Poz Tongs Class

Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011
$40 per student

Class size: minimum 5, maximum 8
Prerequisites: Beginning Blacksmithing class required
Instructors: Darryl Ponder, Gordon Barr, Rich Herman
What to bring: Your favorite hammer, ear and eye protection. All other tools & materials provided.

You are warmly invited to spend a December Saturday learning how to make a pair of “Poz” style tongs while gathered around the heat of the coal forges at the MN School of Horseshoeing! These tongs, originally designed by a Mr. Richard Pozniak of Chicago, refined by Robb Gunter, and refined further still and championed by our own Monty Bygd, can hold square, round, and flat stock all with a single pair of tongs. We will be making a pair designed to hold 3/8 inch square or round stock, and quarter inch flat.

Each participant should leave with a finished pair of tongs. However, this will be somewhat dependent upon the experience level of the participant. I find that the drawing out of the reins (handles) takes some time, as does the accurate slitting of the stock when forming the jaws. If you are comfortable in these processes, you should be able to finish your tongs. We will be bending around some jigs, riveting, and generally having a good time. None of the processes is hard, and everyone will at least learn how to make these tongs while back in their own shop.

You will learn the simple tooling required to make a pair of these tongs and will receive reference material that you may use in the future after you leave class and start making additional Poz tongs on your own.

Bring your favorite hammer. Other tooling will be provided or made by you onsite.

Contact Darryl Ponder to register for this class. Include your name, phone number, and email address when you send your check, so Darryl can contact you.