highlander Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 I have a cold, so I didnt have the energy to get into anything too big today. I made a few leaf key chains and these mini tongs just for fun. They are 6 inches overall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psilogen Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 you can call those pliers and their value increases! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Martin Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Highlander, those would make real nice scroll tongs eh? Just round the jaws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highlander Posted October 6, 2008 Author Share Posted October 6, 2008 aye the rivet is really wimpy, so i wouldnt trust it to hold up under much twisting. it would if i were to re-rivet with something more substantial, but its just a decorative piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irnsrgn Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 I made a pair of 12 inch long tongs for my grandson to use and found out they are much handier than the big long ackward ones and the ones I made for myself are the ones I use the most. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobynutz Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 there is NO place in my town to buy blacksmithing stuff so im finding it very hard to get even the simplest supplies such as tongs. can i make some tongs out of rebar? i live in a guest house and my girlfriends dad is a contractor so ive found just about everything i need to get started right here in the yard. anyone have some easy plans to make some "get by for now" type tongs lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highlander Posted October 6, 2008 Author Share Posted October 6, 2008 check the blueprints. my very first pair of tongs that i made were rebar and i loved them. they worked perfectly, but i would always quench them to cool them when i started to feel the heat thru the glove. they got brittle after a while and broke. they make good starter tongs, but dont expect them to last forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Browne Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Whether they are useful or not they are a great demo of your abilities. To make miniature objects is often much harder than the full sized objects. Great job :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inazuma_x Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Whether they are useful or not they are a great demo of your abilities. To make miniature objects is often much harder than the full sized objects. Great job agreed. there used to be competitions in days of yore (mid-late 1800s early 1900s) for smithing exact replicas of things like farming equipment (eg. bullock drawn plows etc). a great test and display of the smith's skill. some of the ones i've had the pleasure of seeing are both amazing and beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 (edited) Quote "aye the rivet is really wimpy, so i wouldnt trust it to hold up under much twisting. it would if i were to re-rivet with something more substantial, but its just a decorative piece. " end quote Tongs aren't meant for twisting, the number of times I have had to adjust tongs back in line when they have been (ab)used by inexperienced smiths is quite frustrating, however they have to learn. The strength of tongs is when used in line with the axis of the handles, or as near to this as possble, if you want to twist with tongs, I would suggest the tongs be at 90 degrees (right angle) to the twist. Edited October 6, 2008 by John B Quote put in for reference Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Lumpkins Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Looks good highlander,Thanks for sharing with us.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustyshackleford Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 these are great, they remind me of rifleman's tongs. Is that 1/4 stock? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NateDJ Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 my very first pair of tongs that i made were rebar and i loved them. they worked perfectly, but i would always quench them to cool them when i started to feel the heat thru the glove. they got brittle after a while and broke. Would it help to normalize them one in a while? Should one anneal them then re quench them to make them less brittle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 If your tongs are anything but mild steel, say a mystery steel like rebar or A-36 don't let them get hot. Keep them quenched so they don't become brittle. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highlander Posted October 6, 2008 Author Share Posted October 6, 2008 these are great, they remind me of rifleman's tongs. Is that 1/4 stock? indeed it is, joseph. 1/4 inch round mild hot rolled. i just figured out, they work GREAT for holding wire in place while i solder. keeps my hands away from the hot soldering gun, and gives me great control while working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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