rdennett Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 I made a pair of bolt head tongs yesterday and I notice that the curved section between the bit and the hinge is a bit large. Are there some ratios that smiths use when making tongs to avoid wasting material and still get the sizes they want? Thanks, Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Ubu Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 It seems like I have seen another similar chart on the web with more info than included here. Thing about information, nothing is gospel, or shouldn't be. Just a point to start. Take a look - Machinerys Handbook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 There was an old chart from one of the earlier Machinerys Handbooks IIRC; ah yes it's on that page you linked off Anvilfire---which will probably disappear from here ASAP as Jock doesn't like links much. So over at anvilfire under the Iforge area there are several tong making demos and the one mentioned with the chart is the first one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chinobi Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 glenn posted 2 or 3 dimension charts for different tong styles a few months ago too, I cant recall if one was for bolt head or not, but they could probably be modified to get there. you can always take or find a picture of a pair that you find pleasing or functional and scale your dimensions from that design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 IIRC Machinerys Handbook stopped including the tong charts after the 13th edition. I do know they are not in my 23rd edition Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 You need to take into account the date and use of the tongs described. Make a set from modeling clay and see if it fits your needs. If so good. If not reshape the clay until it fits your needs and your work. You now have the proper pattern to follow when you get to the forge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Tongs are not immutable objects and the ones that have overly large bits tend to be the ones that find their way into mutating to a set I need for a special job. I once picked up and *old* wrought iron with steeled tips set of overly large pincers--the jaws were about 2" wide but with short handles so no way to provide enough umph on them to drive such a set of tips with such a large bow in the jaws. However they have a proud place in my shop and in my travel kit reforged into "hot firebrick tongs" where they work a treat and I never have to juggle a glowing firebrick that a student has knocked over or I am re-shaping the forge front for a different project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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