[TheForge] Scrolling Tongs from Tinsnips?

Sun Jul 22 18:32:40 EDT 2018

Charles,
I think were on the same page.  The tinsnips I got were like these:
https://www.picclickimg.com/d/l400/pict/192522914786_/Old-Tool-Tin-Snips-Crescent-Tool-Co-No.jpg
They might be hard to come by new, but used I paid 50c-$2 a pair.  I picked
up six in one day at flea markets.

I took one of these and did much as you said, "Take them apart, grind the
sharp edge off and then heat and forge to shape."  I wasn't entirely
satisfied with the resulting scrolling tongs, but it will probably do the
job.

So the follow-up is that I just got in from my shop where I made two more
by grinding.  I was aiming for jaws with circular cross-sections, tapering
to points.  I didn't quite achieve that, but, again, I think the resulting
scrolling tongs will work okay.

I think a better approach would be a hybrid of the two techniques.  Grind
off sharp edges and abrupt corners, forge to shape (possibly using a
conical bottom swage if one is available), and then grind to final shape.

Anyway, I've now achieved my immediate goal of having two scrolling tongs
available for our demo at the county fair.

Thanks to all for your help.

Bruce
NJ

On Sun, Jul 22, 2018 at 3:59 PM, xlch <xlch58 at swbell.net> wrote:

> Bruce,
>
> You can’t start with any Tin snip, or you will be making your effort even
> harder.  Tin snips come in a large variety.  Aviation snips will not work.
> You have to use old fashioned snips which are getting harder to come by
> new.   Also, you do not want to use a duckbill, or bull dog, or even normal
> straight cut pattern.  The blades are all too deep and too thin to be of
> use.  What you want are curved cut snips.  It does not matter whether they
> are left hand or right hand.  They have shallow rounded back blades that
> taper to a point almost the shape you want already.   As far as forging,
> they are bolted together normally since they can usually be sharpened.
> Take them apart, grind the sharp edge off and then heat and forge to
> shape.   They are made of a lot of different variations of tool steels, so
> they will have to be red to orange to move them.  Many are hot short, so
> don’t be surprised if they crumble under your hammer.    Over the years I
> have made tongs from everything, until I saw my first quick tongs.  Now I
> have jigs that let me make them and weld on reigns too quick to bother with
> anything else.  There is a guy that sells tong kits though pretty cheap, I
> have thought about buying some of them.
>
> Charles
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> > On Jul 22, 2018, at 2:21 PM, Bruce . <freemab222 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Well thanks for the offer of a lesson, and especially for the pointer to
> > your videos.  (I didn't find the tong-making videos yet, but I've only
> > glanced at the long list of them that you have on YouTube.)
> >
> > But I'll pass on the lesson because you're really missing my point.
> >
> > I am not, at this juncture, interested in increasing my knowledge of
> > forging.  I have no intention or interest  in forging scrolling tongs
> from
> > bar stock.  I could probably do that now, but don't have the time to try
> it
> > out and improve my technique enough to get a product worth including in
> our
> > toolboxes.
> >
> > (Nor am I, as you imply, teaching anyone how to forge tongs.  The
> teaching
> > I do is mainly to novices:  starting and maintaining a coal fire; basic
> > forging operations; a few simple projects they can try.)
> >
> > My current interest is *only *in getting two pair of scrolling tongs
> > finished and into our toolboxes by Aug. 6 (our next public demo) and all
> > six finished and into our toolboxes by October (our next remote open
> forge
> > meet).  The issue is *having the tongs available for use*, not my
> learning
> > to make them.  And since NJBA operates on a slim budget, purchasing them
> is
> > out.
> >
> > I never asked for info on how to forge scrolling tongs from scratch, only
> > how to forge them from tinsnips -- which has way fewer steps.
> >
> > So I reiterate -- if anyone knows of an article, video, or other
> > instructional material for making scrolling tongs from tinsnips, I'd
> > appreciate hearing of it.
> >
> > Bruce
> > NJ
> >
> > On Sun, Jul 22, 2018 at 11:52 AM, J. Petrila <jlpservicesinc at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> Well if your up for a drive, I'd be happy to give you a lesson or 2 on
> tong
> >> making..
> >>
> >> As for mediocre forging skills, the only way to get better is to do it..
> >>
> >> Doing it with someone who has a great understanding makes it even
> easier.
> >>
> >> Learning to make tongs from someone who can barely make them is not a
> great
> >> way to learn it..
> >>
> >> As for Peter Ross..  or any other of the lifetime Smith's, why would you
> >> make a comparison to them....     this is their life story and have
> >> developed the skill set so they can do it..
> >>
> >>
> >> A good friend of mine, said to me after asking me about making a bracket
> >> for an old BMW motorcycle and me offering to "help" him make them...  "
> >> I've got people for that"...
> >>
> >> He has no interest in blacksmithing or fabrication work, but has the
> money
> >> to purchase or barter for the items he wants.
> >>
> >>
> >> To ask the question " How to do something".. or " What's the best way"
> >> infers there is a desire to learn..
> >>
> >> So, what if it takes you 3days to forge 1 pair..  the second set might
> only
> >> take you 2days..
> >>
> >> Only sticking to what you are good at , because you are good at it would
> >> eliminate many, many, many needed skill sets in blacksmithing.
> >>
> >>
> >> Instead of supplying the group have a scroll tong forging day and have
> them
> >> make the tongs for the group..
> >>
> >> "No one skilled enough to forge scroll tongs in the group" invite
> someone
> >> who can and offer something in return...
> >>
> >> Blacksmiths for the most part are doers..
> >>
> >> Use this to your advantage..
> >>
> >> Come see me in MASS and I'd be happy to "GIVE" you a lesson or check out
> >> the jlpservicesinc youtube video channel there are 4 or so videos on
> tong
> >> making different kinds..
> >>
> >> Or hit me up at any of the demos I do and id be happy to give you a
> lesson
> >> there..
> >>
> >> Practice makes perfect and it's the only way to get better..
> >>
> >> Even if there is a physical limitation sometimes this can be addressed
> to
> >> the point where forging can become possible.
> >>
> >>
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