Don Nguyen Posted October 30, 2011 Posted October 30, 2011 Hello IFI! I've started blacksmithing about two months ago, and the first thing I wanted to make were a pair of universal tongs. A lot harder than expected for me. Since it was a project for school, I had to include some things like twists, welds, tapers, flattens, textures. Which is why they look a liiiittle flamboyant. I had trouble forging the whole thing out of one whole piece, so it was done in sections and welded together. Hopefully they last..... Thanks for looking! -Don Nguyen Quote
CurlyGeorge Posted October 30, 2011 Posted October 30, 2011 Nice job, Don. For a first set of tongs, you did a very good job. Now that you have the idea, try again to make another set without welding pieces together. These should last a long long time. Thanks for sharing. :) Quote
macbruce Posted October 30, 2011 Posted October 30, 2011 Nice set of tongs...It took me a while to find the weld but then it became obvious....They look sound.... Quote
gking Posted October 31, 2011 Posted October 31, 2011 they look cool. what size stock did you use? what size do they hold? Quote
Maillemaker Posted October 31, 2011 Posted October 31, 2011 First pair of tongs? WOAH! They look great! Quote
RyanErnst Posted November 1, 2011 Posted November 1, 2011 These look good, and way better than mine. Quote
Bush Bugger Posted November 1, 2011 Posted November 1, 2011 Great set of tongs and great detail and way better than my first pair thanks for the pictures ,well done mate Quote
Don Nguyen Posted November 1, 2011 Author Posted November 1, 2011 Thanks everyone! This was my first project overall; I haven't made anything before these. I was given a bunch of, I think it was half in round bar, but those I used for mainly practice. Most of the possible tong pieces I scrapped because they didn't come out right, or I had redesigned them. It was a lot of trial and error for me, so whatever I learned on the way I made revisions in the designs. These I made out of this giant screw thing I got at a used tool store. It was probably 5/16. Right now they can hold many different sizes and shapes, from square to round, flat, etc. I have trouble pulling flat things from the forge, so I might make some modifications for that. Also a bit on the heavy side too :) Quote
FieryFurnace Posted November 8, 2011 Posted November 8, 2011 Those look really nice and will undoubtedly last you quite a while. Two suggestions: First the "BOSS" (the area that the rivet goes through) looks a little thin. You'll want to leave that about 1/4-inch thick usually. You may have problems with the tongs bending there. Second, if you don't need them for the school project any more, sand off the texture at the back of the handle. Other than that, GREAT job! I've still got my first pair but they are retired. I've scrapped a half a dozen pairs that just didn't turn out good, and I have an awful pair that needs replacing. After six years at the forge I still make bad tongs! Great job for a first pair. Quote
woodsmith Posted November 16, 2011 Posted November 16, 2011 quite respectable for tongs, great for a first time, my first pair are kind of a novelty, always hang on the rack but never get used, those are much better, after several years I can finally make really good tongs, looks like your well on your way Woodsmith Quote
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