Tongs

I am just getting into black smithing and I'm looking for a set of tongs. I'll be working on metal roughly 1/8th to 1/4th flat bar for now. Any suggestions would be awesome, thanks!!

Ok, so I picked up 200lbs of coal and fired up the forge (might have slightly over bought) . I bought a length rebar and set out to make a pair of tongs. And, lo and behold, I did. I watched this video of Bill Epps making a pair of bolt tongs, and (clumsily) copied as best as I could. I didn't hot rivet them, because I didn't have a pair of tongs to pull the rivet out of the fire. Hence me making tongs. They look rough, and I don't think they will be my main tongs for long. But, I have to start somewhere with something, right? I started the fire at 1:20pm and was done by 4. My first issue is the the tongs come together at a single point rather then having 2 flats …

Since I can't even access the original thread now . . . Sorry if I am spouting disinformation, Grant; I had the impression that you based your "universal" tongs on that set that Brian Brazeal did. I realize there's not much that's new under the sun when it comes to smithing, so "invented" was probably the wrong word. But Brian's were the first ones along those lines that I'd seen. http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/16260-the-ultimate-tongs/page__st__20

I made a pair of scroll tongs yesterday. They are spring steel and took about 45 minutes to make.

I like the cobweb effect to make there look old. http://cgi.ebay.com/BLACKSMITHS-TONGS-12-LONG-1-/230580248902?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35afa76146#ht_500wt_1413

I need some tongs and I dont have the money to buy any right now. What is the best material to make them out of. I have some mild round bar about the size of a sharpie marker. I gonna try and forge some. I know this will be a task for me because I am just starting but Im not going for looks I just need a pair that work to get me started. Thanks.

Found these at a Goodwill store for $5 !.........Never seen anything like em anywhere. Looks as if they were buried for a time which has made them loose and fragile but still ok for light use..................mb

ok guys just wanted to share this, my first tong blank, will be completing the pair next weekend let me know what what you think, again these are not complete but in process, need to cleanup reins and finish out end, and duh make another on lol!!!! -FM

Hi, Forged my first small pair of tongs today, from 16mm (5/8") round stock. They ended up pretty nice I think, for being my first pair. The jaws are flat at this moment, but I probably add a groove later on...

Here's the followup video of the tong jig showing the treatment of the 'v' jaw using a power hammer. It's a simple jig that is easy to make, durable, is adaptable to either right or left handed smiths, and works well. Enjoy, John

I made a couple pairs of tongs yesterday and when I finished, I realized this is the 3rd or 4th way of making tongs I have learned... Not that I do it well. But I understand the processes. This got me to wondering- How many ways can a pair of tongs be made? These tong will for forging 2" round into square. I will form the jaws of the other pair of tongs after I have made one of the square parts. I started out with 6" of 1" round stock for each piece. All forged on the little giant.

I was planning on making some S-hooks today but I needed a new pair of 1/4" tongs for the purpose first. I used 7 1/2 inches of 1/2-inch square bar. Using only a hand hammer and a little under the treadle it took me about 2 hours start to finish. (That's if we don't count the first half of the tongs that I burned to clinkers and had to redo!) I could do it faster but after I finish forging everything to shape I go over everything with a flatter, then grind, then sand. Anyway! For those of you who may not know, bolt tongs are shapped like they are because they were originally used in making....guess. BOLTS! LOL I used the "V's" in the swage block to sink th…

I seem to forge in cycles, every once in awhile I get the notion to forge tongs. I had several styles I have been wanting for awhile for 1/4" - 1/2" round and square. I have also been forging alot of 1'4" flat stock lately. I forged these today. I didn't have any offset tongs at all so I forged two pair to see how I liked them. I am happy with the finished product.

I have been making my own tongs for some time now. I feel like I am able to do it ok given that I dont have a power hammer to make the job easier. My general process is to start with a 5/8" round, taper back to one end from about 6" up the bar to form tapered handles, then set down the jaw half way with front half face blows, then set in a shoulder with far radius side half face blows and then flatten back to the start of the handle taper. So the tongs are strongest near the boss area. The problem i have been having is that the tongs are continually breaking on me. Every time I think to make a second set, the first set snaps usually on the jaws area. I try to make wolf…

This is my first set of tongs, actually its my first anything smithing. It took some work, especially with a very makeshift forge(firebrick and propane burner from a deep fryer). I started out with two lengths of 1/4 x 3/4 x 14" flat stock. Total length at completion was around 19". I had some issues forming the tabs on the end(i had to crease them in the corner of the table and face of the anvil, didn't come out too well). I think i should have squared up the end of the bend by the tabs for more clearance instead of just leaving it flat.

This is a set of Bolt tongs I mostly made this weekend, and finished today. They got 15.5" reins. Made from 12" of 20mm round stock. Love my power hammer for pulling the reins.

not like i wanted it to be but it works just fine first try too :)

I have seen several who want to know how to make tongs. while this is not a new topic or even one ive seen on IFI in the last couple of months I do remember several people asking how to make them. I found this 2 part video on youtube, it shows how to make a set of tongs. not the only method, but one method.

Spent today finishing these off. Had to drag my forge and anvil outside after the carbon monoxide poisoning. Photos! 1. Safety first. 2. Broke the jaw off when I was aligning them... ugh. 3. Heating! 4. Finished product. Tomorrow I'll be straightening and drawing out the handles some.

I have a set of old tongs I can not figure out what they were designed to be used for. one side of the jaws is flat with a groove, the other side has a bulge at the front. here is a very crude drawing i made i hope this helps get an idea of what it looks like i've decided to rework these tongs to a box jaw of sorts, if i can't find out what they are meant for.

Yet another first tongs post. All I can say is, if you learn by your mistakes, I must have learned a lot. They were forged out of a 1" x 5/16" x 26" found steel bar. I drew the reins out by hand over the horn. Pictures below. The pictures that show the tongs holding something, are 1/4" sq., 1/2" sq., 1/2" diameter bolt, and a file (didn't have a piece of flat handy). I know there ugly, but at least they work. All comments, suggestions are welcome. Bill

Hello guys, I wanted to introduce myself, as I just joined the forum. I've been lurking here and some other sites for a month or so now. I finally jumped in and forged myself my first pair of tongs yesterday and I'm stoked. If i can figure i'll how to post a pic I will include it at the end of this post. They are not totally done as they need to be riveted together and adjusted. I was hoping to get some advice on the best way for a noob to rivet. The tongs turned out better'n expected so now I'm afraid to mess them up. I was planning to hot rivet them with a piece of 1/4" inch round stock, but on a practice run I didn't do very well forming the head of the rivet.…

Forged them out yesterday from 1/2 inch round stock. I think they are the nicest looking tongs I've made to date. Practice, practice... Thanks for looking...bart

Hello everyone, Quick question: Is there a repository (book or website) that explains in detail how to make tong bits of different shape? I've been trying to get wolfjaw/universal tongs and box tongs from some flat bit tong blanks I made, with no luck. For stuff other than flat tongs, the only method I've seen is Brian's Universal Tongs, which seem quite a ways beyond what I can do atm. Thanks for the help!

3/8 inch stock. Scaled down for holding masonry nails. I've been making small blacksmith knives from them to give away to friends. Thanks gor looking. Bart