My tongs kept slipping and I finally figured out why

For about a year, I was making my own tongs and always had trouble holding small stock. The reins would just slide in my hand, especially when working on a 1/4 inch square bar. I was about to give up and buy some when my buddy, Mark, came by the shop. He watched me for five minutes, then just said, 'You know you're supposed to twist the reins, right?' I had been forging them perfectly straight and smooth this whole time. A simple half-turn twist on each rein gave my hand something to grip. Has anyone else made a basic mistake that took way too long to notice?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_seth9d ago

Read an old blacksmithing book that called straight reins a "beginner's tell." The author said smooth metal in a sweaty hand is a losing fight. Your story about the twist is the perfect fix. It's funny how the simple stuff can hide in plain sight for so long. Makes you wonder what else we're all doing the hard way.

shane_ross9d ago

Exactly like the smooth handle on my old hammer.