[TheForge] Heads-up: Universal (?) "Tongs"

[Bruce .]

Harbor Freight has an interesting locking pliers with a long reach:

http://www.harborfreight.com/15-inch-long-reach-locking-pliers-97609.html

It even is more-or-less straight from handle to jaws, unlike traditional
Vise Grips.

I bought one and plan to test it for those occasions when you simply can't
find a tongs that will hold the work tightly.

I suspect I'll eventually arc-weld different jaws to this thing, as it's
capacity is 1/2" or less and the object grasped by thies is not quite in
line with the "reins".  Adding to the jaws could correct both of these
limitations.

Harbor Freight also sell a couple long-reach needle-nose pliers that might
prove useful as well:
http://www.harborfreight.com/16-inch-long-reach-pliers-set-38598.html

The jaws on these are too lightweight to leave in the fire for long, but
the reins are fairly substantial.  I don't think the box jaw is a good
choice for a hot tool, so keeping that cool might be important.

Bruce
NJ