Tongs

The attached pictures are of some of my tongs I used at my last job and still use on occasion in my forge here at home. The tongs in these pictures are of some of the ones I used to make the tongs for the hammer men on my own little power hammer. My own power hammer in the shop was a 200# Chambersburg with flat dies measuring about six inches wide (front to back) by eight inches long.The link here to youtube shows the same hammer as the type I used except, I had a foot control to run the hammer myself. http://www.youtube.com/watch I formed the eye for the tongs using a simple block of steel 1" wide X 3'' long x 3/4" thick. I used this for all tongs, irregardless of siz…

I posted a thread a couple of weeks ago about making my first set of tongs. I wanted a pair of tongs to use in a junk art sculpture but didn't want to sacrifice an old pair...so I made my own. Since they didn't need to be functional I made them light weight. Well, I made them too light weight! So I made another pair...actually two. I hate to do it but I'm still going to sacrifice them for my "art" project. The stock for the large pair was 3/4" x 5/16" and the small pair began life as a horseshoe. I had requests to post pics of what "beginner" tongs look like. They're not pretty but they are functional. I'll post pics of my "junk sculpture" when it's completed.

I wanted to use a pair of blacksmith tongs in a "junk art" project and rather than ruin an old pair I thought it was about time I tried to make a pair myself. They're pretty cruddy (that's why there's no picture) and they're pretty light weight (because functionality didn't matter) but I learned a lot from my experiment. Maybe next time they'll be "keepers"! )

On the chat I said I would go public on the 20 minute tongs. I actually made 4 pairs in 2 hours but that included a breakfast break and lighting the forge! Yes they are rough. Yes they work. They also include my signature hook with tong tube as opposed to tong ring to hold them shut.

While beyond my truly rough skills, somewhere I saw a tutorial on making tongs with an extraordinary, detailed set of jaws that portrayed a wolf's head. I have tried google and search here, but cannot find it. Assistance appreciated.mike

I am looking over the Blueprint BP1004 Hofi Woop Tongs, and I have a question. He gives the starting length and the tong jaw bend dimensions for the 2" tongs, but what are the dimensions used for the 1" and 1.5" tongs? I find myself needing some good multi-purpose tongs, and this looks like the one.

Just got my first (second hand) leg vice (post vise). The jaws are set at quite a large angle when closed, (tight at the top, big gap at the bottom). Due to the nature of how it works, they are only truly parallel at one point.....this being on mine probably over 2 inches open. It does need the grip and some of the sharp edges removing, as it is making lots of mean marks on my metal, so i was wondering should i start grinding the fixed jaw to make it parallel when almost closed, as i am currently working on fairly small stock and its just not holding it well enough. Bit nervous of attacking my new toy! Also it is on a stand, but currently not bolted down.....when …

Hi Is there a blueprint for making some scrolling tongs?? I've been searching...but i could have missed it! I desperately need to make some! Any tips? I've never made tongs before! Cheers Louise

Hi. I have occasionally seen short-nosed tongs such as those from the following Ebay auctions: 230118797130 200102029757 Are these tongs called pincer tongs? Probably not, since I did a search on that name and did not find much. What are they used for? Holding short pieces of flat stock? It seems that they would grip hard due to the leverage, but since they only grip a short length of the piece, it would be suceptible to levering free. They do seem useful for short pieces which do not lever much but require more room to hit with the hammer, such as a 2 inch long stub. Does this sound right? Thanks! :)

2 years ago when i started gathering tools of the trade i started 2 pair of tongs, a friends gave me 2 pair of his he never used much, so i just used them till friday i misplaced mine (overlooked) so i finished the ones i started. i cheated on the rivet, although i need to take them apart to finish the reins, i used a 1/4" flathead screw (i have more than i'll ever use) as soon as i finished the first pair, i located my tongs, right where i left them Ron Smith

One of my latest tongs. Forged in two pieces an mounted with a 7/8 rivet. I grip over 150mm(10") scuere bar. The steel use for all tongs i made is SS-2225,( AISI 4130 ) Roger

Hi guys I'm a metal shop teacher in Pa with no formal blacksmith training, but I have a small forge that the students use every year. I main project that the kids forge during the blacksmith Unit is a Chisel out of 1/2 hexagon. Saftey is always a concern and the tongs that the kids use are very old and badly treated and need to be replaced. I was wondering if any of you know a good place to purchase high quality thongs for a reasonable price. Thanks, Josh