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tongs [2016/11/12 20:00]
162.233.141.6
tongs [2016/11/12 20:37]
162.233.141.6
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-This is how I made my first set of tongs. I think they came out pretty good, but far from great. ​+**This is how I forged ​my first set of tongs.** I think they came out pretty good, but far from great. ​
  
 First a bit of terminology:​ First a bit of terminology:​
-  * Bit= the blocky part that physically contacts the hot metal. +  ​* **Bit**= the blocky part that physically contacts the hot metal. 
-  * Jaws= the curved parts right behind the bits. +  ​* **Jaws**= the curved parts right behind the bits. 
-  * Bearing area=the wide area where the rivet is +  ​* **Bearing** area=the wide area where the rivet is 
-  * Reigns= handles+  ​* **Reigns**= handles
  
 Now the steps Now the steps
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   - Make a chisel mark 1" and 2" from each end on one of the 1/2" wide faces.   - Make a chisel mark 1" and 2" from each end on one of the 1/2" wide faces.
   - Make a chisel mark 3" from each end on the opposite 1/2" wide face.   - Make a chisel mark 3" from each end on the opposite 1/2" wide face.
-  - Make a chisel mark at the middle of the length. +  - Make a chisel mark at the middle of the length.{{ :​1_5_.jpg?​nolink |}} 
-  - Notch the 1" and 2" marks to a depth of 1/​4"​-3/​8"​. I used a custom made notching tool built specifically for this purpose. You want to keep the outside edges square. +  - Notch the 1" and 2" marks to a depth of 1/​4"​-3/​8"​. I used a custom made notching tool built specifically for this purpose. You want to keep the outside edges square.{{ :​1_4_.jpg?​nolink |}} 
-  - Draw the space between the 1" and 2" notches down by 1/4" to 3/8". You want to keep more than half the original depth. +  - Draw the space between the 1" and 2" notches down by 1/4" to 3/8". You want to keep more than half the original depth.{{ :​1_3_.jpg?​nolink |}} 
-  - Notch the 3" mark just as a place holder. +  - Notch the 3" mark just as a place holder.{{ :​img_20161027_202646127.jpg?​nolink |}} 
-{{ :​img_20161027_202646127.jpg?​nolink |}} +  - Secure the piece in a vise and using a ball peen hammer shape the jaws as shown.{{ :​img_0004.jpg?​nolink |}} 
-  - Secure the piece in a vise and using a ball peen hammer shape the jaws as shown. +  - Cut the piece in half at your original center mark.{{ :​img_20161027_213636567.jpg?​nolink |}} 
-  - Cut the piece in half at your original center mark. +  - Draw out the reigns to the desired length and width.{{ :​img_20161027_215849266.jpg?​nolink |}}{{ :​img_20161103_202027811.jpg?​nolink |}} 
-{{ :​img_20161027_213636567.jpg?​nolink |}} +  - Offset the handle from the bit by placing the bearing area over the edge of the anvil and using heavy blows. ​{{ :​3_1_.jpg?​nolink |}}Keep the handle straight by occasionally laying it down on the anvil and straightening it. 
- +  - Create the offset between the reigns, bearing, and bit but heating each piece and squeezing it in a vise with an offset jig like this.{{ :​img_20161103_212557318.jpg?​nolink |}} 
-  - Draw out the reigns to the desired length and width. +  - Create a lenght-wise notch in the face of the bit by clamping the bit in the vise and chiseling from the jaw to the front in several heats.Just clamp the bottom 1/4 or so of the bit very tightly, you want the top to spread as you work it. Keep the cut as centered as possible.{{ :​3_3_.jpg?​nolink |}}
-{{ :​img_20161027_215849266.jpg?​nolink |}} +
-{{ :​img_20161103_202027811.jpg?​nolink |}} +
- +
-  - Offset the handle from the bit by placing the bearing area over the edge of the anvil and using heavy blows. Keep the handle straight by occasionally laying it down on the anvil and straightening it. +
-  - Create the offset between the reigns, bearing, and bit but heating each piece and squeezing it in a vise with an offset jig like this. +
-{{ :​img_20161103_212557318.jpg?​nolink |}} +
- +
-  - Create a lenght-wise notch in the face of the bit by clamping the bit in the vise and chiseling from the jaw to the front in several heats.Just clamp the bottom 1/4 or so of the bit very tightly, you want the top to spread as you work it. Keep the cut as centered as possible.+
   - Use a center punch to identify the center of the bearing face on the same side of each half.   - Use a center punch to identify the center of the bearing face on the same side of each half.
-  - Punch and drift a 3/8" hole in the bearing faces from the same side of each face. This creates a slight concaved profile at the mating faces which provides a wider, more stable bearing support.+  - Punch and drift a 3/8" hole in the bearing faces from the same side of each face. This creates a slight concaved profile at the mating faces which provides a wider, more stable bearing support.{{ :​img_0005.jpg?​nolink |}}
   - Use a 3/8" nut and bolt to temporarily hold the 2 halves together (you probably want to have several available as this process usually destroys at least 1)   - Use a 3/8" nut and bolt to temporarily hold the 2 halves together (you probably want to have several available as this process usually destroys at least 1)
-  - Snug the nut and bolt then heat the entire bearing area to red hot. Quench the exposed areas of the nut and bolt then work the tongs open and closed. Then snug the bolt further and repeat until the surfaces are making good contact and there is very little wobbling. The goal here is to smooth and mate the 2 bearing surfaces but no to deform them by tightening the bolt too much. +  - Snug the nut and bolt then heat the entire bearing area to red hot. Quench the exposed areas of the nut and bolt then work the tongs open and closed. Then snug the bolt further and repeat until the surfaces are making good contact and there is very little wobbling. The goal here is to smooth and mate the 2 bearing surfaces but no to deform them by tightening the bolt too much.{{ :​img_20161110_191514378.jpg?​nolink |}} 
-{{ :​img_20161110_191514378.jpg?​nolink |}} +  - Heat just the jaws and clamp the bits in a vise with the desired size stock between the bits. I made these for 3/8" dia round material. Some tweaking in the arc of the jaws and the alignment of the bits will have to be done.{{ :​img_20161110_201049144.jpg?​nolink |}}
- +
-  - Heat just the jaws and clamp the bits in a vise with the desired size stock between the bits. I made these for 3/8" dia round material. Some tweaking in the arc of the jaws and the alignment of the bits will have to be done. +
-{{ :​img_20161110_201049144.jpg?​nolink |}} +
   - Tweak the alignment of the bits, jaws, handles.   - Tweak the alignment of the bits, jaws, handles.
   - Re-tweak what you thought was already good and is now wrong due to tweaking another part.   - Re-tweak what you thought was already good and is now wrong due to tweaking another part.
tongs.txt · Last modified: 2016/11/12 20:37 by 162.233.141.6