Buying Tongs for Heat Treating...

S

SpeedyGonzales

Joined
Jul 20, 2011
Messages
25
Greetings all,

Does anyone have input on where i can find a nice set of tongs for pulling out knife blanks from the oven?

If I'm pulling something out of a 1900°+ furnace, I'd like to make sure its easy to get a grip on it.... and preferably with one hand... being that I may have the door handle in my other hand.

I thought "scissor handles" on long blacksmith tongs would be ideal, but I cant find anything of that sort.

...looking for people with experience to help me out.

Thanks!
Andy G.
 
Look into the tools glass blowers use I know some of those items are rated way hotter then what they are the kilns they use. I know they come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Just a thought hope it helps though.

Merry Christmas and happy hunting for your perfect set of tongs!
 
I use the long needlenose pliers from harbor freight. They are sold in a set of 2, one is curved at the end. For me the blacksmith tongs were too unwieldy and I dented my firebrick a couple of times.

Highly recommend you give those a shot. Plus they are like $10 for 2 I think. The curved needlenose works perfect (for me).
 
Shaw Blades said:
I use the long needlenose pliers from harbor freight. They are sold in a set of 2, one is curved at the end. For me the blacksmith tongs were too unwieldy and I dented my firebrick a couple of times.

Highly recommend you give those a shot. Plus they are like $10 for 2 I think. The curved needlenose works perfect (for me).
Click to expand...

This and a good pair of welding gloves and your good to go.

Stan
 
Thank you all... Those are all great suggestions... Are the pliers spring loaded so they re-open easily? Maybe thats what I need to look for.

Tongs for glass work are something that I need to check out.

Thanks for the comments thus far! :)
 
Tongs for this type of work are called "pick up tongs" for the obvious reason they are used to pick things up. I like a pair that has slightly flat "duck bill jaws". 16-18" reins (tong handles) are the norm. You don't need or really want self opening or closing tongs. The jaws can be shaped as needed to assure a good grip.

A set of the long handled HF needle nose pliers will work quite well, too.

A proper set of long cuff HT gloves is a must when working with an open oven door. Your shirt may explode in flames without them. Your hands may not burst into flames, but you will think they have.
 
Those would work. The longer the better though. The ones from harbor freight aren't spring loaded. The good thing about those are they are so long the handles fled enough to give you some extra squeeze when you grab something.
 
That looks like the ones they use to pick up small crucibles out of a furnace.
 
Hey Andy,

I used to use two pairs of blade tongs (and gloves of course). I'd pull the blade out of the oven with one pair. Then quickly grip the blade BEHIND the ricasso (to avoid marking the blade accidentally where it will show) with the other and close the oven door with the now free hand. Then submerge in the oil. That was fine except for two things. One, if the oil flamed up it would sometimes force me to drop the blade in the tank....not good. Two, even when I retained my grip with or without a flame up the blade would slip and rotate in the clenches of the tongs as I moved it in the oil or rocked it against my edge quench platform.

Now I use this: http://www.harborfreight.com/15-inch-long-reach-locking-pliers-97609.html

This is how I do it. I filed down the teeth on the pliers jaws a bit to reduce the chance of impressing jaw marks into a soft blade. Before the blade goes into the oven I pre-space the jaw opening to lightly but firmly grip the blade where I will be grabbing it. I still use blade tongs to remove the blade from the oven. Now I can grip behind the ricasso with the pliers without worrying about the blade moving or my grip slipping even if I get a flame up. Works great.
 
Thanks everyone,... and thank you for the detailed answer i4Marc... Those look like a good solution.

I'll try what I bought and see how they work. I'll know more after I actually do heat treating atleast once and have some experience.

I may have to alter the nose on them a little.
 
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