Best Blacksmith Tongs: The Ultimate List for 2022 (+ Buying Guide)

Alongside the hammer and anvil, blacksmith tongs are the crucial tool in every blacksmith’s workshop. The primary purpose of the forging tongs is to firmly hold a heated metal without the risk of severe burns. They also allow for gripping, rotating, lifting, and place the metal into the burning coals to be heated at the desired temperature. It serves as the extension of the blacksmith’s will, making him easy to manipulate and move the metal piece.

Usually, every blacksmith has his custom-made blacksmith tongs that are perfectly fitted for each project. But, if you are not in that level of expertise, you will probably want to buy one. Or more, because a blacksmith cannot have too many pairs of forging tongs.

There are many options on the market, so choosing the best one can be a challenging task. Therefore, we are bringing you a detailed blacksmith tong buying guide to help you choose the best for your budget, type of work, and level of blacksmithing skill.

Where to buy blacksmith tongs? The best place to buy the right smiting tongs is certainly Amazon online store, simply because there you can find the greatest prices, best deals, discounts, coupons, and it offers the fastest shipping across the US.

Excellent basic tongs

Affordable

Rough finish

Can be adjusted

They do not hold full-sized railroad spikes

Not versatile

Very versatile

Reasonable price

Handles tend to bend inwards

Provides a firm grip

Versatility

Loose jaws in some cases

Very secure grip

Limited accommodation of different stock width

Can have a looped design

Not so much versatility

Secure grip

Easily shaped into other types of tongs

Not so versatile

Affordable

Easy to assemble and use

No instructions on assembling

High-quality

Nothing we could find

This set is made of hard heavy-duty 1041 steel and can withstand very high temperatures. In addition, Sunluway 6pcs Blacksmith Tongs Set is designed to hold your stock in place without flopping or wiggling. This makes you have complete control over your work, and the result is more accurate hammer blows for less grinding.

Extremely versatile set, it has everything you need

Nothing we could find

Wolf Jaw Tongs

As the name suggests, its wavy tooth-like shape provides a secure grip. They have a multi-purpose application, holding flat, round, and square workpieces. They can be relatively light in weight, allowing even beginners to master blacksmithing.

Box Jaw Tongs

With the flat, rectangular grabbing points, they are perfect for holding flat bar stock. They are also great for the knifemakers due to their narrow jaws, with the heated metal held inside the tong without the shape warping.

Z-Jaw Tong

Also known as Z-offset tongs are a great choice in knife-making and bladesmithing. They are highly specialized tongs, for that reason, not recommended for beginners. They have a distinct Z-shaped bit designed to accommodate the shape of the knife.

Duck Bill Tongs

They have the shape of the duckbill and are best for holding flat pieces of metal. Some models may have loop jaws through which the edges of the flat metal pieces can be placed. They are not so much of a versatile type.

Pickup Tongs

Pickup tongs are perfect for picking up the hot metal that you have dropped. They are also suitable for steady and safe holding chisels, punches, and other tools you need to hit with the hammer.

Bent Knee Tongs

Their bits are bent at nearly 90^o angle, making the picking up action much easier from a standing position. Used to pick up primarily flat pieces from a lower height but can also be used for picking up pieces that have a hollow opening (for example, a ring or a hammerhead).

Spreading Tongs

The reins of these tongs work in reverse of regular tongs, which means that when you squeeze the reigns, the jaw spreads apart. As a result, they are very useful for the detailed bending, adjusting, and other intricate shapes, for example, for scrolls and spiral metal baskets.

Off-center Side Jaws

If you want to hold the blade perpendicular or with the back on the anvil, these side-jaw spreading tongs for blacksmithing will do the trick.

Scrolling Tongs

They have smooth jaws, rounded and tapered to about a 1/8″ point. They are used for scrolling and bending ironwork without marring the surface. They are especially perfect for the hard-to-reach areas. The handles can be round to flat with balls on end.

Skill Level

If you are a hobbyist, you may be looking for more affordable options for the beginning. Maybe the best advice is to buy the tongs that can accomplish a variety of projects.

Because the process of forging and learning is happening simultaneously, the chances of making a mistake of any kind increase; in that case, you will not have much guilt purchasing the more affordable tongs.

If you are a professional, you will probably want products of top quality. These come with a higher price range but ensures the durability and efficiency of the product. Having a set of blacksmith pliers is also a good option.

Length

When looking at forging tongs for sale, always check the length of the reins. They come in various sizes, from 12” to 36”.

Longer reins are heavier but provide more leverage while keeping you away from the fire. However, they can affect your maneuverability around the workshop and also can cause fatigue after a long day at work. Therefore, they are more suitable for gas forges.

Shorter reins are lighter, offer more maneuverability, but allow you to come closer to hot metal. They are a handier for working with a coal forge.

Finally, it is a matter of personal preference which one to choose.

Weight

It is hard to recommend the ideal weight as everyone is different – some prefer a lighter touch while others prefer a heavier grip.

When starting, the best thing is to select a lighter set of tongs to get used to the various kinds of movements around your workshop.

Just ensure you find the right weight of the tongs because you need to take care of your hands. Too many death gripping with heavy tongs can result in repetitive stress injuries in your wrists, elbows, and forearms.