Hayden H Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Will 5/8, or 1/2 sucker rod be good to make tongs out of? I can get random peices of sucker rod cheaper than I can get bar stock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K. Bryan Morgan Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Yes, to both. You may have to upset the 1/2" sucker rod to get enough metal for the boss and jaw sections. I'm alittle bit jealous. I can't find sucker rod here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Sure. just be careful of hydrogen contamination from prior usage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Miller Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 If you are forging by hand alloy steel will make your job harder. 1/2 round will only make the lightest of tongs unless you upset it a fair bit. Even 5/8 round is lacking in the volume needed to make a good solid pair of tongs. There are those who would disagree with me. I feel hot rolled steel AKA A36 is my personal favorite for making tongs. I make my own tongs and I am a professional smith. If you make friends with your local railing shop you can get drops for the price of a six pack or a box of doughnuts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K. Bryan Morgan Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 If you are forging by hand alloy steel will make your job harder. 1/2 round will only make the lightest of tongs unless you upset it a fair bit. Even 5/8 round is lacking in the volume needed to make a good solid pair of tongs. There are those who would disagree with me. I feel hot rolled steel AKA A36 is my personal favorite for making tongs. I make my own tongs and I am a professional smith. If you make friends with your local railing shop you can get drops for the price of a six pack or a box of doughnuts. I like to use A36 as well. What size would you reccomend? I've been using 3/4" for my latest attempts. Not a pro like you but an avid enthusiast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hayden H Posted August 8, 2011 Author Share Posted August 8, 2011 I've got family in the oil field, so I get the tag ends of stuff if I want it, I'm not to worried about hydrogen in an open forging area, I'm worried about H2S (hydrogen sulfide gas) impegnated rods. It's a slow painful death, that I absolutely do not want to endure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy seale Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 also remember that burning h2s makes sulfer dioxide which is also deadly,not to mention parifins and such from casing,rods, etc.and NEVER rely on the sniff test.....becareful, and have fun. jimmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Miller Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Sizes I like to forge tongs from are 5/8" square, 3/4" round, 3/4" x 3/8" , 3/4" square, and 3/4" x 3/8" for larger tongs I use 1" x 1/2" and 1 x 3/4". 16" to 20" long for a pair. If you have a power hammer larger sizes become open to you as well. Hot rolled steel should not become brittle if quenched and the handles can be made springy by cold hammering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hayden H Posted August 8, 2011 Author Share Posted August 8, 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Wq0r9KA1So I'm thinking about making a jig for my power hammer. KInda like the one in GearHartIronWerks youtube page. It'd be perfect to make tongs, and sell em until I get all my L.G. parts ordered Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Using alloy steel you can get away with smaller sections than with A36 and so your tongs can be quite a bit lighter which for most of us is a virtue! My "heavy" tongs spend a lot more time on the rack than my light ones tending to get used by students who are not as careful as I am with the light ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old N Rusty Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 would someone tell me why the automobile jackhandle/lug wrenches found in all wrecks, do not make good tongs and tooling? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 would someone tell me why the automobile jackhandle/lug wrenches found in all wrecks, do not make good tongs and tooling? Because it is good medium carbon steel that makes good tooling. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K. Bryan Morgan Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Sizes I like to forge tongs from are 5/8" square, 3/4" round, 3/4" x 3/8" , 3/4" square, and 3/4" x 3/8" for larger tongs I use 1" x 1/2" and 1 x 3/4". 16" to 20" long for a pair. If you have a power hammer larger sizes become open to you as well. Hot rolled steel should not become brittle if quenched and the handles can be made springy by cold hammering. Ok, so the 3/4" square I've been working on is in line with what your saying. I don't want to forge anything much larger by hand. I don't have a power hammer and I don't see one in my immediate future. Thanks for the information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry H Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 5/8 is useable for tongs, upset 1" or so back to beef up the hinge, even if you start with 3/4, you still taper the reins smaller than the 5/8 size . Higher carbon is overall better , but tapering the reins from the same piece is better than welding them on, its a lot more work but the result will never disappoint you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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