Handedness in Tongs
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Subject Author Date
Handedness in Tongs Carl 07-30-2007
Posted by Carl on July 30, 2007, 12:43 am
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What's the big deal about whether tongs are right- or left-handed?

I've read any number of 'recipes' for making tongs and many of them get
very specific about "handedness", i.e. whether the left-side piece is
the upper or lower rein.

I've made and used both 'left-' and 'right-handed' tongs and have yet to
find a difference. If the joint is in good shape, the tongs work.

Have I just displayed some abysmal ignorance?
Am I gonna get kicked out of the club for heresy?



(Scissors are another thing, handedness _really_ counts. I have a set of
lefty scissors in my shop and they're just the thing to hand to a righty
who's getting uppity without good reason.It's funny. Usually they'll
hand 'em back saying they're dull. So I cut a paper towel with 'em.
Right handed. And hand 'em back.)

- Carl

Posted by Chilla on July 30, 2007, 2:00 am
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No big deal as far as I can see, I suppose if you has a set of offset
tongs that are designed to be used left handed then you might have an
issue using them right handed.

A standard set of wolf jaws can be used in either hand, along with any
standard straight tongs.


Regards Charles
P.S. I'd like to see an opposing argument just out of curiosity.

Carl wrote:
> What's the big deal about whether tongs are right- or left-handed?
>
> I've read any number of 'recipes' for making tongs and many of them get
> very specific about "handedness", i.e. whether the left-side piece is
> the upper or lower rein.
>
> I've made and used both 'left-' and 'right-handed' tongs and have yet to
> find a difference. If the joint is in good shape, the tongs work.
>
> Have I just displayed some abysmal ignorance?
> Am I gonna get kicked out of the club for heresy?
>
>
>
> (Scissors are another thing, handedness _really_ counts. I have a set of
> lefty scissors in my shop and they're just the thing to hand to a righty
> who's getting uppity without good reason.It's funny. Usually they'll
> hand 'em back saying they're dull. So I cut a paper towel with 'em.
> Right handed. And hand 'em back.)
>
> - Carl


Posted by dgrup on July 30, 2007, 12:21 pm
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> What's the big deal about whether tongs are right- or left-handed?
>
> I've read any number of 'recipes' for making tongs and many of them get
> very specific about "handedness", i.e. whether the left-side piece is
> the upper or lower rein.
>
> I've made and used both 'left-' and 'right-handed' tongs and have yet to
> find a difference. If the joint is in good shape, the tongs work.
>
> Have I just displayed some abysmal ignorance?
> Am I gonna get kicked out of the club for heresy?
>
> (Scissors are another thing, handedness _really_ counts. I have a set of
> lefty scissors in my shop and they're just the thing to hand to a righty
> who's getting uppity without good reason.It's funny. Usually they'll
> hand 'em back saying they're dull. So I cut a paper towel with 'em.
> Right handed. And hand 'em back.)
>
> - Carl

It's common in manufacturing to call-out parts in a "handed"
manner. I believe you could say it's a shorthand phrase meant
to allow the manufacture of an "opposite handed" part without
having to execute another drawing (which will have only minor
variations from the original).

dennis
in nca


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