Homemade crucible tongs

Discussion in 'Foundry tools and flasks' started by Scott K., Sep 16, 2017.

  1. An old spindle and hub would provide two opposing bearings and a bolt pattern to bolt the rotating part to.
     
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  2. dennis

    dennis Silver

    Here's an example of a needle thrust bearing, installed: 20200816_153913.jpg

    And, the radial bearing, hiding beneath it: 20200816_112704.jpg

    I made the pattern, pounded the sand, and machined the casting. It's one of a total of five going to the bike stand/lift.
     
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  3. Jason

    Jason Gold

    Nice part. Now, imagine if you had to send that out what it would have cost you!
     
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  4. dennis

    dennis Silver

    20200902_081023.jpg
    Do you recognize the grease? Mobil-28 airframe grease?

    Note: this is the grease to keep mid-drives (for bicycles) running smooth and quiet. Thinking to use it in the hubs, too.

    Here it is, installed:
     
    Last edited: Dec 29, 2020
  5. Jason

    Jason Gold

    Yup! I buy that stuff by the gallon. It's great for wheel bearings, but I did have a failure last year. Still scratching my balls on that one.
    Peanut butter grease for landing gear and props. That crap is 25bucks a tube!
     
    Last edited: Dec 29, 2020
  6. dennis

    dennis Silver

    Peanut butter grease?

    Mobil-28 grease is expensive. Is that what you mean?
     
  7. Jason

    Jason Gold

    Aeroshell 7. They both are pricey but 7 is even more. It tolerates the extreme cold. So for me, that's gear and props
     
  8. dennis

    dennis Silver

    When making come-out tongs - is it better to use round stock for the "reins" - supposedly, this is the term used in smithing - or square? Or is it a matter of which is more available/cheaper/easier to work with/customary among one's fellows?

    It occurs to me that square 1/2 h.r.s. might be marginally easier to work with, in terms of milling/grinding/filing the places intended to be welded. (To get more/better penetration. I do not wish a weld to fail in use...)
     
  9. Jason

    Jason Gold

    Reigns on blacksmith tools yeah round. But for lifting tools, square is easier to use. But you could use round stock.

    We only will laugh at you if you spend 350bucks online for a pair.:p
     
  10. dennis

    dennis Silver

    No, not nearly that wealthy. If I need to buy everything, I suspect I'll be able to duplicate the factory items for quite a bit less than that!

    I'll guess at perhaps 50, give or take half that.

    Finally found a decent picture of the sho'-nuff variety, so I know what to try to (duh!) Copy...
     
    Last edited: Dec 29, 2020
  11. Melterskelter

    Melterskelter Gold Banner Member

    Round or square. It’s not either or... On my last pair of material tongs I used square stock down near the jaws and added some pipe for the near end. I like em

    DEBF0A66-A4C3-4720-8B59-B6BB544AAC0B.jpeg

    Denis
     
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  12. Petee716

    Petee716 Gold Banner Member

    My lifting tongs are 1/2" steel pipe. Pictured on page one of this thread.

    Pete
     
  13. IMG_20210227_043940_766.jpg
    Here's a (very) old gold mine lift /pouring tongs - au$100(us$80),pity it was on the other side of Australia-1st freight company quoted au$190 - finerly found a freight franchise, that lets u box it ,drop it off at one of their franchise shops,& pick it up in your citys franchise for au$38,...thank god for inlaws..

    I love the simple,but eloquent eye rivite, lets you lift the crucible up, & as long as you have a firm grip on the mtr/ yard long handles ,& a chain & hook suspend over your mold, hook n pour seams possible,& as it came from a working gold mine,its not like they'd risk using dodgy gear to pour gold with..

    So next trick is to plasma cut out a template, heat twist, add eye ring bolt/rivite ,flip a few,cover cost..not that au$420/us$350 will buy you much in the way of crucible tongs..

    This my 2nd gold mine tongs(p.s where off a abandoned gold mine,ie free),as like these ,where supper old ,& 4x's sturdier,the steel was more iron than steel,& it gave my welder a excuse,to crack open a very,very expensive box of iron to steel welding rods..

    Thank, god my welder was/is a bit of a alc'o & my other hobby is bourbon making,win-win for everyone!

    ..those tongs only pickup on one side(inside& outside) of the crucible...but are also good for holdings forged steel bars..
     
    Last edited: Apr 19, 2021
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