3 ways to make blacksmith tongs

I hand forge 3 different styles of flat jaw tongs – “Africa”, “Viking” and “modern” designs. Open the full video description for more information.

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Here can you see how I made the blacksmith shop https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWgESobxudc&t=86s

Here can you see how I made the hammer I use most of the time in the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHS-61D2iEk&t=10s

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Why the names “Africa”, “Viking” and “modern”?
“Africa”, “Viking” and “modern” is just me giving them a title. Don’t take it to literally – “Africa” is a primitive design you once in a hvile still now a days can se used in Africa and other parts of the world as well. The design goes way back to some of the first ever made tongs, made from wood before the Iron Age. “Viking” was one of the most common blacksmith tong design doing the viking age, but in general is it still now a days a very common tong design used by many. “Modern” is just referring to the tong design massproduced today.

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What is the best tong?

“Africa” is not a great tong to use, but it does work and the main benefit is that it’s easy/quick to make and you can adjust the tong to hold a lot of different sizes material.

“Viking” is a great tong and still simple to make. The main downside is that the jaws don’t line up all the way and because of that is the jaw offen long “like the example in the video”. Rule of thumb is the shorter the jaw the less power you need to make a tong hold the work piece tight.

“Modern” is the ideal tong design in most cases. It is more work to make them, but the big benefit is that the jaw line up all the way and you can use very short jaws. When done right is “modern” a fantastic tong design and very strong – just make sure to forge the jaws and boss area to thick. The shapes of tong jaws you can make from this design is close to endless.

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A few quick questions:

1. Do you sell?
No. Don’t sell any thing.

2. What material did you use?
Mild steel. 10x20mm for “viking”. 15x15mm for “moden”. 6mm and 10mm for “Africa”.

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Video gear: Nikon D7000, Nikon 50 1.8, Røde videomacro, iMovie.

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