[TheForge] "Universal" tongs and tools.

[Larry Brown]

The shop I work in had a pair of gas pliers with a round duck bill shape 
gas welded to each jaw and each handle extended about 6 inches. Threw them 
on the side. One day picked them us to use with small round smock and I 
hate to admit I use them all the damn time for stuff. One never knows...

L Brown



At 02:17 PM 9/28/2013 -0800, you wrote:
>Of course not Mike, there will always be a shape or stress that will require
>something purpose designed. Still, you can get close. Years ago an Uncle of
>mine introduced me to his widow neighbor who was looking to sell some of the
>stuff her husband had collected over the years. I came home with better than
>1,000lbs. of blacksmith tools, not counting the Johnson Appliance 122a forge
>I didn't want. Anyway, there was a pair of tongs in the pile I was almost
>embarrassed to admit I had, a pair of slip joint pliers with reins welded
>on. I managed to keep them out of sight for quite a while till one day I had
>a project that wasn't liking any pair of tongs I had handy so I grabbed the
>things and darned if they don't work a treat for almost anything. Now they
>live on the tong rack on my forge where they're in my face handy.
>
>For the more traditional tongs I like my V bit bolt tongs best. I'm thinking
>of making a pair with wider and longer bits but the same smallish "V"s so
>they'll grip flats and such better than these.
>
>I REALLY miss Grant, visiting him was on my bucket list.
>
>Jer
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of CGRAF
>Sent: Saturday, September 28, 2013 6:02 AM
>To: Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA
>Subject: Re: [TheForge] "Universal" tongs and tools.
>
>Universal probably doesn't exist.
>Good multipurpose is not all that hard.
>A couple of wolf jaw tongs Adjusted to suit the stock most commonly used is
>a reasonable place to start a three or four tong set.
>
>The other two would depend on what you are making. Perhaps something to grab
>inside of a pipe, or one that can act as a die as well. I have one of the
>latter that I use for making rain chains. I grab the stock and wrap it
>around the upper part of the tong.
>
>Mike Graf
>
>
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