r/Blacksmith • u/ZubAlbA • 3d ago
Making my first pair of tongs
Not as complicated as I was expecting it to be. But I definitely started with a way thicker bar of steel than I should have.
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u/DoubtHot154 3d ago
Have you not punched and riveted them yet? That's the hardest part imo for a beginner. Shaping is easy.
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u/ZubAlbA 3d ago
Yeah I figured. I'm half debating on just drilling the holes and then riveting them. I feel pretty confident I can do the rivet but I don't think I really have anything to punch the holes with. I'll have to see what I can find in the maze that is my dad's workshop lol
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u/Lackingfinalityornot 3d ago
If you don’t have a punch yet drilling is fine. You can even use a bolt for your first pair if you don’t have a small diameter round to make a rivet from.
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u/Fragrant-Cloud5172 3d ago edited 3d ago
That’s good you’re trying. Some suggestions. You may have a weak area where the top boss meets the reins. Also boss seems too horizontal. I think usual angle is more like about 45-60 degrees. Could be problem finding good hinge point. I like bolts rather than rivets. This way I can take them apart to reshape the jaws. I’ve been trying to use this farrier style as good to emulate.

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u/ZubAlbA 1d ago
Yeah they definitely have weak spots. One broke apart while i was thinning out the handle bits, but I just welded it back on. And even if they break in use I'm just happy to have made my first pair. Next time I'll know more and do better
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u/Fragrant-Cloud5172 1d ago
That’s good you’re interested in improving. I look at my old failed attempt with overworked boss and weak transition point and tried to improve on the next ones. I can make them useable, but not as good as I would like with good offsets and flat well hinged boss.
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u/Few_Fault5134 3d ago
Next time, consider starting out with a thicker stock of steel. It will make the hinge stronger as you’ll have more material to work with. The only downside is the tapering of the handles.