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Most of my forging tongs are approximately 11 inches in total length and made from 1018 mild steel. I prefer shorter, stouter forging tongs for a variety of reasons. If you are in need of longer tongs let me know. Otherwise, my Gamut Jaw and Pick-up styles are longer, about 14 inches in total length. And mild steel allows you to quench tongs over and over without stress cracking. I have spent a lot of time perfecting my tongs. I guarantee your satisfaction. There is hardly anything in blacksmithing more frustrating than having a hot piece of metal jumping around when you are hammering not to mention dangerous. When it comes to working with hot steel, if you can't hold it right you can't hit it right. |
Farrier Flat style - Flat tongs are ideal for flats and can work with smaller square stock too. Like farrier tongs, I forge half round depressions into the jaws. These depressions along with the shortness of the jaws makes them hold firmly.
sizes: 1/8, 3/16, 1/4, 3/8 (thickness of stock)
Gamut Jaw Style - This dissimilar jaw style tong is very versatile. The holding range is greater than for most other style tongs, 1/8" (3mm) up or down from whatever the target size is. For example, if sized for 1/2", this style tong would also hold 5/8" and 3/8" in both squares and rounds. And this style will also hold some flats though I don't specifically size them for this. I make this style ~14" in total length.
sizes: 3/8" (1/4" to 1/2")
1/2" (3/8" to 5/8")
5/8" (1/2" to 3/4")
3/4" (5/8" to 7/8")
7/8" (3/4" to 1")
Blade style - My blade tongs are for flat stock only and are width specific. The advantage they have over flat tongs is the ability to hold on edge when hammering. I size them for 1/4" (~ 6mm) thickness but they will also work with thinner stock. Please specify if you need this style for thicker sizes such as 3/8" (~ 10mm).
*sizes: 3/4, 1, 1&1/4, 1&1/2
*sizes are width of stock
Dragon Jaw style - I mainly size these for flats and the sizes below indicate the thickness of stock they are made to hold. But my dragon jaw tongs will hold some rounds and squares across the jaws as well as in-line since I forge hoops across and depressions in-line with the jaws.
sizes: 1/4, 3/8, 1/2
Square style - The V shape jaws are perfect for square stock and will hold round stock of similar size as well.
sizes: 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4
Bent Knee style - I make my bent knee tongs for flats, rounds and squares. The advantage of this offset jaw style tong is the ability to hold at points along the length of your stock and not necessarily from one end or the other. They also allow space for upset ends to be held toward you, similar to a bolt style tong. They can take some getting used to but are one of my favorite styles.
sizes: 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4, 1 (round)
1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4, 1 (square / V jaw)
3/4x1/4, 1x1/4, 1&1/4 x1/4, 1&1/2 x1/4 (flat w x t* )
*specify if you want for thicker flat stock
Z Style - This is my answer to a standard round jaw style tong. Although the function is basically the same, made in this way the jaws are much more stout. Other than for rounds, I can also make this style with V jaws for squares if needed.
sizes: 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4
Punch style - This style of tong is for holding rounds across the jaws as for when holding a punch. I myself use the largest size of this style as a hammer-eye tong.
- sizes: 3/8,1/2, 5/8, 3/4, 1, 1&1/8, 1&1/4, 1&1/2 (round)
This tong is my rivet-less, adjustable style (RA Tong). This slip joint style tong can hold within a much wider range than a standard tong. But it is not intended to replace size/shape specific tongs. I wouldn't call any tong "universal" and have found this style to be more of a fill-in-the-gap tong, good for in-between sizes or when a workpiece changes shape to the point where size specific tongs will no longer hold. Certainly a difficult style to forge...
Pick-up style - Since my standard tong length is relatively short, I offer this longer tong (~14" in total length) to help with getting smaller items in and out of the forge to where you can grasp with shorter forging tongs. This style may also be useful when forging some flat and square stock.
Scroll style - This tong is mainly for manipulating thin, fine sections of hot steel (like scrolls) rather than holding stock while hammering. However, this style will also hold thin sections reasonably well for forge work.
email: gstongs@gmail.com
2023
2023
