Forging a Hoof Nipper - GS Tongs Style

I make a farrier horse hoof nipper.
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Thanks. Glen
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[@abitoffcenter383]

Ok this may sound stupid, but please hear me out. I'm a retired mechanic with over 30 years working in a shop environment. The absolute best thing for burns, yellow mustard. Yes, you saw that correctly. Just regular yellow mustard!! Years and years ago I burned my hand pretty bad on a set of exhaust headers. I was working for an older black gentleman whom I have the utmost respect for, Thanks Prince! You are and always will be the man!! Anyway, he walk to the shop fridge and pulled out a bottle of mustard and just coated my hand with it. Due to it being cold, it took the pain away instantly! Obviously, it will warm up and some pain returns. He just told me to wash it off and put more on it. Which I did. Now I know that I was going to have a burn blister later that day and for probably a week afterwards. NOPE!! The next day all I had was some redness!! Never had a blister or anything! Ever since that day I try to make sure I have a bottle of yellow mustard either in the shop fridge or the mini fridge in the garage. My wife has used it after she burned her arm on 500°F over rack. The next day, no blisters. Just some redness. It has to do with the enzymes in the mustard. Anyway, I promise you that it works!! I know how it sounds, but just try it. It REALLY does work!!

[@gstongs]

Hi Charles, I really appreciate you sharing your yellow mustard trick for burns. As you know, I shared this on my last live stream. So many interesting home remedies in comment section. Thanks.

[@grandadz_forge]

I got your "out of this world" mug. Good quality and looks great. THANKS!

[@gstongs]

Hey, I'm really glad you got that. I'm headed Stateside soon and will be rocking my own gear - T shirt, cap , and mug. I appreciate our support.

[@MrJamesjustin]

Mate, even though the D2 was a pain to use, I reckon the tool would be worth the argument. That's a beauty.

[@gstongs]

I'm waiting to hear back how this nipper works. But I need to use something other than D2 so I can get the jaws just as they need to be. Thanks James.

[@brysonalden5414]

Ooh, forward engineering on nippers! Most smiths I know take old nippers and make tongs out of them, so it was nice to see a pair being made, even if the D2 was a pain in the patootie.

[@gstongs]

Hey Bryson, This D2 was a serious figurative pain in the buttocks and literal pain in the shoulder. I need another go with a less hard steel. Thanks.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Lavender oil for the burn, pain is gone almost immediately. Nicely done on the nippers.

[@gstongs]

Hi Richard, I need to try lavender oil. Thanks.

[@craigmcmullen231]

Man!!! I don’t envy you making these. Wow!!

[@gstongs]

Hi Craig, What a royal pain trying to hand forge this D2. It totally threw me off my game. Next go round I'll make changes. Thanks.

[@ketutsinaryasa8627]

🙏❤✌️❤️🙏I like your video , I'm Balinese beginer blacksmithing, thank's a lot🙏

[@gstongs]

Thanks for watching and good luck in your blacksmithing.

[@WireWeHere]

A slight flare in the handles helps control the farrier's grip from sliding higher than intended after each nip and a little flattening on the outer half of the handle helps with one handed control of the orientation.

[@gstongs]

These suggestions are very good. Let's see where this goes next. Thanks for sure.

[@ronthacker211]

"You can't go wrong with a GS Tong". Good job on the NIpper Glen.

[@gstongs]

Much appreciated Ron - both your comment and your donation.

[@royadams8377]

Looks great Glen 👌☺️

[@gstongs]

Thanks Roy. I need another go at this. 😁

[@billhatcher2984]

Looks like you did a pretty good job I think they will work after the new owner sharpens them to his liking

[@gstongs]

Hi Bill, Just a pain working with this D2. I think this nipper will work but I'm waiting to hear back. Then, I'll have another go. Thanks.

[@traildust55]

I've watch my farrier trim my horses. No personal experience. Those nippers look good.

[@gstongs]

I'm hoping my style nipper here works - waiting on word... Then I'll have another go with a more forgiving steel. Thanks.

[@TheOldaz1]

D2 is a pretty darn good tool steel, so these should last forever, but..... To work properly they need a lot more ground off the inside of the cutting edge as a bare minimum. The handles/reins ideally would be drawn out a lot thinner to make it easier to operate one handed, otherwise a nice set of nippers.

[@JohnJohnson-bg2oo]

Also, how is a farrier going to sharpen those in the field, if it's air hardening steel, and he doesn't have a grinder?

[@gstongs]

I learned a lot from this initial go round at a hoof nipper. D2 is not the way to go for me. And your suggestion about the inside cutting edge is good. Let's see how the next one turns out. I know little about farrier tools and even less about horses! Thanks.

[@gregturcotte8778]

Those look good. That steel seems really tough to work with. Pretty doggone good for the first pair. Thanks Glen!

[@gstongs]

This D2 steel just made this near impossible. With a different steel, I think I can get this down in one or two more tries. Thanks Greg.

[@jamesw9930]

D2 is my favorite knife steel . . . as long as somebody else is making the knife

[@gstongs]

Hey James, You make a very good point. Thanks.

[@jakebendel5238]

I love and hate D-2, a great metal for cutting tools a royal pain to work, the end products are great

[@gstongs]

Yes Jake, What a royal pain. It made it so I didn't want to continue shaping this nipper properly. But this steel holds an edge forever though really difficult to sharpen. Thanks.

[@erikcourtney1834]

If your wanting a simple medium carbon steel. Try a-33/ Atlantic 33/ aka flutagon. It’s a water quenching non tempering steel. It moves easy and is really tuff when hardened. It’s made in different size stock. Works great for hot working tools. Almost as good as h13. Best part is you can quench it if it gets hot and keep on working.

[@gstongs]

Hi Erik, I will have to give that a try. I need to find out what the designation is for this steel over here (they use the Japanese classifications for steel). Thanks for sharing.

[@erikcourtney1834]

@@gstongs I would send you some but it wouldn’t make it any easier than you ordering it I don’t think. But if it will then I can. I’m not affiliated with them in any way. Just sharing some information that I’ve found and experienced.

[@thomasgoodemoot]

They look they will work I'll give them a try and send you some pics of them in use

[@timocsutube]

Hand model shots preferred...lol

[@gstongs]

Hi Thomas, I appreciate your positivity. Let's see after you give them a go. And all the suggestions within the comments have given me some direction for the next go round. But not D2! Thanks.

[@ericmorriscompany9648]

Another quick burned finger remedy I’ve learned living in Shanghai is to immediately grab your earlobe. It’s supposed to pull some of the heat away. Probably only works on less severe burns. Have you seen this in Taiwan?

[@gstongs]

Hi Eric, Never heard of the earlobe method. Seems like a wive's tale but you never know. I'll ask about that. Thanks.

[@richardhazell2601]

Educational, informative and entertaining. Cheers.

[@gstongs]

Thanks Richard. As usual, I'll give this one another go round.

[@matttaimuty5397]

For your next pair of nippers, some suggestions from a farrier. The cutting edge needs to be much closer to the rivet and the reins could be longer. Better leverage that way. Also, if you could add a stop to the jaws so the cutting edges don't collide when the nippers cut through. Otherwise, nice looking tool. 🤗

[@pcka12]

Got a nice pair of nippers (US made I believe) good tools are always worth the money.

[@gstongs]

Hi Matt, I've gotten a lot of feedback from proper farriers and all is appreciated. My intention was to push the cutting edge in closer to the rivet but with this D2 steel, that wasn't happening after I riveted together. Another try is in order. Thanks.

[@gstongs]

The prices of good nippers is extremely high from what I've seen. Thanks.

[@erikcourtney1834]

I always heard and used a pickle or pickle juice. Yeah I know it sounds odd. But it works I promise.

[@gstongs]

I got a lot of good home remedies for burns from the comments. Pickle juice must have something in it... And the soap method really works for me. Thanks.

[@timocsutube]

Nice job! I am not a farrier here...hope the hand model enjoys them...lol more GSTongs in our state!

[@gstongs]

Hi Tim, I'm know little about farrier tools and less about horses. But this is something I think I can get down after a few more tries. Thanks.

[@dragonstonegemironworkscra4740]

Now you done it! Momma and Newton neigh they each want a pair of their own! Roflmbo. Great job and that D2 Ooooffff! And the cost! Would make me ponder long n hard on a double cleft weld to mild steel reins. As a side note, I agree in the future longer perhaps thinner reins would be a sound idea. I venture to say mine are about 16inch reins and half round in section. Gives a better feeling opening w one hand. Plus wide enough closed to not allow the knuckles to collide on those hooves that are on the hard side. Just things to ponder in the future. Blessings brother! Crawford out🙏🔥⚒️🧙🏼‍♂️

[@gstongs]

I know little about farrier tools and even less about horses. This nipper was a bear. Next go round will be something a little easier on the arm. Thanks Crawford.

[@WireWeHere]

Looks more like a hoof shape to me.

[@gstongs]

I obviously stumbled and bumbled through this one. Whatever the shape, I'm waiting to hear back about how they work. Thanks.

[@ironcladranchandforge7292]

Nice work Glen. I'm wondering though, was it a trick of the camera or were you forging at an orange heat? I don't remember working with D2 before, or have and didn't realize it at the time, LOL. I'm just wondering if the material would move better at higher heat? Usually when I'm forging a high carbon tool, I use 4063 (auto coil spring material) and it moves okay at yellow heat (1800 degrees F or so). Well, it's still tough to move though compared to mild, LOL. EDIT...... It very well could be my very old lap top computer screen showing orange instead of yellow, LOL......

[@gstongs]

Hey Jeff, Yeah, everything moves better at higher heat. And while I could always get my workpieces hotter, I was near yellow. The camera picks up heat colors sometimes differently, especially since I'm outdoors. I've shown before how a workpieces looks yellow in one area and a second later, red in another area due to the difference in light / shade. D2 is just so difficult to hand forge, even just a piece of 1/2" round like this. It made me alter how I wanted to work the jaws. Next time, a different steel is in order. Thanks.

[@tylerkrug7719]

Sweet dude!

[@gstongs]

Thanks Tyler.

[@johnmawhinney1587]

Great work. Notice you sit to work. I'm somewhat handicapped and need to sit too. What hieght do you have your anvil?

[@gstongs]

Hi John, I sit because my work space is so small that it seemed logical for me to have my tools around me (drummer-like) rather than me move to tools. Not sure if I can ever go back to standing. My anvil face is about 20 inches from the floor. Thanks.

[@earthwoolandfire9715]

Great video! Are the round stock shears still for sale?

[@gstongs]

Hi Patrick, I still have a round bar hot shear but uncompleted. Depending on your hardy hole size, I can finish it out if needed. Anyway, if interested email me: [e-mail] Thanks. Glen

[@stevlajang]

cakep nih kang @irwanwiratna