so much! You honestly deserve to be paid! Thank you!
***** thanks so much for your kind words. the reason i do this is that i have watched thousands of forging vids and as a smith myself couldnt understand the process from the static angles most people film in so thought i would do it myself, from different angles so people can actually follow along and see what is really happening rather than just guessing what is going on.
thanks for the great video ... showing all the angles after step is really useful and the captions make the process easy to follow. that said, i admire how easy you make it look ... as a complete beginner i've to a long way to go make it look so effortless:)
@@stageforgejon905 I am a beginner working on tongs right now. Why are you against drilling holes in the boss? It seems his boss had plenty of material to spare and still be strong. Also when you hot punch them a plug comes out anyway so you loose material that way too. I am almost to point of making hole in my boss and i'm afraid to ruin my tongs after hours of drawing out Hahaha!
workingwithiron been retired for a couple years now and am starting to mess around with black smithing,need to pick up a rasp or two but as far as turning such a useful tool into a knife I couldn't agree more!
mrgod Thank you Mrgod You are more than welcome im glad i could teach something and you have learned a thing or two from watching, makes it all worth while.
Of all the videos I have seen on You Tube Yours is by far the easiest to follow and you have made it easier with all of the captions as well. Thank you.
You need to show folks which way to rotate tong for right or left handed people.VERY important.. Nice simple video. Thanks for not starting with annoying "Hey there TH-camrs Whats up".
David V Thanks David, did you have a go at making them? the crossed gaps are for grip on flat bar but also good for holding round stock securely so have some versatility to them other than just flat stock
I have been preparing for several months to start smithing. I have been watching a ton of videos over this winter and yours is the first one to do something so simple yet so brilliant. Making measuring marks on the anvil. I am sure I would have thought of it on my own but it had not occurred to me yet and it really was a facepalm moment lol. I was thinking when I started watching that I really did not need to see another video on how to make a set of tongs but I figured I might get a tip I had not seen from anyone else and I did so I just want to thank you for giving me the drive to watch the next video lol.
I really do enjoy your instructional recordings, they are easy to follow, teach me something each time and don’t leave me behind not being able to catch up without “rewinding”. Thank you
I love this video, I like how it shows the process mostly in real time vs sped up. For a beginner like myself it gets confusing to figure out how much time I ought to be spending on a new operation when the YT video demos are all 4X hammering to speed it up.
Remember this is slowed down to show the steps easier. i make them a lot quicker when not filming. I hate the sped up versions myself, hence why i show the whole video even if it makes the vids long. Cheers!
Hey John, you are more than welcome, i enjoy making them too, Just playing with the camera at the minute so hopefully the quality will get even better with time. Have fun!!
Dean Cooke awesome buddy, thats what i like to hear, more people getting into the craft, how are you getting on so far? will be doing a few video sessions on basics soon for you guys and girls that are just starting out mid year so stay tuned if you like, thanks again man, have fun!!
Brad Gill Thank you so much, i hope i didnt make you cringe much lol, 35 years, thats a lot of horse shit on your hands haha fair play my friend i take my hat off to farriers, some of the hardest working people on this planet in my view.
I have to say it, I thoroughly enjoyed this video. It was well thought and planned out. What I truly appreciated is the fact that it was done completely without any dialogue and without any crappy background music. It was completely understandable, especially the way you measured and marked the proper portion sizes and correct angles. Watching you forge the tongs was extremely interesting, especially as the tongs slowly took shape. I hope you don't mind... I shared your forging tongs video with a couple of blacksmith pages on facebook. One is our local blacksmith's association which I recently joined. The other is a "Beginner's Blacksmiths" page. I'm no beginner and have been blacksmithing on and off for about 38 years. But I've never attempted to make a pair of tongs because I never learned, nor have I understood the dynamics of forging tongs. I have some "Potato Bars," which are a medium carbon steel. I'll take a couple of them to see if I can make a pair of tongs of my own as an experiment. I had the opportunity to do some forging with it and learned that it's not a very hard steel, and it moves fairly easy when heated. I have some high carbon steels that are always a bit of a challenge to move even at a yellow heat, and I have to move quickly before it gets too cold. There are only a limited amount of heats with high carbon tool steels before the steel becomes burned and cannot be adequately hardened or tempered. Thank you very much for this most informative and educational video.
cheers Daleworl! if you like this then check out the new video on forging scrolling tongs, i talk through what i do and shows the same process but in much deeper info, it will give you basic tong making so you just have to change the nibs to suit the job you want it to do for you.
thats awesome!! i highly recommend watching the scrolling tong video instead of the tapered ends just make them flat nibbed. its the info in it that you will benefit from. if not, your money back.... lol
awesome video. One of the best tong tutorials I've seen. I'm just starting out and this is going to be my first project. I'll be firing up my satellite dish forge later today.
steven spall Thanks for the compliment Steven, much appreciated. That's awesome but I would definitely practice the basics first before going in with a project like this but if not then just take it steady and keep everything thicker than you think would need to to make it easier, that's awesome though and wish you all the best, any problems just give me a shout and I will help the best I can.Have fun!!
Very nice work, & thank you for making a very useful & instructional video without putting daft music on it! I've just acquired a whopping great anvil, as I fancy doing a little forging in my spare time. I shall attempt to make a pair of tongs as my first project.
i hope it helped in some way, i have always struggled with watching the same videos with the same angles so thought id make my own in my own style, thank you for watching, please check out my other videos too. plenty more to come soon Cheers! N.B
***** I'm going to be making my own soon, I've copied the guide down on paper but instead of doing a first groove of round stock, I'll be doing square stock cos it's easier to rotate. Thanks to all the excellent camera angles, I was able to sketch some detailed 3d pictures to help visualize the process. I hope my elbow is healed by then, I wrecked it while forging a hammer punch. I think the anvil was too high.
awesome! let me know how you got on, dont rush healing time, especially in this craft, a few extra weeks could mean a few extra years forging.... Enjoy!
We made a different kind of tongs this time, I still want to do these though, it's such a satisfying process. Didn't get to finish though, all the proper forges were taken and I got stuck with the shitty portable forge outside. Unfortunately the last person to use it didn't clean it out so it had a ton of coal dust/ash and clinkers by the dozen. My hand is so raw from cranking the blower all day -.-;
My favorite video on tong making. I followed this video this morning and made my first set of tongs. They're nowhere near as nice as the ones you made, but they work and that's what matters. The next set will be even better. Thanks again for making this video!
I just tried my first pair of tongs based on this video, they are no the prettiest things ever but they are solid and will get the job done! Thanks for the outstanding tutorial!
Videos like this really show the true versatility of an anvil. Growing up I always thought "Cool... flat metal to hammer metal on... Yay." But now I know... and it fucking amazes me. Well done!
haha cheers dude! they are extremely fun! this is just from using the face and the horn, the rest of the anvil is as useful as the face, such as the feet, and the breast i will be showing that in a future video, everything i have learned so far in how i can use my anvil, things i know not many people do as i am yet to see it on a video or at a forge in. All the best nathan
+Lee Stoffer Thanks lee, let me know how you get on. If you do make some from the vid drop a pic off on my google+ page, i love to see what others are working on. Have fun mate
Excellent work, and I have to commend you on your tenacity with drawing out the entire reign; I'd have just gotten lazy and forge welded some reigns from a smaller round stock, haha. As someone who doesn't even consider himself a beginner yet, I appreciate the extra bit at the beginning with marking out the measurements on the anvil to ensure an even pair, saves a ton of headache later. Thanks for the video; extremely useful.
Thanks for the comment and kind word Karokash! I would love to be able to weld the reins on but unfortunately i only have a gas forge so cant really weld with it (its possible but i like my forge lining as it is). So until i get my coke forge up and running i will have to just go with what i can at the mo. its such great practice anyway. Thanks again! Nathan
im new to the filming but hopefully get more up soon, i just never found a video that explains it the way most need to learn it, thanks for the kind words peter. much appreciated
I really need to get better at tongs, yeh, I can make something that resemble tongs, good enough to pass as tongs but they are not tongs! Great instruction, more to put into my brain cells almost fully loaded with tong making! One day, hopefully soon all of it will weld together and provide me with solutions!
Mohamed Heikal I ve finished the hardy cut following your video its not bad at all. The tongs took me long time it had many small details the best thing is to have the video while making it also you should mention the suitable length to start with many thanks
Mohamed Heikal i shall keep that in mind, thats great that you gave it a go while watching and im glad it has helped. They only get better after the first go at them so keep going at it, and good luck for the future projects!
Hope Ya'll don't mind me learning a few things here . I'm from Texas . Excellent video , I think I can now put aside my locking pliers ones I get these tongs made
Great Video very inspiring... I'm just in the planning stages of having enough time and space to try blacksmithing. You have me trying to push up my plans to this summer.... Question: It looks like one of the jaws was a little longer than the other. Is that for a reason? or just the beauty of hand made tools!
LuckyBambooGuy That is awesome, it really is, glad i have pushed your plans up sooner. go for spring as you will love it and the more time you get to practice will benefit you so much. No reason for it other than slightly longer first set down of the nibs on one of the tongs. thats the beauty of hand forged too.Thanks for watching and let me know how your getting on.
Not a blacksmith or anything near one (yet) but personaly I would put one wider and one smaller bar , where you put the bar for holding side ways . But very nice how it turned out.
nice vid, need to make some more tongs, and some for riviting ringmail, keep up the good work keep seeing stuff i am doing diferently and giving me idears on posibly better ways to do things!!
hi, im not sure if I missed it or not, but did you state what type of steel and what size stock you are using....for many of us just getting started that is something I always wonder about... which steel and size I should use for a particular project?
+workingwithiron I have a few questions. Do you have to go to college to become a blacksmith. Where do you get the equipments. How long does it take to be really good. You're video is inspirational by the way.
You dont have to go to college to learn, a lot of smiths are self taught but if im honest, its a lot faster to learn from someone who knows what they are doing so you can go to college, take a days class, weeks class or longer, go to forge ins or hammer ins and learn from watching and doing. How long does it take to be really good?? thats the million dollar question but to be reasonable around 10,000 hours at the anvil would be a good place to start, but that depends on what you mean by really good, you can learn the basics and be good at a few things within a few days but its like anything the more you do it the better you will become in that field. and you will always learn as there is no set way of doing something we all forge differently and thats what i love about it. You can get the equipment from old farms, craigslist, ebay, neighbours etc etc there is a lot of equipment out there or you can dig a hole light a fire, get an air source such as a hairdryer and you will be able to heat steel. then you need something to forge on such as a lump if steel, maybe a big sledge hammer or something and a hammer to hit the hot steel with. It can be basic or it can be expensive. just look at the guys in africa, india, and other places where they dont have the access to all the equipment you usually see in forges, they can make amazing stuff with a rock on a stick, a fire in the ground and a rock as an anvil. all you need is fire, fuel, air source, anvil of some kind and a hammer/club of some kind and something with iron in it. Anything else please do ask! Cheers Nathan
Thanks, Nathan! I'm working at it. Got a fire and an anvil to beat on and some hammers. So I'm on my way. Thanks again for your videos. They are not only very informative but inspiring as well. Ken
Just starting out using mild, and I'm working on a christmas gift for my fiance. Taking an old, shovel head and folding it down back to a good solid bar, going to try for a name plate type of deal, nothing very complicated but I'm having trouble getting the head to fold, looks like I'm going to have to get a new hammer and a better set of tongs.
Rob S Thank you for watching!! I enjoy making them and its just my way of giving back to the craft what i have learned from others. Most importantly i gotta thank you, the viewer as without you guys and girls i wouldnt be doing it. so thank you again!
working on it at the moment troy, thanks for watching, just trying to find the time to produce something decent rather than just filming, id rather show it from many angles
Beautiful craft... I have been an industrial union blacksmith for almost 30 years, utilizing gigantic power hammers, to forge ingots of steel, having been heated in gigantic blast furnaces, that weigh up to 20,000 pounds... and I still consider all blacksmith work to be more art, than science. He may be simply forging a set of tongs, but to me it is a work of art!
I think of blacksmith's work as an art too. It's a gift
Baroness Linda Baron thank you... I have been involved with the forging of steel, one way or another, for almost the last 30 years... And I can still walk into the shop, on any given day, and when I see that 85,000 Ton, Counter blow hammer, forging a 20,000 pound ingot, that took us 4 days to core-heat, in a 2400 degree blast furnace, I am still amazed, like a little kid, on Christmas morning... There is just something so primal, about the forming of hot metal... I am proud of the last 30 years of my life. Physically taxing? Yes. Without a doubt. But it is what I chose, and like I said, I am proud to have worked on the projects that I have been involved in, over the last 30 years... Thank you for your kind words, Baroness. ;-) Paul, the Union Blacksmith.
Paul Bourgeois
awesome story dude, glad you enjoy the little things too, must be awesome to see what you do
***** true, I have actually witnessed, and was a crew member of, the forging of the largest ingots of titanium ever, thus far. It was in 2009, we designed special dies, and incredibly complex material handling hardware (also forged by us!) to forge equal halves of the sphere that will be the new "Alvin" deep see submersible, for Bob Ballard, at Woods Hole Oceanographic. It has walls that are 4 inches thick, that will take them far below crush depth. And we had to be very careful, as we pancaked the titanium ingot to begin with, and then we had to re-heat it, and then forge it over an oval shaped mandrel, to give it the shape of the sphere. Every engineer at the shop was on hand, the day that we did this, in a three column, 150,000 ton press, in the aerospace building at Ladish, Building 66. A lot of rocket history for NASA, has come out of that building! If too much energy would have been exerted to quickly, we could have pushed the metal too far down the mandrel, and decreased the wall thickness by too much, in effect "stretching" the metal, which would have destroyed the part, so it was a very gradual process, but had to be done before we lost too much heat, which would not have allowed the part to deform properly. It really was a masterpiece of Engineering, and it was incredible to see! I was on the crew that set the dies up, working with a very skilled overhead crane operator, and worked with oiling the dies, as the part was forged. The Discovery Channel was there, making a documentary about the new submersible, and we got our picture on the front page of The New York Times the next day, as they did a front page article about the submersible themselves. It really is a big highlight in the 30 years that I have been forging steel. BUT... When you mention the "little things" I had to respond! I stand in awe of craftsmen like yourself! You guys heat the steel, and then forge it, with nothing but a pair of tongs and a hammer, a complex idea in your head, and both of your hands. Ornamental, aesthetic forging, absolutely fascinates me. Look at the hand work that goes into a curved iron staircase sometime, or the beautiful gate in front of a Manor home, with forged grape leaves, and butterflies... Or the hand hammered hardware on the door to a church, in medieval Italy... That is where some real, true skill comes in! There is no doubt, that I am very proud of the abilities that I have had, to be able to use brute force, and blast furnaces, to forge the immense projects I have worked on in my 30 years in the trade. But never sell yourself short! The "little things", as you put it, are where one can see the true beauty of the art form of Blacksmithing. It shows, in every imprint of a 'smith's hammer, on the door hinge of that medieval church... Or the barrel of a Minuteman's musket, forged in the colonies... You, my friend, carry on that tradition! I get folks safely into the sky, and then safely landed, with the jet engine and landing gears that we forge for Boeing, and Rolls Royce Aerospace... But you help give them quality of life, when they get home, and drive thru the front gate, with all of the beautiful hand forged leaves and dragonflys...and then they pull a bottle of wine out, from the hand forged wine rack, they have in their kitchen. So we both play a part, in a world that most people never know, or even begin to understand... But always be proud my friend, even if you are on the smaller end of the spectrum. Awesomeness comes in small packages! Forge on, my proud Blacksmith Brother!
sorry for the late reply paul, that is an amazing story and i thank you so much for sending the time to write that, inspiring words to read, so very true.
a fun fact for you, i could hit the rolls royce building with an arrow and a decent bow from where i am sat, i live near to where they built concorde at filton airfield here in bristol, uk. my grandad used to work at rolls as most people did around here. sadly the airfield is now slowly being turned into, yet another housing estate but the rolls royce and gkn buildings will remain i think, and also the airstrip. i have seen many amazing planes fly over my house and land in the airfield.
Thank you for your kind words again.
Nathan
this dude knows how to make a video. The lighting was perfect. You hear the sounds of what it is like to work with metal with no background noise and the video quality is clean. Every time I watch I spend hours in the shop. Great work on the bit tongs as well as a quality video.
This has been an excellent refresher, having had a few years away from the fire, to forge life, I needed to recall the order in which to do the set downs and the more I watched the more it all came flooding back thank you !
I've enjoyed watching this video for quite a while. I made the 2 halves of a pair of tongs several years ago. I never finished because life had other plans. I had also made both sides identical and thought that I had really screwed up. I'd never made tongs before. Had I known that I was doing it exactly right, I would have found the time and finished them up. I did not. I destroyed one side and used it for knifemaking projects.
Please know, that I have been sharing, posting and recommending "Newbies" and all manner of newcomers to the world of blacksmithing. I have been encouraging them to watch this video in its entirety because there are several who want to know how to make a pair of tongs. I've seen all kinds and so many different approaches and variations. I find this one to be the best because of how simple, straightforward and direct its approach is to tong making. I also find it the most informative and without too many longwinded explanations about the making process. That is how I learn. First by watching, then by doing. Great video... very informative, thank you!
This is one of the best "how to" blacksmith videos I've seen; no bad music and best of all nobody screaming while acting the fool. Thanks.
This is by far the most informative video I've seen on forging tongs. Awesome. Thank you so much!
Thanks for a very clear, step by step, instructional video...
Thanks for watching!
This is a really great video and I learned a load watching it. The little comments/instructions are very helpful for getting into your head.
Thanks for putting in the time.
I think this is the best tong making video I have seen you ought to teach.
Stephen williams Thank you, means a lot and makes it worthwhile uploading it.
One of the most helpful videos I have ever watched, not even black smithing videos but in general! Was so thorough and all the different angles with each separate piece, thank you so much! You honestly deserve to be paid! Thank you!
***** thanks so much for your kind words. the reason i do this is that i have watched thousands of forging vids and as a smith myself couldnt understand the process from the static angles most people film in so thought i would do it myself, from different angles so people can actually follow along and see what is really happening rather than just guessing what is going on.
thanks for the great video ... showing all the angles after step is really useful and the captions make the process easy to follow. that said, i admire how easy you make it look ... as a complete beginner i've to a long way to go make it look so effortless:)
Excellent demo! You covered every detail in it, I appreciate that. Thank you, I've learned a lot!
Best regards,
Matthew
Thank you for watching and subscribing, im glad to of helped :)
One of the best (if not THE best) blacksmithing explanatory/instructional videos I've seen. Thanks for the great video!
Other then drilling the rivet holes. That was awesome up to that point! Other than that I'm doing it his way! I sub! So keep them coming!!
@@stageforgejon905 I am a beginner working on tongs right now. Why are you against drilling holes in the boss? It seems his boss had plenty of material to spare and still be strong. Also when you hot punch them a plug comes out anyway so you loose material that way too. I am almost to point of making hole in my boss and i'm afraid to ruin my tongs after hours of drawing out Hahaha!
@@ALLENNEWLIN1979 not against it just like to do old school is all! I'm a beginner myself
I’ve watched a lot of forging tong tutorials on TH-cam and this is the best by far. Time to get some stock and have a go. Thanks for sharing
great tutorial,especially the file work..as a machinist I believe the file is the most under rated tool of them all.
JoJo Mama
For sure!! Same as a rasp. i really enjoy putting them to good use rather than making knives and such from them.
workingwithiron been retired for a couple years now and am starting to mess around with black smithing,need to pick up a rasp or two but as far as turning such a useful tool into a knife I couldn't agree more!
As a total beginner, it's perfect to start and learn! I'm gonna try ASAP! Thanks from France! Keep doing some tool making tutos like that!!
Nice video and great work!ive never seen anyone rivet tongs together cold.Ive obviously still got alot to learn!
Incredible amount of detail in this video! I really did learn something new today so thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
mrgod Thank you Mrgod You are more than welcome im glad i could teach something and you have learned a thing or two from watching, makes it all worth while.
One of the nicest, clearest video I have seen about making tongs. Thanks!
Thank you so much Frank, this is what i aim for for this channel, so if it works for you, that makes me very happy!
All the best
Nathan
Of all the videos I have seen on You Tube Yours is by far the easiest to follow and you have made it easier with all of the captions as well. Thank you.
+Jon Swanson Thank you very much, which do you prefer, the narration or the captions?
You need to show folks which way to rotate tong for right or left handed people.VERY important.. Nice simple video. Thanks for not starting with annoying "Hey there TH-camrs Whats up".
Thank you Nathan, I will try to make them myself, I wouldn't have thought about those crossed gaps before, such a great idea.
David V Thanks David, did you have a go at making them? the crossed gaps are for grip on flat bar but also good for holding round stock securely so have some versatility to them other than just flat stock
I have been preparing for several months to start smithing. I have been watching a ton of videos over this winter and yours is the first one to do something so simple yet so brilliant. Making measuring marks on the anvil. I am sure I would have thought of it on my own but it had not occurred to me yet and it really was a facepalm moment lol. I was thinking when I started watching that I really did not need to see another video on how to make a set of tongs but I figured I might get a tip I had not seen from anyone else and I did so I just want to thank you for giving me the drive to watch the next video lol.
I really do enjoy your instructional recordings, they are easy to follow, teach me something each time and don’t leave me behind not being able to catch up without “rewinding”. Thank you
Great video, thanks for slowing down the process it is very helpful. I 'll watch this video a few more times before attempting tongs. Good job.
Forged three sets of these .they are really useful thanks for sharing
Thats the way to do it!! good practice making a few, thanks for watching!!
I love this video, I like how it shows the process mostly in real time vs sped up. For a beginner like myself it gets confusing to figure out how much time I ought to be spending on a new operation when the YT video demos are all 4X hammering to speed it up.
Remember this is slowed down to show the steps easier. i make them a lot quicker when not filming. I hate the sped up versions myself, hence why i show the whole video even if it makes the vids long. Cheers!
EXCELLENT VIDEO QUALITY!!! I haven't made a set of tongs in a while and I could use another set of flat bit tongs... Thanks for the post!
Hey John, you are more than welcome, i enjoy making them too, Just playing with the camera at the minute so hopefully the quality will get even better with time.
Have fun!!
Thanks for the excellent clip. I'm a newby so this has been a great help for my first set of tongs. Very clear and good shots with the camera.
Dean Cooke awesome buddy, thats what i like to hear, more people getting into the craft, how are you getting on so far? will be doing a few video sessions on basics soon for you guys and girls that are just starting out mid year so stay tuned if you like, thanks again man, have fun!!
i have been a farrier 35 years i have made tongs and i have found you have been very clear and helpful thanks
Brad Gill Thank you so much, i hope i didnt make you cringe much lol, 35 years, thats a lot of horse shit on your hands haha fair play my friend i take my hat off to farriers, some of the hardest working people on this planet in my view.
I have to say it, I thoroughly enjoyed this video. It was well thought and planned out. What I truly appreciated is the fact that it was done completely without any dialogue and without any crappy background music. It was completely understandable, especially the way you measured and marked the proper portion sizes and correct angles. Watching you forge the tongs was extremely interesting, especially as the tongs slowly took shape.
I hope you don't mind... I shared your forging tongs video with a couple of blacksmith pages on facebook. One is our local blacksmith's association which I recently joined. The other is a "Beginner's Blacksmiths" page. I'm no beginner and have been blacksmithing on and off for about 38 years. But I've never attempted to make a pair of tongs because I never learned, nor have I understood the dynamics of forging tongs. I have some "Potato Bars," which are a medium carbon steel. I'll take a couple of them to see if I can make a pair of tongs of my own as an experiment. I had the opportunity to do some forging with it and learned that it's not a very hard steel, and it moves fairly easy when heated. I have some high carbon steels that are always a bit of a challenge to move even at a yellow heat, and I have to move quickly before it gets too cold. There are only a limited amount of heats with high carbon tool steels before the steel becomes burned and cannot be adequately hardened or tempered.
Thank you very much for this most informative and educational video.
Excellent tool, you have made here. A true masterpiece indeed.
Tools to make tools, thanks a lot Thiago, very kind words.
Great video ,the step by step presentation has given me a very clear picture on how to forge tongs.
cheers Daleworl! if you like this then check out the new video on forging scrolling tongs, i talk through what i do and shows the same process but in much deeper info, it will give you basic tong making so you just have to change the nibs to suit the job you want it to do for you.
thanks for this video! I'm gonna make myself a pair of these for one of my first blacksmithing projects.
you can just use a nut and bolt as the hinge, it just won't be as tight.
I'm glad for the chain on the anvil, most blacksmithing videos break my eardrums with the ringing!
I've watched this video twice and plan to do so many more times, so that I can show my students how to do it. It is a fantastic video, thank you!
Ben Ulric Thank you!
I am planning on my own forge build, have the materials and patterns cut out. Glad I found this video, these tongs will be one of my first projects.
thats awesome!! i highly recommend watching the scrolling tong video instead of the tapered ends just make them flat nibbed. its the info in it that you will benefit from. if not, your money back.... lol
Thanks for the advice.
Brilliantly simple with an eloquent presentation.
awesome video. One of the best tong tutorials I've seen. I'm just starting out and this is going to be my first project. I'll be firing up my satellite dish forge later today.
steven spall Thanks for the compliment Steven, much appreciated. That's awesome but I would definitely practice the basics first before going in with a project like this but if not then just take it steady and keep everything thicker than you think would need to to make it easier, that's awesome though and wish you all the best, any problems just give me a shout and I will help the best I can.Have fun!!
Very nice work, & thank you for making a very useful & instructional video without putting daft music on it!
I've just acquired a whopping great anvil, as I fancy doing a little forging in my spare time. I shall attempt to make a pair of tongs as my first project.
Very skilled. Thanks for using different and useful camera angles as well as the notes.
i hope it helped in some way, i have always struggled with watching the same videos with the same angles so thought id make my own in my own style, thank you for watching, please check out my other videos too.
plenty more to come soon
Cheers! N.B
***** I'm going to be making my own soon, I've copied the guide down on paper but instead of doing a first groove of round stock, I'll be doing square stock cos it's easier to rotate. Thanks to all the excellent camera angles, I was able to sketch some detailed 3d pictures to help visualize the process.
I hope my elbow is healed by then, I wrecked it while forging a hammer punch. I think the anvil was too high.
awesome! let me know how you got on, dont rush healing time, especially in this craft, a few extra weeks could mean a few extra years forging.... Enjoy!
We made a different kind of tongs this time, I still want to do these though, it's such a satisfying process. Didn't get to finish though, all the proper forges were taken and I got stuck with the shitty portable forge outside. Unfortunately the last person to use it didn't clean it out so it had a ton of coal dust/ash and clinkers by the dozen. My hand is so raw from cranking the blower all day -.-;
This is the video that taught me to make my first pair of tongs. Spot on instruction.
On of the most relaxing videos I have ever watched. Thankyou and you do amazing work!
lastpally Thats awesome, thanks for watching
Very nice work, great captioned tips. Remember us old guys like big text!
I do think about you guys too, thank you for the kind comment
My favorite video on tong making. I followed this video this morning and made my first set of tongs. They're nowhere near as nice as the ones you made, but they work and that's what matters. The next set will be even better. Thanks again for making this video!
Very welcome! I need to update the video quality somehow. There are a few more tong videos coming up in the new year which hopefully will help again
@@workingwithiron - Awesome! Looking forward to it!
Excellent detailed instructions! Thanks!!
First video on tongs I've watched that I completely understood !!!
Ron Gardner Thats what i love to hear, glad its clear enough to understand
I just tried my first pair of tongs based on this video, they are no the prettiest things ever but they are solid and will get the job done! Thanks for the outstanding tutorial!
Best video I've seen so far on making tongs. THANKS!!
beauxtx1959 Thank you for the kind words
Videos like this really show the true versatility of an anvil. Growing up I always thought "Cool... flat metal to hammer metal on... Yay." But now I know... and it fucking amazes me. Well done!
haha cheers dude! they are extremely fun! this is just from using the face and the horn, the rest of the anvil is as useful as the face, such as the feet, and the breast i will be showing that in a future video, everything i have learned so far in how i can use my anvil, things i know not many people do as i am yet to see it on a video or at a forge in.
All the best
nathan
Best tong making video by far!!!!!
Charlie Edmondson Thank you very much
Finally a video I can follow- Thank you
Your more than welcome
Thank you very much for the awesome video! I just made my first pair of tongs pausing your video as I went along. Excellent instruction!
Great video, and a tidy pair of tongs. Hopefully going to make myself a pair today.
+Lee Stoffer Thanks lee, let me know how you get on. If you do make some from the vid drop a pic off on my google+ page, i love to see what others are working on.
Have fun mate
Great how to video. Thanks for sharing!
You sir make me wanna be a better man :) thxs for sharing !
Dave Jr Thats not a problem at all, thanks for watching
We need more of them in 2019.
I love your videos. I'm a beginner and it's so helpful. Thank you.
I just forged my first tongs with this video, thank you so much for the indepth tutorial
Excellent work, and I have to commend you on your tenacity with drawing out the entire reign; I'd have just gotten lazy and forge welded some reigns from a smaller round stock, haha. As someone who doesn't even consider himself a beginner yet, I appreciate the extra bit at the beginning with marking out the measurements on the anvil to ensure an even pair, saves a ton of headache later. Thanks for the video; extremely useful.
Thanks for the comment and kind word Karokash!
I would love to be able to weld the reins on but unfortunately i only have a gas forge so cant really weld with it (its possible but i like my forge lining as it is).
So until i get my coke forge up and running i will have to just go with what i can at the mo. its such great practice anyway.
Thanks again!
Nathan
great video, awesome info very re-watchable for intuition. just scratching my head why anyone could dislike this.
WOW one of the best blacksmithing videos iv'e seen, 2 people tried this and failed miserably
im new to the filming but hopefully get more up soon, i just never found a video that explains it the way most need to learn it, thanks for the kind words peter. much appreciated
Nice work. Thanks for the time and effort sharing videos with the world.
Excellent training aid for us beginners. Thanks for taking the time for us.
That is awesome. True control over the metal.
Kameron Williams Thank you, it just comes with practice.
Stumbled upon this video and I had to subscribe. Great instructional vid and I'm hoping there are more. Thanks for sharing your skills.
amazing tongs, hell of a job. gonna get started on some tomorrow.
Best tongs ever. Top job mate.
Let me tell you this.. your video quality is phenomenal. Well done. Can't wait to see more. (love to see how to make tools)
Outstanding. Can't wait to finish my forge and make my first set.
Nicely done sir. Greetings from a Canadian Blacksmith.
Thank you sir, its always a pleasure....
Beautiful job, well documented and great looking, Ta
Great vid, they look great! I can’t wait to make my fist set of tongs.
I really need to get better at tongs, yeh, I can make something that resemble tongs, good enough to pass as tongs but they are not tongs! Great instruction, more to put into my brain cells almost fully loaded with tong making! One day, hopefully soon all of it will weld together and provide me with solutions!
great instruction and complete. I will use this info to make my own tongs.
شكرا thats a very useful video I just started black smithing few weeks ago I should give it a go with the tongs
Mohamed Heikal let me know how you get on. Good luck!
*****
Mohamed Heikal I ve finished the hardy cut following your video its not bad at all. The tongs took me long time it had many small details the best thing is to have the video while making it also you should mention the suitable length to start with many thanks
Mohamed Heikal i shall keep that in mind, thats great that you gave it a go while watching and im glad it has helped. They only get better after the first go at them so keep going at it, and good luck for the future projects!
Hope Ya'll don't mind me learning a few things here . I'm from Texas . Excellent video , I think I can now put aside my locking pliers ones I get these tongs made
Ron Gardner Have you made them yet? if so how did you get on?
Jaws not exactly the same length, but, do need to be? This post has given me ideas, thats exactly why I watch , thank you!
Could you make a video on how to forge blacksmith chisels? I've tried using some wood working ones lying around but they're too soft and thin to use.
What kind of metal did you use? Did you heat treat it after?
Brad Woodfield Should be able to use just about any of them and heat treat if using for hot chisels, right?
Coil springs work great for chisels, you just need to straighten them out a little bit.
Amazing work!
laureano geraldo Thank you, id say average work, got a few more coming soon which hopefully will be at an ever growing standard
Great Video very inspiring... I'm just in the planning stages of having enough time and space to try blacksmithing. You have me trying to push up my plans to this summer....
Question: It looks like one of the jaws was a little longer than the other. Is that for a reason? or just the beauty of hand made tools!
LuckyBambooGuy That is awesome, it really is, glad i have pushed your plans up sooner. go for spring as you will love it and the more time you get to practice will benefit you so much. No reason for it other than slightly longer first set down of the nibs on one of the tongs. thats the beauty of hand forged too.Thanks for watching and let me know how your getting on.
I wished I had one of those... very well done piece of work..
one of the best I've seen. thanks
Feels like you made that look easier than it actually is.
right
He tells you to pay attention to what metal does when stricken against the anvil everything has an affect listen to him and it will be easy.
Great job - very relaxing time to watch it - thanks!
thanks a lot for watching, as always its been a pleasure
Not a blacksmith or anything near one (yet) but personaly I would put one wider and one smaller bar , where you put the bar for holding side ways .
But very nice how it turned out.
Very inspiring! Beautiful work!
Excellent video!!
really nice done!
Thank You!
instablaster.
You are an artist !
nice vid, need to make some more tongs, and some for riviting ringmail, keep up the good work keep seeing stuff i am doing diferently and giving me idears on posibly better ways to do things!!
hi, im not sure if I missed it or not, but did you state what type of steel and what size stock you are using....for many of us just getting started that is something I always wonder about... which steel and size I should use for a particular project?
Yes I use 16mm square stock at about 200mm minimum in length, hope this help...
I hope to gain half the skill you have, sir. Excellent demonstration!
Just Practice Ken, make more than you need and you will learn on each piece of work you do. Thanks for the compliment!
+workingwithiron I have a few questions. Do you have to go to college to become a blacksmith. Where do you get the equipments. How long does it take to be really good. You're video is inspirational by the way.
You dont have to go to college to learn, a lot of smiths are self taught but if im honest, its a lot faster to learn from someone who knows what they are doing so you can go to college, take a days class, weeks class or longer, go to forge ins or hammer ins and learn from watching and doing.
How long does it take to be really good?? thats the million dollar question but to be reasonable around 10,000 hours at the anvil would be a good place to start, but that depends on what you mean by really good, you can learn the basics and be good at a few things within a few days but its like anything the more you do it the better you will become in that field. and you will always learn as there is no set way of doing something we all forge differently and thats what i love about it.
You can get the equipment from old farms, craigslist, ebay, neighbours etc etc there is a lot of equipment out there or you can dig a hole light a fire, get an air source such as a hairdryer and you will be able to heat steel. then you need something to forge on such as a lump if steel, maybe a big sledge hammer or something and a hammer to hit the hot steel with. It can be basic or it can be expensive. just look at the guys in africa, india, and other places where they dont have the access to all the equipment you usually see in forges, they can make amazing stuff with a rock on a stick, a fire in the ground and a rock as an anvil. all you need is fire, fuel, air source, anvil of some kind and a hammer/club of some kind and something with iron in it.
Anything else please do ask!
Cheers
Nathan
Thanks, Nathan! I'm working at it. Got a fire and an anvil to beat on and some hammers. So I'm on my way. Thanks again for your videos. They are not only very informative but inspiring as well.
Ken
Wonderful video, well done.
Bert Nice work. Só exatly. Blacksmith From italy
thank you filippo, greetings!
Just starting out using mild, and I'm working on a christmas gift for my fiance. Taking an old, shovel head and folding it down back to a good solid bar, going to try for a name plate type of deal, nothing very complicated but I'm having trouble getting the head to fold, looks like I'm going to have to get a new hammer and a better set of tongs.
Great video thanks so much for sharing.
Rob S Thank you for watching!! I enjoy making them and its just my way of giving back to the craft what i have learned from others. Most importantly i gotta thank you, the viewer as without you guys and girls i wouldnt be doing it. so thank you again!
Amigo,já querei a cabeça para dar certo.Agora sim!!Obrigado.
Thank you my friend!
Very good video and work sir love to see more videos
working on it at the moment troy, thanks for watching, just trying to find the time to produce something decent rather than just filming, id rather show it from many angles
Good idea to put in the marks on top of the Anvil ahead of time to use as a reference.
Nice video!