Tongs

So I finally got around to using my new anvil only been blacksmithing for maybe 3 months off and on due to having problems with getting fuel but more to the point I finally got a well needed tool my first pair of tongs Wish i had some video to go along with the pictures but sadly I don't. Give me your opinions. These we're made from memory only I did not use pictures, references

Hello, folks! I had some trouble connecting to these forums a while back and was worried they were offline. Glad to see that's not the case! I haven't been smithing as much as I'd like since my last posts here, but I wanted to post some tongs I've made since then. This was to be my first set. The material was altogether too thin and they were destroyed while punching. This is the first set that were "successful". They weren't long enough, though, and rather uncomfortable.. I wanted to try something different for the next set, so I tried a pair of v-bit bolt tongs (with help from a design on anvilfire). They were successful but my stock material was too small, they'r…

still getting the basic concept of forging a set of tongs, but I thought I'd make my second pair a set of bolt tongs. Filmed the process here. it was fun and for some reason a slight challenge. I also made a quick hot cut hardy so I don't have to use chisels all the time. It is out of a RR spike so we shall see how long it lasts.

Well, here it is, my first successful attempt at tongs. they arnt pretty but the should work. i forged these out of 3/4in rebar. the next set i make will probably have welded reins, drawing out that rebar took a little to long for my liking haha.

They're not the most beautiful, and the rivet didn't close properly, so it's more bent over than riveted... But they hold 1" bar stock perfectly. That was the goal. So... How did I do?

I picked these tongs up in an antique store in Tennessee I think there for horseshoes but might be wrong they are also hand forged so if I can get your guys feed back would be great Nick O

i think this is a brick buck tong??

made a simple tong rack to add to one of my forges today 12mm round with 4 bends that hooks in the top of the leg sockets. works quite well may make a few more things to fit these holes

A while back, I stumbled on a plan to make the jaws of a set of tongs hold a RR spike but can't seem to find it again. I have found the blueprint that will grab the shank but I'd like something that holds the head. Also, I recently I came into a couple pair of tongs that have a very loose rivet. My thought is to heat the joint and then lightly peen the rivet. Is this the right track? Nomad PS: Anyone in the WA/OR area take a look at my post on tailgating....:D

I have seen in some YouTube videos, people are using tong clips. I thought it might be handy if I could get one or forge one myself! if some one could tell me a bit more on this that would be awesome. Ethan

Poking around trying to find stuff on basket. birdcage twists for handles. Came across these. Just may have to try a set for kicks.

Usually when I work with a long bar of steel, I just weld on some mild steel at the end in order to handle the last feet and a half while forging. Recently I started working with some short damascus bars that are just too precious to waste an inch from. I took some 10 mm mild steel stock and made some box tongs. I turned the sotck into an L, and then flattened the short bit. Then I folded the flat bit around itself and back again to make a T of which the horizontal piece was a double layer of flattened steel. Then I forge welded and flattened those bits, and folded the short end of the T into a box. The other half of the tongs was more or less standard. The pin is an old …

I made my first tongs last night. I made them out of some old 1/2" rebar. I found this rebar in an old dump. I don't know how old it is but it looked different than modern rebar. It seemed to work easier than the rebar I've been messing with. I did cheat and used a file on the pivot area to keep things flat and so they would pivot easy. I built them off of a video I have saved. I had a hard time keeping the first and second step square to each other. I had to put one in a vise and twist it a bit to get it square. They could be much better but they turned out better than I thought they would. I plan to do this again but I want to know what steel is best. I was wondering if…

Hi everyone, I've been meaning to do a thread like this for a long while. I'd like to show you my progression of tong making from my first to my most recent. These are my most recent tongs made just last week. These were made from 16mm square stock. about 12" long I think. They're far from perfect, but a significant improvement over my first set. Like anything practice makes perfect, I rather enjoyed making this set and I'm looking forward to making another set in the near future. Here you can see all of the tongs I've made. With the very first pair on the left, and my more recent pairs on the right. The photo below shows my first pairs in more detail. The pair…

Hi folks, just thought I'd share a few pics of some useful tongs I made for removing flats in scrolls. I've made a few pairs of these to varying sizes so between them I'm pretty well covered against unsightly flats that creep in. I expect these are old hat and I'm reinventing the steel but hey ho. Use and abuse as you see fit.

Looking at picking up a few scroll tongs. Saw the ones sold by and labled as Centaur. Any ideas where these are made? Must not be the USA as they are not listed that way? Thanks, Greebe

Began making tongs after nearly five years in the trade....... hey..I have stuff to do and I ain't into making tools just yet, so I began to experiment with tongs. The price for store bought is well over 35.00/pair. The De La Ronde book says to flatten-out you a spot on the end....for the jaw,,,anywhere. You choose. Then rotate 180° or half a turn and flatted out another spot for the pin boss. .....so if I flatten out a spot for the jaw...then turn the round or square stock 1/2 a turn, and make me another flat spot......how is that making anything?...other than one long flat spot? Says to do so at two different location in the same chapter. so It can't be a mis-print. T…

Bought this pair of tongs years ago and they are very useful they will hold stock at any point along the length, going to make a set ,what is their correct name?

Finally forged my first pair. They're ugly but they work.

Any reason why I can't pick up old broken ended type tongs and adding to the ends of my choosing....

Im hoping somebody has actually forged one of these fireplace tongs?Its the old classic style, with a box joint. Ive tried and come kind of close but id love some advise from anybody who has done them from start to finish. I dont want to machine them. I want to do it the old fashioned way with no fancy tools. Im using 3/4" square bar for the female side, slot punched the slot, shouldered it down. But its the female side with the tongue that's catching me. Anybody got information...links...??? Id love to chat. Ive searched the web Its full of all the standard tongs...but there's nothing on these. Please help :-)

I know there is a lot of banter over welded reins vs drawing them out. That aside, I'm curious for those of you who weld on your reins, what type of weld do you prefer? Faggot weld, stepped and scarfed, arc weld etc. As I typically work alone I have started doing a birds mouth weld because I find them easier to do alone as opposed to drop tong welds of any sort (especially in my gas forge vs. coal). Typically I will forge the bit and leave enough material behind the boss to split down the middle, scarf, and upset and tapper the reins to fit the birds mouth. Then jam the assembly together and stick it in the forge and weld (similar to how a HC bit is welded into an axe hea…

I'm considering making a few sets of tongs in the near future, but wanted to make sure I'm not forgetting something. I have a few questions just to make sure I'm reading into things correctly, and would appreciate any help that the collected wisdom here could provide. 1) Materials: Is there a suggestion regarding what to use? I've read the mild steel will work, but I've seen a number of sources state that most tools should be made of tool steel, thus the question. 2) Design: Is there a good suggestion for a "first set of tongs" that will be versatile enough to get started? I have a set of wolf jaw tongs I purchased to get started, but I feel like they don't handle…

Tongs, you can never have too many. Often with new commissions you'll be like: "ooh.. I need to make another". It's part of the trade, hardly any escaping from it. Your tools have an impact on your body, some hardly, some severe. Tongs are quite noticable. Do you ever feel like your hands are "raw" or as if the top layer of skin has been peeled off? This either comes from dry hands or wear, or maybe both. if you take the time to observe when your hands start to hurt, it became clear to me that I got sore hands from my tong reins. The roughed out forgings and texture will rub in your hands, as if it were a file. This obviously starts to hurt soon. If you take th…

ok they are not good but they work and are the first usable ones I have made made 2 pairs because the second piece I made was opposite way to first reins welded on, rivet hole drilled, rivet set hot. the jaws have a groove down then for holding round or square stock, pic tomorrow of both pairs finished