Frosty thanks for the advice. I do typically call or go to the store in question in person, though I haven't asked about price per pound. I'll have to give it a shot!
Goods I have never heard of anyone using spring steel for tongs before, though using them for power kind of makes sense as long as the tongs are not heated and rapidly cooled too often. And I would think that you would want a lower rather than higher carbon steel while working on a powerhammer, though I suppose if you know what you're doing theres little to no risk of hitting you're tongs. And I know that spring steel is tougher than mild steel, I'd just think the constant heating and cooling of the metal (however slight the heating may be, relative to the working material) would put unnecessary strain on it, would that be accurate to say? (Actually asking, I'm not certain). Thanks!