Snapped my best tongs on a simple bend, now I'm questioning my steel

I was working on a scroll and my tongs gave out. Turns out I grabbed some old, soft iron by mistake. What's your go-to method for testing metal hardness before a big job?

3 comments

3 Comments

dakota3791mo ago

Grab a file and test the metal's scratch resistance. Honestly, I always do a quick file test on a scrap piece first. Tbh, if the file bites in easy, it's too soft for heavy work. Ngl, this saved me from blowing through good stock more than once.

ruby_anderson1mo ago

Wait, you test every single piece? Even for like, a basic hook or a simple bracket? I just grab the metal and start working, man. The only time I ever think about hardness is for blades or tools. I'd spend more time filing scraps than actually making stuff at that rate.

kelly6731mo ago

Back at the county fair demo, I used whatever scrap was handy and never had a tongs fail. @dakota379's file test seems solid, but do we really need to check every piece? For simple bends, I just go by feel and the metal's history. If it's old and rusty, maybe skip it for critical work.