Blacksmith Box Jaw Tongs for Beginners
A step by step tutorial for building Box Jaw Tongs. I like to use these for holding wide flat stock (like a rasp) securely in place.
Check out my list below of the tools and materials I used to make these.
Tools & Materials I used in this video:
- 3/4” x 8” Sucker Rod
- Round Stock Tongs: • Basic Tongs for Beginners
- 1909 Lakeside Anvil
- 10lb Short Handled Sledge
- Power Hammer
- 1.75lb Bulldog Rounding Hammer
- 3/8” Flat Jaw Tongs: • How to Forge Flat Jaw ...
- Hot Punch: • Beginner Hot Punch for...
-Rivets: amzn.to/3KPL1VG
-Beeswax: amzn.to/3AiCrdd
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Hi, I'm Jayce, the blacksmith behind Farmstead Forge. I am a farrier by trade; I learned the basics of blacksmithing at shoeing school and the rest I learned on my own. I'm excited to expand my knowledge and continue learning while also sharing my passion with others.
Join me in the shop on my Montana farmstead where I enjoy building tools and other fun projects that we can use around the place.
If you enjoyed this video please consider giving it a like, I’d appreciate it! Also, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on new videos every Tuesday morning!
Contact Me: jaycefulbright@gmail.com
00:00 Introduction
02:12 Upsetting the short jaw
02:54 Setting first jaw
04:40 Setting first boss
06:16 Setting the rein
07:29 Upsetting the second jaw
08:53 Setting the second jaw
10:20 Setting the second boss
12:29 Drawing out the rein
15:46 Refining the boss and jaw
17:34 Punching the rivet hole
20:28 Forging the box jaw
25:29 Hot rasp
26:10 Touch mark & riveting
26:56 Sizing
30:36 Finished Product
31:04 Outro
Have always been enamored by the ringing of the anvil and hammer. Years ago I had the privilege of helping an oldtimer in NW Arkansas in his smithy, Me i was the power to turn the forced air blower and the 8lb hammer. So ive have a healty RESPECT for anyone else who drives metal with one. So nice to see such clean lines of your craftsmanship.
Wow, thank you for the high compliment, I really appreciate it!
Fine work! Randy sent me. Subscribed!
Thanks, I'm happy to have you as a subscriber. Randy is a heck of a good guy!
Nice step by step build. Good discussion and explanation of "to do's and to avoid"! Enjoyed watching you build, good post!
Thank you Bob, I appreciate it and I'm glad you enjoyed it!
When time allows I will catch up on you posted videos. My first one! Glad I found your channel. Keep up the good work.@@FarmsteadForge
amazing work and explanation, thanks very much for making such a great video, Eddie , Ireland
Thank you, that means a lot! I'm glad it was helpful.
Very nice and easy to follow. Thanks buddy!
That's the goal! I have more tong tutorials if you are interested. Thanks for watching!
As a hobby blacksmith myself I will now only ever call them mustache tongs. Thats adorable.
Thanks for the tips. I'll get there yet.
You'll get there, practice makes perfect! Thanks for watching.
I’ll tell a blacksmith that has done some work for me about your channel, I’m sure he would appreciate your work. Thank you Sir for your video
Cool, thank you very much!
Nice way to make box jaw tongs, Thanks
They are a fairly quick, straightforward tong to make that doesn't require a ton of forge work so I like them. Thanks for stopping by!
Nice set of tongs. Another set I should make. Thanks for sharing the tongs.
I need to make another set of these, 3/8" x 1" or so for making tongs at the power hammer. You're welcome, thanks for watching and commenting!
Great work.
Thanks for watching!
Nice work!
Thanks - I'll get you hooked on forging yet!
@@FarmsteadForge I kinda wanna try to build my own set sometime now after watching your videos lol
Very nice!
Thanks!
Very enjoyable. Thank you. Fine work
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Vejo seus vídeos aqui do Brasil, o Sr. é um ótimo ferramenteiro.
Wow, that's very cool, I'm glad you are here! Thank you for the compliment and thanks for watching!
Looks like they will give you decades of use. Well done! One Q: why did you have the reins so close?
Thank you! Yes, made out of sucker rod they should last forever! Hopefully this answers your question: When tongs are specifically sized, you don't have to have the reins very far apart to hold something securely and in turn, that is more comfortable in your hands vs reins that are far apart.
FYI, that "opps" when your punch drifted off target was probably caused by the location tap you give your punch. Place it and hit it, leave out the little tap to locate your hammer on the punch.
Thanks!
What brand anvil is that?
It is a 1909 Lakeside made by Hay-Budden.
Swinging that 6# + Hammer ain't fun, a had a 6 hr dance with one, my arm felt like jello when I was done. Id keep that metal glowing to save hammer blows.
I let it cool off a bit so the shape is easier to see on video.