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The weird thing I see people doing with their forge tongs
Okay, I have to ask about this. For the last year or so, I keep seeing folks at our local guild meetings and in online videos holding their tongs way too far back on the reins. I mean, they're gripping them almost at the very end, like they're scared of the heat. I did it myself once when I was starting out, about three years ago, and dropped a red hot leaf right onto my boot. The problem is you lose all control and feel. The tongs are a lever, and if you choke up on the handle, you get a weak, wobbly grip. You need to hold them closer to the hinge, maybe an inch or two from the pivot, to really clamp down on the work. It feels counter-intuitive, but it makes a huge difference. Has anyone else had to break this habit, or am I just seeing a weird local trend?
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miles_hall3h ago
Yeah @karenh56, we all fight the tool until it bites us back.
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jason_lewis33h ago
My buddy tried to force a stripped screw last week, the driver slipped and he put a hole in the drywall.
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karenh565h ago
Remember dropping a piece because my grip was too far back. You're right about losing all control, it feels so shaky. Why do we fight the tool's design like that?
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