c/blacksmiths

Finally figured out why my tongs kept slipping on round stock

I spent about 3 months getting frustrated with my tongs slipping whenever I tried to hold round bar stock for scrollwork. Turns out I was gripping way too close to the hinge instead of using the sweet spot near the jaw tips. Has anyone else dealt with this or found a better way to grip round shapes?

2 comments

janarivera•2d ago

A master smith at a demo told me my hammer blows were too heavy and I needed to let the steel do the work

I was at a guild meeting in Ohio last spring and this old timer watched me for five minutes before saying 'you're fighting the metal, not moving it'. He showed me how to use lighter taps and let the heat guide the shape. Has anyone else had to unlearn bad habits they picked up from watching too many YouTube videos?

2 comments

jamesf41•2d ago

Appreciation post: That old farrier I met at a hammer-in

I was at a hammer-in over in Lancaster, PA last Saturday. An old farrier named Ray watched me forge a pair of tongs and just said 'you're fighting the steel, not talking to it.' Made me stop and think about how I was rushing. After that I slowed way down, let the metal tell me where to move, and the second tong came out way cleaner. Anyone else pick up a random tip from a stranger that stuck with you?

2 comments

jamie770•2d ago

Unpopular opinion: Using a propane forge vs coal is a debate that needs more heat

I was at a demo in Portland last week where the smith's propane regulator failed mid-strike on a hawk, ruining the heat treat timing, while the coal guys just kept hammering through their session without missing a beat. Does the convenience of propane really outweigh the reliability of coal when you're on a deadline, or am I just old school about it? What's your go-to fuel when things go sideways?

c/blacksmiths

Finally figured out why my tongs kept slipping on round stock

A master smith at a demo told me my hammer blows were too heavy and I needed to let the steel do the work

Appreciation post: That old farrier I met at a hammer-in

Unpopular opinion: Using a propane forge vs coal is a debate that needs more heat

Old timer told me my hammer strokes were all wrong...

Finally forged my first usable knife after 8 tries last Saturday

Visited that old forge out in Harper's Mill last weekend and noticed their bellows intake was sucking in a ton of dust from the floor.

Spent $120 on a "professional" anvil from a flea market in Ohio and it cracked on day three

Tried a coal forge for the first time after using gas for 3 years, night and day difference

Old blacksmith told me to quench in warm oil, I used cold and ruined 5 blades

Tried a coal forge for the first time after 4 years on gas. Wow. Huge difference in heat control.

That old timer at the guild meeting told me my hammer strikes were way too heavy

Old timer told me to stop quenching in water and I should have listened sooner

Paid $80 for a 'reclaimed' anvil that turned out to be a cast iron junker with a welded faceplate

Coal vs propane forge - I was dead set on coal for years, now I'm not sure

Pro tip: skip the fancy new anvil block and use a railroad tie

Ditched my coal forge for propane after one winter and I don't miss it

TIL a cracked anvil face isn't always a death sentence

That oldtimer who showed me a cracked anvil face at a hammer-in in Ohio

Forged a drift punch from an old coil spring last week

That perfect forge weld that fell apart the next day

Spent a month forging with a cheap hammer versus a good one...night and day difference

Spent 8 hours trying to fix a simple forge weld that should have taken 20 minutes

That cheap anvil I got from a garage sale finally cracked on me

Was anviling wrong for 3 years until yesterday