Tong making tuorial

Bo, there's no difference in how they are used but in how they fit the hand. in that photo the one on the right is for your left hand and the one on the left is for your right hand.
 
Thanks Dan, hehe yeah maybe just a touch more work :D I know dang well I wouldn't be making them without it.
 
I made a pair of tongs out of mild steel a few months ago, but they seem to lose their fit and bend out of shape regularly. You don't seem to have any problem with those issues?

They look great, however.
 
Mild tongs are where it's at. Tongs with much carbon can accidentally harden or crack when quenching, are harder to forge and repair, and more expensive to replace.

The main thing is to have enough steel in the jaws and pivot, the reins can be pretty light, as Sam says. That's why most tongs start with stock that's much thicker than the reins end up being. Or, heavy stock for the jaws, and lighter reins welded on. (Old time way to save the arm from all that drawing thick stock into reins.)

I've not made any tongs since I got my hammer running. This thread makes it look fun, and I need to build some more anyway. Thanks for the inspiration, Sam. You gonna show some box or flat stock tongs?
 
Very cool thread, Sam! I love watching that process unfold:thumbup: Don't worry about losing any business though, at least not from me. If I ever get an anvil and forge set up in my shop I'm not messing around trying to replicate those tongs.......I'm just calling you!! :D:p
 
Thanks a bunch guys! Don, i'd have to see the tongs you are talking about to give you an honest answer, but with alot of things thicker isn't always tougher.

Salem, I make them as they are ordered, or as I need them now I have the tooling setup, you'd be surprised how quick you accumulate them and you have to make them less often hehe since chances are you already have a pair that fit. I got some new styles coming soon, nothing new to the world of tongs but new from me. When I first got my hammer, I thought great there's 4500$ I spent for a machine that can draw tapers and knock down stock, but as I am working along and my tooling and knowledge builds I am really coming to enjoy what an awesome and truly versatile tool the powerhammer is. I'd definately say give it a try.

thanks Johnny.

Thanks Woodz.
 
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Very, very interesting Sam. The power hammer can be a versatile piece of equipment indeed, as well as an arm saver.

Thanks, and show us some more stuff.

Robert
 
Sam, Thank you for posting this information -- I appreciate the time you spent making the tutorial. At least in my case, rather than costing yourself business, you have enlightened me on the amount of work involved and given me a source for when I upgrade my equipment. I am brand new to forging -- my first attempt at a forged blade was last weekend. I may not ever make tongs, but seeing this example of the craft increases my understanding.
Thanks also for helping to keep Shop Talk alive.
Wayne
 
very nice Sam.

I'm a complete rookie at forging. Can you explain how you draw out the reins? I know you're just moving metal from a short thick piece into a long skinny piece but my attempts at doing that haven't turned out so well.

randy

thanks again for posting this
 
Glad you guys like it!

Randy, you just hammer in the same place, orienting it 90 degrees each time, then move down the bar doing so, you decrease the cross section it will increase the length.
 
Sam, that is awesome. This goes a bit more in depth than what we were able to in Ashokan. I still have to put mine together lol. Great looking work, but we knew that coming into this WIP. I am glad you posted this...Maybe now i will finally finish mine...But still have every intention of contacting you for a few pair!

Cheers
Mike
 
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