[TheForge] "Universal" tongs and tools.

[Albin Drzewianowski]

>From the list below.  If the rounding hammer has a large square face, as a
Hofi type hammer has, you can achieve both a cross pien and straight pien
action by simply changing the angle of the hammer.   Since at most
demonstrations I tend to be working on stock 1/2" square or smaller, I find
this works very well as compared to carrying along a "double angle-pien
hammer.

when I demonstrate, I bring 2 hammers.  My HOFI rounding hammer and my
"garbage" ball pien hammer.  I call it a "garbage" hammer, as the face is
softened so that  I can use it for cutting on the hardy and hammering on
punches and chisels; and I have a ball pien for sinking leaves into a wood
block.  I have found that those 2 hammers meet virtually all my needs in a
demonstration setting, away from the home forge. 

The other somewhat "universal" tool that I bring is a hold down tool that
fits into a hardy hole.  It is made from a vise-grip type drill press clamp.
In a pinch, it can substitute for a vise.  My version will take different
lengths of all-thread to conveniently accommodate different thickness of
anvil heel. 

D-ski 
Westminster, MD     
The lyf so short, the craft so long to lerne.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:theforge-
> bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bruce .
> Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 9:03 AM
> To: Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA
> Subject: [TheForge] "Universal" tongs and tools.
> 
> We ran into a problem last night at the open forge meeting.  A relative
beginner
> couldn't find tongs to hold his piece tightly.  Ultimately, I modified an
existing pair of
> ordinary flat-jaw tongs.  The modification I made was to widen the jaw-gap
> somewhat near the pivot, then to curve one of the jaws outward (so it
bowed
> toward the other jaw), adjusting the reins appropriately.  (Like this, but
without the
> teeth:
> http://www.stromsholm.co.uk/nordic-forge-clench-tongs-hc12-1350-p.asp )
This
> modification gives the tongs line-contact with the workpiece on one jaw
and face
> contact on the other jaw, and allows the tongs to hold tightly a
moderately wide
> range of thicknesses.
> 
> This exercise brought my mind back to the ephemeral ideal of a "universal
tongs" --
> a tongs that can hold any piece of metal -- or at least a very wide range
of shapes
> and sizes.  How many types of tongs hold a claim to approaching that
ideal?  It
> would be nice to have a small selection of such very adaptable tongs in
tool kits
> one takes to demonstrations.  I hate wasting time at demos searching for
the right
> tongs or modifying existing ones.
> 
> More generally, what are the "most nearly universal" tools we could take
to a
> demonstration, to minimize the weight we need to carry around with us?
> 
> Consider:
> 
> Double angle-pein hammers (
> http://www.caffreyknives.net/angle_peen_hammers.html ) have the advantages
of
> both straight-pein and cross pein, and is arguably more convenient than
either.
> 
> Rounding hammer (
> http://www.mactalisironworks.com/plogger/?level=picture&id=54 ) has one
flat face
> for ordinary forging, and one rounded face which excels for sinking sheet
or curving
> bars, and can be used like a ball-pein, without leaving deep marks.
> 
> Butcher hardy  (
> http://www.cjpatterns.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=CF&Screen=CTGY&
> Category_Code=HRDYTLS)
> good for most of what a cut-off hardy can be used for, but can also
produce a
> straight cut and/or a sharply-angled cut.
> 
> --
> Bruce
> NJ
> ______________________________________________________________
> TheForge mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:TheForge at mailman.qth.net
> 
> TheForge mail list group photo site is
> http://www.shutterfly.com
> Login: blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
> Password: anvil
> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html