Other things to forge?

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Jun 5, 2008
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Just finished my first gas forge. My first project was a set of box jaw tongs, that came together quite well. Naturally I'll be forging some knives. I plan another couple tong sets in different jaw configurations, like maybe a V bit for holding bolts/rods/tangs, and maybe some kind of pick up tongs. What other forging projects would be good to try? Stuff that's useful in our craft, or just cool?
 
Spring fuller... good idea. I was also reading somewhere about a plain square edge hardy, for those of us whose anvils have no sharp corners. No telling where I can find some stock the right size to make hardies though... maybe a trip to the junk yard.

Yes, the tongs were that easy, but I ran out of the rod that I was using. Won't have any more till the end of the month. I was heating both rods at once... hammer one while the other one heats up. Even then I had a bit of time to sit in a chair in the shade, drinking water and surfing the net on my phone :)
 
I thought the forged flowers are cool. Something delicate in iron.

Metal skulls you forge yourself are pretty BA.
 
A lot of forging projects are restricted by the size of you forge chamber and the port ( opening) for the metal. Fredrick's crosses are great projects and good sellers, but require a larger port or a side/end door.


Assuming your forge has the room:

Forged horseshoe sculptures and projects are great fun and good sellers. All you need is a box of old pony shoes, a wire welder, and a lot of imagination.

Tomahawks are fun to forge from old ball peen hammers, rasps, etc.

Old files and rasps can be forged into "snakes", and other critters.

Square mild steel stock can be made into fireplace tools with dragon's head and other shapes of handles.

Insects are fun to make from nails/bolts/scraps and "found" things.

Coat hooks, bottle openers, plant hangers, shop door/drawer handles that look like knives, ..............
 
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