Log Tongs

[DonS]

I was going to weld a piece of pipe on for a handle, but forming a curve in the swage block and then bending the handle out of one piece was easier than setting up the welder.

Don

[CurlyGeorge]

Nice tongs, Don. But that looks like it means work!! :D

[Glenn]

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Comments from the gallery post

stewartthesmith
I manufacture log tongs also, for lifting humongous logs with a derrick. I forge them out of 1 3/8 inch round 1045, attached at the top with a six inch diameter one inch round round link, attached to each half of the tongs by oval links three quarter inches in diameter material. I make two different sizes of tongs, either opening 24 inches, or 36 inches, to accommodate large diameter logs. Every so often, the company who I sell these tongs to deliberately breaks my tongs, testing them for tensile strength on a pulling machine that tests the capacity of the tongs. They told me that a pair of log tongs should break at about double the weight they are rated for. So far, so good, none of them has ever failed prematurely.

petere76

They look great . In regard the testing procedure, how do you know what they are rated for? Do you estimate or test them yourself with a dynometer.


Glenn
What size log are you lifting with these logs?
Can we see a photo of them in action?

[Dodge]

Does that handle have eyes and teeth?? :o

[clinton]

Are those "Duck bill" tongs?
Does anyone on here make a Cant hook? Link to bailey's site showing Cant hook
http://www.baileysonline.com/itemdetail.asp?item=15785&catID=163

[DonS]

I painted the handle on my log tongs so that would not loose it in the weeds. Then someone mentioned that it looked like it had a beak, so I added eyes and teeth...later I realized that birds probably don't have teeth except in cartoons.

On a similar note, I added a bird's head to my post drill, since it already had the perfect animation.

[Glenn]

Why the linkage?
Is there a mechanical advantage (gripping advantage) with the linkage shown over the single linkage of ice type tongs?

[DonS]

Glenn, some ice tongs have the same linkage, and some just have a pair of rings to put your hand through. If you have the kind with the rings, you have to squeeze the rings together to hold the ice. With standard size ice blocks, the rings can be made to be a comfortable distance apart.

The logs I pick up are a variety of diameters, so that design does not work as well because if you make it to handle smaller logs, the handles could be uncomfortably wide when carrying large logs. Also, with the linkage shown, the heavier the log, (larger diameter) the tighter it pinches into the wood, and the handle stays relatively horizontal and can be held with heavy winter gloves.

[Glenn]

So the design advantage is being able to pick up multiple size logs. Thank you.

[Glenn]

It is surprising how much pressure a 3 inch diameter piece of wood (the handle) will take. I dislike the sudden breaking and being thrown to the ground when the handle brakes. Then while you are on the ground the log is free to move and roll about as it wants, usually on top of you. If you are going to break a handle, try to do it on the pull stroke, so the log rolls away.

I have made a couple of cant hooks. Last one was from 1-1/4 inch pipe for a handle, and weld on a couple of ears for the bolt that holds the hook. It is a bit heavy but goes soft rather than the sudden release of pressure when it fails.