Thread: A Question or two about tongs & hand tools for the forgers

Originally Posted by bluesman7

I made a pair of tongs at the anvil in 1976. Granted I didn't know what I was doing, but it was a huge amount of work. I'm planning on making a pair with 20th century tools and material, stock sizes and arc welding. Razors are small enough that I've been getting by with vice grips, but just barely.

I generally work with 3 feet lengths of stock, working the end into a razor and then cutting it off with a hardy. The is easier than using tongs.
When the bar gets too short, I weld on a length of mild steel for the same purpose.
Only now that I am working with short lengths of Damascus have I started to make special purpose tongs.