Basic armoring tools, If i was starting over from scratch

 If I was starting over from scratch, I'd start with the following tools, obviously if you own any of these, just use those.

Ultra basic set.
Chunk of hardwood (see dishing stump below)

Hammer

Drill and Drill bits

Jigsaw, with ferrous  cutting blades

roofing nails for rivets

That's all you really need to get started.

The set I'd start building next

Eye protection

https://www.harborfreight.com/impact-resistant-safety-glasses-94357.html

 

Ear protection

 

https://www.harborfreight.com/ear-muffs-70038.html

I'm not kidding, you really need these, the cheapest at harbor freight are better than taking damage.

 Thick gloves (Hurts your hand to hold metal while bashing trust me on this)

Just get the thickest cheap pair that are leather on the grippy bits you can afford

This is a cheap option

https://www.harborfreight.com/safety/gloves/full-grain-cowhide-leather-work-gloves-large-61459.html

 

Harbor freight 4.5" angle grinder - less than $20

https://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/grinders/angle-grinders/43-amp-4-12-in-angle-grinder-with-slide-switch-58089.html

 4.5" wheel assortment - Under $20

https://www.harborfreight.com/10-piece-4-1-2-half-inch-grinding-and-cutting-wheel-assortment-47572.html


This combination is incredibly powerful at making tools to make armor,and can cut steel nearly as well as a jig saw.


Get a drill and a small set of drill bits for drilling metal... I suspect you have one

But here is a cheap battery drill
https://www.harborfreight.com/12v-cordless-38-in-drill-kit-with-battery-and-charger-57366.html

and a cheap plug drill
https://www.harborfreight.com/32-amp-38-in-variable-speed-drill-58528.html

and cheap bits upto and includign 1/4" (which are the first thing you should spend real money one and not but cheap)

https://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/drill-driver-bits/twist-bits/titanium-hex-shank-drill-bit-set-13-piece-61621.html

 

Also get a box of wood screws at elast 1.25" long and the bits to drive them , I like this kind.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Deck-Plus-10-x-1-5-8-in-Ceramic-Deck-Screws-1-lb/1000643057

 

 

The largest and smallest wood handled ball peen hammers

https://www.harborfreight.com/32-oz-ball-peen-hammer-69012.html
https://www.harborfreight.com/16-oz-ball-peen-hammer-69010.html

 3 lb cross peen hammer

https://www.harborfreight.com/3-lb-hardwood-cross-pein-hammer-69049.html

2 lb engineers hammer

https://www.harborfreight.com/2-lb-hardwood-engineers-hammer-69226.html 

a cheap plastic dead blow hammer (for planishing)

https://www.harborfreight.com/1-lb-neon-orange-dead-blow-hammer-41796.html

 

(optional)
Plastic pliers (for holding metal while you hit it without scratching it)(from amazon)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CT2Z7415?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_3&th=1

 

(Optional) 

Metal pliers for holding stuff that gets hot (like cutting nails down to rivets)

https://www.harborfreight.com/8-in-slip-joint-pliers-63818.html

 

Then id try to find a hard wood stump, below are a couple videos on making a dishing stump

 

Bigger is better, but you can get alot done with a small one.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=800524796987476

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCSnYZxC7Hk

 
barring that I'd goto lowes and get the 3x3 oak board.Heck Id get one even if  Had a stump.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/ReliaBilt-3-in-x-3-in-x-Square-Unfinished-Oak-Board/5002041407

then at lowes I'd get some 1" black iron pipe (not galvanized) p[ipe fittings, to make basic stakes from

1x 1" floor flange -1

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Mueller-Proline-1-in-dia-Black-Iron-Floor-Flange-Fitting/50276203 

2x 1 in 90 degree elbow

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Mueller-Proline-1-in-x-1-in-dia-90-Degree-Black-Iron-Elbow-Fitting/3422602

2x 12" pipe nipple

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Mueller-Proline-12-in-L-x-1-in-x-1-in-dia-Black-Steel-Nipple-Fitting/3392850

1x 45 degree elbow

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Mueller-Proline-1-in-x-1-in-dia-45-Degree-Black-Iron-Elbow-Fitting/4331490

1x Pipe cap
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Mueller-Proline-1-in-x-1-in-dia-Black-Iron-Cap-Fitting/4331482

If you can beg borrow or other get access to a welder, get a couple pipe unions

I cant' find it on lowes, but I'm pretty sure they or home depot  have it , here is one on ebay, 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/296310953987?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-166974-028196-7&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=296310953987&targetid=2275367127251&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9028263&poi=&campaignid=22112298907&mkgroupid=175685473120&rlsatarget=pla-2275367127251&abcId=10163555&merchantid=113582408&geoid=9028263&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqcO_BhDaARIsACz62vMNS7RD_vaV0ooWxIAc8Tn9VtkqTi3fpLVZ9ynXHqA02yOp6bcVJG8aAtD5EALw_wcB

I just buy mine in big bags at amazon.

Then add add a 3inch nipple and a "close" nipple(the shortest one) you can now screw the flange down and thread the pieces together to make a couple different shaped stakes. I'll try to add a photo later.

Here's is my blog post on making stakes with the pipe, and making planishing balls with a welder, lots more options.

http://forgetool.blogspot.com/2014/04/how-to-make-cheap-simple-flexible.html

As to the process, here is an instructable on basic metal shaping with the most basic tools.

https://www.instructables.com/SHAPING-SHEET-METAL-WITH-a-BALL-PEEN-HAMMER-AND-WO/

You bought my Tongs DXF, and can't use it!

 

OK,

If you bought my tongs DXF, don't download it. 

Once you download the file, it's yours i can't refund anything no matter what.

OTOH,

you still wnat tongs, here are some good options

Tom Tongs, $35-40 

https://www.blacksmithsupply.com/Tom-Tongs_bymfg_1-0-1.html

You bought my Tong Patterns and can't rememebr how to downlod them...

If you need help redownloading the files try this article from Etsy:


https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/115013328108-Downloading-a-Digital-Item?segment=shopping

You bought my DXF of tongs, now what!

This is the list page for all my blog posts to help you out with my tongs DXF

First off, The file contains tong halves, as in just one side of each tong.

To cut them you will need to make a file with 2 copies of each

There are lots of examples in the following links of ways to do that.
I hope they help you.


This should answer many questions, such as...

Okay, I bought them, now what(how to copy paste individual tongs halves to prep for cutting)

Hmm, OK, I got that , but which of these tongs go together, I'm confused

 
Hey one of these tongs doesn't match

How do I open these in Sheetcam?

Alright, they are in Sheetcam, how do I tell if they are the right size?Okay, i cut these, how do I forge them.
This list has examples for alot of these tongs, some are new and
there are no videos.

Kens Iron Rapid Tong Instructional Videos

Lots more Quick Rapid Tongs Videos
Where I got inspiration for many of the tongs

Need help downloading them?
How to re doanload digital files on Etsy

You bought my DXF file, one of these doesn't match

One of the tongs wasn't' supposed to be left in

It doesn't 'match the others, it was there to help me verify my designs were not goingto cause shunt sot weak areas, i compare contracted that tong to mine.

Feel free to delete it, you didn't pay for it, it was left in by accident.

You bought my DXF file, how to tell if you imported them the right size.

Ok, you followed my blog post and got them into sheet cam.

https://forgetool.blogspot.com/2020/04/you-just-bought-my-tong-halves-dxf-file.html

How do you verify they are the right size.

Click Zoom-> Grid Options, and set the x and y size to .125"





Then you zoom all the way in on the tip of the flat jaw tong



Nope further than that, ALL the way in...




Yes now that's the ticket.

Look at the dots, It's not aligned perfectly, but you can tell it's 9 dots tall, so it's imported at the correct size.9* 1/8" = 1-1/8" the correct size for the tong tip