Railroad Spike Tongs
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- Опубліковано 31 лип 2021
- Railroad spike tongs forged from blanks provided by Kens Custom Iron
Sponsored by: Kens Custom Iron - kensironstore.com
00:00 - Intro
To Provide financial support use one of the links below.
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Music sourced through Epidemic sound
www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
Ghosts of the Rail - Gabriel Lewis
Video equipment usedCameras used in this video
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Use code "Blackbear10" for a discount on your next order
Anvil provided by; Fontanini Anvil and Tool
Mailing address:
Black Bear Forge
P.O. Box 4
Beulah, CO 81023
If you are curious about some of my other interests, you may like my second channel
John Switzer
/ @johnswitzer
Find me online at:
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www.blackbearforge.etsy.com
/ blackbearforge
/ black-bear-forge-20986...
Below you will find useful links that will help you in your journey as a blacksmith.
My blacksmiths apron
www.Forge-Aprons.com use code BBF
To find more information in blacksmithing in the US or to search for your local ABANA affiliate group visit.
www.abana.org/
Blacksmithing tools and supplies
Self contained air hammers - www.saymakhammers.com/
General blacksmithing supplies - www.oleoacresfarriersupply.com/
General blacksmithing supplies - www.piehtoolco.com/
General blacksmithing supplies - www.centaurforge.com/
General blacksmithing supplies - www.blacksmithsdepot.com/
General blacksmithing supplies - www.blacksmithsupply.com/
Square head bolts and lags - www.blacksmithbolt.com/
New anvils - www.oldworldanvils.com/
New anvils - www.nimbaanvils.com/
New anvils -
Industrial supplier - www.mcmaster.com
Tong blanks and tools - kensironstore.com/
Fire brick and refractory - refwest.com
Blacksmithing and related activities can be hazardous. These videos are not a substitute for competent professional instruction. Your safety is your sole responsibility. Always use appropriate safety equipment including eye and ear protection when working in the shop. Follow manufactures safety guidelines for the use of all equipment. In the event something shown in one of these videos seems unsafe, it is up to you to make the appropriate changes to protect yourself.t yourself.
My grandpa was smith but he died begore my birth, i have nobody who could teach me techniques, im creative but needed to have master, and here u are!
Ive got almost every single tongs they make. Making your own tools, even just a blank, to me, has a more personal connection to it. Anyone can buy a fully functional tool, but there is more pride in your tools, when you make them, and you'll tend to take care of them better, because they have that personal time, and personal value to them.
Ken's tongs are time savers
Dedicated task gear is what smoothes out out the whole day. ✌
I always hit the thumbs up prior to rotating my phone for full screen because I know it is going to be good!!!👍🤟😜
same
So true
Same
Yes sir. Haven't seen one of Mr John's video I couldn't find something to like in it. Most useful and most usually like everything about his creation!
Crawford out 🙏🔥⚒️🧙🏼♂️
I just did the same thing and then read this comment.😁
My bundle delivered today. Haven't even bought a forge yet but just took a class making a RR Spike knife.
I really like they way you talk about what your doing and how to go about things. You explain well, give other options. You’d be a fantastic teacher.
Ken's is great, even their shirts are rapid 😂
You're really getting the hang of video editing. Great content.
Really like that new anvil, glad to see that you're navigating it so smoothly.
Ken and Mary Lou are great people! I bought one of their MZ75 power hammers and love it! Also just picked up my 250# Rat Hole anvil from Steve Fontanini, gotta get it on a stump and get going!
Glad to see Ken's Custom Iron is a sponsor now!!
Very nice. I have the tongs and have used them once or twice. For me I like making spike knives, although I haven't made many lately. I think what is important for the nay sayers to understand is, if making a spike knife gets someone out to the shop and making something. Then that is a step closer to making knives from something besides a spike. That is how it was for me anyway. I think John's "Right of Passage" comment was spot on.
Keep up the good work, enjoy watching your talent at work.
Love Ken's Custom Iron and I love that you've been helping to promote them.
Another great video! Ken's Custom Iron has great and highly affordable products. A family run business with amazing people.
Ordered myself a pair of these tongs. They just came today, and seem like they’ll work up fast.
Started this decades ago. Never used a railroad spike, even though I have a bucket full. Now you got me thinking...
Ordered a kit. Thanks to Ken for his easy to make tongs. I'll support that business any day.
I've used these tongs for the last 4 years. They're very durable and have survived some hard use over that time. You'll probably find that they need some adjustment once in a while just cause the old spikes vary a little bit in head dimension , and they do wallow out with a lot of use. I found them to be a little tricky to assemble, so yeah, the suggestion to do the file work is a very good point. I found it also helpful to do a little testing with them bolted together before I set the rivet and adjusted the reins. Good video John, thanks!
I bought the RR spike bundle. What a great project even for a beginning hack of a blacksmith like me. The instructions along with the video on Ken's website make this project easy. Can't wait to be able to better hold my RR spikes. Highly recommend the product if you work with spikes
Always enjoy your videos while sipping coffee on a Sunday morning. Truly peaceful. Also, gave me a big ole laugh at the end. Definitely a right of passage
Like most I played some with the R R spick and I did fill the need to do that knife.
Knife are thought of as a tool a not much of a weapon for play.
Thank you for the teaching Sir
I gave the the CAD file for those years ago….glad everyone likes them ✌🏽
Nice. Maybe you should use two of those spikes to make a new pair of spike tongs...
ALWAYS A PLEASURE LEARNING FROM YOU, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND THANK YOU
Excellent work👍👍👍 . Thanks for sharing
that is one big ass German anvil
just ordered the tongs... waiting for them to arrive... brand new to forging, and appreciate your vlogs
I hope they help. Have fun
thanks for sharing blessings to you and your family 🙏
Ken makes good blanks. I cant bleave you said the kn word!
I think you need to make a pair of tongs from railroad spikes now. It only seems right lol
Great video! Most of my tongs are from Ken's Custom Iron blanks, and I LOVE them! Thanks for everything!
Gracias maestro , aprendo mucho de sus videos , desde Valparaíso Chile
I really like that design! I try not to work with railroad spikes very often but now and then, I'll teach someone who just has to make a RR spike knife. I may check Ken's out and pick up one of these sets.
Very well done presentation. Explanation is rite on.
Great video!! I actually just bought the same tongs from ken. This has been lots of help.
Great video as always John, I really liked the edit of you throwing the shirt on, your vids have really come a long way as far as quality goes! Thanks for everything you do!
Glad you like them!
Those are nice.. great video!
THANK you, and thank you Kens custom Iron.
Nice work, congratulations from a brasilian woodwoker
Great video !!! I've been to Ken's, and both of you, are amazing! Looking forward to meeting you someday, as well! Thanks for sharing your gift! God bless! 😎👍🏻⚒️🔥
thanks for the video, regards from Baja Mexico.
Thanks for watching!
I bought a set of these tong blanks three years ago, they work great! Great video, John!
Great job on the tongs. They look much better than what I did with mine. All of my tangs that weren't given to me are from Ken's Custom Iron. I love the shirt too. Very heavy weight material.
They have a great beginner class and some knife making classes that are just a joy to be in. I dislike the fact that they are only 35 minutes away and I don't have enough money to buy more.
Another nice video a pleasure to watch.
Loved that edit with the shirt toss to wearing it. Good stuff.
Stole the splendid Ken tong blank idea years ago in darkest Africa when in need of my first tongs. Although I made several mistakes and had to weld a bit they worked well enough. Your project with the far more complicated blanks makes me jealous. Keep it up so that we can enjoy even if only by proxy.
Mate great job great stuff. Love the look of your workshop mate you've got her set up really good
Thanks 👍
Great job John, turned out great. Looking forward to seeing you put them to use next week. Thanks for sharing with us, Fred. 🙏🏻🙏🏻👍👍👏🏻👏🏻👋👋
John, I thought wow, tongs made from railway spikes, thats something different!
Not disappointed at all, you need tongs to make tongs! Maybe in the future you could use those new tongs to make scrolling tongs or something else that does not require a heap of material! Think that would be cool, tongs from a railway spike! Thanks to Ken!
Actually, I have a couple of tongs I made of RR spikes. They’re just enough metal and a great practice of several basic blacksmithing techniques. Guess I need to video a run of tongs from spikes.
@@JackPinesBlacksmithing
Yeh, do that, do you have a channel now?
@@paulorchard7960 yeah, just haven’t been posting as I had to replace my forge and lots of other commitments got in the way.
@@JackPinesBlacksmithing
Ok, that’s cool, understand shit gets in the way, will find your channel and take a look!
Way to go Ken !!!
Nice tongs. Wonder how this is done from scratch. Thanks for the demo...
Ken's has great products, I have purchased a few items from them, including these tongs....lol..jealous on the punches...
Excellent video cheers mate
Got a new job, an extra $1.50 / hr, working 4/10 hr shifts instead of 3 8's, day off, 2 8's, another day off, now I have 3 full days a week to practice forging 😎😁👍
Great to see you are getting some sponsors. Now I’m off to Kens to order a RR pkg just because of you. Thanks John
Nice tongs.
hey john im not sure if you will see this but here goes i would love to see you do a beginner set of videos as in a set of videos made specifically for people with zero experience maybe something like a small neck knife from start to finish from forging the blade to filing the bevels to making the handle and maybe even making a sheath and yes all of your videos are awsome super explanitory and you always ensure that the audience knows what you are doing but it would be cool to see you go to maybe harbor freight and get a hammer and upgrade it and make it better then to use a railroad track anvil and just stuff like that would be super cool to see from your channel as always hope you and the wife are doing well and hope you have a wonderful day
You are my favorite Smith on u tube though!
Bought 2 sets of just the tongs and rivet for my son and his friend to work. We have so many RR spikes and they have been making lots of wall hooks. Figure these will make it easier on them and give them a bit more experience at working tongs. I am no longer able to work in the smithy because of RA and Baron Dupetrenes. My body is just worn out! I do still go out and keep an eye on both of them and give guidance as needed. It's not easy to sit and watch but I figure at least I am still sharing my knowledge.
Looking forward to next week.
Very nice video John. Ken's custome iron makes great products hope to own some products sooner than later. Ken's custome iron keep up the great craftsmanship and hard work on the great products. Keep up the great craftsmanship and hard work John. Can't wait to see ur next videos. Forge on. Keep making. God bless.
Thank You John!
Argggggg! Please.....make anything but a knife!
I like the thinking behind those jaws, its a pity uk rail doesn't use spikes so we just don't get any here.
What does UK rail use for holding rail down?
@@BlackBearForge uk rail sleepers are made of concrete so they use bolted bracket to hold the rail.
Very cool
Love Ken's designs. I learned to forge tongs by hand first, then found the quick and rapid tongs and they would have shortened the learning curve. I don't mess with RR spikes much, but those tongs really work well. I did add a weld to the gusset on the first tong where it butts up after bending and twisting though it's not really needed.
Hello John
That is a good pair of tonks
I am looking forward what you do next with the Spikes.
Have a good week and take care
Yours Frank Galetzka
I was expecting you to say a railroad spike knife. Lol. I hope you plan on adding a high carbon steel bit for the edge… without a doubt I’m sure you will. This isn’t your first rodeo. 😉
Probably not. I consider spike knives more of a novelty and not something to put that kind of time into. If I am going to put that much extra into a piece, it will be for something better than a spike knife.
I made a Boy Scout Order of the Arrow ceremonial knife from a railroad spike. Turned out beautiful, and didn't have a sharp edge.
I would appreciate a video on how you line up the center holes for the drill to be even on both pieces thank you
I just eyeball the center of the boss on each piece for the holes. Nothing special.
If one were so compelled, you could clamp both pieces vertically in the vise, boss exposed, and hand drill both at the same time. Hand drilling would be a bit more troublesome than John's drill press approach and his method works just fine! Nothing special.
I've found I draw two intersecting lines across the boss, if it looks centered I punch it and drill it. Then I lay the undrilled blank on the bench and put the drilled one over top of it like they're assembled. If they look good I center punch right through the hole I just drilled into the undrilled boss. So far, so good. It's basically John's process with some pseudo-science that makes me feel like I'm gaining some accuracy when I'm probably not. ;)
@@suprspi I've used that method as well and it works fine!
Fun to watch
Great video. Thanks
I’m brand new to blacksmithing…in fact, the only thing I have made so far has been two out of 5 tongs from a kit. How in the WORLD does your heat remain in the metal long enough to draw them out, octagonally form, then round them?! It takes me probably 5 heats to get to that.
Thank you for the information and training.
Can you discuss the carbon content and letter designation of different types of spikes please?
I am beginning to realize there is no 'one tong to fit them all' and my first few projects are going to involve making tongs.
Great video as usual. Thank you sir.
Most of my journey into blacksmithing has been from your many instructional videos and making my tongs from Kens Iron Works. I am grateful to you both!!
Great video as always! I loved the edit that you did with the shirt, that was a great shot! Curious as to how many takes of tossing it up into the air it took to make the transition to wearing it look so seamless?
Just one and then making sure I sit right in the same spot for the second clip.
I've been curious about these tongs since I got my catalog. I just finally got my boltjaw tongs assembled. I still have v-bit and flat from the kit to assemble. I had a really hard time adjusting my boltjaw tongs to grip right, so I'm off to search through your vids to find where you've done it so I can get some tips.
Ken puts tips in water before upsetting them.
don't be afraid to share a little banjo (is that you playing at the end?) and juggling
I wish my pieces held their heat half as long as the ones in the video... Half the time they're black before I get the scale brushed off.
Also I would like to know if you had to trim the rivet so how do you verify how long your rivet needs to be?
As Swamp Critter says, 1 1/2 times the diameter is left for the head. However, the rivet supplied is exactly the right length.
First time viewer to your channel and I'm curious about your anvil. Who made it? What is it's weight?
It is a 460 pound Fontanini anvil. fontaninianvilandtool.com/
Sorry if this is a noob question, but I am just beginning. What is the tool you used under the tongs when setting the rivet?
A rivet header
John, If making these tongs to hold in my right hand (left hand tongs) I make the turns clockwise, is that correct?
In most cases. But since these have offset jaws that must line up, I'm not sure.
John, making a draw knife specifically for shaping knife handles, can't remember what side the bevel is ground on, front or back? And I thought maybe a shape cross between a spoke shave and a very slightly curved draw knife, the center is just barely curved, but, at the sides, curves extremely until 90° from square. Will this work? Or to much change on the side?
For cutting concave surfaces bevel down is best. For flats and convex surfaces bevel up is better. Not sure about the other idea, you'll just have to try it.
@black bear forge was the hole for the rivet already there or did you have to make the hole yourself?
You have to drill the hole or punch it.
Thanks for the info, I assumed that you had to make the hole but wasn't sure. As always your videos are very informative.
Will regular candle wax work instead of beeswax?
Probably
👍from 🇷🇺
Wonder if he ships to canada
It would be worth asking
Hi John my wife and son got me Kens raped tongs and quick tongs for my birthday a few years ago and they are grate . So thanks John for showing this video it will come in handy to watch when I buy my next lot of tongs from Kens . :)
Lol the reason us noobs like railroad spikes is because we can find em for free!!!
Hi
Is there a way to add carbon to steel
You can forge weld in a piece of higher carbon steel. But I think of spike knives as more novelty item. They aren't something worth the extra time and expense for me.
I'm disappointed, I thought you were going to make tongs out of railroad spikes
Rail road spike dont have enough carbon in it