Daniel.85 Posted March 12, 2014 Posted March 12, 2014 Just trying a few new styles, I think Ive settled on the ones with the scrolled ends, little different look and really comfortable in the hand. 17" long, nice and springy, 3/8" round reigns. I'm ok with putting my stamp on these. Quote
Francis Trez Cole Posted March 12, 2014 Posted March 12, 2014 what type of metal are you using? Quote
Daniel.85 Posted March 12, 2014 Author Posted March 12, 2014 1/2" and 5/8" cold rolled round 1018. I'll use up to 1" round for when I make bigger tongs too. 1018 has been great so far, couple thousand feet of it through my shop and havnt had any defects, sometimes it even hardens to much to drill if I quench it too fast. Quote
trinculo Posted March 13, 2014 Posted March 13, 2014 Great looking tongs. Are you making these all under the PH with a jig or are you forging the jaws on the anvil? Quote
Daniel.85 Posted March 13, 2014 Author Posted March 13, 2014 Most the shape is forged under the power hammer, I do a little cleaning up on the anvil and I shape the jaws in a swage. My "jig" for the jaws and boss is a 1" block with rounded edges lol, I plan on coming up with something a little better so I can get a cleaner and more consistent boss. I cleaned up that tennon tool I showed you before and it works a lot better now too. I need to work on my rivets as well, I don't have any special tools for them, just smash and peen. Quote
VaughnT Posted March 13, 2014 Posted March 13, 2014 Very nice. I like the class that the finials impart. Yea, it's a tool and doesn't need to be fancy, but a bit of fancy also doesn't hurt the function. Rather tolkienesque, in my opinion. I think all three examples are quite nice, but I'm curious why you didn't include a tight scroll to the outside of the reins as well? I think that would flow well. Quote
Daniel.85 Posted March 13, 2014 Author Posted March 13, 2014 Thanks. I thought about doing some with the scroll going out but I imagined it might dig into the palm of your hand too much, I'll try it on a pair next time I make some though. Quote
Norcal Posted March 13, 2014 Posted March 13, 2014 Your tongs look very nice. Excellent work there. Nice pictures too :). I do also like the scroll on the ends. Quote
Francis Trez Cole Posted March 13, 2014 Posted March 13, 2014 I have found when making tongs the material of the jaw holds up better if it is thicker next to the boss and thinner at the end. Nice looking tongs Quote
SJS Posted March 14, 2014 Posted March 14, 2014 Yep I am a big fan of rounded transitions to the bit, and thicker up close to the boss. I have had too many fail because of too "neat" of a demarcation between the bit and the boss. Nice rounded corners, and strong taper just make for a longer lasting tool. Quote
Daniel.85 Posted March 14, 2014 Author Posted March 14, 2014 Francis, I think I agree with you, I have had a few issues when shaping the jaws because I have them too thick sometimes. Basically there is something about each part on them that I still want to tweak a bit, I'm guessing the only time that wont happen is when I'm so old that my main goal is just to not poop myself when I swing a hammer. Quote
Francis Trez Cole Posted March 15, 2014 Posted March 15, 2014 some times more is not better do all parts of the tongs partly and then go back and refine each area keeping in mind the tong charts of size each section. It helped me a lot. Quote
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