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Here is some of the finished tongs from the methods shown in the tutorial, forged from A36, 3/8" thick by 1" wide by 8" long. 16" reigns, shown in this photo are pickup tongs, bolt tongs for 3/4 square and round, and flat bar tongs for 3/8" thick by 1 1/2" wide.

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they look wicked sam. cant work out the curly ended ones - is that for flat? ive never seen that before... the tongs look good and light. :)

Looking good Sam. Are you making these to sell or just outfitting your shop?

  • Author

Thanks everyone!

Beth, yes they are look here
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Bob, I am making them to sell and outfitting my shop hehe.

Mike, check it out here:
http://forums.dfoggknives.com/index.php?showtopic=22126&st=0

yes thats cool sam. i guess the picture didnt look like it was going to do that to me! i like them and no doubt id buy them if you lived near me. they look strong and light and i like them :)

I like the design of the flat bar tongs. I'll be making some like that.

What tutorial?


What tutorial?



http://blacksmith.org/forums/threads/1854-Tong-tutorial
  • Author

Bob thanks for the link I guess everyone missed my link hehe

Very nice write up and very nice tongs.

Just clarifying from the other website threads, you always drill your tongs? and you always drill them oversize to the rivet? Doesn't having the hole oversize increase the potential for slop before the tongs are very old or have you never noticed an issue? Does the rivet simply upset into the space and fit the hole? Do you hot rivet or cold rivet, does it matter?


Phil
ps
You should email Glenn the file to post in blueprints.

hey i just read the tutorial !! geniusly simple to follow sam - Nice One - they look great - youve inspired me to persist with this tong making thing, i am continuously raging with frustration whilst using the wrong tongs... nuff said... thanks for that :)

Sam, on the bolt tong, what method do you use to forge the V-ee jaws? Guillotine dies? Press? Top and bottom tool?
Thanks,
Scott

  • Author

Very nice write up and very nice tongs.

Just clarifying from the other website threads, you always drill your tongs? and you always drill them oversize to the rivet? Doesn't having the hole oversize increase the potential for slop before the tongs are very old or have you never noticed an issue? Does the rivet simply upset into the space and fit the hole? Do you hot rivet or cold rivet, does it matter?


Phil
ps
You should email Glenn the file to post in blueprints.



Always drill, the rivet fills the hole, it is done hot.

PS why? I didn't post it here for a reason.


Thanks Beth, with your powerhammer tongs will be easy peasy!

Scott, I just use a hot cut, though I am working on another more repeatable way.

Re rivets: Some older texts recommend hot-punching from the outer side because that tapers the hole and supposedly keeps the two halves together better but I have never been able to tell the difference from a drilled hole. However, what does work quite well is to drill and countersink the hole in each tong bit (outside surface) then use a piece of ground drill rod for a rivet. Final step is to heat and upset into the depressions. This rivet method will hold for a long time before needing any sort of resetting due to wear.

  • 3 weeks later...
  • Author

Re rivets: Some older texts recommend hot-punching from the outer side because that tapers the hole and supposedly keeps the two halves together better but I have never been able to tell the difference from a drilled hole. However, what does work quite well is to drill and countersink the hole in each tong bit (outside surface) then use a piece of ground drill rod for a rivet. Final step is to heat and upset into the depressions. This rivet method will hold for a long time before needing any sort of resetting due to wear.


Thanks for the tips Hollis, I will start slightly countersinking both sides.

Sorta reminds me of this http://www.blksmth.com/tong_article.htm but with a power hammer :)

Good Job on those, I really like the one for flat bar.

When I grow up I hope to do that good.....man...they are some fine tools!

  • Author

Dave LOL! Thanks very much.

Unforgivun, yes I followed that a bit when it comes to the jaw area, I now however split the end with a disc cutter.

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