Recommendation: Tongs and Hammer

Joe Edson

Joe Edson

Joined
Aug 4, 2014
Messages
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My Dad recently brought me a 125 lb anvil while visiting recently and I've decided it is getting time to venture out of just stock removal and get my stand built and some equipment.

To that end, I need to get some starter Hammer and Tongs.

I've done some searches and wanted to gather some opinions. Budget probably around $150-200

Initially, I'll be looking at working thinner stock (like 1/8" to 3/16") to make neck knives and possibly kitchen knives. However, I also have mainly made straight razors to this point and need to work with 1/4" stock in widths from 3/4" to 1.25"

Some options I've seen amongst the forums:

GStongs Hammer + 1.25" blade tongs and maybe a 3/16" flat tong and a dragon tong for versatility from:
gstongs.com


Alternatively

Peddinghaus 100gr and 1500gr Swedish Hammers and OC Universal V-Bit Tongs and a Goosneck V-Bit tong in not sure what size from here:
http://www.blacksmithsdepot.com/products/tongs-pliers/forge-tongs/off-center-tongs-usa.html

Thanks for any opinions!
 
Go with what you feel you will utilize the most. If you're going to shape flat stock into a blade; get a tong designed to facilitate that function. If drawing out round for a blade; get tongs that enable a sure grip on round stock. You'll find out really fast that general smiths have so many of them because each one facilitates a specific need.

Hammer?

I'd hunt ebay for an entire lot of users. SO MANY different choices!!! I switch up hammers often, whether I'm forging artsy farts stuff or blades... You need to try a few out to get an idea of preferred balance, weight, shape, etc. One paramount thing that comes with the world of forging hammers is understanding how to dress that hammer. It might seem a little much to swallow at first glance but the more you use it, the more you understand the reasonings behind such attention to detail.
 
I recommend that you start with a few basic tongs and a hammer or two. Once you get started, you will find what you need and get those items. I have over forty hammers and buckets of tongs....but use two hammers and three tongs for 99% of all forging.

For about $150 I would get:

Tongs - bladesmiths don't need huge long tongs. All we need to do is hold hot stuff while hammering it. Use the shortest tongs that will do the job. I highly recommend Blacsmith's Depot tongs and hammers:
One pair of simple short "pick up" tongs for doing HT and putting things in and out of the forge. I recommend the "half-round 300mm tongs http://www.blacksmithsdepot.com/products/tongs-pliers/half-round-jaw-tongs.html
One pair of general use blade forging tongs, like the 1" blade tongs. http://www.blacksmithsdepot.com/products/tongs-pliers/blade-tongs-18097.html
One pair of offset tongs with general use jaws, like the Gooseneck "V" bit tongs. http://www.blacksmithsdepot.com/products/tongs-pliers/gooseneck-v-bit-tongs.html

Hammers can come in many shapes and sizes. To start with get a very basic hammer and learn to forge. Specialty hammers will come to you as you need them. Going to HF and getting a basic blacksmiths cross peen hammer isn't a bad starter. If you want a real, smiths hammer, a 2# or 1000g forging hammer is a good start. This is a good hammer for a reasonable price - http://www.blacksmithsdepot.com/products/hammers/swedish-style-hammers.html
 
Thanks for the recommendations Stacy.

I was looking at those Peddinghaus hammers and was planning on the 1000g one. Any recommendation on the size of the V-neck ones? Maybe like a #16 x 3/4?

Thanks again!
 
I bought 4 hammers from HF. 3 engineering hammers and 1 drilling hammer. I made the engineering hammers into a cross peen, a straight peen a double diagonal peen and kept the drilling hammer as is. Dressed everything smooth and rounded the sharp edges. About $40 and 3-4 hours work.
 
Joe Edson said:
Thanks for the recommendations Stacy.

I was looking at those Peddinghaus hammers and was planning on the 1000g one. Any recommendation on the size of the V-neck ones? Maybe like a #16 x 3/4?

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

Unless you are going to forge rail road spikes, you don't want a 3/4" "V" bit tong. The size is the size of the "V". I would get 1/4" or 3/8". All it needs to hold is the edges of the bar/blade.
16" length is what you want for knife work. The nice thing about those Goose Neck tongs is the swiveling bit will adapt to tapered things...like tangs and blades....and keep the grip snug.
 
What would you recommend if you can only afford one set of tongs to start? Personally, I want to make my own tongs eventually!
 
If I only had one tongs, It would be a gooseneck 3/8" "V" bit.
The other choice would be a 1" blade tongs.

You can do pretty much everything with either one.

A long handles pair of needle nose pliers from HF works great as pick up tongs, BTW.
 
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