Frosty Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 Welcome aboard Flux, glad to have you. If you'll put your general location in the header you might be surprised how many of the Iforge gang live within visiting distance. And WHERE are the pics of your tongs, Hmmmmmm? No pics we don't believe they exist. I'd suggest you start with something lighter than 3/4", 5/8" sq. is a nice stock size for tongs. A scrounged coil spring from 1/2" wire makes nice light tongs with plenty of spring for grippage. 4140 is a favorite for light and strong. Be aware though, if you use a higher carbon steel you need to either keep the tongs from getting into the red heats or let them cool slowly if they do get that hot. I like old coil springs but I have a few. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flux_lalonde Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 When you ask all nice like that I have no choice but to post the pics of set #3. These were drawn from 3/4" stock, which totally feels like overkill. I have no idea how to take good pictures of long things. Observations I've made myself ahead of the next pair: Reins should be equal length (easy to fix, silly, really) Reins could be shorter Rivet should have been a hair shorter to not be so sloppy Jaws are a bit duck-billed. Holds my 5/8" stock just fine but I should refine them some more I should throw another twist in my watering can handle. Also found my profile to add that I'm in Kitchener, Ontario. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 Good Morning, Easy to make reins the same length, Cut the long one a tiny bit shorter and refinish the Tip. Now they are the same Length. K.I.S.S. Welcome to the Whirr Zone! Only in Canada, Eh. Pity!! Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJS Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 My preference is to use round, I find it easier to get the transitions from bit to boss and reins... I also prefer 5/8" to 3/4" that has sufficient volume if you handle it well... If you get good at slitting, you can use 3/8" x 1" flat forge a jaw on each end and then split the reins apart. Then you can finish drawing out the reins and smooth them out and break corners and such... :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 Don't be ridiculous---that extra length is to bend around making a loop that the tong ring fits in. I have several old pairs that came that way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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