Tongs

M

MBurks

Joined
Mar 21, 2016
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I made my first (and only) pair of tongs tonight.

They are soo ugly, and heavy, but they work great and I try not to be but I'm a little bit proud of myself.

I don't have much forging experience and I've never seen anyone make tongs but I was pricing some yesterday and decided I could just make my own after seeing some prices.

I used 1/2 inch rebar, and didn't draw the reigns down any so they are WAY heavier than they should be. I didn't think about that when I started and I can't pass through my forge. I may just grind them down on the grinder.

For you guys that make your own tongs what do you use? I'm thinking some 1/4 inch cold roll would be the trick. I will take some pics tomorrow, they are ugly and I may adjust a little so the reigns are just where I want them but they close true and tight .

One more thing, the reason I started on the tongs was because I was trying to figure out how to work my first (successful) San mai billet, another HUGE first for me.

I forged the tang and distal taper in after finishing the tongs so I know it welded.

Things aren't going well at work but after a couple of successful projects I feel better.
 
This is the easiest way. (Not the best, but easiest). Start with 1/4 X1 or 5/16x1". Cut all lines, heat the end and turn it 90 degrees. Drill and rivet.
 
That would have been soo much easier. I think I'm going to try and find a piece tomorrow and make another pair. How long should the reigns be normally?
 
At least 12". You can always cut some off. I guess you could weld some on too if you didn't want to cut so much, could be stubs and weld some 3/8" rod on.
 
I started another pair today but I spent all day on a class for work and my back is stiff so I didn't get through. They cut and fold out of barstock is a lot easier.
 
Right !!
Thats not pretty...:grumpy:

Tongs can be fun & good practice. But unless guys a forging prodigidy, seriously a pointless excersise.
Manufactured tongs are lightyears ahead in useability.
For knife & trinket size work, its hard to beat Diamond DT 15 tongs. I have dozens, many modified to specialised grasping.
I think they are about $35 nowdays...
 
I thought about making tongs early on and using it for forging practice.....
Lieblad has a point
anyway, the best tongs for me I bought that I use most often actually came from McMaster Carr, they are also the most expensive and the heaviest.

I have two from Tom's Tongs, surprised to learn they are made in Pakistan,
They are fine.

I just got some tongs from a Dave Custer in KY made from 5160. I found them to be lighter and comfortable.
I would buy from him again and can recommend his tongs..

at this point in my forging experience, I could modify tongs or use the pre made ones that allow you to make your own jaws.
But I personally would not forge my own tongs from bar.
At $35 it's quite reasonable, usually the shipping is the annoying part because tongs are long.



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I don't disagree with any of the advice given, I am actually very appreciative.

I do need the practice, I am not doing it because I am trying to save money. I am not wealthy by any means but I could afford to buy tongs.

The real reason I did it was practice, and I figured I could make a pair faster than I could buy and ship a pair. I am glad I did too,working on a second set now, and I know by the time I finish I will have a very good idea what I want in tongs.
 
I laser cut about a dozen tong blanks and will cut/weld/forge them into what I need, then forge the handles round. Let me know if you want a pair to play with. I made the loop fairly big but that's easy enough to forge where you want.
 
There are some really good tong making videos on YouTube. Brian Breazeal (spelling?) Makes it look REALLY easy and gives good instructions. I made my first set of tongs from 1/4 inch square stock, and they suck. They look ok but are REALLY REALLY weak. Use thicker stock.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
 
kuraki said:
I laser cut about a dozen tong blanks and will cut/weld/forge them into what I need, then forge the handles round. Let me know if you want a pair to play with. I made the loop fairly big but that's easy enough to forge where you want.
Click to expand...

I would love a pair. I assume it's ok to ask, what do you want for them?
 
I'm not selling them I'll just send you a pair if you'll pay for shipping.
 
Not sure where in Louisiana your located but two groups www.lama-blacksmith.org and gulfcoastblacksmith.com hold monthly meetings. Meetings are free to attend and members love to share their skills. I've seen half a dozen ways to forge tongs, tried a few times but end up buying and modifying as needed.
 
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