If you look at Pr

What I have noticed with tong making the more you make the less it cost. And the less time it takes. Time is money but and the more I do the more money I save. If I had a power hammer it would go even faster.

Using a power hammer, 20 minutes for a 1off pair using 3/4" square bar and drawing down the reins is a reasonably achieved time.

I couldn't find any price information on that page. I like making my tongs, but I'm still curious on the prices.

Have a look at this site, Vaughans (Hope Works) - Blacksmiths tools and equipment click on catalogue and price list, loads of information on there

My answer is Yes. About half my tongs are bought, mostly through eBay or flea markets. I sometimes re-forge them to fit the task. But I also like making them. Since I'm a hobbyist, my only goal is fun, and I really enjoy making tools. I may have made more tools than non-tool things. Maybe not, but it's a goal :)

I do this as a hobby, and more to save money, than to make money. So I made my two pairs. One big and one little. If I spent money on these I would feel bad heating them up and squeezing them in the vise to fit around whatever size stock I am working on at the time. Mostly I just think they are fun to make.

But would I try to drift a hole in a big hammer? Not likely, that wouldn't be as much fun.

I can easily see why somebody doing this for a living would buy tongs. The economic cost of shop made can be more than the cost of buying a pair.

Maybe I will go out tonight and try to make another pair. And I reeeaaallly like the looks of those machine cut blanks.

I have bought and made them in the past. I plan to make more in the future.

I have made a few of my tongs, but usualy I'm too busy filling order or making other tools. Its easier for me to buy them. My experience is I spend more time and money trying to make them, its easier to buy them.

Bought them, as they were only $3-$5 each at the automotive swap meets, and flea markets. Just recently bought a big bucket full along with some other BS stuff from an estate for $5 ea.

Mostly I make my tongs as I need them now to do some job and it does not take long to make them. We rarely see cheap tongs here but I have seen some from time to time, with other blacksmiths drooling or biding on them. I have been given a couple pair that I never use personaly I thought that they were junk. To heavy didn't look to me like they really fit anything. If I were to buy some now I would buy Off Center for thier lightness and fit, but it would not be likely as I don't plan ahead enough to buy tongs. I have some Tom Tongs and they fit the work fairly well but I like the ones that I have made better as they are lighter. When someone makes tools to sell they have to be able to withstand what ever abuse the unskilled can dish out so naturaly they will be heavier then the more skilled craftsman would like.