⅜" flat stock tongs

Making a new pair of 3/8" flat stock tongs after my favourite pair broke yet again! Here I'm using 1" x 1/2" flat to make them. #GaryHuston #Blacksmithing #Farrier #ASMR #Horseshoeing #Fabrication #Ironwork #Hoofcare #welder #repairs #horse #farriery #engineering

[@bobhumphries3998]

Thanks so much for this video. I've made 3 sets of tongs per your video and they are awesome. Made them for 3/8 1/2 and 5/8 material. Love your attitude, I'm no kid myself, at 66 years old drawing out reins is no fun.

[@patrickolsen1525]

You make it so easy to process the info your putting out!! Simply explained for a large plague of viewers

[@wallesforge3270]

It doesn't hurt my feelings to weld the handles when you don't have power hammer. It is smart. :) good to see you back forging, Gary. It's a real pleasure.

[@petergrassel3973]

Gary your skill is amazing I learn so much from you. and like you I am a older fellow with out a power hammer. I am a good welder, I like your idea of welding the reins on.

[@garyd7217]

as we get older we find short cuts 4 a lot of things ---!!!!--- great job Gary

[@bman8030]

thanks Gary for another informative video.

[@CrazyRabb1t]

Another great video. Love watching them.

[@starforged]

You do damn good for and old man, you do better than most young men. I named my arc welder forge. All my welds are forge welded now. Thank you very much for all your help. You may not hear it but I give you thanks when I finish a lot of my jobs.

[@stevesyncox9893]

Hahahahahaahahah I love it! Forge welds!!! Build a forge man!

[@worntraveller7360]

Other than welding on smaller reins this is one hell of a video for instructions thanks boss

[@cholulahotsauce6166]

All my reins are 1/2" round arc welded on. I didn't start smithing to be a tongmaker, they're an accessory to the work I want to be doing.

[@zenongarnek7020]

Well, there are many a master reins' drawer among us for no good reason. :-)

[@stevesyncox9893]

Some of mine are great big 3/8 nails. Welded on.

[@johnwalker5938]

Excellent video, I too weld reins on as opposed to drawing them out. I have drawn them but like you I make tongs as I need them and don't have the time or desire to draw out reins.

[@SnorrioK]

When lining the blanks up to drill them, I would have welded them together a little bit and then drilled because they wouldn't move apart at all, even with whatever size of hole you'd make them. But if you don't have a vise for the drill press, maybe it's not an option.

[@schmiedepeter3881]

Good job, nice and stout tongs! Thanks for sharing.

[@wentdavid12]

Great stuff! I'm going to give this way a try instead of using long stick. Thanks!

[@briandillon9685]

Thank you Mr. Huston. Good video.

[@zenongarnek7020]

Gary, your commons sense tong welding argument made my day. I am a beginner (newsmi) and it was a nightmare to obey those 'rules' and draw the reins rather then just weld and be judged or criticised. I guess, for some there could be a reason to draw them... the inability of good welding skills. I might somehow appreciate the purity of the purists smiths, fair enough but insist on working against the commons sense does not make sense (if hat I say makes sense...). Over all your a bit eccentric approach to smithing makes your experience very personal and your skill set in the practice rather than a pass time. Thanks. I am learning a lot.

[@Shadeskast]

I love it when you make tongs. I adopted your technique. No more drawing them out.

[@91donwilson]

Nice shirt! I'm watching from there

[@BeachsideHank]

Every craftsman has that epiphanic morning that upon waking up, you realize you have more yesterdays behind you than tomorrows ahead, that changes your perspective and so you weld, instead of draw. ☺

[@regchapman3683]

Great job mate a treat to-watch a craftsman at work .

[@garyhuston]

Thanks 👍

[@bjornhammarstrom5621]

Nice piece of good old work...

[@MrJFuk]

Nice little video. Thanks Gary.

[@isaiahtuckern]

Gary, thanks for the great video! I really appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge.

[@jamesgoddard8375]

Id love a go at this , I'm sure you make it look easy thought.

[@stevesyncox9893]

Thanks man. Good stuff.

[@garyhuston]

No problem!

[@stevenlarsen1691]

I have seen a few shops that have named their mig welder Forge. That way they are not lying when they say it is forge welded.

[@robinturner2300]

I really enjoy the simple pragmatism... You have a perfectly good set of reins so no need to go to all of the effort of beating out a new set. You could have fire welded them on, but a few squirts with the MiG, done. I guess you could also have beaten the holes through but you have a drill which is made for the job and makes a perfectly sized hole just where you want it. Not a smart arse look at my purist blacksmith skills, but very effective way to produce just what you intended with the least effort. And they were much better looking than you thought too.

[@eddiesblacksmithingkjv9185]

Great job I have learned a lot from watching. Have made several pair of tongs useing your method.

[@luckyforge9627]

"That's the theory..." This is true for so many things I've tried.

[@indianatone218]

My sentiments exactly Gary why make work for yourself if it can be avoided .thanks for showing,nice demo .

[@garyhuston]

Thanks 👍

[@ginojaco]

Good video. I've welded reins on when I've needed to because of urgency but... I actually like making tongs 🙄, so don't mind the drawing down because I like the job in hand. Can't be arsed with doing it on bottom tools though, welding on some chunky stock is a far better use of my time and effort.

[@christombs2372]

I love the comment "proper half inch "

[@mervwright2611]

Got your reply good to heard you are busy and ok. i know some channels have not been happy with utubes changes. thanks for your reply. my dad was from england never been there, look out i might see you some day.

[@mervwright2611]

Gary where have you been. Hope everything is ok. I miss your videos. Thanks

[@garyhuston]

merv wright a bit busy with real work but other than that ok. Fed up with KZbin though..

[@stevejones3350]

Glen I can see now why Chandler Dickinson Recommended you as a Person to follow in forging Tongs.

[@MrJsowa]

32:35 nice catch and nice tongs Gary!

[@FunHobbies225]

great job they look perfect wish i had a set of these

[@garyhuston]

Glad you like them!

[@FunHobbies225]

@@garyhuston amazing how the welds just blended in so well

[@FunHobbies225]

@@garyhuston I got trouble doing the boss cant get the circle shape

[@garyhuston]

@@FunHobbies225 it takes a bit of practice, I’ve been doing them for many years now.

[@teun7923]

Perfect, gonna try and make me a pair

[@garyhuston]

have fun!

[@teun7923]

@@garyhuston Well they are probably the ugliest pair of tongs il ever make. But they work pretty good

[@Degovernator]

Why is it that some people's steel seems to squash like putty, and sometimes it seems like it's barely moving? (when i do try out a bit of smithing i'm in the latter group) I never understood why that happens it seems that even some experienced smith's have much more trouble moving material than you look to have here.

[@garyhuston]

You need a big hammer and strong arms!

[@paulorchard7960]

Nice tongs Gary, tong making would be least fav job, drawing out sucks, welding seems much easier!

[@alexmclennan3011]

well done

[@NSTRAPPERHUNTER]

Nice job and some day I'll give it a go. Later

[@cigarcaptain]

mighty fine job on those tonges

[@Manchester_engineering]

Hey. How can i be sire i make the right side tingues each time always seem to make the same side then they never fit together.

[@garyhuston]

They should be the same, you should make two identical halves then just turn one over.

[@jonw3982]

What type of welding did you use?

[@garyhuston]

Jon W MIG.

[@jonw3982]

Should have waited for the answer, lol.

[@michaelstares1988]

Have you any idea were you can get larger rivets from i.e over 6mm or 1/4 inch?

[@garyhuston]

Michael Stares they would be classed as small! It depends what country you are in. I have a great supplier here in the UK. www.sapphireproducts.co.uk/index.htm

[@wentdavid12]

How is your hand?

[@garyhuston]

Ok, not brilliant but at my age I can't expect it to repair completely! I just have to suck it up and get on with it!

[@ronthacker211]

why not use oil instead of water?

[@LordHoth_90]

Ron Thacker if it was a piece of equipment or a blade that would see heavy/hard work then oil would be better because for some reason metal is less likely to be as brittle and harden better then quenched with water or brine but for something like tongs water works just fine. Plus he's not so much as hardening them as just setting the metal to form.

[@garyhuston]

Ron Thacker I'm not sure what you think oil would do that water won't. I'm just cooling down mild steel, keeping it moving to stop it binding up.

[@ronthacker211]

thanks for the reply. that makes good sense to me.

[@ronthacker211]

i was thinking that oil might provide some lubrication.