Making Simple Wooden Tongs: A Delightful Way to Spend an Afternoon

Instructor: John Manthei

Spend a fun afternoon making simple wooden tongs and tinkering with the design.

There are tongs for a million different jobs and just about as many ways to make them. The technique we will explore involves two small pieces of wood and a nail, and relies on the inherent springiness of wood to make the tongs functional. The idea is so simple that you can make these tongs around the campfire using just your pocket knife and a saw. Once you understand the basic idea, you can modify the design to meet almost any need. They also make a unique gift for the holidays.

Everyone should go home with at least a couple pairs of tongs or one very special pair. Once home you’re sure to start setting aside perfect pieces of wood for more tongs while splitting firewood.