brianbrazealblacksmith Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 Very nice tongs, Gerald! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basher Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 Of the 50 tongs or so I own the failure has always been at the point where the reigns meet the hinge plate normally because of the sharp (read too sharp) transition or where the hinge plate meets the jaws. I have not had one fail at the forge weld. There are good reasons to have some tongs that have very long reigns, especially if you work large heat radiating section or use a power hammer with both hands on the tongs. I also like the balance of having more weight behind my hand upon occasion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evfreek Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 Some tongs break at the rein weld, due to either grain growth, bad weld, stress riser, or corrosion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dntfxr Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 These are my favorite tongs by far. :D oh wait sorry... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dntfxr Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Way to kill a thread! Sorry.. I don't really have much useful to add, I've only made a few pairs of tongs. I did a little different than either technique mentioned here- I start with round barstock and upset the jaw end to gain some girth before starting. Then draw just a little on the ends of the reins when done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitch4ging Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 These are my favorite tongs by far. :D oh wait sorry... Those are mine as well! may try out a pair today if the wind stops... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOONY Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 in the older time if a smith had no power forging machine they would forge the jaws an fire weld stock bar on to make the ranes on there tongs but there is a weekis spot if the weld was not as good as it should be but these days a lot of new to smithing people want short cuts to doing most thing like arch welding angle iron on to make the bits on the tong jaw it just show that theres a lot of ways to skin a cat [make tongs ] i make tongs from one piece of steel all forged out ,but i do have a nice 7cwt massey and a few smaller anyangs to do my labouring if you electric weld the ranes on just make sure you have full penatration welds and normalize after welding to release the stresses and check the welds often to see if they are cracking happy hammering moony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOONY Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 nice tongs i do see a small problem with them in my eyes i would like to have more set in between the ranes from the hinge plate back to have a bit wider and to alow the link or tong clip to get tighter as you put it up to the hinge if they are like the ones in the picture the link can come up to the hinge plate to easy an also there is dangour of geting your finger pinched between the ranes just my thoughts but nice look tongs moony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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