Tongs
Directions: Mark off 2 ins. from one end of the 7⁄8 × 7⁄8 × 18 in. piece and heat it quite hot. This marked end is now placed on an anvil and flattened down to 1 × 2 × 7⁄16 in., leaving the shoulder as shown. (1) Heat the piece again. Place it upon the anvil, with the flattened piece extending beyond the anvil, and, with the shoulder on the outer edge of the anvil, flatten this down 1 in. wide, and 7⁄8 in. thick. (2) Then the shoulders should be at right angles to each other, as shown in the sketch. Re-heat the piece 1 in. from the last shoulder made. Reduce the shoulder (2), the iron to 9⁄16 × 7⁄16 in. (3) Notice that this shoulder is directly opposite the other. This completes the jaw of the tong. Draw out the end to about 3 ins. in length. It is now cut off the bar and another piece made just like it for the pair.
The reins or handles are welded to the small ends and tapered down as shown in the drawing, then rounded 41⁄2 ins. on the ends to 3⁄8 ins. in diameter. A hole is now punched through the eye of the jaw and a 3⁄8-in. rivet inserted. The little groove which you see in the jaw is put there with a fuller. This is done so that you can use it to hold small round iron as well as flat iron. The two parts are now riveted together. This is done either by making a head on a rivet and cutting it off, allowing about 3⁄8 in. for a head on the end that goes through the tongs, then heating the tongs and completing the riveting, or, as many smiths do, by putting a piece of straight 3⁄4-in. iron in, allowing 1⁄2 in. on each end plus the thickness of the parts of the tongs for riveting. This piece of iron is made very hot, put into the hole, and both heads are riveted on at the same time. It frequently happens that the rivet bends in the holes while hammering on the ends. This prevents the tongs from opening easily. If such is the case, put the rivet and jaws into the fire and heat red hot. Hold the handle, open and close the jaws while cooling. This not only centres the rivet but prevents sticking. The tongs should work smooth and free when cooled off in water.
