[TheForge] More questions...

Thu Nov 20 08:35:01 2003

Sounds like you need some tongs, more than anything else.

First rule - if it looks like a tongs, it'll probably work like a
tongs.  That includes pliers, vice grips, gas pliers, and even some
fireplace tongs.

If you've got any sort of bench or leg vise, you can easily make a
"twist tongs".  Take two pieces of steel about 1 /2 inch by 3/16 inch by
about 30".  Through each, drill a 1/4" hole about 3" from one end.  Bolt
the two together through the hole, then put them into the vise about 2"
so the bolt is about 1" above the jaws of the vise.  Using a wrench,
grab them just below the bolt and twist 90 degrees.  Voila', you've got
a pair of tongs.  You may want to set the jaws (i.e., make them fit the
work you have to do) You may have to rework the bolt (which can get
bunged up if you do the twist cold) and you may want to play with the
reins (handles) a bit to get them to feel right.  Clearly, this is an
interim tool, but you can do some good work with them until you get or
make something better.

Bruce
NJ

>>> [email protected] 11/19/2003 5:31:57 PM >>>

I finally got a small test forge to work,it was made of 4 cinder
blocks,a
piece of pipe from a bicycle frame,and an old microwave fan that i ran
off my drill.after a few hours of using it,i realized as far as forges
go
there was still a lot to be desired.but since i am unexperienced in
the
whole field,it was a good learning experience for me.some of the first
mistakes i realized was that a cinder block setup is to deep,i really
noticed that because i had the stupid idea to use an old set of needle
nose pliers because i havent got any tongs yet,so i had to pretty much
stick my hand in the fire to get what i wanted out.i know not to do
that
again.with this whole experience under my belt......i came up with a
few
more questions that i hope someone in the forge will hopefully answer
for
me.
1.about how big(deep/wide ect.) should a firepot for forgeing
knives,swords,axes,ect. be?
2.how much coal should i use?anything i should do to the coal first?

a list of beginning tools that i might need with some approximate
prices
would also be extremly helpful.
Thanks.

Sam.

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