Introduction to tong making part 1, flat stock tongs without tongs - drawing out by hand.
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ย. 2024
- Making blacksmith tongs is the most requested topic for a video. There have been a few specific requests for making tongs when you don't have tongs or a lot of other tooling to use for making that first set of tongs. So in this video we will look at a fairly simple method for making tongs without the use of tongs or power hammer. Part one deals primarily with drawing out the reins by hand at the anvil.
Thank you for watching. Black Bear Forge is a small one person shop located in Southern Colorado.
If you would like to provide financial support to my TH-cam channel visit
www.paypal.me/...
Find my shop on line at:
www.blackbearfo...
www.blackbearfo...
/ blackbearforge
/ black-bear-forge-20986...
The following list provides just a few resources to help you find supplies and equipment for blacksmithing.
www.piehtoolco....
www.centaurforg...
www.blacksmith...
www.blacksmithb...
www.oldworldan...
www.abana.org/
www.mcmaster.com
Blacksmithing and related activities can be hazardous. These videos are not a substitute for competent professional instruction. Your safety is your sole responsibility. Always use appropriate safety equipment including eye and ear protection when working in the shop. Follow manufactures safety guidelines for the use of all equipment. In the event something shown in one of these videos seems unsafe, it is up to you to make the appropriate changes to protect yourself.
All I can say is THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing your knowledge. You are without a doubt a true craftsman.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I honestly respect you and your talent.
This is about the closest thing ill get to an appenticeship these days... this video helps a ton thank you very much.
right, it's a 2-hour drive to the closest place even teaching forging. so this has been a huge help.
John is a great teacher, best thing is the only interruption you are likely to see is his wife running in with hot cakes and coffee or Johns pants catching fire, neither of which has happened yet!
I fully agree there are no working blacksmiths in my area I live in and these videos are as close as I will get,
thank you very very much, John, for all your work into these videos and you help a lot if starting out blacksmiths like myself.
This has really helped me to learn the trade. Especially the videos on failure. They help me keep going forward and learning. Even pros mess up. Kinda wish he showed his first pair of tongs lol.
@@heathfrench3335 are you sure about that? There's WAY more than your may think all over the country and world for that matter
Great stuff mate.
Thanks
As I'm watching you draw out the reign, I'm noticing that you're letting the hammer do the work, most of your action is coming from your wrist? Is that right?
How many times does he say tongs
Are you using mild steel?
yes, tongs rarely need to be anything fancier. Plus mild steel can be quenched if they get hot and other steel might become brittle.
@@BlackBearForge Thank you!
I have to say sir without disrespect to the other channels that you have to be the best teacher of blacksmithing on TH-cam at this time. I'm getting so much out of your lessons. As a beginning smith you are easy to understand. Thank you
Thank you for the compliment. I guess I never thought of myself as an instructor.
Black Bear Forge- indeed you are! I'm a 54 yr old fabricator/ Welder, making a living at it for 42 yr. Believe it or not. I haven't had formal blacksmithing training or machinist training and that's my next quest to master. I want to die a master metal worker with 100 years of professional experience. What? It can happen, I have good genes!
You're gonna help me get there! I'm learning not only great hammer techniques, but excellent theory. Yeah I'm getting a lot from your hard work. If you ever feel that you are running out of content, a series about building your hydraulic forging press would be wonderful! I have the larger book, but can't find the paperback book anywhere, and boy do I here that is the Bible of hydraulic forging press books.
Thanks again
Brady McPhail so you started "making a living" at 12? Nice work ethic!
You should seriously consider assembling your videos into a course of study for community colleges.
Marc Fournier I completely agree
I can only add positive comments to your videos. I am not through every single one you've put out yet, but to date, these are the most enjoyable videos I watch. I usually am catching them during down time at work and sure makes a slow day go by easily. A real inspiration to finally getting my own hobby forge up and running. I hope you take on apprentice smiths, they would succeed well under your tutelage.
I thank you, I really do appreciate the kind words.
I've been interested in smithing for a few months. I never would have expected to be so excited to see metal being struck before, yet here I am. You explain why you do things well, and this was an interesting watch. Thank you so much for this content. I wish you and yours health and happiness.
There's a moment in all smithing vidoes now after 5 or so minutes when that first hammer blow hits the hot metal for the first time and its pretty much the most exciting thing for me right now 😂😂
Several years ago, after reading one book on forging, I built a small forge from fire clay and local sand. Used a hair dryer and charcoal. First tool I made was a pair of tongs. Boy oh boy did you hit the nail on the head when you said that you need tongs to make tongs.
Thank you so much. I lost my dad too early in life. Listening to you reminds me of my dad talking to me...
Mauishuck in Judaism, God created the first pair of tongs right before he rested on the seventh day.
Aidan Mattson Not even sure how to reply... admittedly, I know little to nothing about Judaism. But from my limited looking, it appears as though a man named “Tubal-Cain” was responsible for creating tools like that... (Genesis 4:22). But I’m interested in Jewish history as well. Is that a Talmud thing? Josephus? Or another source? I’m not being snarky, I’m truly interested.
Mauishuck I heard about it from the internet, but it supposedly comes from the Pirkei Avot, an important foundation for Jewish belief.
“Ten things were created on the eve of the Sabbath at twilight, and these are they: [1] the mouth of the earth, [2] the mouth of the well, [3] the mouth of the donkey, [4] the rainbow, [5] the manna, [6] the staff [of Moses], [7] the shamir, [8] the letters, [9] the writing, [10] and the tablets. And some say: also the demons, the grave of Moses, and the ram of Abraham, our father. And some say: and also tongs, made with tongs”
...like they`re saying, what was there first? ... the chicken or the egg?...
19:15 The chain around the anvil? I have childhood memories of holding my ears as Dad belted the crap out of something on the anvil and yet you just talk over it.
Is that chain a muffler?
That anvil is identical to ours decades ago.
I DID IT!!!! It took me way longer than it took you but I did it. I followed your steps and made tongs. I’m pretty proud of them. I’m sure they’ll need more adjustments as I start using them and they aren’t too pretty but I made them. First project in my single burner Amazon forge. Crappy hammer and a hunk of steel as an anvil. It’s much easier to watch you do this stuff but not as satisfying. Lol. Thanks for helping and inspiring.
Your videos really grab the viewer. If I start one, it's getting watched to the end. You have (in my opinion) the best presentation of any of the blacksmith channels. Not wild squirrel bouncing off the walls or bored to death droning monotone. Just interesting and instructive without superfluous drivel. You have a natural talent for instruction in a clear, concise, no nonsense pleasant fashion. Good stuff.
Thank you. Like most people I hate seeing myself on video. So it's great to know that I come across better than I think I do.
Gee, I wonder who the wild bouncing squirrel might be. >.>
@@DracoWhitefire I wonder who works with Steele and fits that description? I'll take blacksmithing channels for $500 Alex...
I like his channel too if we are talking about the same guy. I watch a lot of different smiths and makers and Black Bear is the best teacher I've found yet. Daniel is good, HOJ I enjoy, County Line, B&B I just found, Christ Centered I've seen, that's all I can think of right now. Any recommendations will be appreciated. I liked Chandler but he quit and Liam I like but he's not producing many videos lately.
I’m thinking of getting a pair of wolf jaw tongs to start with as they seem to be the most versatile single pair of tongs out there. But this is going to make life cheaper and easier later!
Does anyone else watch this and say " I CAN DO THAT!" then go to your anvil and just destroy metal?
Best blacksmithing tutorials on line that I've seen yet. Thanks so much, your explanations are so easy to understand and to follow.
Your probably the best teacher on TH-cam
Thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge with us
Vise grips. I really don't like em but they work in a pinch.
I know this is an old video, but... As a new learner who just got their full set of equipment but has yet to fire up the forge, your videos have provided a TON of practical knowledge that supplments my reading and these "How to do something from the absolute bare minimum" type videos are enormously helpful. Incredible work thank you.
Flat out one of the best concepts for a blacksmith channel. The only others with a similar concept of teaching in detail I have found are Big dog forge, Roy of Christ centered..., Joey Vandersteeg, and Dennis of DF in the shop. I like your idea of starting out at the beginning and developing the basics one step at a time. I and many others will be attemping to follow along and make these tools and tongs. Keep up the mentoring.
Thanks, i will try to find enough subject matter to keep beginning and intermediate smiths in new ideas. But as we go along I will also try to introduce more advanced projects.
Dennis of "DF in the shop" is awesome! Mark Aspery and Brian Brazeal also come to mind.
Jeremiah Huson those are indeed two very good smiths with well done videos.
You certainly get my subscription as you are no slouch yourself.
"This is no place for tapeti-tapeti" :D
4:40 A video on what tools to make first would be tremendously helpful. I'm taking a class soon and then I'm going to build a forge. I have a couple friends that work in metal shops that I'm hoping can get me some piece of scrap metal suitable for an anvil-like object.
I to just started a few days Used angle cut wheel ,cutoff hardy ,2# hammer,forage shovel, round pointed punch.notepad ruler help me and making tongs and chisels first Hope this helps
What is the app to see the types of steel? (You mentioned it in another video)
Its the heat treaters guide companion
My first pair of tongs I had a welding glove, pliers and vice grips! Just as you said! Got the job done, lots of frustration, swearing and burnt fingers later I had something that loosely looked like tongs and worked just as badly. But, they did work well enough to get me through those first steps! Still have them somewhere, if I had to burrow them out I probably could. I wouldn’t throw them into scrap, they have history, but not enough for a place on the wall!
As a mechanic, I already have various hammers.
Recently obtained 18" of railroad track.
One step closer. At 62 it's an "old dog, new tricks" thing.
Thank you for the videos
how is blacksmithing going?
After 2 minutes the word tongs starts to sound strange
Thanks for posting this. I just used this tutorial and built my first pair of tongs. I learned a ton. Thank you again for your hard work!
I am glad the video helped.
I dont even have an anvil, but my home forge is mainly a foundry, so hopefully I can make myself a pretty cool homemade anvil
I'm still using the tongs I made out of 3/8" rebar. They are for light duty to be sure, but they got me started. I look forward to making a version like this.
So far ive made some tongs from 1/2" rebar by 24". Only needed gloves to make them. They suck for sure but hey I had fun making them and they hold stuff for the most part lol.
I was watching a forged in fire and they had to make there tongs for the knife they were going to make... and there were guys there that have never made tongs. I wanted to reach through the screen and slap them, that's was the first thing I made after my coal rake. My tongs are still ugly (getting better with every pair) but they work :) and I have made them.
I learned more in this ONE video from this man, than I do watching most other smithtubers.
I really like your modest, non-nonsense wisdom. The experience and knowledge that you share is what is good about the internet. I lke that you encourage practice and thoughfulness.
im getting by with some channel locks...not great, but good enough!
cheers from germany...getting into the craft, and your vids help alot.
I love these tutorials, sir. You are an excellent teacher. You keep things simple for the beginner without overwhelming with jargon, fancy tools and expensive machines. Thank you!
I'd love to to type out a novel for all the reasons I enjoy watching your channel, but I won't. Suffice to say, you create the most relative, concise and realistically informative media on the subject I've been able to find for free online. What's better is you present it in a way that is clearly speaking from both experience and knowledge. You're not just reproducing what you've seen other people do on TH-cam. It's extremely helpful to those of us who have only been smithing for a year or two. Anyway, to keep it short, I greatly appreciate your channel and you. I watch one of your videos at least once a day. Thank you. You've directly helped me to be a better smith in only a few short months. Please, keep the videos coming.
Oh stop, you're making me blush ;). Thank you I am pleased that people like the videos and are finding them helpful as they travel their own journey into blacksmithing.
See that's what I like about you, you always keep the poor and simple man or woman in mind with your videos never change to fit TH-cam as TH-cam ain't the soul of a man!
When working marks with a chisel, I use my shop vice to hold them on edge. Keeps it from falling over and flopping around!
I always thought a tool was named by combining each side’s name together into one.
Pick-adz (for rocky soil) has a pick on one side, and an adze on the other.
Pick-axe (firemen’s axe)
Claw-peen (carpenter’s hammer)
Cross-peen (blacksmith)
Ball-peen (peen face and a ball on the other)
Claw-hatchet (old antique carpenters tool)
Am i crazy? Ball peen hammer (i thought) has a ball and a flat peen face.
I thought the cross was the part perpendicular to your handle (to form a cross). I think i picked this idea up from roy underhill.
The peen of a hammer is the opposite the flat striking face. A ballpeen, then, has a ball for a peen. A crosspeen is cross (perpendicular) to the handle of the hammer.
I love the depth that he goes through to break everything down for someone who knows nothing (me). This makes it an extremely easy to follow along and actually learn through second hand experience.
I swear people should not sleep on these long TH-cam educational videos.
Thank you so much for this knowledge sir
I picked up the material this morning and following along with you, I got as far as rounding the ends of the reins on both pieces. I am stocked that I could get this far. I am still using an old pipe as an anvil and a ball-peen hammer intended for auto mechanic work. Thank you for showing me this skill. I am grateful.
I finished my first pair ....now for my next pair
Hi there John, I'm a huge fan of your videos. I am from Portugal, and the situation of blacksmithing here is really sad, and this is because, we dont have a big and tied community like you do in the States, and you have shops for blacksmiths, we don't and it's horrible, I hate it, but I love blacksmithing,so i'm gonna pursue it, whatever it takes.
I am glad the internet can at least provide some access to other blacksmiths for you
If you say "tongs" one more time.... LOL
Thanks for teaching Sir, I listen and watch every thing that you do.
A little cold in the shop? Great channel keep it up!
Analysis side of TH-cam, how many times did he say tongs?
Thank you Mr. Swisher after watching your beginner tong making video I was finally successful at making my first pair they don't look like a pair black bear made but they look ok and are functional again TU again an look forward to many more videos
absolutely love your videos. I must address the elephant in the room with this video however....dude get a heater for your shop or turn on the forge you look so cold! :)
I feel cold just watching this :) Great video
I made this pair of tongs today. I started smithing just a few months ago. And I’ve been using channel locks and vise grips and have failed at every pair of tongs I’ve tried to make. The Brian Brazeal tongs and so forth. I made your pattern tongs today and I love them! Thank you for your videos and all you do. Love your vids and the way you teach! Keep em coming please.
Great to hear. I am glad the video helped out.
Only person I test with advice on youtube
I carry slip join pliers on my daily, so luckily I had improvised tongs to use to make some actual ones on my ASO.
Thank you for this video
here after trying miserably to use channel locks and lineman's pliers as blacksmiths tongs. Great video, very useful information.
Your work is amazing!! It’s crazy how you can move metal thanks so much for sharing your knowledge 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Yet another fantastic video! This is so helpful and I can't thank you enough!
Another tong method for just starting students is the twisted jaw method. I am sure you know it. That will get the students out the door with a minimal effort on their part but still owning a light duty set of tongs.
Well done, again :D
I have a video on that as well
I’m 50 my kids are all out on their on now and have more time to myself so decided I’d love to do basic blacksmithing. Absolutely love your videos and you make things so easy to follow!
enjoy the journey, its great fun
I just finished my first pair of tongs using your video’s as an example, thank you very much.
I am glad it helped
I just can’t believe how you stretched that metal out like that simply amazing sir !!!!!
I am your apprentice from across the world
Thank you for making this series! Very helpful sir.
I spent three years at Great Lakes Naval Training Center on Lake Michigan. I never want to be in a place again where I can see my breath. Nowadays I try to never venture any farther north than my driveway. Darlington, South Carolina.
Thanks again John. I appreciate how most Guys who start out in blacksmithing are budget minded, down to earth, Guys.
I didn't have a hardy (just have a block of steel for an anvil) so I drilled a hole in a stump that fit the end of my cold chisel and used it a bit like a hardy tool. It's got terrible rebound so you have to hit it like heck, but it works.
I like and thank you.
I see you filmed this on my birthday, it looks damn cold there - ATB
I see you are holding a chicken in that thumbnail-profile-thingy, and that pleases me because I know how fun it is to do that. They just mellow out and go with it!
(Edit; happy bday by the way)
Roger Ramius Sergei Alexander Chiang MacClintock chickens are fun animals
"working on the horn is faster than the flat of the anvil" *me working on my great grandad's anvil with the horn broken off* ":)"
Make a hardy tool!
Rip
I made my first pair of tongs last night, and it is entirely your fault! I also broke two world records in the process: Most number of heats to make 1 pair of tongs, and ugliest tongs ever made! But they are mine! :-D
Sounds like you are on the right track
Another great video. The great detail in your explanation and the different methods shown make it a very good instruction from which I really can learn the craft, thank you! BTW my name used to be My (or 'my phone') I'm the Dutch firefighter and I changed my avatar so it now shows ;).
Thanks for sharing.
I just finished a set of tongs using your instruction. They work great and they are my first successful set. Thank you!
I am so glad the video helped you out.
I watch this and I'm learning so much. I've never made tongs, and this video is making me more confident about it all. Thanks John☺️
Great video content 👍
This is big help thank you.
Really enjoyed that tutorial! Did my first pair of tongs today! Really great introduction!
Yeah, I love how everything is simple, and that he explains all the options, including that buying tools is ok. As a beginner myself, its nice to know that I'm not alone in trying to find other tools like pliers and grips to use.
Just discovered you channel. I would love to series of starting a shop and building the tools as you go. Thanks for sharing this.
Ahhhh...YES!!!...the ol' 'Chicken or the Catch-22-Egg' problem. How's this one for you: how do you make a ruler without a ruler? Straight-edg3 without a straight-edge? Flat working surface.....etc.?
Well one theory says you start with two 'roughly flat' surfaces made of rocks. Face the two face-to-face on th3 ground and grind the bottom surface with the top. And !?VIOLA?!...?less rough flat surface?
I'd pay to see a YT series on bringing one into the bronze age using only materials available from nature. And not one of those series that cheats. I'm talking about a well thought out series that makes no compromise to the 'from nature, or from something you've previously made from nature' principle.
After watching all the videos on tongs I finally set out to make some^^
... I`m new to this. Many thanks to you Mr. Bear....Excellent vid.... absolutely...
Thanks for motivating me to try and make my tongs again. I don't know how many times I have failed but this inspired me to take my old failed attempts and try them again!
Practice helps. Finding a smith in your area that can help coach would also help
As also beginning I went to the Quad State Roundup ,a big black Smith gathering not having much free $$ I found some cheap tongs well made but broken.Well sir I took five pairs home for five$$$ and divided each kept the good side and now copy 2 of the best side and as a 3D model the two making for a nice set adding a rivit
Hopefully it helps
Thank you! That is so encouraging for newbies that want to jump into blacksmithing but don't know where to start and are on a budget.
A great video John not many videos about showing the entire process of hand forging the reins ? Thanks for taking the time todo it
I love your videos sir, some other people are hard to understand what they're doing when they talk about it but your directions are easy to understand because they are simple and straight to the point thank you for that
I know it was 5 years ago but I Loved this. I am 57 on a Disability pension so money is always a problem. I have made the gas forge. Made a sort of anvil / steel . So I now just need some tools . This has helped me hopefully to make some . Thank you so much. Kind regards Andy. Perth Australia.
Glad I was able to help
I’m gathering all the tools and equipment thanks to you ….your advice and guidance…. Super excited!!!!!
Same here.
Thank you :)
You mentioned something about “we should do a series with just forge, hammer, and anvil and make our own tools”. Please do. I’m brand new to this (my forge hasn’t even come in yet) and I’m super lost on where to start. This would be incredibly helpful
Thank you for sharing. Great work. Great info on how to draw metal out.
I tried this method using 1 1/4 flat bar, and had some problems with the steel folding onto itself. Do you have any advice on this? Thanks so much, love your videos.
Love your videos sir
I would have to argue, that an angle grinder is an essential tool for a beginner smith, alongside fire, hammer, and anvil. It is a fast and easy way to cut both solid metal parts, or sheet, with a cut-off wheel. Grinding wheels can remove large amounts of metal quickly, to reshape tool edges, points, etc. Flap discs are less aggressive, and smooth out or polish surfaces, and round over corners. Sanding discs clean up rust or paint, and can sand down wood for handles. Wire wheels also clean and strip surfaces, without really removing material. Diamond blades can cut stone, concrete, firebricks, etc. With the right disc type and grit, the angle grinder is probably the most versatile tool available to us. Best of all, fairly cheap ones can be had for $20-30, that will do well enough to get you started. While they can be dangerous if abused, if treated with respect and used safely, they are a solid alternative to many advanced tools that are out of the price range of most beginners. They are also useful in other adventures around the shop, outside of smithing.
I can see your breath, light the forge John.. jc
I'm not a smith, nor do I aspire to be... but I fid your videos fascinating.
ah!!! I wondered how you make tongs without tongs!!! Thanks John!
Well, we are not back in the stone age, you can use a plumber's pliers, or a vice grip to make your first hole punch and your first tong.
Of course you will need a steel block as an anvil.
It was great , how you set up your metal for making those tongs ! Thank you ! Learning more every Day !
I haven't read all the comments. But you can also lay a triangular file down on the Anvil which will leave the pointed side facing up. Then you can lay your material on top of the pointed side of the file and strike it. You don't have to use a file you can just make a piece of material into a triangle by forging it and use the triangle. If you're going to hand make the triangle make it big enough to lay on the Anvil. Then you can lay your material on top of the triangle and strike it.