I just ordered my first forge. I've been making knives by stock removal for about 8 years. The main thing I want to do now is heat treat. My budget is very limited, and I know I need tongs but the variety is overwhelming. Which type should I start with, something with flat jaws or with the groove in both so the knife can be held by the end. I've been sending knives off and I've no complaint about the work but the cost with shipping is limiting my output.
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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
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- Thread starter gremlin
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Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith
ilmarinen - MODERATOR
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If all you are going to do is HT, a 16" pair of "pick up" or "utility" tongs is all you need.
For forging, the most useful to a bladesmith are "Z-box" and "U-box" tongs.
For forging, the most useful to a bladesmith are "Z-box" and "U-box" tongs.
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- Jul 31, 2015
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I use these in my small heat treat forge. keeps your hands out of the "line of fire". https://www.channellock.com/440-Straight-Jaw-Plier.aspx
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You could always make a pair. Pretty simple.
I just made these yesterday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dUu9RN1PDQ&index=16&list=WL
I didn't make the handles as fancy as he did and I cut them a couple inches longer, I just tapered them out about 1/2 of the distance he did and didn't curve them back around. Very quick to make and I used a cheap pair of pliers to handle the stock while making them.
You can also shape the jaws, on the second pair I brought the jaws upto working temperature and grabbed a piece of 1/4 stock (leftover from the project) and hammered them to grip the stock more firmly. I find they hold knife sized stock more firmly this way. I'm going to shape the other pair to the 1/2" round that I'm using so I have something to hold
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dUu9RN1PDQ&index=16&list=WL
I didn't make the handles as fancy as he did and I cut them a couple inches longer, I just tapered them out about 1/2 of the distance he did and didn't curve them back around. Very quick to make and I used a cheap pair of pliers to handle the stock while making them.
You can also shape the jaws, on the second pair I brought the jaws upto working temperature and grabbed a piece of 1/4 stock (leftover from the project) and hammered them to grip the stock more firmly. I find they hold knife sized stock more firmly this way. I'm going to shape the other pair to the 1/2" round that I'm using so I have something to hold