Jacob Nothstine Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 A friend let me use his box style Tommy Tongs to forge with. I was going to order a pair on line and came across a post that said it was bad to quench Tommy Tongs? Is this true for Tommy tongs or any tongs? I didn't let them get orange or yellow but did heat them up good. I didn't want to leave them around hot because of my kids so I put them in the water bucket when I was done. Thanks, Jacob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 dont let them ever get to hot, and keep them cool by constantly dunking them in the slack tubs water. Technically cooling them off is not the same as quenching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 if they glow anywhere then they should not be quenched but rather normalized. This is true for any medium to high carbon tongs and not a problem for old pretty much zero carbon wrought iron or *real* mild steel, (1018, 1020) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Coke Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Greetings Jacob, Tongs are for holding and putting the stock in the forge than holding when you forge.. If you stick to this they will never get that hot.. A simple dip in the slack tub will control the temperature. Never leave the tongs attached to the stock while in the fire.. Just an old boys 2c Forge on and make beautiful things Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gearhartironwerks Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 I like to make tongs from 5160, and never quench after forging. I do cool them if they get hot during forging. 5160 is an excellent material for tongs as you can make them light and they are tough. If you go to youtube, you can find a jig I designed called power hammer tong jig. Coil springs are readily available for next to nothing. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Nothstine Posted February 21, 2014 Author Share Posted February 21, 2014 I will start dipping the tongs to keep them cool. I just received a pair of Ken's Custom Iron quick tongs blanks that I'm going to try to make into box tongs. Thanks Jacob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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