The mode of fastening the tongs to a forging consists in lifting them to the work by means of any crane that may be near; and while suspended with two or three chains, the two jaws are brought close to the part of the forging to be gripped ; while the tongs are thus posited to the work, screw-bolts of proper length are put through the two holes in each jaw that bites the work, and a bolt is put also through the holes in the other end of the tongs, and through the porter between; the two jaw-bolts are then tightened, and the tongs are firmly attached. After the tongs are fixed, the porter is raised or lowered, or otherways shifted, until it is in line with the axis of the work; packing-blocks are next put in, to fill the spaces between the porter and tongs, and the porter-bolt is tightened to firmly fix the porter to the tongs, after which the apparatus is in working order. The spaces for the packing-blocks, or, in some cases, washers, are shown in the Figure (263) by W and W.

The fastening bolts for porter-tongs may be made having screws of several inches in length, to avoid using several bolts of different lengths, to suit forgings of various thicknesses; or, instead of long screws for the bolts, short screws and washers may be used, and injury to the screws will thus be avoided. To economise time, porter-tongs are often fixed to one end of a forging, while the opposite end is in a furnace, being heated; it is therefore convenient to lift the tongs to the work, when it is in a furnace; but if tongs are being fixed while the forging is on the table, or supported by supporters, the porter-tongs also may be thus supported, and the bolts put in, while in the horizontal position. The tongs represented by the Figure are suitable for holding T-ends, fork-ends, short rods and bars, and short axles. Tongs for shafts of twelve or thirteen feet in length require to be made with jaws of great gripping surface, and having holes for four gripping bolts instead of only two.

During the use of a porter-tongs or of an ordinary straight porter, the endless chain, by means of which the work is rotated or turned upside down, is sometimes in immediate contact with the circular part of the porter, and at other times in contact with some part of the rod or shaft which is being forged; and if the shaft is of great length, the endless chain will be several feet from the porter ; and it is necessary for the chain to be thus situated, to avoid using a porter of an inconvenient great length, for the purpose of obtaining the leverage which is necessary for an easy manipulation of the work.