Hi every one, just wanted to share with you my first ever set of tongs I made, there rough and ugly as xxxx but I don't care cus they work and I made them from scratch. Oh and I used the Dempsey twist method just in case anyone was wondering or happens to care.

Good effort for a first pair, but for the next set, go back and check the Dempsey method, I think you will see the rein (handle portion) should be on the opposite side of the boss (where the rivet joint is) to give the appearance of a 'dog leg' and it will not be as likely to trap your flesh as in this configuration, also, easier to set for differing sizes as and when the need arises.

John B I see that now. I just fullered and twist them then just kinda winged it till I got a tong like shape. I will have another go sometime soon and get em better and even. I just wanted a working pair tongs so that I can hold metal because vice grips and pliers aren't really ideal, at least not in my experience.

 

John B I see that now. I just fullered and twist them then just kinda winged it till I got a tong like shape. I will have another go sometime soon and get em better and even. I just wanted a working pair tongs so that I can hold metal because vice grips and pliers aren't really ideal, at least not in my experience.

 
Thats what its all about, always improving on your last items, and learning from the past ones.

We all have to start somewhere.  Practice, practice and more practice.

Better than my first pair by a fair bit. Tongs are an excellent learning project, not only do they cover a number of essential skills you always need another pair for THAT piece.

 

Frosty The Lucky.

I just put my first attempt in the scrap pile..... good work out of you!

Sorry not even close to the roughest I've seen---or used for that matter

Vise grips and pliers ARE ideal... for some things... not so great for others... one of my favorite pair of tongs are just a pair of slip-joint pliers with 14" of 3/8" stock welded on to extend the reigns...

My first tongs were a small pair I made for holding quarter inch rivets.... Well "made". Ironically, when driving the rivet in to join the two, the bottom tong blank split at the rivet joint... the rivet was wedge-shaped apparently.... So yeah you did better than I :)

Hi every one, just wanted to share with you my first ever set of tongs I made, there rough and ugly as xxxx but I don't care cus they work and I made them from scratch. Oh and I used the Dempsey twist method just in case anyone was wondering or happens to care.

 

It took me two failed attempts to make my first ueseable  pair of tongs. I tried the same method you did in my third attempt and ended up with something that functions well, but like you said, isn't pretty.

Thanks for posting.  I am about to try my hand at my first pair and you are inspiring me to go ahead and try.

Thanks for posting.  I am about to try my hand at my first pair and you are inspiring me to go ahead and try.

DO IT!

Part of what sets us apart from the other apes is that we can make tools to use to make better tools. There's a lot of satisfaction in being part of a fairly small percentage of our species that actually uses this ability.

well...they broke. one of the jaws snapped off last weekend. so now I get to make some more. :)