I am a fan of both you and John; you contribute mightily to teaching the craft, especially when your work isn't up to your standards and you both tell us why.
Yes, explaining what is going or went wrong and (showing) how to fix it is worth more to learners than just watching a professional Smith make something that is perfect the first try. (Or edited to look that way.) I've been a subscriber to John for several years and here for abut a year. :)
I really love that you put up videos of stuff you've built that you have made mistakes on. It's really heartening for people like me who are just starting out. The stuff I make is currently always rough and always seeing videos of stuff coming out perfectly is a downer. At least with your videos I can see that it's not always perfect, and you explain what you could do differently to make them better. I've learnt a lot.
I made my first set of tongs after watching some of your videos, and a few of black bear forge videos. They aren't the prettiest things, but they do work! Thanks for putting out all of these videos showing what to do, and what could be improved. My future work will be better thanks to you!
You learned, means we learned. I would be very happy with an OK pair of Poz tongs. I have nearly all the tooling made. Nice of you to mention John, you both cover things we are interested in. I will check out Etsy.
I like that you wouldn't let go of that nice, perfectly functional set of tongs, because you weren't happy with them. Pride in your work sir... A good thing
Thanks for the Video, I can say I hope ill be able to make tongs like you Daniel before I die. I'm just getting started on this hobby at the younger age of 74. I haven't yet lit my forge. I hope to be able to smithing by the end of this month. Please keep the videos coming.
Looks like cutting that bit groove would be easier before the bend. Great fun though, nice tongs and I need to make some. Thanks for showing your build.
Daniel. I like the Tongs as they are, you are far too critical of your own work. I remember when i did my training and had completed my first set of tongs my instructor was kind In a way way when he described my effort as "rustic" and smiled. A gentle (must do better) which I took on board. That was way back in 1961 at the Royal School of military Engineering at Chatham. That always stuck in my mind. Having said that, function is the main requirement for most tongs some of which are seldom used. I personally had a regular use for about four, the remainder had some odd requirement or a variation on another. Now retired, I still have those first pair of tongs as a reminder of my early days. I would like to add My condolences to Sgt Bob Lomax, my instructor who sadly has passed away.
Thanks for the info. I hope to get started beating some hot metal this weekend. Just finished building a forge and just got my 88lb. anvil so nowI need tongs. Lol God bless for your info.
I thought they came out rather well. Ithink the roughness you speak of is 1/2 you setting a standard and the other we can't really see because we're looking at a screen. Anyway I'd surely use them. I really like paws tongs. Your way looks a bit more simplified then John's so I'm going to try it. Thanks!
Dan I really need to see how you do the offset. This give the the most trouble when I try to make tongs and I haven't been able to find a tong video that discusses just how the offset is done. By the way I would be proud if I made a pair of tongs that looked like yours.
I wish I could make tongs as sketchy as those because they make mine look seriously s@@t!! I know you have standard for what you want to sell and I have similar standards - if I have to make something I try to make the very best I can. Sadly my blacksmithing isn't even close to those standards yet but I'm definitely looking farward to getting there. I love Poz tongs and really need to give them a bash soon....... I really need to start my forge up again as it's been quiet way to long 👍👍
Always good to show things that don't quite work out! One suggestion I'd like to make would be to lower the exposure settings on your camera slightly. For most of your working heat the steel is too overexposed to actually see what you are doing. Luke
Hey just wondering would you ever do a video about ur forge and how u set up and what size it is. Trying to find out what's a good size cause I'm upgrading from my brake drum forge.
Really enjoyed watching you make those tongs, I could use a good pair of tongs to get started blacksmithing ,as soon as honey do list is done ,great job and I will subscribe looking forward to more tong making videos
You can call me Ben lolololol . Way so not ready for that set of tong making adventure. Need far more forge time...and far less having to work for a living time. Lmbo 🙏💜🧙♂️ Ps. I'm responding to your email right now. Grrr my brain cells forgot to remind me
Hey good day, very nicely done regardless. Good job. You're quite an inspiration to us. Thanks for sharing this with us all keep up the good work and have a beautiful day. Jim
When you used the engineer’s vice, why didn’t you put the work in the centre or all the way in to get maximum grip? If it was heat loss please ignore that. Great videos thank you Daniel.
I'm did some looking around and I would really like tools made by you and hopefully before the year's over I can get started with the whole new set up since I moved to Olympia Washington oh, I came up from Oklahoma to here about 3 years had to leave everything behind.
I was curious to see how you'd deal with that dog leg to line up the jaws... Still waiting to know ;) Where's the link to John "Black bear" video by the way ? Stay safe and keep hammering hot metal !
Just a harder steel to start with means they will last longer. Obviously you can't/shouldn't get your Tongs hot and quench them. The don't bend or move or ware out like mild can.
