Old South Creations

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.

Nice sign! Thanks for sharing. I like the old school look. I've been neglecting my woodworking as well. I would love to see the finished product.

Sorry guys, no pics. Like I said in the original post, their functionality was not important so I made them much lighter weight than I would have if I was going to actually use them (I used 3/8" round stock). I wanted a pair of "blacksmith tongs" to use in a junk art project. They are going to be the leg of a man made from junk (wrenches, shovel head, nut's & bolts, etc).

They're pretty cruddy BUT I did learn from making them. This was the first time I punched and drifted a hole rather than just drilling and it was also the first time I attempted to use a rivet.

I'll post a pic of the finished product when I'm done.

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"! )

Nice work. I'm jealous...I've been away from my forge since Christmas...I gotta get back at it!

Wow, that's really nice. I would like to make a wine rack with a similar design (wood top w/ "butterfly scrolls" on the sides)

Nice work. I especially like the door handle!

wow...awesome job! I love the design and colors

Very cool...I love your designs

Awesome job! My wife has been wanting me to make her a jewelry holder of some type. I'm not going to show her this one because I can't replicate that! What a great big brother you are.

Great job...definately not for the scrap pile!

Nice work!

and your life will quickly FADE

great job!

Love it! I've been wanting to build something like that myself!

I have forges made from an old truck wheel (not brake drum) & a plow disk

I've seen pictures of a forge made from an inverted push lawn mower frame (engine removed)

That's cool! Looks like the real thing with light rust it

I'd be happy with just a little more time at the forge

nice job. I really like the use of glass in your pieces

awesome job...love the designs

great job!

very nice work!

good ideas. I was wondering how effective a wood swage block would be too...glad you asked the question!

very cool...nicely done

looks great! nice job!