The principal parts of a pair of tongs are the joint portions; and all the joints of tongs for small work are made about the same shape, consequently it is convenient to make recesses for forming such pieces without trouble. Any additional portions for the grips may be afterwards welded to the joint pieces, if the work in progress is large enough; but for small tongs, the joint portion may be shaped at a proper distance from one extremity of a bar, and a thick lump be allowed to remain at the end, beyond the joint part. This thick portion may then be shaped or cut to any desired form, to become the grip, instead of welding an additional piece to the joint part, as for larger tongs.

The only top tools that are required for use with tongs shapers are ordinary hammers, flatters, and set-hammers.

The shaping recesses in the block may be formed of a sufficient depth to contain the whole of the piece being shaped, or may be shallow, so that a portion of the metal may project above the face of the block when thick joint pieces are being made.

Through the irregular forms of the recesses in tongs shapers, it is necessary to carefully form and polish the wood patterns to the proper shape, that no further shaping may be necessary, after the blocks are cast. A tongs shaper is indicated by Fig. 216.