I have about a 100 RR spikes non of my tongs grab them from the head end very well. Now I suppose I could make myself a set of Hofi Woop tongs from the blue prints however if I was looking to buy a set does anyone know of a set of tongs that grabs RR spikes by the head and securely holds them or grabs the shaft right at the base and wraps around the head of the spike in order to draw out the shaft of the spike.

Thank you

Chris

There is a seller on eBay named Poorboy Blacksmith Tools that I think sells a set of "quick and dirty" tongs for holding RR spikes. Search under scharabo as username or poorboy blacksmith tools for his store. He is pretty honest, and says they are not for production smiths, but work for a hobbyist or occasional user.

Here's one of his auctions http://cgi.ebay.com/Blacksmith-Railroad-Spike-Tongs_W0QQitemZ380047195769QQihZ025QQcategoryZ13869QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262

Study the design, and make your own like them, if you have access to a welder, drill press and chopsaw.

There is also a blueprint somewhere about making your own, but I can't remember whether its here in the blueprints or over on anvilfire in the iforge section.

Oh, How about this thread- http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f7/rr-spike-tongs-3103/

Hope this helps.

Edited October 26, 200817 yr by keykeeper

One way of holding a spike would be to make a dandy, and soon-to-be world famous, pair of JAYCO

Edited October 26, 200817 yr by nett
punctuation, don't you know ;)

I use a pair of 3/4" Chainmaker V bit tongs with 18" reins, Off Center brand from Blacksmiths Depot (Kayne and Son) they work great. $35.00 plus shipping

Go to FredlyFX I made mine based off of his. It hold the spike by the head very securely. Works great.

I am going to try a pair of those Jayco tongs though

m-brothers, where on fredlyfx's site are the tongs located, I've just spent quite a while and haven't found them yet. How about a roadmap so we can all find them.

take a pair of nippers(old ones) and weld 1/2 - 3/4 angle iron and inch or so long to the front of each jaw and file or grind out the web...the look like bolt tongs

Sorry keykeeper, I don't remember, it was a long time ago that I was on there. But the tongs had one jaw that was flat and when against the back of the RR spike's head, and then the other jaw was split and it held the sqaure stock of the rr spike.

I made mine based on a Bill Epps I forge demo. They are made out of a pair of nippers and hold the spike by the head real well. One Jaw is split to wrap around the spike haed and the other Jaw is formed to fit the back of the spike head. I like them alot.

John

I made a pair of "bolt head" tongs and used 1/4" angle for the jaws.. I know its cheating but it made a fine set of tongs that hold spikes perfectly, from either end..

I'm with JIMBOB. I took some nippers and cut a V in each jaw. Then welded a peice of 1/2" angle on each jaw. They work great on RR spike knives, etc.

Okay, so I cheated also.
But hey, they work!

It works. That's the main thing. Ingenuity. That's what that's called!! LOL.

I went to this place a while back and bought a couple of sets. I had to dril and drift my own holes, but was able to make a set of tongs specifically for spikes. I adjusted the reins for comfort and found that I can also use them for a variety of otehr sized stock. cost was 8 bucks a pair plus S&H. I will post pics is a bit.
Blacksmith Supply LLC

took me a while to get a picture

Edited November 1, 200817 yr by Pault17
linking issues