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By Dave, March 9, 2007 9:27 am

Didn’t feel like doing much yesterday (thursday) due to allergys flaring up, so fired up the forge and piddled all day and into the night.

Started off with making hooks to hang a temporary shovel and rake for the forge. Took 1/4 inch rod (old electric fence post) and split it a couple of inches on one end, formed a T out of it, then rounded each half of the T crossbar and hammered them to a point then curled them and bent to catch the handle of the tools. Flattened the other end and bent over to hang in the holes of the forge legs. Then ate lunch and went back to repeat for the second hanger.

Been needing some hammer holders so made 4 large staples and pounded them into the anvil stump and hung hammers.

Had started another pair of tongs several days ago but not finished them so as some of the dizzys had abated at this point decided to try to get them done. A couple of hours and lots of beating, heating, cussing, twisting, bending, and more beating they were done. Or as done as that pair will be. They work and that’s the main thing. Not real pretty (though with opposing twists in the handles) but serviceable.

Supper was eaten right before finishing them so after they were done started on a candle holder just to try them out. Started out with the rest of the electric fence 1/4 inch rod which was about a foot long. Heated one half and hammered to a square. Reversed, heated the other half and hammered it to square. By this time the rod was too small for the new tongs so switched to the old ones and continued to heat and beat till I got a square rod about 16 inches long and about 3/16 in cross section. Then pointed one end and started bending. Got the bends about like I wanted them (at last) and rather than start with the drip dish called it a night. Will try to finish it later today. Still gonna heat and distress the metal a bit more as the square rod turned out too nice and factory looking finish wise. Pinged the edges a bit but needs more roughness. Gotta watch making stuff look too good.

Will try for pix of some of the stuff later today or tomorrow. Airsoft game tomorrow but I ain’t cooking so will see what the weekend brings. First cuppa tea is finished and numb hands/forearms are getting the better of me while trying to type so will close for now.