This very ugly pair of tongs you see here are a specialized sort with only one real purpose. They are to hold onto a hot chisel. This image shows three items I have made in one day and you can see the chisel (made from a jack hammer bit), the tongs (made from mild steel 5/8ths round stock) and lastly the clip (made from 1/8th rod) that acts as the hand to hold the reins shut together, clamping the jaws tight onto the chisel. I made this, mainly because holding a chisel over a hot piece of steel and trying to bring down a 2 pound hammer all while the steel is cooling is a really detestable task.
I have struck the first knuckle of my thumb quite a few times and after the 4th time ever since I have been using a chisel to cut stuff at the anvil I've had enough.