I try to to find some tongs which wasn't possible here in east Canada so I guess this will be my first try in blacksmithing when my forge is ready , 30 years ago I could buy a truckload of those tools in Europe for a good price but my interest was motorcycle racing :-) I think the blacksmithing profession is one of the most interesting and rare craftsmanship in the world.
Sorry about your fingers. I trust they have healed since a year ago May. But, thanks very much for a really useful tip. I have a couple of old hoof nippers and was unsure what to do with them. Now I have a plan, thanks to you.
Glad to see you are getting settled in - the new Old Forge. Good idea for tongs. Take it easy on your limb (hand/arm). What I hear about gripping with the hand: "big open-hand holds are typically easier on the fingers, they can be quite stressful on the elbow where the wrist flexors originate."
Treat the hammer like a drum stick, hold them just enough to not throw them with each swing. It also helps keep the work cleaner as the hammer will self correct on the hit if it is slightly off rather than create a deep dent where the edge hit first. There will be a dent but that will clean up as you work the metal.
It's nice to see you in a new workshop, at the first glance, it's almost impossible to distinguish it from the old one :) Anyway I really hope you are happy in there, and I wish you best of luck. Greetings from Czech Republic
Chandler---I am a greenhorn blacksmith and trying to put together a minimal forge at present---with not a whole lot of money to at least get started----at this point--I don't feel that I should invest a great deal of money in putting a forge shop together. Along with getting into learning to blacksmith---I like to go find "old school stuff" at antique shops, malls, special antique events and such. Not too long ago---I found a pair of nippers for pennies like you said at an antique "Extravaganza" at a huge antiques place near my home in Central Florida. Got a decent price on a nice vice too from the guy selling old tools of all kinds. Kind of rare finding someone selling such stuff for a modest price---most guys that pick tools that you can use for blacksmithing----they charge more than a premium price now!! I figured that something could be done with those nipper and wow--so glad to find this video. I am watching videos on ways to set up inexpensive forges just to start doing some metal working---right now I don't have a decent anvil--just a cheap ass piece of Chinese junk Harbor Freight anvil and some rail I found at another antique shop for cheap. I have gotten a few hammers together and did make one pair of tongs in a class with a local guy who teaches blacksmithing near me. I am gonna make me a rough forge and go to work on making those nippers into another pair of tongs. Gonna watch more of your videos. Thanks for posting and do watch where ya put your hands around hot metal!!!
Made my fingers hurt watching I know the feeling. This is a good conversion of nippers to tongs. Great news is farriers toss these in the “scrap” pile all the time when they wear out! Thousands are around all over the place every old yard sale
I could swear I remember suggesting this idea to you before on your video about how to make horseshoe hearts with kissing horse heads. Went back and looked for that comment and saw that was three years ago. Lol Damn time flew by! Anyway, great work Chandler and thanks for the video.
I tried doing this about a week before you uploaded this vid and I gotta say, your fears of shearing that rivet aren't unwarranted. I sheared mine right in half. Upside of that, means I get to test out my new punch I made from a coil spring. I'm still really glad I found you right after you started. Made me start getting off my butt and doing things again.
I have a half dozen sets of these that I made years ago from a bucket at a garage sale find. Every set is still in great shape and they have held up very well. Most of us don't care what they used to be- just if they work properly. I also ran across a bucket of tin snips that I forged down into different sizes of scrolling tongs that have held up well. Good steel, into good tools dirt cheap. Good job, brother! Forge on! Loving your new shop :) Dave
excellent repurpose chandler....I stared the same thing a year or so ago and ended up putting it aside because I couldn't decide how to deal with the gap when straightened out the nipper...(I didn't want to take the rivet out either). I am going to dig them back out and try some localized heating for strategic bending..thanks..........
Love your videos man. I've been a bladesmith (exclusively, outside of my own belt buckle I've forged nothing but knives lol) since 2008, and have only recently...with my new, much larger shop...begun exploring blacksmithing in general. Needless to say I'm loving it, and between you, Black Bear, and Christ Centered ironworks my learning curve to become at least competent has been very, very short! Much respect and appreciation brother!
Awesome. re-purposing obsolete old junk into useful new junque is great. I'm really happy to see your videos from the new location. It will settle down in a few more weeks. Looks to me like the new location is MUCH better than the old one. You just kicked your business up a notch with the new location. All is coming together. Glad to see it. Lookin' good Chandler!
Burns are no fun, thanks for the video. Your projects are always so fun to watch. I am really enjoying the projects in the new shop so far, hope you are as well.
Thank you Chandler I got old nippers from when I was a farrier and now I do forgeing and heeling from accident but you are great help to watch thank you.
man this is a great help to me, just started into blacksmithing and forged my first couple knives recently and finding myself needing some better tongs. gonna give this a go for sure!
Get into cold water FAST for at least 15 minutes. Stops the burn from going deeper into the tissue. Did the same damn thing, went into quench tank 15 minuets ice cold water no blisters. New shop is awesome...
12:37 That Shit's hot!! Great video. I just got some large (24in) nippers from the "open box" shelf at Harbor Freight. I don't mind learning on them. $10 each. Cheap education as my first homemade tongs SUCK. Probably 'cause they are made from 3/8 rebar....
Your channel has taught me alot.. it's real and super informative cause I also am Ballin on a budget.. I can't finance a spatula at "Spatula World" but I can make one lol
Like the light levels there in the new shop! So, new shop, new tongs, new wire brush I noticed too. All you need now is a handful of new fingers and you have the full set! 😉
Yeah, I can't do that YET, my forge is way too small but I should be able to do that with the one set of nippers I still have before TOO much longer. You did the exact thing I had planned on doing.
I’ve done 4 sets of those get them cheap at yard sales and antique stores, a little advice my first pair I didn’t get hot enough and they shattered so just be mindful of that I guess. Great video and great idea for sure, been there done that on the burn hammer on brother
Man I'm lovin your vids. I just discovered your chanel and have subscribed. You have a great style with your vids, very laid back and informative. Keep up the great work and keep the content comming. Forget the bad vibes from some commenters and just keep being you man....
I'm glad you're showing us this. I have a few pairs and am wanting to make tongs. I wish I had a welder because I could cut a V notch on the ends and weld on a couple pieces of small angle iron to hold square stock. Anyways, your about to break the rivet so I'm gonna get back to watching the video.
Cool video, I've tried this before and came out with something similar. You've heard of the ASO( anvil shape object), now try the new tong looking thing lol.
They make really good tongs Chandler. Now, you might? just be interested. I've some horse hoof clippers, about all that's left from the blacksmiths. They are made from rasps and most likely my Grandfather or even Great Grandfather made them. I have used them to hook out the crucible from the furnace (see model steam engine build) just in case you (or anyone) is interested in seeing them.
After watching this I’m kicking myself. I went to a garage sale last week and saw a set of those nippers but I passed on them because I didn’t think I could find a use for them. Now when I see another set I’m doing exactly this! (Maybe leaving out the part with burning myself)
I work with hot dies & tools in the plastic manufacturing field, getting ready to start forging, I came across a 200lbs chunk on metal to start pounding on, I'm hoping my experience helps from working around hot dies. Peace Out!
Just subbed. I just started farthing around with this stuff and have couple pairs of nippers like that. I was wondering if I could this and her it is. Thanks man.
Not to nit picky at all, but that first set are pull offs. Secondly, if your shoulder is hurtin more towards the front side, may be a bicep tendon sub-luxation (maybe). Which is no fun at all. Thanks for the video, I had planned on trying to build my first pair, but this is a great idea.
How you doing chandler ? cant say ive seen you in a while ,hope your ok , Ant from wales UK cant make a silk purse out of a sows ear but they will do well done .
I’d assume they are carbon steel and avoid quenching them when they get really hot during use. They will get brittle and snap while you are using them.
Sorry about your burnt digit. I have to say I've often wondered if a blacksmith or farrier in a momentary "guard down reflex action" accidentally has skin contact with the hot metal. Being an occupational hazard doesn't make it any the less painful.
My nippers look completely different I was trying to do this but the way they are designed it doesn't seem to be working. In fact none of the nippers I have seen this done to look like mine. I also have to make a few changes to my forge... too much air flow from the blower so I'm going to go grab a 2" ball valve and knock the flow down significantly. Flying coals don't heat steel very well lmao. It also burns the fuel up super fast.
At a theme park recreating an old western town, a tourist wanders into the blacksmith shop. The blacksmith, having just gone into the back to eat lunch, is keeping an eye on the front of the shop through a small window. The tourist is picking up tools and things, looking at them and putting them back where he found them. When he picked up a horseshoe that the blacksmith had been working on only moments before and was still extremely hot, he immediately put it down. The blacksmith, knowing the man must have been burned badly, came rushing out. "Sir," he said, "are you alright? Didi you get burned?" "No," said the tourist, "it just doesn't take me very long to look at a horseshoe." Yes, I still have the scar.
Just to make you burnt fingers feel better I joined your group keep up good work
I love how candid you are!
I try to to find some tongs which wasn't possible here in east Canada so I guess this will be my first try in blacksmithing when my forge is ready , 30 years ago I could buy a truckload of those tools in Europe for a good price but my interest was motorcycle racing :-) I think the blacksmithing profession is one of the most interesting and rare craftsmanship in the world.
Sorry about your fingers. I trust they have healed since a year ago May. But, thanks very much for a really useful tip. I have a couple of old hoof nippers and was unsure what to do with them. Now I have a plan, thanks to you.
Glad to see you are getting settled in - the new Old Forge. Good idea for tongs. Take it easy on your limb (hand/arm). What I hear about gripping with the hand: "big open-hand holds are typically easier on the fingers, they can be quite stressful on the elbow where the wrist flexors originate."
Treat the hammer like a drum stick, hold them just enough to not throw them with each swing. It also helps keep the work cleaner as the hammer will self correct on the hit if it is slightly off rather than create a deep dent where the edge hit first. There will be a dent but that will clean up as you work the metal.
I'm really glad to see you back in the workshop. Missed your videos.
Great way for new smiths to get some tools with low cost and minimal efforts. Nice!
I’m trying this now on 7 / 8 / 22 ..
YOU STill are a good watch and a TRue inspiration !!!
More than You know BRO !👊🏼
excellent video. i have a pair of those hoof nippers which ill be attempting this work on perhaps sometime today.
It's nice to see you in a new workshop, at the first glance, it's almost impossible to distinguish it from the old one :) Anyway I really hope you are happy in there, and I wish you best of luck. Greetings from Czech Republic
This video is actually super cool, Chandler. Thank you!
Chandler---I am a greenhorn blacksmith and trying to put together a minimal forge at present---with not a whole lot of money to at least get started----at this point--I don't feel that I should invest a great deal of money in putting a forge shop together. Along with getting into learning to blacksmith---I like to go find "old school stuff" at antique shops, malls, special antique events and such. Not too long ago---I found a pair of nippers for pennies like you said at an antique "Extravaganza" at a huge antiques place near my home in Central Florida. Got a decent price on a nice vice too from the guy selling old tools of all kinds. Kind of rare finding someone selling such stuff for a modest price---most guys that pick tools that you can use for blacksmithing----they charge more than a premium price now!! I figured that something could be done with those nipper and wow--so glad to find this video. I am watching videos on ways to set up inexpensive forges just to start doing some metal working---right now I don't have a decent anvil--just a cheap ass piece of Chinese junk Harbor Freight anvil and some rail I found at another antique shop for cheap. I have gotten a few hammers together and did make one pair of tongs in a class with a local guy who teaches blacksmithing near me. I am gonna make me a rough forge and go to work on making those nippers into another pair of tongs. Gonna watch more of your videos. Thanks for posting and do watch where ya put your hands around hot metal!!!
Made my fingers hurt watching I know the feeling. This is a good conversion of nippers to tongs. Great news is farriers toss these in the “scrap” pile all the time when they wear out! Thousands are around all over the place every old yard sale
Love the re-purposing of old equipment, nice one Chandler
I could swear I remember suggesting this idea to you before on your video about how to make horseshoe hearts with kissing horse heads. Went back and looked for that comment and saw that was three years ago. Lol Damn time flew by! Anyway, great work Chandler and thanks for the video.
I tried doing this about a week before you uploaded this vid and I gotta say, your fears of shearing that rivet aren't unwarranted. I sheared mine right in half. Upside of that, means I get to test out my new punch I made from a coil spring. I'm still really glad I found you right after you started. Made me start getting off my butt and doing things again.
I have a half dozen sets of these that I made years ago from a bucket at a garage sale find. Every set is still in great shape and they have held up very well. Most of us don't care what they used to be- just if they work properly. I also ran across a bucket of tin snips that I forged down into different sizes of scrolling tongs that have held up well. Good steel, into good tools dirt cheap. Good job, brother! Forge on! Loving your new shop :)
Dave
Thank you Chandler I have a bucket of those nippers and needed ideas on what to do with them. Great idea thank you
excellent repurpose chandler....I stared the same thing a year or so ago and ended up putting it aside because I couldn't decide how to deal with the gap when straightened out the nipper...(I didn't want to take the rivet out either). I am going to dig them back out and try some localized heating for strategic bending..thanks..........
Great idea. I see those nippers all the time, pretty cheap even on ebay. Glad you're getting set back up in the new place.
Awesome work Chandler! Be a great set tongs to work with.
Hey man! Thank for teaching and talking out loud! Awesome... very awesome.
thanks Chandler I found a pair of nippers at a yard sale for 5 bucks!
Love your videos man. I've been a bladesmith (exclusively, outside of my own belt buckle I've forged nothing but knives lol) since 2008, and have only recently...with my new, much larger shop...begun exploring blacksmithing in general. Needless to say I'm loving it, and between you, Black Bear, and Christ Centered ironworks my learning curve to become at least competent has been very, very short!
Much respect and appreciation brother!
Thanks for the birthday present in the form of a video Chandler!
The lighting is a lot better for videos in the new shop. Hope it's ok for smithing too. Love the vids :)
Awesome. re-purposing obsolete old junk into useful new junque is great. I'm really happy to see your videos from the new location. It will settle down in a few more weeks. Looks to me like the new location is MUCH better than the old one. You just kicked your business up a notch with the new location. All is coming together. Glad to see it. Lookin' good Chandler!
Burns are no fun, thanks for the video. Your projects are always so fun to watch. I am really enjoying the projects in the new shop so far, hope you are as well.
Thank you Chandler I got old nippers from when I was a farrier and now I do forgeing and heeling from accident but you are great help to watch thank you.
Glad to see yoh baxk man! Comments are turned off on your new videos so I'll share my excitement here haha.
man this is a great help to me, just started into blacksmithing and forged my first couple knives recently and finding myself needing some better tongs. gonna give this a go for sure!
That's pretty neat, I'll try this tonight. Thanks for the trick Chandler.
I've got three pairs of hoof nippers, now I know what to do with them. Thanks!
I sure am glad you are back to making some videos!
Good to see you back at the forge, I can see you have a lot of moving in left to do. Glad you are back.
I always enjoy your videos Please keep it up and keep them coming
Get into cold water FAST for at least 15 minutes. Stops the burn from going deeper into the tissue. Did the same damn thing, went into quench tank 15 minuets ice cold water no blisters.
New shop is awesome...
Awesome Vid Mr.Dickinson. Great idea.
Great idea I have several pair of old nippers around so now I know what to do with emthanks a lot
I never would have tried that. That is a great idea. Also learned not to just grab onto metal. Lol.
12:37 That Shit's hot!! Great video. I just got some large (24in) nippers from the "open box" shelf at Harbor Freight. I don't mind learning on them. $10 each. Cheap education as my first homemade tongs SUCK. Probably 'cause they are made from 3/8 rebar....
Very nice video. Love the new shop. Seems to breathe in some new energy.
Thanks man. i have a pair. guess I know what I am doing tonight
They look work ready.Good job .
cool wall display in the background there Chandler!
I bought a pair just like that to do the same thing. Thank you for the video Chandler,I'm going to try and do it this weekend.
Great video Chandler. As said before we live and burn. Hope the finger and thumb isn't too badly burnt.
Mighty fine job Bro! Your are into your own. Go for it!!!
Your channel has taught me alot.. it's real and super informative cause I also am Ballin on a budget.. I can't finance a spatula at "Spatula World" but I can make one lol
Like the light levels there in the new shop! So, new shop, new tongs, new wire brush I noticed too. All you need now is a handful of new fingers and you have the full set! 😉
Yeah, I can't do that YET, my forge is way too small but I should be able to do that with the one set of nippers I still have before TOO much longer. You did the exact thing I had planned on doing.
O
U
C
H
You could tell after you burnt the already dead skin off the tips of your fingers, You couldn’t grab the hammer.
Love the new shop
Way more ring now.
Love your place!
i got one from my uncle it had a broken handle i plan on making them into some spike tongs
thanks for the video
Nice job great idea, best one I have seen yet.
A great addition to shop, would be an aloe vera plant. For those burned fingers.
I’ve done 4 sets of those get them cheap at yard sales and antique stores, a little advice my first pair I didn’t get hot enough and they shattered so just be mindful of that I guess. Great video and great idea for sure, been there done that on the burn hammer on brother
Man I'm lovin your vids. I just discovered your chanel and have subscribed. You have a great style with your vids, very laid back and informative. Keep up the great work and keep the content comming. Forget the bad vibes from some commenters and just keep being you man....
I'm glad you're showing us this. I have a few pairs and am wanting to make tongs. I wish I had a welder because I could cut a V notch on the ends and weld on a couple pieces of small angle iron to hold square stock. Anyways, your about to break the rivet so I'm gonna get back to watching the video.
They go for $20-$15 where I'm at. Still cheaper than buying most used or new tongs. This is exactly what I was thinking of doing.
Great idea I have an old set of and new set of these and I think I will convert them both. Try to make a pare of scroll tongs
Dude you remind me so much of me 🤣 Treat EVERYTHING like its is hot! (except when I forget )
Looks pretty darn good. Take care of that finger, they are in short supply
Dude you got massive! and your voice changed deeper.
👍 I was given a bucket full tongs all of them rusted sollid did a 🎥 resurrecting them with the 🔥 of the forge
Cool video, I've tried this before and came out with something similar. You've heard of the ASO( anvil shape object), now try the new tong looking thing lol.
Welcome back to the grind :-) keep 'em coming.
They make really good tongs Chandler. Now, you might? just be interested. I've some horse hoof clippers, about all that's left from the blacksmiths. They are made from rasps and most likely my Grandfather or even Great Grandfather made them. I have used them to hook out the crucible from the furnace (see model steam engine build) just in case you (or anyone) is interested in seeing them.
I've been thinking of doing this. Harbor freight has a set that looks like a good start thatr lighter.
Miss ya brother!!! Hope all is well with you. Would Love to see ya back ringing an anvil.
You need a bionic arm. Back in the 70's you could get a bionic arm, 2 legs, and an eye for $6 million. I haven't checked prices lately.
Maybe make one from some rebar and an old Raspberry Pi?
I did the same thing while making an engine break in stand. Bar-B-Qued fingers really suck. 😂👍🏼
After watching this I’m kicking myself. I went to a garage sale last week and saw a set of those nippers but I passed on them because I didn’t think I could find a use for them. Now when I see another set I’m doing exactly this! (Maybe leaving out the part with burning myself)
Slip a steel ring about 1.5" over the hands and makes a good vice grip. Old sheet metal worker seem mater. They work GREAT..
Glad I'm not the only one who habitually grabs the hot end
I work with hot dies & tools in the plastic manufacturing field, getting ready to start forging, I came across a 200lbs chunk on metal to start pounding on, I'm hoping my experience helps from working around hot dies. Peace Out!
My first Tongs were hoof nippers now I feel motivated to go beat them around a bit.
Oh and I love the shirt
Thanks for the video
Very cool!
Great vid u made it fun ty
Отличные клещи получились!
Just subbed. I just started farthing around with this stuff and have couple pairs of nippers like that. I was wondering if I could this and her it is. Thanks man.
Not to nit picky at all, but that first set are pull offs. Secondly, if your shoulder is hurtin more towards the front side, may be a bicep tendon sub-luxation (maybe). Which is no fun at all. Thanks for the video, I had planned on trying to build my first pair, but this is a great idea.
Thanx for keeping it real brother
I found a set for $3.00. Amazing. What do you think about "interchangable jaws" for a single set of tongs? May be crazy, but just a "left field" idea.
I’m glad I’m not the only one that gets burned every time I forge
How you doing chandler ? cant say ive seen you in a while ,hope your ok , Ant from wales UK cant make a silk purse out of a sows ear but they will do well done .
thank you
That’s a mighty fine looking anvil
Damn your arms are huge! I need to swing the hammer more.
I’d assume they are carbon steel and avoid quenching them when they get really hot during use. They will get brittle and snap while you are using them.
Sorry about your burnt digit. I have to say I've often wondered if a blacksmith or farrier in a momentary "guard down reflex action" accidentally has skin contact with the hot metal. Being an occupational hazard doesn't make it any the less painful.
Thanks.
My nippers look completely different I was trying to do this but the way they are designed it doesn't seem to be working. In fact none of the nippers I have seen this done to look like mine. I also have to make a few changes to my forge... too much air flow from the blower so I'm going to go grab a 2" ball valve and knock the flow down significantly. Flying coals don't heat steel very well lmao. It also burns the fuel up super fast.
Chandler. How long would you normalize those tongs to keep from cracking?
At a theme park recreating an old western town, a tourist wanders into the blacksmith shop. The blacksmith, having just gone into the back to eat lunch, is keeping an eye on the front of the shop through a small window. The tourist is picking up tools and things, looking at them and putting them back where he found them. When he picked up a horseshoe that the blacksmith had been working on only moments before and was still extremely hot, he immediately put it down. The blacksmith, knowing the man must have been burned badly, came rushing out.
"Sir," he said, "are you alright? Didi you get burned?"
"No," said the tourist, "it just doesn't take me very long to look at a horseshoe."
Yes, I still have the scar.
Lmao
I see you finally bought yourself a butcher block ....... 👍🏻
Thank you sir
Thanks buddy keep it up
Good recycle!