j.w.s. Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 I've been blacksmithing for over a decade and today I was struck with the thought that I'd never made my own tongs! So, with a little bit of time left until my self-imposed 9:30 cut off time, I grabbed a piece of 1/2 (1095 spring temper) stock and started pounding away. Wasn't too concerned with hammer marks, these wont be anything but shop tools. Then I realized that I haven't done rivets for tongs before either! So it was off to the drill press with a 1 1/2" block of steel to make a guide. Grabbed some medium carbon that was laying around, heated, cut, put in the block and mushroomed it out with a peen. Put everything together and mushroomed the other side. All in all about 45 to an hours worth of work. I have to say, they aren't pretty, but they're functional. Everyone who makes tongs on a regular basis, I'll take my hat off to you. I wont be going into the tool making business any time soon, but it's clear to me now just how much thought and care go into a great pair. It's always nice to challenge yourself with something outside of your sphere of comfort. I'll probably do some tweaking on the business end of these tomorrow, perhaps change the shape to work well with more shapes, but right now as they are they hold onto a blade quite nicely. Plus I like the slight spring in the grip. Anyway, here's some picks. Bellow it you can see my little #6 Fisher 1882 - great for when you don't want to wake the neighbors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
element Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 Thats cool nice tongs. I was using tongs i bought also but i need much more than 2 lol. My first pair took like 5 hours lol and the second took 4 hours but both are failed lol. Tomorrow will be 3 times lucky charm? But there is no such thing as luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archiphile Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 Them's some fine looking pair you got there. I would not be surprised if you make more of your own tongs in the future. Tongs were my first project as I did not have any and I am NOT going to pay good money for something that I can make myself. Have fun and Happy Hammering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finnr Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 Look great to me. I have always made my tongs because I'm too cheap to buy them! Finnr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 They look perfectly usable to me. It's very satisfying to make your own tools. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unkle spike Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 I bought 3 pair from GStongs, the rest I have made, and need to make more. They take less tiem, and get better each pair. Nice work, wish my first set looked THAT good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rokshasa Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 yeah my first tong looked like..well you know, but now i have many pairs i have made myself + it takes less time to make them then to wait for them in the mail. i find that you get more usefulness from ones you make yourself because you know what your going to use them for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Lumpkins Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 Yes those are nice.. Good job, and thanks for sharing with us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triw Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 Nice I made my first pair when taking a blacksmithing class still have them and use them but not my favorite thing to do. You did a great job for your first pair, beter than I did and I had a teacher showing me what to do..... LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pault17 Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 Very nice for a first set. especially along with the fact that they are designed for a speciifc purpose in mind. My first tongs were designed by a 10 or 11 yearld named Sean Conner. two 3/4 by 1/4 bars with a rivet hole drilled and the tong ends bolted together, and the working ends twisted 90 degrees. fool-proof design and very robust. yours look way prettier. great job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j.w.s. Posted March 28, 2009 Author Share Posted March 28, 2009 Thanks for the encouraging feedback! I just may have to make another - I've been dying for another set of box jaws.. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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