Mark the center of this length with a hardy or cold chisel. Form a shoulder 11⁄4 inches from the end, and draw this end to 7⁄8 × 1⁄2 inch at the bottom of the shoulder, tapering to 3⁄4 × 3⁄8 inch at the end, as at a. Form a second shoulder at an angle of 45 degrees, starting from the bottom of the first one, by holding the work on the anvil, as shown at b. The blows should be directed a little toward the center mark, to flatten and spread the metal for forming the joint of the tongs. Form a third shoulder at c, 1 inch from and on the opposite side to the first and toward the center mark, the thickness here being 1⁄2 inch. Note that these shoulders should be made with overhanging blows and not by using the fuller. The metal between the shoulders c and a should now be forged into shape for the joint. Forge the other end in a similar manner, being careful to have all dimensions correspond; then cut the stock in two at the center.
Draw out the heavy ends for the handles with a power hammer or with some assistance from a sledge. Roughly forge them from 1⁄2 × 7⁄16 at c, down to 5⁄16 inch round, 3 inches from the end. Finish the edges by using the top and bottom swages. By using the flatter on the sides during the swaging, the handle may be kept straight, smooth, and slightly tapered to where it terminates into round. Sketch F in [Fig. 74] shows the handle drawn out and swaged.
Fig. 76.—The Completed Light Tongs.
Place the two parts together to see if they fit properly; if they do not, make the necessary alterations. Taking each piece separately, perform the following operations: Fuller a groove 1⁄8 inch deep, lengthwise on the inside of the jaw, and another crosswise about 1⁄4 inch from the end as shown at A, [Fig. 76]. Then punch a 5⁄16-inch hole in the center of the joint. A 5⁄16-inch rivet 11⁄2 inches long should be obtained, its end should be thoroughly heated, and the two parts riveted tightly together. Heat the tongs and make them work freely; adjust them to hold 3⁄16-inch flat iron with the full length of the jaws in contact, also to hold 3⁄8-inch round material in the cross groove when the handles are 1 inch apart. They should be adjusted, so that if a line were extended lengthwise through the center of the rivet, it would pass midway between the jaws and handles. When complete these tongs will appear as in [Fig. 76].
94. Lathe Tools.—A complete description of lathe tools would require too much space in this book, therefore only six common ones will be explained; by applying the knowledge received from making these, the operator should be able to forge many others. These with the other tool steel exercises should supply sufficient practice in forging, hardening, and tempering tool steel.
If these tools are to be put into practical use, a good quality of tool steel should be provided, cut about 8 inches long for each one, and great care should be taken in the heating, forging, and tempering. If, however, they are to be made for practice alone, then much shorter pieces may be conveniently used, also an inferior grade of steel; mild or soft steel would be sufficiently good to provide the needed practice in heating, forging, and tempering. Even though the material is inferior, the operations should receive the most careful attention.
The material may be 1 × 1⁄2-inch, 7⁄8 × 3⁄8-inch, or any suitable stock size.
Fig. 77.—Brass Tool.