Which tongs, hammer, etc?

W

wordsmith

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Apr 17, 2009
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I'm about to make a run down to Centaur (thankfull only an hour away!) to pick up a hammer and some tongs, but as y'all know, tongs are many and varied. If I only buy one pair, which do I need for all around use/ light forging? And what about hammers? And what other tools should I be on the lookout for as necessary/helpful/essential for knifemaking? I already have a 104# Peter Wright that I picked up for $75 the other day...
 
wow-i was going to ask the same-- i am getting a forge now what knda hammer do i need as far as weight and tongs s well---great thread--marekz
 
Well, one tong and one hammer is a start......

Get a straight peen hammer between 2# and #3 (look at H-133, 516002, 5044031000, or 5044031500 ).
Two hammers are nice, but if getting only one go with the lighter hammer.
If getting two, I would suggest the two Peddinghaus ones listed, the 1Kg and 1.5Kg.

If you only have one tong ,get a 3/4" V-box (Stock # 209519). I like Tom-Tong, BTW.
A 3/4" single pick-up tong would be a good second tong (6170010400).
From there get a 1" box jaw (209462).

Now, get a big galvanized bucket at the hardware store. You can use it as a slack tub, and when you aren't forging it can hold all the tongs and hammers you will amass as time goes by.
Stacy
 
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Stacy,
Thanks for the pointers. I couldn't find the 3/4" v-box on Centaur's website, the numbers only go up to 209518 that I could see. So I guess the next question is, more than model numbers (though those are REALLY helpful), what kind of function am I looking for? Also I was surprised that you suggest straight peen over cross peen, which is the more traditional blacksmith hammer style. I don't know from experience what I like or why, so I'm curious why you said straight. Thanks for your feedback (which is completely changing my purchase list already).
 
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Here is one that will work.
http://www.centaurforge.com/Centaur-3_4-V-Bit-Tom-Tongs-14-Rein-Length/productinfo/209484/

Take a wood slat and hold it like a bar of steel. Imagine that you are forging it and want to draw the tang out, or do some other drawing task. Which way will the peen need to be to do it? I find that I will have to turn the steel ( Don't turn your hand - never change your stroke if possible) in order to get a cross peen to do drawing tasks, but a straight peen hits about in line. I make diagonal peen hammers from cheap HF hammers to do specialized drawing jobs.

Your observation shows that a fully equipped smithy can end up with many hammers. I have about twenty, but use two or three for 95% of all work. Tongs are the same. A good shop may have dozens. The ones most useful to a bladesmith are V-bit ( or V-box), Flat Box, U-bit, and pickup ( for taking things out of the fire). You want tongs in sizes that allow you to hold the tong in a mostly closed position with the size stock you use. A good starter tong is 1/2" and/or 3/4" V-bit. The flat box tongs are most useful in 3/4",1", 1.25".
Tom Tongs Z box U-bit in 1/4" is my favorite tong.
Stacy
 
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I agree with Stacy on the V-Bit Tom Tongs as being the best from CentForge. However, Uncle Al's Riverside shop down in DeQueen, Ark. sells an offset V-bit that I like better, if you can spare the time and shipping. For hammers, I prefer a rounding hammer for knife making. One side is flat and the other rounded. For other blacksmithing tasks, I prefer a cross or straight pein. At age 63, I can't handle 3# very long any more - so, I use 2#.

Here's the link to Uncle Al's

http://www.riversidemachine.net/item389180.ctlg

Oh, the v-bit tom tongs are great for working with railroad spikes, also.

Good luck,
Jacque
 
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Well, my Centaur run was a disaster. Despite the fact that I checked on their site to confirm opening times, by the time I got off work early, drove and hour and a half thru heavy traffic with a baby that screamed the ENTIRE way, they had decided to close, unannounced, at 2:30 for Wednesday only. The only redeeming parts of the trip were time with my wife and a meal at Taco Bueno. But enough about that.

What about wolf jaw tongs? They seem to be designed for versatility and thus maybe more what I'm looking for? Or are they ok for everything an thus really good for nothing?
 
I like wolf jaw tongs. They make great door stops.
Seriously, I have some....and never use them. Too heavy, and not really designed to hold blades. They are more useful to blacksmiths.
You want something the holds the blade striaght out, most of the time.
Stacy
 
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