Tongs........

Mace

Mace

Joined
Apr 8, 2003
Messages
2,092
Hey guys,
Anyone here make thier own tongs? Any special knifemaking tongs you use/made you would like to share? Looking for some ideas for some handy tongs to make. What ya got?;)
Mace
 
Mace said:
Hey guys,
Anyone here make thier own tongs? Any special knifemaking tongs you use/made you would like to share? Looking for some ideas for some handy tongs to make. What ya got?;)
Mace
Click to expand...

I made a set of tongs to hold 1"round stock and i love them. i will be making lost more as there easy to make and there fun.
 
I tweaked a set of flat tongs to hold flat and round stock. One flat got tabs welded on the sides to accept 1 1/2" flat stock and the other was forged to an upside down V to hold round stock.
 
Hey Mace,

I use V-bit bolt tongs quite a bit and have them in sizes for .25" to 1.25" stock. They hold round rod, square stock and flat bar. They can hold the stock either parallel or perpendicular to the tong jaws. The 3/4" size is perfect for fooling around with railroad spike knives with my high school forge students. I picked up an offset pair not too long ago, that's real handy for blade smithing with flat bar stock. I believe I saw you had a pair in your tool bag at the Maine ABS gathering last summer. Have you seen this tutorial for making the v bit style tong, http://www.blksmth.com/tong_article.htm? It looks pretty good. Have you checked the other current tong thread out? Here's a post from it with good pix of tongs, http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7763144&postcount=6.

All the best, Phil

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I will sell you mine! just kidding... I'm gonna be learning to make my own too I guess...
 
I just buy cheap tongs and abuse them until they do what I want.... I can't even get steel cheap as this source Charlie has for some stuff. Been telling Charlie we need to load up and sell the stuff to other smiths.
 
Thanks guys!
Phil, Thanks for the links. That tutorial was great...and just the kind of thing I was looking for. You are right. I did have a pair of offset with me in Maine. They are a pair of Tom tongs and are awsome! Best quality tongs I have.
When I got into smithing I had come into a whole bunch of blacksmith equipment and never really had need to make any tongs. I did make a pair once a few years back, but I'm sure I can make a better set now. Plus I would like to make some for my local Art center where I've been teaching classes.


If anyone else has a link or a tutorial please feel free to add to this.
Thanks!
Mace
 
There a a few tong forging videos on youtube, just use "forging tongs" as your search criteria.
 
I thought I would do a little follow up and show you a couple of pair of tongs I've made. The large ones were forged from 1/2" square about 13" long the light ones were forged from a 12" bar of 3/8" square.
A lot more fun than the first pair I made...got to use the power hammer this time!:thumbup::D
If you have some tongs you have made...please share them!
Mace
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Mace... how is something like that for a beginner project?? I'm gonna have my forge fired up soon and I need a pair of tongs.
 
Mace,

I didn't make these Z-box tongs, but I bought a pair at Ashokan. They are great for holding bar stock. The off-center jaws allow the bar to extend up along the reins.

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Thanks guys! I didn't even think of anvil fire.:rolleyes:

Chris, Those are some nice tongs....have a pair just like em myself.;)



Anthony, That Dempsy twist looks like a good one to try. Looks like it would be easy to teach to someone.


Anyone have a pair of tongs that would hold the head of a rail spike well.
Would like a pic or two if you have something.

I want to make some more tongs for the blacksmith shop at the art center.
Thanks for the help fellas.
Mace
 
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