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Tong Making

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I made a couple pairs of tongs yesterday and when I finished, I realized this is the 3rd or 4th way of making tongs I have learned... Not that I do it well. But I understand the processes. This got me to wondering- How many ways can a pair of tongs be made?

These tong will for forging 2" round into square. I will form the jaws of the other pair of tongs after I have made one of the square parts.
I started out with 6" of 1" round stock for each piece. All forged on the little giant.

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You must love that LG. Drawing out the reins always makes my hammer arm cringe :)

Looking good wood, I will bring some potato digger chain when I come up, makes great tongs real springy.
And how is your shoulder? I still have 3 of those big nails to head


Nice work Wood. Nice looking shop too!



Ya Fe does have a nice shop but it is all cluttered up with wood working tools, and way too organized, just look at that wall back there, that is a sure sign of a sick mind I tell you what

How many ways are there to make a pair of tongs? thats an easy answer... 42.... the answer to life, the universe and everything in it...

  • Author

Looking good wood, I will bring some potato digger chain when I come up, makes great tongs real springy.
And how is your shoulder? I still have 3 of those big nails to head

Sounds good! Springy tongs are great under the hammer.

Bring a big hammer- We'll have to make a frame for the swage block..
  • Author

Thanks for the complemnets-
The shop is a labor of love and I don't feel like its organized at all <_<
Everything I need is somewhere else and I never have the right tools for the project at hand....

  • Author

How many ways are there to make a pair of tongs? thats an easy answer... 42.... the answer to life, the universe and everything in it...

thats also the price of tea in china... I'll bet you didn't know that :P

"...price of tea in China..." he he , I haven't heard that expression since....well, since Hector was a pup!! :D

How many ways? How many fingers and toes does a gaggle of blacksmiths have?

That and a hundred more ways :-)

  • Author

Hmmmm, I was afraid of that....

Grant that would be - the right way & the wrong way, lol. :)


Actually there are only two ways to make tongs - my way and any other way!:blink:



Grant..... That was clever....

My way or the highway? First, you must figure out how many types of tongs there are, and multiply that number by 42.

Looking at old shop made bolt tongs, it appears that many of them were made of flat stock, one shoulder begins the rein. Another shoulder on the opposite edge, about the stock-width away, begins the curved portion leading to the jaw. Sometimes the jaw was partially hot split, opened and formed into a vee.

http://www.turleyforge.com Granddaddy of Blacksmith Schools


I made a couple pairs of tongs yesterday and when I finished, I realized this is the 3rd or 4th way of making tongs I have learned... Not that I do it well. But I understand the processes. This got me to wondering- How many ways can a pair of tongs be made?

These tong will for forging 2" round into square. I will form the jaws of the other pair of tongs after I have made one of the square parts.
I started out with 6" of 1" round stock for each piece. All forged on the little giant.


Next Grants tricked out set-up this is the slickest thing I have seen:



Ric

Next Grants tricked out set-up this is the slickest thing I have seen:



Ric


Ric,

Thanks for the kudos. Follow up is Power Hammer Tong Jig II on YouTube just posted.

John


Another winner John.....send me a dozen in 1/4" size changes to try for a decade or so 1/4" to 3" should be good.
http://www.iforgeiron.com/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif

Ric

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