Blacksmithing - Forging Bolt Tongs From Rebar - Ugly But Functional

[@bascostbudde7614]

Those moments where the hammer blows align with the afterbeat of the music are just... brilliant.

[@Mercenary_32]

I am glad to have seen this video! It gives a lot of hope, and great ideas for all the rebar I have! Awesome video, thanks 👍

[@philchiu1711]

i really like how you see things and your approach is sure getting it done. damn good job. keep them comming.

[@PastorWilliamBarhorst]

As soon as my new friend drops off a piece of railroad track that I can use as an anvil and I complete building my foundry, I'm going to make a pair of tongs just like yours, at least I hope and pray that they are as good as yours!

[@TheChipmunk2008]

says 'UGLY', goes on to produce something that to me is a work of art...

[@graphixkillzzz]

those new ones look WAY better than rise harbor freight! good job! great tutorial! 👍

[@Whiskeybuisness]

Looks dont mean a thing....FUNCTION is the purpose here..... Nice work and LOVED the background music!!!

[@carr869]

I don't think they're ugly. They look like a blacksmith made them to do work not walk down a fashion runway. Good job and I'll be making a pair just like them. Probably not as nice but I'm still learning. Thanks for taking the time to make and share this video with us. Tom

[@robtoneguzzo7761]

You are a real honest likeable dude Chandler. I have been watching your videos for a long while and they never get old. Take care mate and all the best. Rob from Australia

[@orvie29]

im sure you hear it alot sir .but want to thank you for putting these videos on here and giving me the chance to learn along side you. i wish I had won your anvil give away but my lil piece of rail road track is good for now just wanted to say thanks

[@shavedaver5527]

Chandler your videos are great. I'm looking to start doing a little forging it's late in my life but I have to have a goal and I think I would really enjoy it. You make some awesome stuff. Really enjoy watching and trying to learn. Looking forward to the next video.

[@jdtremblay2331]

very cool and great idea, I love messing around with rebar too!

[@anott32]

outstanding that is not ugly really fine job they will last forever

[@alvinomelgoza2887]

Another great video Chandler!

[@timsmith9926]

Great job!! I've been working with the forge and anvil since January and have made a few blades, some campware, an axe head.... still, tongs elude me. Going to give this a shot - had a buddy donate some rebar recently. Thanks for the tutorial!!

[@warpighammer3760]

There most beautiful damn tongs ever To a man who has been using a pair of over sized Chanel lock pliers. Making a set like em tonight thanks man.

[@pshepard858511]

Great video, thanks Chandler!

[@hyun9251]

How good to me? A piece of metal is changed to a useful tool by hand. I like the whole process and it impressed me.

[@jonmccray1411]

I will keep trying. The 1/2 rebar may make it easier. I was trying a rail road spike. Thanks again!

[@jcadams8232]

A blacksmithing book told me that the first thing a blacksmith does is make his own tools and that farriering is the bread and butter of many blacksmiths of the day. Interesting how today's farriers quickly resort to store-bought tools and don't think about making their own. People have a tough time figuring out what they can do on their own when they waste their time reinventing the wheel instead of learning by watching Chandler, here.

[@deadtoad990]

Very impressive especially considering the fact that you used rebar.

[@GhostCreeper]

After 5 months of forging stuff I finally made my first pair today out of rebar.Its a flat set for my first pair but came out well I guess.Just like yours (they were ugly but useful lol).I may have to cut them down some though I think they are to long and are made out of the heavier rebar.Man I was so happy when I saw them function! I just hammered them flat put the pin in the boss then heated the grab area and did a twist. But for now im happy!My first attempt was months ago.Was about done but left one side in the fire to long and I came back out from the shop after looking for a punch and my metal broke :((

[@Dylan-ke3zb]

Nice video man! Appreciate it.

[@keyehek1790]

i would call em duckfoot togns :D very nice, scince the purpose of tools is to do their job, and not to be hanging at a wall being pretty. gonna try to go your way, maybe refining here and there. very neat man :D

[@TheChipmunk2008]

KEY EHEK Exactly, that's what I was going for with my work of art comment: A tool that does its job properly is a thing of beauty

[@LarryM5291]

Holy Crap, Is that a new glove I see on your left hand? LOL Nice demo BTW!

[@goompapa]

Loved this....

[@CharisWilliams]

Nice work!

[@thatguyukno5958]

great video....Thank you sir

[@OsmanAli-wr8kg]

Tongs are pice of art!Love them! But can you forge a rebar hammer ?I saw few pictures on the internet and I want to make my own but I don't have any clue how.I will be happy if you make video about it.God bless you and continue with good job!

[@patrickjaroch5084]

Great Job.

[@asaxander740]

Once I get an anvil and a furnace I'm going to make me some of these.

[@ctw195]

Ugly? Those look great!

[@D40-MilitiaMedia]

hmm i may have to find a pair of tongs to make me some tongs... ironic? short rebar stock problems.... what im using right now is like a 1/8 short farriers tongs with the wide and almost completely flat jaws for holding stuff...that and a pipe wrench...both have shot hot stuff in the air when hammering....

[@Buckrun11]

Good job.

[@hardhead208]

Nice smithing!

[@arcturusbbqsausagemaking2435]

Chandler awesome Tongs I've been a welder Fabricator for 30 yrs I just got into blacksmithing and ornamental iron and have been swinging my hammer a lot lately I'm having trouble with my hand cramping up and when I'm done and showered and sitting on the couch my hand seems like it's frozen and don't want to open up, did you ever have any thing like this when you started out ? You make it look easy but it's not ! ..Great job keep the vids coming

[@thehipmyster]

Arcturus Welding & Fabrication I know I'm extremely late but wanted to say my part I I have been welding for a month or so and just started blacksmithing and my hand cramps a lot to so I guess it is a beginner thing

[@madwilliamflint]

Love it. Just started hitting hot steel on Sunday. I'm gonna need to make me a pair of these pretty quick. Hey what's hanging off your anvil horn?

[@chandlerdickinson]

madwilliamflint I had a weighted box hanging from the horn. This helps deaden the ring and sound of the anvil... neighbors and all...lol

[@madwilliamflint]

AH! I wondered if that was it. Seemed like a weird enough contraption that it could've been anything :)

[@reignorshine.]

damn making it look easy

[@Maltinis]

Today was the first time i made tongs, man yours look good compared to mine. :)

[@monkeyhenderson]

I know that feeling just made mine today and mine definitely live up to the "ugly but functional" title

[@matthewhall6087]

Hay you dressed that anvil cool man

[@paulcheeba666]

I just finished my first attempt. They will do the trick but damn are they ugly. I also noted my wood and air forge doesn't get the iron quite hot enough. But I'm happy :)

[@jonmccray1411]

I really like watching you do your thing! I just built a forge when my great grandpa's anvil and pole vise was given to me by my uncle. I have always been interested in the blacksmith art. So glad I found your channel! I have made 2 spike knifes and a tomahawk out of a ball peen they turned out ok. I tried to make some tongs but just can't seem to get them right. Do you make your own? Where can I buy some to get me by until I am able to make my own?

[@chandlerdickinson]

Jon McCray I do make tongs but I haven't perfected it enough to start selling... soon tho.... check out my other tong video... i break it down a little more. Keep trying... you can get something that works after a couple tries...

[@jacobanderson7645]

nice I see you are using your brass hammer

[@philipvaughan320]

First day forging today worked on making a set got near the end and wanted it real hot to punch a hole and melted the whole end off... Needless to say my hammer went flying

[@letzrockitrite8469]

I love your videos.. keep up the good work.. very inspirational.. COULD YOU PLEASE put a link to your ebay store somewhere soon.. thanks...

[@chandlerdickinson]

Letzrockitrite I put most of my available stuff on my Etsy store. the link is www.etsy.com/shop/McFinleysCabin

[@letzrockitrite8469]

Chandler Dickinson Thanks Chandler!!! Very good prices !!!! Be well my friend.....

[@robertw3908]

How long of rebar pieces did you use

[@jonw3982]

What would be your advice on re-purposing some old tongs got at a flea market? The one I got are a little out of shape but were good for me just starting out. Haven't started still need something to use as an anvil, which i'm keeping an eye out for locally.

[@chandlerdickinson]

+Jon W once you get the anvil you can reshape the tongs

[@jonw3982]

+Chandler Dickinson I had been looking at harbor freights anvil but found a video on here the showed how it dented easily. So glad i seen that before putting money into it. Thanks for the videos I truly enjoy them.

[@jonw3982]

Chandler Dickinson Thanks for the respond. I can't afford a good large anvil, but got a 25lb one now from amazon it does dent like harbor freights though. They made it sound like stronger steel on the reviews, but for under 50 bucks its good. I tried to finish up a forge I was building the other day had problems with my mix to pour for the fire cavity so have to try again. Filming it for my first vid though so hope I can do better next time. Keep up the vids got a fan here.

[@Come_0n_TARS]

do you have a video that shows how you made the forge

[@jaymuzquiz2942]

I'm not a very good blacksmith. But I have so much Fucking fun making an unsafe work environment and making lots noise of sparks!

[@wesbrown3277]

Damn! I was in the process of making a pair of these when my forge ate half of my stock when I was almost done(with no trace of the missing steel).... now I gotta try again haha. Do you have any tips to help prevent this from happening again in the future? BTW I love your channel I've learned alot from you. keep it up brother!

[@chandlerdickinson]

Wes Brown Yes! Don't melt your steel!!!! lol... Happens to the best of us... When it's thin stay close! The beer or pee break can wait!

[@wesbrown3277]

Hahaha thanks...well better luck next time I guess now to hunt down some more rebar

[@D40-MilitiaMedia]

Wes Brown had a peice of 1/4 inch bar steel go missing in my firepot ( old car rim at the time) found it melted into the rim after id sobered up! lol

[@howtoforge7546]

Wes Brown there are two pieces of advice I'd give you to prevent that. 1. as you work the steel pull it out of the fire sooner as the material gets thinner because the thinner the material gets the quicker it will get to temperature and if not checked it will melt. 2. constantly check your piece in the fire (I assume coal/charcoal forge) constantly move the fuel off and on to keep an eye on it. let me know if this helps

[@paulorchard7960]

Ugly and functional, no bad for 7 minute tongs !

[@adracamas]

Is rebar steel? And what kind usually?

[@dangerfieldknives3575]

It's most likely some cheap scrap metal because it's meant to be buried in concrete and will never see the light of day again

[@willow450]

+Le ILoveDraugr rebar actually comes in different grades and can even consist of high strength high carbon steel

[@dangerfieldknives3575]

Rebar comes in 3$ per 10ft. You honestly think there's high carbon steel in those, you get what you pay for right? I'm sure op doesn't know the grade of his rebar so its most likely junk but he could try

[@KyleGraham92]

bad ass

[@bearclawweaponbanman1141]

What fuel do you use

[@mortarsquad12]

If it works!!

[@singlestringstruggler1988]

Do you make your own rivets?

[@PastorWilliamBarhorst]

cade dudiak yes he makes his own rivits.

[@bascostbudde7614]

You call these ugly? What for? They're fine!

[@toeofawesome1264]

i wish i could make stuff out of rebar. everytime i try and forge it it cracks or breaks or wheni do finish it it breaks with the smallest amount of stress like dropping it.

[@chandlerdickinson]

rebar is a mixture of who knows what.... but you should be able to work it.. bad news is you could be doing 1 or more of a thousand things wrong... keep at it!!!!

[@poserdisposer89]

Toe ofawesome make a coffe can forge out of half sand and plaster of Paris drill a hole for a torch to go in there

[@toeofawesome1264]

Carter Spung i had a coffe can forge but upgradedto a coke forge.

[@ronaldcox2741]

Nice looking Tongs..Hey I've been watching your videos and see you are progressing on your blacksmith work..I want to ask you if you would be interested in making me a small axe head..I collect axes and I have a bunch of the Gransfors Bruks axes but I'm wanting a one of a kind axe..the one I'm wanting looks like they're Mini Hatchet head with the steep angled beard..I will buy the steel billet and send to ya if you are interested in doing it..Thanks

[@chandlerdickinson]

Ronald Cox I'd be all over that but the fact is not every time do things turn out as I hope and could not guarantee the outcome using someones else's steel... Keep an eye on my ebay store I will put a project like this on the list... if it turns out well I will have it in the store. Thanks for watching!

[@andyperlow961]

Do you have an email? I have a question not exactly related to smithing, about bending long profile, and you have very good common sense and maybe can help me out with an idea? Thanks, Andy Perlow

[@Bootlrggerjim]

Damn

[@edricoddot]

Do we need to take up a collection and find you some good gloves

[@chandlerdickinson]

+edricoddot do they make good gloves anymore?

[@glockfan112]

+Chandler Dickinson as far as i know no. Nobody makes gloves worth a damn.