windancer Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 I seem to remember reading about how to forge both pieces for a set of tongs at the same time. Anyone know where I might find this again? Thanks Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Brian Brazeal showed us the trick, I believe it was Brian. I've seen it done but never tried it myself and don't recall the process. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arkie Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 I seem to remember reading about how to forge both pieces for a set of tongs at the same time. Anyone know where I might find this again? Thanks Dave In one writeup on the Dempsey method of twisting the jaw portion, it had you forging each end of a bar, then when finished with each end, cutting it in half. That's probably not what you are referring to, however. I just finished a set of tongs using the Dempsey method, but I used two separate bars. That way, when I finished the first half to my satisfaction, I could forge the second part to match the first by laying them down side by side. Doing each end of a bar doesn't allow you to make the comparison as you work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Hale Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Actually it will allow you to compare Arkie...just forge two sets of tongs at same time,,,,,,,,,Two bars four ends...make all the same..then tune finished ones for work they will do..... :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulKrzysz Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grafvitnir Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 Video of Brian Brazeal forging tongs Hope it helps... Rubén Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windancer Posted September 17, 2013 Author Share Posted September 17, 2013 I appreciate everyone's suggestions. Thanks to all. What I am looking for is the instructions for forging both pieces of a pair of tongs at once. There is no way to NOT have them match with that method :) Thanks again, Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arkie Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 I appreciate everyone's suggestions. Thanks to all. What I am looking for is the instructions for forging both pieces of a pair of tongs at once. There is no way to NOT have them match with that method :) Thanks again, Dave OK,...OK,...OK,...I got it figgered out. Make one very wide tong "half" and then split it longways!!!!! Perfect match on the split pieces. All you gotta do is round off the reins. :wub: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 Never ever heard of it being done, and I can't picture how you'd do it. Like arkie said, you'd have to start out with a wide piece and then split it in half. At least, that's the only way I can decipher it, too. Forging out the jaw/s would be easy.... but what do you do for the boss areas? If you fuller the boss area, that would pinch the area, but wouldn't they then be opposed to one another. Right? Seems like a lot of work and finagling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arkie Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 Never ever heard of it being done, and I can't picture how you'd do it. Like arkie said, you'd have to start out with a wide piece and then split it in half. At least, that's the only way I can decipher it, too. Forging out the jaw/s would be easy.... but what do you do for the boss areas? If you fuller the boss area, that would pinch the area, but wouldn't they then be opposed to one another. Right? Seems like a lot of work and finagling. Vaughn... My idea of splitting lengthways was more "tounge in cheek" than a real suggestion...but if an experienced smith could pull it off, why not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Turley Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 ...have two irons in the fire? Sayings and Cornpone "You will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it. Charles Burton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windancer Posted September 17, 2013 Author Share Posted September 17, 2013 It was quite a while back, maybe 6 or 7 years, when I ran across the info. Was hoping it was in the blueprint section, but no joy. Just finished a Dempsey pair that works well, but want to try several methods to see which fits my temperament best :) I have been using the tong blanks from Ken's Iron and those are very simple and easy to make and plenty heavy for the work I do. Seems as if everything I do improves my work even for unrelated items so I want to try a bunch of methods. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Everything Mac Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 Gary Hutson mentions it in one of his videos but he said he can't recall how it was done... I guess it would be easier with the twisting method? Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windancer Posted September 17, 2013 Author Share Posted September 17, 2013 I went and watched Gary's video- at least I know I am not the only one who remembers [or NOT remembers] hearing about it. He mentions that they were attached at the blade. Anyone? Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Budd Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 there was somebody on British Blades (i think) a while back who was selling tong blanks that he had plasma (et al) cut from plate. The tong pieces were 100% identical and all you needed to do was to twist (or forge) the jaws into position and then round the reins off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windancer Posted September 17, 2013 Author Share Posted September 17, 2013 As I said, I have been buying the tong blanks from Ken's Iron online. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 I really like the blanks, Dave. You really can't make a pair cheaper in the smithy, or find them cheaper at yard sales. It doesn't negate a fella needing the skill to make a set, but it suuuuuure is handy! Still haven't come up with a good way of making a pair of jaws at the same time. Best I can do is Arkie's "tongue in cheek" method, and that doesn't work past making the actual bits. It's a conundrum wrapped in an enigma.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 How about making them inthe middle of the bar, either nose to nose, bent parelel and foged side by side? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windancer Posted September 23, 2013 Author Share Posted September 23, 2013 Yup- Ken's Iron is hard to beat. Still gonna make a few more pair just so I can :) Trying to make them the same is still a challenge for me and shows that I need the practice. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joel OF Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 Dave/windancer, do you remember any details about tools used in the process or stock choice? I'm trying to visualize the process using the bare essentials but I'm beginning to wonder if there was some kind of top & bottom fullering tool designed for the job... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windancer Posted October 5, 2013 Author Share Posted October 5, 2013 No, dang memory gets worse every year... Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Everything Mac Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 Right, take a look at Brian's one heat tong blank video, http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5BoFD-qv2OM You see that he turns the stock to forge the next part of the tong. I reckon if you had a double horn anvil you could make both parts at the same time... Sort of. Starting with say an 8" section of round, in the middle flatten out the jaw part as Brian does in his video, but make it twice as long. Ie the length you want each part of the jaw to be. Then forge each side as Brian does in his video, ie a quarter turn, flatten etc. this would leave you with a normal looking tong blank on one side of the bar (just an extra long jaw) Then flip it round and forge the other half in the same way. Then you just cut the blank in half at the jaw and you have your tongs. This is the only way I can think of doing it. And I reckon it would be much easier on a double horn, but could be done on a regular single horn. If I wasn't so low on fuel just now I'd give it a go and make a video... Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fe-Wood Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 Hear's one way to do it- Tsur and Amit showing off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marksnagel Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 ...have two irons in the fire? Sayings and Cornpone "You will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it. Charles Burton My thoughts also Frank. Two pieces held together. You could weld or wire them together at the opposite end and then again half way down for stability. Then they would be as one. If you cant visualize that, put your pointer finger and middle finger together. Joined at one end and move as one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marksnagel Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 I have many tongs that I have made over the past few years. Before I ever joined or knew about IFI I found a video on youtube showing how to make tongs by twisting. The blacksmith that posted the video was a very talented young man whose name was "Whitesmith". I made a pair of tongs according to his video and they are my favorite tongs to this day. They are used every time I am at the forge. I have made several variations of his twisting method and they all serve me very well. My favorite and most used pair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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