Moral destroyed by small tang...

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Crow Valley Forge has a good tip almost told. Get some cheap Vice Grips from HF and take them apart. Grind a 1/4" ( or whatever size is needed) groove in the jaw with a die grinder, and put back together. They will get a secure grip on bar stock. Sort of a poor mans U-box tongs.
Stacy

 

[Bruce Bump]

Tim Hancock made this for the demo he did at the Big Sky Hammer-in this summer. Its pretty slick.

 

[CrowValleyForge]

I missed this:

i worked it when it was orange and got frustrated and cut it off the bar at that lenght. i guess theres no saving that one. by mild steel do you mean the cheap stock they have at homedepot?

I think HD stock is pricy,,,,, I think free is a good price.

Here are a couple of the local kids using a 1/4" tongs on over-1/4" stock, if you will notice the gap, but there getting it done.

Here is a knife they made out of a used horseshoe (mild steel) works very easy,,,,,and will cut a twine off a hay-bale, priceless!

 

[Sam Salvati]

That's awesom CVF!

 

[legato1]

thanks, im gonna invest in the two pairs of tongs in a few weeks and also get some steel, but im gonna get some financial things in line first. but im liking the way the ubox tongs function. i read the page on Mr. Kashen's page and think that the tang on the knife he made was simple looking enough for me to do. ive got to get more practice judging the temperature that i forge at, i think that will solve a few of my problems. thanks guys.

 

[jmwands]

hope that picture was staged, cuz otherwise it is a shame that the boy has no eye protection on. He is a little young to make that kind of decision himself,,,
jm