Went to a ren faire last weekend and watched a blacksmith try to explain tongs to a 10 year old for 20 minutes

I mean, I get it, kids are curious, but this kid kept asking why he couldn't just use his hands to grab the hot metal. The smith was super patient though, he even showed the kid his burn scars from not using tongs years ago. I was watching from the crowd for a solid 10 minutes before I wandered off to get a turkey leg. It reminded me of that first time I tried to forge without a proper grip on a 3/4 inch bar and it slid right off the anvil. Has anyone else had a moment like that where a random person's question actually made you rethink your own basic setup?

2 comments

2 Comments

leebrown1d ago

You ever spend way too long explaining something simple to a kid who just won't let it go?

olivia_barnes971d ago

Not to nitpick but a 3/4 inch bar is pretty hefty, most folks starting out use smaller stock. Your mileage may vary but I think part of the kid's confusion came from not understanding that the tongs grip is actually safer than hand placement in the long run. Take it from someone who's dropped a hot piece on their boot before, the patience that smith showed was probably worth those extra minutes.

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