I've always enjoyed your videos John. You are a very good teacher sir.

@BlackBearForge

8 ай бұрын

Thank you kindly

I love your vids very informative, my son and I just made an axe using the fold and forge weld method.

Wow nice work. Splitting that jaw open shows what a true craftsman you are. Thank you.

Excellent sir!! Yet to find a single video of yours I can’t apply to my shop!! Thank you sir for your time and devotion!!

..i do believe this is a 2-fer. An instructional video with a Tool of the Day!! As is usual, Good job Mr. John !!...

id like to let you knwo whenever i watch you're content it makes me want to get out and do it along with you. since watching you and alec steel I've built my own coal forge and purchased a small gas forge that I'm assembling, managed to find 7 ft of railroad track for free. i purchased the pre cut set of tongs and I'm currently binge watching all your content to learn what i need to practice on some spare stock to get the muscle memory i need to make half decent tongs.

Nice job. I've watched allot of tong videos. And have learned several improvements to how I make tongs. One thing I've learned is there are as many ways to make tongs as there are tongs to make. Thanks for continuing to educate your viewers. And congrats on 25k

thanks a lot for your videos. I watch them from France. I learn a lot!

@BlackBearForge

4 жыл бұрын

Glad you're enjoying the videos

Back at it and I love every bit of it!

Great to see the full process, many thanks!

I've made two so far. They work okay but not like they could. This excellent video inspired me to give it another try. Always improving and practicing. Thanks again

Nice light weight tongs! I am looking forward to the next set!

Congrats on 25k very well deserved. Secondly a really really useful video, excellent content full of info I’m just hoovering up Thankyou

This fall is my second year, I plan to master tongs as I get back after hot summer break. Thanks

That was good John can't wait to see the one's forged from stock bar.

Thanks John I'm watching every Tong video I can. I'm going to buy enough stock to make several pairs until I'm tired of making them I hope we get some good ones out of it.

Great video John, I'm getting ready to use a Ken's bolt tong blank, and your video was very helpful. Thanks

Good Stuff John! I too just got my Rapid Tongs and Knife Tongs from Ken's Ironworks~Now just need to get out to the forge! Congrats on 25k!

Great job again thank you!

Thanks to you video I was able to make my own pair of bolt jaw thongs! Thank you

Recently made some in same style part forged part fabricated and they work great

Watching you do the 'fine tuning' was very instructive. I forged a pair of these a few months ago, they are light duty, lighter than I intended. I like the way you used the larger square bar while the tongs were held in the vise to lever the two jaws so the light hammer blows put the bend exactly where you wanted. I use mine a lot, but I need to try again. I have some of Ken's blanks here also, haven't tried those yet.

Hi John I recently made a pair like these from blanks that I made myself(blanks shown at the start of my 3/8 flat bit tong video), simpler design but same concept, I found them less user friendly to make than the 3/8 flat bit tongs but they turned out very nice, they were a gift to a friend so I didn't have time to film but ill be making another pair for myself, it's great to see your still experimenting with tong design, the conundrum for the beginner that its one of the first tools they need but can be quite technical to make even for someone with your experience, thanks for sharing

Nice. Looking forward to the kens tong vid. I ordered the rapid tong assortment.

thank you sir

Great Video Mr John! I made my 1st pair of tongs😣😭😆 If you ask me there a pretty sad pair of tongs lol better luck next time 👍

Nice! I still haven't played with my blanks I picked up. Maybe I'll make some V bit as demonstrated.

Nice.

Nice. They have what was recently pointed out on a pair of my tongs, "Bulldozer Nose." The ends plow a big hole into your fire when picking up in the forge. So the very last pair I made (somewhat on the line of your Poz set) angle down to a point. That would be easy enough to do to your set.

@BlackBearForge

5 жыл бұрын

I plan on doing that before I use them much

hope they have some blanks at the FABA conference in Ocala Next month I would like to try this. If not I think I will go on the site you mentioned that sells blanks. We get the pleasure of have Walter Sorrels teach at this conference. Next time you do demo just set up a camera in the back or near the anvil. that way your not playing around with the camera and we get to see you lecture and demo. No need for any fancy videography.

@garybower1824

5 жыл бұрын

I have bought 5 different tong blanks from Kens Custom Iron Works and I recommend them highly. Any deficiencies in the finished tongs is my fault alone.

You make it look so easy, I know it's not going to be.

Nice vid. I am in the middle of making v bit tongs. ( to hot in GA. To make all at one time) I'm making mine from 1/4 ×1-1/2 mild bar cut at 8 inches. 4th. Pair I have made.

@cherylstark99

5 жыл бұрын

Cheryl is the wife, Dan here, retired back yard beater.

I just ordered a set of blanks from Ken's custom iron. I've tried making a couple of pairs myself, one turned out Ok and the other's didn't. This way I'll be able to make a good beginner set and start on some other projects.

@sanpogiri

5 жыл бұрын

Same. Finished 3 of the set of 5 from Ken's. Using the first ones to help make the others. I'm much better now than I was so maybe it's time to look at making a pair from bar stock again. You'll like the Ken's blanks.

@chrisjones6002

5 жыл бұрын

@@sanpogiri thanks. I do have a set of flat jaw tongs someone bought for me. They are clearly homemade and a little crude but they work. I also made a set of tongs from rebar myself so I'll have enough to get the blanks done. Eventually I'll learn to make them from scratch but I think practicing on simpler projects will be better for now.

@chrisjones6002

5 жыл бұрын

I went with the set of rapid tongs and added a pair of quick slot tongs too because they seem pretty versatile. I think that should be a nice start.

@sanpogiri

5 жыл бұрын

I also went with the rapid tongs. I tend to do a lot of small artsy stuff in addition to blades, so the smaller tongs seemed better. For knives, I tend to just weld the blade steel to a piece of rebar anyway, so don't need a huge selection of tongs for bladesmithing. As least not so far.

@chrisjones6002

5 жыл бұрын

I just have a small gas forge made from a helium tank so the smaller ones make more sense. Eventually I'm planning on building a coal forge too for any bigger or odd shapes projects. I wish I had it now so I could make a hold fast, I don't think I can make one in my gas forge to be honest.

I wish I saw this video before making my v bit blanks into sort of knife making tongs. I'm happy with what I turned them into lol but they're certainly not v bit. Side note: I forgot they were v bit blanks 😁

That made a nice simple pair of tongs. Can the blanks be purchased off the internet I would give it a shot .. thx again for sharing ......Paul

@BlackBearForge

5 жыл бұрын

These blanks are not available for purchase. But Kens Custom iron does have their version.

Hi John, love your work. I bought a few sets of tongs which have ball ends. Any clues how I could add ball ends to my Ken’s Custom Iron tongs? Cheers.

@BlackBearForge

3 жыл бұрын

Welded on ball bearings is the best I can think of as an add on. Forging the ball on the end of square bar if making the tongs from scratch wouldn't be too hard to do.

@petermarsh4993

3 жыл бұрын

Dear John, thanks for that. I’ll do something, maybe the welded ball-bearings idea.

Yeah 37k. Growing

John could you do some bolt tongs from scratch, no pre cut one's??

@BlackBearForge

5 жыл бұрын

The Poz tongs are one form of bolt tongs kzread.info/dash/bejne/fY2e0MZyXdiqkrg.html but I will look at doing a more conventional set

i really need a pair my long nose visegrip wont do anymore

@loul7239

5 жыл бұрын

Andre Grenier do yourself a favor and buy a couple pairs of tongs in the sizes you use most. That is the lesson I learned too late! Everyone focuses on anvils and forges and ignore the importance of tongs...but, once you start using good tongs your work will get MUCH faster and cleaner and you will learn a lot more in less time. Plus, using pliers and vise grips is dangerous. It changes the way you strike with a hammer. You won’t get smooth, consistent and powerful strikes using bad tongs.

@andregrenier8697

5 жыл бұрын

Lou L do you have facebook cause im just starting out part time on the craft

@aslob9321

5 жыл бұрын

I agree with Lou L, exactly. I have a Facebook page and am just starting but maybe a little farther along. Nothing works like good tongs as you will se once you get a pair. Hit me up if you have any questions. Central Florida Forge on Facebook or centralfloridaforge.com

What's your opinion on using rebar to make tongs??

@BlackBearForge

4 жыл бұрын

I think mild steel is the better choice. Rebar can crack if the tongs get hot in use and are then quenched.

@reneemills-mistretta790

4 жыл бұрын

@@BlackBearForge Makes perfect sense because I definitely do not want to have to make another anytime soon. Thank you.

Are these tong blanks cut from some specific steel? (i expect mild steel to be too soft) Sorry if it is already answered in the video or in the comments, couldn’t find anything related

@BlackBearForge

5 жыл бұрын

Just plain mild steel plate.

@jarlove

5 жыл бұрын

@@BlackBearForge hmmm... I have made some rebar tongs but was not pleased with the stiffness so I kinda disregarded mild steel as an option. But I made them many year ago, so I suspect there might have been quite a few design flaws 😉

So I'm just starting to get into blacksmithing. Should I buy a pair of tongs before I try to make one? Thanks.

@BlackBearForge

5 жыл бұрын

It would make the making of the tongs go easier if you already have a set to hold the ones your making.

@nathanielmcclellan3577

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you. Is there a web site that I should go to?

@BlackBearForge

5 жыл бұрын

You can buy tongs at any of the blacksmithing suppliers listed in the video description. I would probably start with Pieh Tool. www.piehtoolco.com/contents/en-us/d721.html

I keep shearing off the rivets that came with my tong blanks. Is there a way to make rivets?

@BlackBearForge

3 жыл бұрын

Just use round stock the same diameter then head both ends. Countersink the hols in the tongs so they aren't sharp and you won't be as likely to shear them.

John I tried to leave a message on discussion but there was no where to leave a message.

@BlackBearForge

5 жыл бұрын

I am not sure where that feature is

In cooking no one makes puff pastry, they buy it as it takes too long and fiddly to make.If you can get Tong blanks, why forge them as it cuts out half your work? I know it is sort of cheating but you can several pairs a lot quicker unless you like and want to o it. I am all for an easier life as well enjoying a hobby.

@BlackBearForge

5 жыл бұрын

Either approach is acceptable, but some people have more time than money or simply ant to develop the skills to do it from scratch. Plus if you need the tongs today but have to wait a week for the shipping its good to be able to just make them. The truth is that it is more cost effective for me to by ready made tongs and spend my time working on customers orders.