converting hoof trimmers

[coalfired]

Recently I acquired a couple a pair of horse trimmer/nippers. Definitely they're old but I can't find any i.d. marks on them. Since my funds are low to buy tongs, I was wondering the practicality of remaking the ferriers tools into tongs. Or would this be a bad and irreverent treatment of old tools.

[Nakedanvil - Grant Sarver]

"irreverent"? Only if you worship them! Seen lotta very serviceable tongs made from old nippers. Somebody should do a tutorial.

[coalfired]

Nuff said , I will plan the conversion

[infinityblacksmithing]

I've been wondering the same thing. I found 3 or 4 pairs (but ones only 6") when I cleaned out my Grandmas garage. I pick them up about once I month and just can't seem to visualise how to change them. Looking forward to see what comes out of this.

[Sukellos]

Before you get too wild with hammer and fire, check to see if the any of the nippers are still serviceable as nippers. You may want to use the best preserved pair as a "hot cut" for small work. I have a pair I use to help cut and bend such small details as dragon's horns, tiny leaves and such. They will also serve "as is" for holding onto small work such as leaves, small blades or small springs. For such work, you may want to dull the cutting edge a bit so they don't bite into the metal too much. I use them that way for making small v or leaf springs for old style firearms.

[son_of_bluegrass]

The biggest problem I see with converting nippers to tongs is that nippers will be some form of tool steel (even if just high carbon steel). Not a problem if you normalize the tongs after the conversion and don't quench them.

ron

[ironstein]

I made a pair of scrolling tongs out of some heavy duty nippers. They are very stout and are my favorite scrolling tongs.

[carnie4life]

I made a nice pair of scroll tongs out of a hoof trimmer.

[ThomasPowers]

I like tinsnips to make into scrolling tongs---the $1 old ones at the fleamarket.

I did pick up and *old* home made set of nippers: Wrought iron, steeled ends, enormous bow to them; ugly and poorly done and reform them into a special set of tongs---hot firebrick tongs, *very* handy to have a set that fits hot firebricks perfectly with wide bits to hold them securely!

[Woodz]

"irreverent"? Only if you worship them! Seen lotta very serviceable tongs made from old nippers. Somebody should do a tutorial.

I would be very interested in such a tutorial!

[Sam Thompson]

I use a pair with the sharp edges ground down to hold small work, especially things like 'Russian Rose' key rings; the bowed jaws give clearance for the flower while forging the leaf and protect the petals from the heat.

[trying-it]

Make a "V" cut in each jaw. The 2 "V"s should form a square shape with jaws closed. Using your favorite welding method (tig, mig, arc, etc.) weld a short piece of angle iron (maybe 3/4 " long) on outside of each jaw, following same "V" shape in jaws. I will let you do the math and design, but when finished you should have a sweet pair of tongs for working RR spikes and NOT damaging the head as it is fully protected inside the center circle portion of the nippers! A lot of nice forged items can be made leaving a RR spike head untouched, spike knives only scratching the possibilites. Have fun and BE safe!