i am looking into buying some tongs from blacksmiths depot, and came across their universal v bit tongs, does anyone have any veiws( for or against) on these tongs?
thanks

I have used a pair of these tongs, and I dont like them. versatile yes, but a little heavy and bulky. I use a pair of 1/4'' bolt tongs from OCP that i love along with a couple of tongs that i made. Now if you plan on working with a lot of angle iron these might be a good deal. they are well made, i just found they did not work for me.

Well, the man who makes them posts here, as does the guy who invented them. I'm sure they have some info. :)

im looking for personal opinions, not information about them

Well, I got the basic idea from Lillico for a basic pipe/angle iron tong. When people started holding other stuff in them I added a groove in the other jaw. Seems everyone else was calling them "universal" before I was. Who "invented" them?

i have ordered a pair along with 2 tong rings and 4 other pairs of different tongs, they just have the atlantic and the west of england to cross now :P

Eventually, you need to learn how to make your own tongs for the job at hand. Years ago, I, like you, (and probably many others) purchased tongs just to get going. Nothing wrong with that. It's how we all start. Fortunately for me, OCP was close at hand, and the selection was awesome at conferences. I still use those tongs and they have taken a beating. Kudos to Grant. Imho, they're probably the best commercial tongs on the market today for the $.

That being said, for me, the longer I smith, the more I want complete control of what I do, how I make it, and the tools I use. Self sufficiency appeals to me. It's the beauty of blacksmithing. We make it, we use it. Nothing is sacred. Tools come and tools go. And, we grow with each tool we make, use, abuse, discard, and ultimately make the tool necessary to do the job at hand.

So, have fun, make what you will with what you have. It's all good.

John

i do make my own tools, but my theory was that because these are fairly big, and of good quality steel, that these will be a good buy, and i used some of alec.s ' tongs (OC) and i was very impressed by the quality.
but thank you for your input none the less, every bit of info is helpful

If you find they are just not you, post them to me and I'll get rid of them for ya.....

Brian Brazeal has some universal tongs that he makes. They are nice, you should get in conctact with him. He could tell you how to make them or sell them to ya.

he knows about them steve...