Stash Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Just got these for my bday- wondering what their application might be. They're big beasts, up to 30" long- definitely 2 handers. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptree Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 I believe those are early pipe wrenchs called pipe tongs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 I've seen an old tool similar to those, I think the ol boy called 'em pipe pliers. They had a flat spot with small teeth cut into it instead of a sharp pointed jaw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 I believe those are early pipe wrenchs called pipe tongs. Looks like he beat me to it...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakedanvil - Grant Sarver Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Hey, how 'bout we call em "Orgtwisters"? I been wondering for a long time what an Orgtwister was. Sure looks like they would twist an org. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Hey, how 'bout we call em "Orgtwisters"? Sounds good to me...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 The piece being tightened or loosened had a lug or a hole for the moving part to engage and levered against the handle. This is the same principle as the cant or log hook uses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy seale Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 maybe it's a old school spanner wrench? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stash Posted January 3, 2010 Author Share Posted January 3, 2010 Yeah, that all makes sense.Thanks for the info, guys. DW picked 'em up on ebay, they were advertised as blacksmith tongs, so she gottem for me. They're still neat pieces. Maybe I'll turn them into lawn art- they have a real dinosaur or snapping turtle vibe to them. Sure hate to get my fingers pinched if they slipped while used as intended. Steve Edit to ask- the pix I posted are mongous. What's the trick to get them down to a reasonable size? If I can't fix it with a hammer, I'm usually out of my element, so please answer with little words. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 The DW and I have a pact: we don't buy things for the other WRT our hobbies without consultation first. Saves a lot of pain seeing your disposable hobby budget spent on something you cannot ever use; but having to tell them that they did good anyway. At least they were not the bunion stretchers I keep seeing advertised as blacksmithing tongs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyGeorge Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 Here's a small set that I modified just a bit to use to hold onto chain links while forging them. They don't work too bad for that. But I have since started using a different pair of tongs that are more on the order of pick up type tongs. http://www.iforgeiron.com/index.php?app=gallery&module=images§ion=viewimage&img=26010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stash Posted January 5, 2010 Author Share Posted January 5, 2010 I've been thinking on modifications, but the size of those varmints- I could turn them into a pintle hook for my big truck. My wife has a tendency to buy stuff for me- gardening tools or plants, woodworking stuff, and now BS stuff, not really knowing my needs, but darnit- I still love her. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Falcon 72 Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 I've been thinking on modifications, but the size of those varmints- I could turn them into a pintle hook for my big truck. My wife has a tendency to buy stuff for me- gardening tools or plants, woodworking stuff, and now BS stuff, not really knowing my needs, but darnit- I still love her. Steve Hey, if nothing else it's good steel to make into something completely different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stash Posted January 5, 2010 Author Share Posted January 5, 2010 That's what I'm thinking- make her sumptin' purdy! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Turley Posted March 5, 2010 Share Posted March 5, 2010 The old catalogs called these "pipe tongs." I think the Stillson type of pipe wrench replaced them, causing the pipe tongs to become obsolete. http://www.turleyforge.com Granddaddy of Blacksmith Schools Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martensite Posted March 5, 2010 Share Posted March 5, 2010 They look like what we used for setting the hot steel rim onto wooden wheels.Lots of leverage to force the rim on and with two or three guys rim goes on even and no distorsion from hammer blows.Maybe was just improvising on the oldtimers part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Seelye Posted March 6, 2010 Share Posted March 6, 2010 I always wondered what they were. I got a pair of them with some other tongs at an auction. Was helping a buddy build a deck with some really twisted lumber, went home got the "pipe tongs", cut them off so they would fit between the joists and made real easy work out of it. Can't believe I used them for the wrong purpose! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Miller Posted March 8, 2010 Share Posted March 8, 2010 A lot those are wrought iron with tool steel welded in the jaws. They could be a good source of wrought iron if you want to rework them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stretch Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 I wondered what those were. I got a couple of them cause--I am not a tool junkie though-- they were there. The two I got are adjustable. I showed them to another tool collector and he had never seen them. He has been a water engineer for about 50 yrs and didn't know they were pipe wrenches. Thank you for the identification. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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