Rant: A guy at the Quad-State festival in Ohio showed me a better way to hold tongs

I was watching a demo at the Quad-State festival in Troy last fall, and my hand was getting tired. An older smith named Frank saw me and said, 'You're gripping it like a hammer, that's why.' He showed me to hold the tongs further back, almost at the end of the reins, and use my pinky to lock them. It took a week to feel right, but now my forearm doesn't ache after a long day. Has anyone else picked up a small tip that made a big difference?

2 comments

2 Comments

jason_chen9d ago

That pinky lock trick is a total game changer for grip strength, lol.

rowan_thomas9d ago

Wait, have you seen someone try it for the first time? My buddy was struggling to open a stubborn jar of pickles at a cookout last weekend, and another friend showed him the pinky lock thing. He looked so confused for a second, then the lid just popped right off. His face was priceless, like he'd been let in on a secret club. Now he won't shut up about it, he's opening everything for people.