FieryFurnace Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 I was planning on making some S-hooks today but I needed a new pair of 1/4" tongs for the purpose first. I used 7 1/2 inches of 1/2-inch square bar. Using only a hand hammer and a little under the treadle it took me about 2 hours start to finish. (That's if we don't count the first half of the tongs that I burned to clinkers and had to redo!) I could do it faster but after I finish forging everything to shape I go over everything with a flatter, then grind, then sand. Anyway! For those of you who may not know, bolt tongs are shapped like they are because they were originally used in making....guess. BOLTS! LOL I used the "V's" in the swage block to sink the jaws. Just get the stock size you want the tongs to hold and drive it into the jaws over the proper sized "V" swage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Those look handy and well made too. :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric sprado Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Nice tongs!! After all these years I'm finally trying to make some and not getting the hang of it yet!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakedanvil - Grant Sarver Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Very respectable job! With experience, you'll come to appreciate a nicely forged finish. Saves a lot of grinding and will become a point of pride. Less rust prone too. Looks like you're well on your way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francis Trez Cole Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Dave nice job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironstein Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Nice, stout looking tongs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FieryFurnace Posted March 16, 2011 Author Share Posted March 16, 2011 Very respectable job! With experience, you'll come to appreciate a nicely forged finish. Saves a lot of grinding and will become a point of pride. Looks like you're well on your way. Yea, coming out of the fire smooth would have saved me a bit of grind time. What I did on these is a light going over with the hammer and then with a flatter under the treadle hammer. I should have rounded the corners some with my hammer, but opted to use the grinder instead. Wrong choice! The grinder did the job but the hammer would have been faster! Thanks for the complements! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhblacksmith Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Nice job on the tongs and a good observation about forging to a finish rather than filing. One heat can save you many minutes with a file. You can make your tongs even more functional by forging or filing a v-notch at 90 degrees to the one that is already there (across the jaws). That would allow you to hold round or square stock vertically from the side for upsetting, heading, etc. I have made a few like that and they are among my favorites because they are so versatile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FieryFurnace Posted March 16, 2011 Author Share Posted March 16, 2011 Nice job on the tongs and a good observation about forging to a finish rather than filing. One heat can save you many minutes with a file. You can make your tongs even more functional by forging or filing a v-notch at 90 degrees to the one that is already there (across the jaws). That would allow you to hold round or square stock vertically from the side for upsetting, heading, etc. I have made a few like that and they are among my favorites because they are so versatile. I was looking at them thinking about trying that yesterday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beslagsmed Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Nice lookin tongs. Bolt tongs are so versital - really enjoy mine. I know you will get lots of good use out of those. Best part is when one needs a tool, it is great to make one instead of buying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakedanvil - Grant Sarver Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Nice lookin tongs. Bolt tongs are so versital - really enjoy mine. I know you will get lots of good use out of those. Best part is when one needs a tool, it is great to make one instead of buying. No, it's not! When you buy them, it make ME happy!:P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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