I managed to finish my tongs in my last blacksmithing class. I had to cut the straight piece in half and punch holes and join them with a rivet. In that class, I finally realized the point of the peen of the hammer. It's so that you could pound a metal cylinder into a rivet.
After some oiling and clean up, this is the finished piece:
Despite not looking perfectly symmetrical, the tongs do their jobs. I like one end sticking out a bit as it is easier to scoop up hot metal as I grab it. The instructors also prefer their tongs to have that scooping capability.
As for the hammerhead, I was able to do more work on its shape and further the annealing process. In short, we were manipulating the lattice structure of the head. It was fun using the hydraulic press for the first time in my life.
You may not be able to see the inside clearly, but the hole has a more hourglass shape if you feel it. The idea is that when I put the wedge to lock in the handle, the two pieces will stay together. A cheap hammer has an exact round hole which the head would eventually fly off the handle through use.
As you can see from the instructions, I did part of the tempering at home. I realized there are many similarities between my line of work and blacksmiths. We both work with materials in our field with good understanding. Above us are the material scientists and pathologists who have more in-depth knowledge of what was happening.
In the end, the hammer is not complete. I will need another session to finish the project.
What?!? Blacksmithing?? That’s awesome!! I feel it’s a lost art and not many people do it.
Those tongs turned out pretty bad ass!! Nice work!!
It’s a good thing there are people teaching it in Utah.
That’s frikken awesome!! When did you start this little adventure in blacksmithing?
Posted via D.Buzz
In April.
Nice!! For some reason I always think this would happen to a blacksmith from swinging that hammer all day
😂😂😂
Posted via D.Buzz
I haven’t done it long enough to confirm or deny it. Lol
#lifegoal
Posted via D.Buzz
Thank you for your witness vote!
Have a !BEER on me!
To Opt-Out of my witness beer program just comment !STOP below
View or trade
BEER.Hey @enforcer48, here is a little bit of
BEERfrom @isnochys for you. Enjoy it!Learn how to earn FREE BEER each day by staking your
BEER.I thought it would have been better off if both ends of the tongs are equal but is contrary to yours. Good to know you enjoy it that way.
Just wait until you need to scoop hot steel off the floor or try to get a hold of them in the furnace.
Hehe, I've never tried that before but I have imagined it right now. I believe the tongs would stay diagonal while trying scoope hot steel off the foor.
That's excellent and how wonderful it is that these traditional skills are kept going by people just enjoying learning a new skill.
Will you be making the shoes for @brofund's new race horse?
I could learn. lol
That is really awesome. It is cool to see how everything is coming along for you! I bet you are really enjoying this process. We have some places around here that let you learn and do glass blowing. I think that would be a kind of cool skill to know.
Glassblowing would be really cool!
I agree. I think my brother in law has done a bit of it, but I am not sure how much really. You might have to change your name to Fergus or Fenrus that seems like a very blacksmithy name!
I don't think I need to change my name for that.
This type of work humbles you and makes you appreciate the skill of our craftsmen forefathers, especially weapon forgers.
It's definitely no easy feat.
Thank you for your witness vote!
Have a !BEER on me!
To Opt-Out of my witness beer program just comment !STOP below
View or trade
BEER.Hey @enforcer48, here is a little bit of
BEERfrom @isnochys for you. Enjoy it!Learn how to earn FREE BEER each day by staking your
BEER.Excellent job and keep up the good work.
Thanks!
View or trade
BEER.Hey @enforcer48, here is a little bit of
BEERfrom @pixresteemer for you. Enjoy it!Learn how to earn FREE BEER each day by staking your
BEER.