Tongs

Looking for information on these tongs.

I'm finally getting some paid instruction from a local smith and it is so absolutely worth it. He has been teaching me his tong method, which is far more practical than it is traditional, but metalwork is my only source of income so I need to get it done quick. The greatest insight I had so far was comparing his tongs to the store bought (drop forged) equivalent. He had me put some material in the vise(1/2" round) and grab it with the tongs, and then he said "pull". So I did. Then he said "PULL!", and I used my best tug of war technique and those tongs were locked down tighter than a pit bull. I had no idea how well the tongs were supposed to perform, but I sure do now.

I got these from the local Lions Sunday market here at Gawler South SA. I will mod the ends to be my practical,who could complain spending $20 for them.

I picked up two of these in a lot of tools my guess is for a farrier but would love to know

I recently received a set of antique colonial flat bit tongs. The tongs are in moderate condition for being that old one of the reins is just bent and wavy but the other has several cracks less than halfway down from the rivot I was thinking about taking off the broken piece and forging a new one so I can use them again. I hate seeing tools just sitting there and doing nothing. But is it a good idea for something so old? - Sergey

I'm not sure what the proper name for these tongs would be, I have been wanting to make them ever since I spotted the tongs Albert Craven used in one of my favorite videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpeyhC-UIFg . I wanted something to use while forging knives and working with flat sock that could accomodate various width, thickness and bevels. The tongs resemble box tongs except there is only 1 vertical side, not two allowing different widths to be held, and the other jaw is curved down rather than flat, allowing uneven or bevel surfaces to be griped. This video is the only instance I have seen of this style, but they could be widely used as my experience is limited, …

Well working on my first set on tongs. What style donno just yet. But here is the first half of them.

Made a new pair of tongs with a striker a few weeks back, makes drawing out a lot more fun Tong Making.mp4

Anyone know what these tongs are for? Thought they were for opening metal drums but they don't shear. Googling the name I cant find anything. Thanks.

Hey all, I’m not sure where to post this but I am excited and wanted to share some pics of my first tongs!! They aren’t perfect but they work!!! I do have 1 question. I broke the first pin I peened in place. It was a small piece of metal rod. Can anyone tell me what is the best thing to use for pins?

Thinking of trying to make some hardi tools with some 1 15/16 in motor shaft what kind of tongs would you all recommend so I can make those first.

I tried an experiment I've been thinking about for a while. Not a new concept, but I wanted to see how it might work. The jaws are adjustable to fit anything from 1" bar stock on down. I used 1/2" round stock, so they're not quite as strong as they could be. Nevertheless, they do work. I may make a pair with some V jaws.

So i am currently looking at byong a set of tongs and was wondering if anybody has used thes tongs before they are from kens custom iron they are mild steel the rapid tongs are 5/16 and come with 5 differnet types of blanks they are aboit 60 dollars after shipping and the quick tongs are a set of 4 blanks that are 3/8 thick also mild steel and they are about the same cost was hoping to get some reviews on them

Howdy folks, I found these big tongs at an antique shop this week. They are roughly 26-28" long and the jaws are about 3/4" to 1" apart when they are parallel. I'm guessing due to their size these would have been used in an industrial forging situation? They were asking $55 for them, and since I'm still working on getting tools together I have to admit that I thought about it, but ultimately did not buy them. Anyone care to share any thoughts on these big tongs? Are these just "kind of large but nothing special" in the grand scheme of things? (Noobie trying to learn here.) Thanks.

What size stock should I start with for a 1 1/2 V tongs?

Here are the first set of tongs I made. I had to cob something together to make a better set. Not what you call elegant, but they were functional and kept me from getting nasty burns. I just finished up these: Again, not beautiful but they should get the job done. At least the jaws line up and I can get a good grip on a piece of steel. Any tips or suggestions are welcome. Ted

I am making my first pair of tongs and so far they are coming along very nicely. I am to the point of riveting them together. I attempted to use a 1/4" bolt as the rivet, but when I got it set together and started working the tongs open and closed the bolt sheared off right in the middle. I am guessing that the metal the bolt just became brittle from the heat. My question is this. Does regular mild steel work well for rivets? I chose not to use it because the smallest stuff I have on hand is 1/2" and I didn't want to take the time to draw it out, I know, I know Lazy right! Anyway, any advice you guys could give me would be great! (I'll post some pics of the tongs …

I'm going to get in trouble for this post, but once you see or use this type of tong you will find it works well for a flat jaw tong.. I started to create a video for beginners on tong measurements from a basic stand point that offers the most serviceable tongs for the beginner and with little practice usually in just a few pairs can have the process mastered very well.. There is an ideal ratio of tong shape/size that can make or break a tong and it's the reason there were standards in place originally on tongs.. There are a bunch of variables but ideally the jaw shoulder to pivot boss is 1/2 to 9/16 width... This ratio is also the same for the Boss/pivot…

I have always wondered what the benefit of the traditional method of making tongs which creates the shoulders between the boss and the working end. There are currently available flat blanks that are used to make tongs. These do not create that shoulder but still seem to work very well. Does anyone know the rationale behind the more traditional method. The extra mass on the end of the tongs does not seem to help in their ridigity or function.

So after a year and a half of working over 90 hours a week i finally managed to drop down to one job( only 56 hours a week now LOL) and can finally get to some long over due blacksmithing projects! But as i found out, sometimes before you can start a project you have to make the proper tooling. Now sure i could have fumbled around with my wolf jaw tongs trying to hold flat bar but lets be honest, dropping hot steel every 30 seconds really isnt much fun so i bit the bullet and decided to take on something that i have always struggles with. TONGS! Box jaw tongs at that Now seeing how i have only made 1 set of tongs that actually worked i figured this project would end…

i was in the shop the other night and got a piece of 1/2'' round caught between my hammer and my anvil. this is what it looked like afterwards. my question is, has anyone seen a pair of tongs like this before or did i invent them? they work really well on flat stock. i'm hoping there original cause then i get to name them....

So I recently picked up some 5/8 round wrought iron scrap from Old Globe, and its great stuff! Such a fun material to work with! I'm considering using some of this material for tongs, however i am reluctant due to the rare nature of wrought iron these days. I've got plenty of mild steel to work with, and have been perfecting my tong making with this, but a nice set of wrought box jaws would be a cool tool to possess. Can i get some feedback as to the benefits vs drawbacks (if any) of using Wrought for tongs? Thanks, Φ

The other day I got home from work and fired up the forge. I was able to hamer out a pritty good tong half out of 3/4 round hot rolled steel. I jumped up this morning excited to finally pin a set of tongs together I was proud of. I made my first set down ( sorry if my Termanolagly is off I'm new to this ) made my turn to the right got a few hits in before runing out of heat. Stuck it back in the fire and started cleaning on the other half. Went back to the fire pulled out the steel, yep it's burned not bad but burned. Things just kept geting worse. Finally got them pined and the burned steel came back to haunt me. Finally I gave in,cut the rains off and started a ne…

A friend of mine gave me 4 sets of tongs today. One of them is quite large and heavy. probably more than I can get in my forge. the others will likely be useful. They show sings of being blacksmith made I think 3 of them have had the reins forge welded on. What is the intended function of the set with one hooked jaw?

So I have been reading through a ton of tong threads and I have my material picked out and I have came across several discussions that refer to bolt and wolf jaw tongs as the 2 most universal tongs I have been wondering if anyone has tried to make a hybrid tong between the 2 and if so we're they a success or were there detriments to using them? I've attached a rough sketch of my idea if you guys wanna critique it and let me know what you think.