Charles McDonald

Thank you for your advice! I think I’ll have to conquer making twist tongs purely because I’m hel-bent on figuring that issue out, but I’m on a tong making mission in general and once I get past this ill try various other methods for sure :)

Thank you for your reply!
On these Ill take your advice and simply try and file out the small cracks, but this isnt my last set of tongs and I want to get past this issue, so your words have given me some good things to consider. I found a site this evening where a guy gives instructions on how to make twist jaw tongs and I noticed he only made a 45 degree turn and returned to the fire for a second 45. Maybe I am making my turns too cold...

I found a good topic on here about POZ tongs thanks for mentioning that as well. I'll have to make some of those soon.

Hello there!
Today I made my first set of tongs which I forged out of one foot of 1/4" x 1" mild steel flat bar.
I decided to do twist jaw tongs and I had an issue with some small cracks that formed just below the jaws on the twist. I am wondering what caused this since initially they weren’t there to my knowing until I was making final adjustments. Perhaps my eyes failed me. Anyway, do any of you know what the reason is behind this? Any information would be very much appreciated and thank you in advance.


Jakob

Ive never tried with heavier copper, but Ive fused 16-14 gauge copper wire together in sections making braided finger rings. I simply used an acetylene torch and no flux. I had to do it in more than one go at fusing temperature... I say fusing simply because thats the term more often used in working non ferrous metals. Using a torch for what you're doing would be a pain i'd say, but i think you should be able to do it quite easilyin your forge.
Ive also done this with brass, bronze, sterling and fine silver and other than silver the copper was the easiest of the bunch.