The Creation of a Turret Clock

Right tool for the right job...

  Last week I made an attempt at a hardie tool.  It came out fairly well but still had problems.  The main reason it had problems was that I had difficulty properly holding it with the tongs on hand.  So, I went back to something I remember reading in one of my blacksmith books.  The author stated that if you run into a situation where you can't properly hold a piece of metal, its time to stop and make a pair of tongs that will hold the metal like you want.  So, I decided to go back to the hardie today.  But first, I need new tongs.

  Rather than make new tongs, I decided to modify a pair that I had made early.  This pair of tongs where a bit too heavy to be practical for what they were meant for.  So, I altered the jaws on the tongs, cleaned up the handles, put in a new rivet...  The jaws are now a box shape designed to hold the shaft of any tool that will fit in my anvil's hardie hole.

  The new tongs worked perfectly.  I was able to do cleanup on the hardie tool and it is in much better shape now(Honestly, near perfect.)  At this point, the only way I could really make the hardie better would be if I owned a belt grinder to polish it up.  I own a belt sander but that is not effective enough...  So, I learned the lesson of always have the right pair of tongs.

  I started on a nail header but my arm gave out...  Reluctantly, I had to stop for the day.