Can't tell you how helpful it is to have the Black Bear Forge video library to fall back on when I have a question about a project. As always, most helpful, and as always, many thanks!
John, I have always loved watching blacksmithing. I know that your peers understand the unique talents required to do what you make look easy...artisan, metallurgy, physical strenght and endurance, as well as a humble way of contributing tangible goods and services!! I am a retired mechanical engineer, formally trained at a university that was founded in hands on learning. I watch you and struggle to remember the information that you have at your fingertips!! I can't tell you how impressive your amazing skills are...I wish everyone could understand the things that I see in your talents!! Best wishes!! 👍
Thats how blacksmith instructional videos shoud be! I am greatful for your brilliant videos! Than you for motivating and making these videos! Dont stop.
This may have been one of the first videos I watched from you. I remember thinking “wow I really like this guy but that ringing anvil is going to drive me crazy.... maybe I’ll try watching just one more “. And after that I never worried about the ringing anvil again, lol. And I am so glad. Thank you again for all the hard work you put into your videos constantly improving.
Awesome! I love the safety note on working with pipe, a lot of people would make painful mistakes with that. To add to your safety note, be very careful of iron pipe as a lot of it you might buy at a big box store or find in scrap is galvanized, and the zinc coating will produce toxic vapor when heated.
Thanks for mentioning that. I learned the hard way about galvanized metal about 20 years ago. When most people didn't know better. Lucky for me all I got was a little fever.
Sir, I do like your style of instruction. You remind me of how my grandpa was when I was a kid. He was a blacksmith and a farmer, during the depression he smithed in the train yards. I do believe I will subscribe.
Thank you so much I have been struggeling with a project that required me to saw something and the saw got stuck often. I ll just cut it out with a chisel now! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I discovered the thing about quenching pipe on accident when I was a kid. I tested it and it had so much force that it would shoot a rock wadded with grass out like a gun.
Great video! Was just thinking about how I should proceed with an idea for a candle holder that I'm fiddling with and thought "let's see if John has a video with some ideas", and behold! The perfect video with pointers for my project.
John first time I ever seen a pipe quenched and thanks for showing that. May have at some point done it without knowing he danger involved. Did not think so much boiling water would come out.
ive seen a video about making skillet before and i thought that i couldnt make it if i wouldn't have this big iron block with depression on top. And that's really awesome that You show how to make things even if someone do not have proffesional tools, as i would not come to it by myself to use a wooden block!
I once made a mandrel for my vice to put the flair at the end of the pipe, and I would cone the other end using the horn to thin the metal a bit and rolling the pipe on the anvil as I hit it. I never made a candle stick but I think it would work. I was making metal flowers for gifts. Thank you for your great videos and sharing your knowledge.
i so love the work you do i so am all fired up to do some of the things you are doing like the railway spice and the candle holders they are so so kool love your work from down under
..Thank You for this John! I learned a lot. I made the Scribe of yours in a previous video. It's not the prettiest but it works. With you instruction and various steps and ways of doing them I may tackle this project in the near future. Thanks again...!!
Awesome video! I see the fuller tool jumping a bit. I was thinking of putting a cotter pin on the bottom of mine to hold it in place while its in the hardy hole.
I'll stick with two rivets for the handle, having a candle tip over not only leaves wax melted into the carpet or something else, but, the safety aspect is kinda important, sideways or upside down lot candles aren't exactly the safest way to light the way 😛
I appreciate so much the different options that you offer up as you are explaining the basic steps for a particular piece. So many options help to keep the creative juices flowing. I do have a question as well. Is there anything structurally, strategically or fundamentally that would prevent me from making an integral handle on the base? in order to add a slight bit of embellishment or creativity to a piece and to avoid the rivets and to ensure proper alignment? At least in one direction the alignment would be almost guaranteed. It could of course still get some twist in it. The yield of raw materials would decrease, I get that, perhaps doing two at a time and situating the handles so that they run somewhat parallel on the pattern will help a little bit. I cannot wait to get going on this hobby! yesterday I purchased the final pieces for my forge burner as well as the propane tank. So it's one step closer to starting on my forge. For that I have an air tank so I'll just need some angle iron, some Cerachem fiber blanket, rigidizer/satanite and some fire brick then it's on to making a cart to contain it all and then it's KNIFE TIME!!!!!! I'm starting with a knife because I want to give my son the first knife I make. Not because the knife will be horrible (which I'm sure it will be haha) but just because. I'm so glad that you contribute to the RU-vid community John, I have deleted all of my old Warhammer 40K painting videos and I hope to put up some videos of my blacksmith journey soon.
Good Afternoon , John Just Love the Video ! You have made it to look as if it were back in the Colonial days ! Your techniques were Excellent ! Got the Journal out again ! Take Care and Be Safe ! Keep the Projects Coming !
John, it took me some time to determine who your voice reminds me of...Leroy Hyatt, commercial fly tyer originally from Casper Wyoming. He was featured on The Angler's Art CPTV show with the late Dave Engerbretsen.
Thanks for another great video John! My daughter has been getting interested in this a little with me. It's been a lot of fun learning together. I think she'll really like trying this one, funny that she just mentioned trying a candle holder last night then I see this today. Thanks again Brother!...BTW, Man that Fly press is one cool piece of equipment!!!
Nice John a 4’’ hole saw would make a perfect base with a center hole I never thought pipe would belt like that. Can’t wait to make a few as gifts. What a great idea for x mas gifts. Thank again....Paul..
One thing I do if I need a lot of a certain size of circle is find the correct size hole saw and use it in the drill press. If I don't want the pilot hole in it I just take the pilot bit out. Either way make sure to clamp the piece to the drill press table because it will want to spin.
I know this is an old thread but any thoughts on making the handle a second point of contact on the table? Just a thought. Not even sure if your reading these older videos. Great job as always!
Thanks. I hope most of the videos have good tips for the beginner. But I would start by finding local blacksmiths and attend the get togethers. That is where you will find good local resources. Buy the best tools you can afford and of course get to work.
This will be one of my Christmas gift 🎁 from the family blacksmith... or apprentice or what ever u call a blacksmith that’s been beating steel for 45 years lol ... not sure when I started the man who taught me knew there were things like master blacksmith ... lol last flea market I sold some stuff outta my collection of make to relax I was asked by a lady if indeed I was a master blacksmith... my age most be showing lol 😝
I have always felt like the term master blacksmith was one given by a formal group of ones peers. Since we don't have a formal guild system in most places anymore I guess we are all destined to remain apprentices.
Black Bear Forge which is fine with me as I learn everyday something new a better way or a new thing that’s now a favorite thing to make ... I love challenging myself ... still working on a chandelier for a couple of years now ... I learn a new twist or a better cup holder that I like better then what I have so I build the new grind off the old and next week I’ll see something better ! I don’t think anyone masters anything as there’s no end to what you can do your only limited by your imagination...
As an alternative, I wonder if you would have any success cutting out those circles on a drill press with a really big hole saw or maybe even a fly cutter.
Hey sir, thank you for sharing your knowledge. Question, would it be beneficial to soak the stump with water to decrease flammability or would that cool the workpiece too quickly?
haha - looks like you had your belt wrong way round on the grinder! :) another nice little project! I think I have about a years worth from you now :) Hope that hand isn't aching too much, or cramping your style in the sales I see on the news you're having over there.!
I have a propane forge like yours! What do I use to coat the inside of the forge it's flaking off ! I'm new to blacksmith and watch you often! Thanks Travis! Ste Genevieve Missouri
I keep hearing 1 1/2 x diameter of the rivet. I don't understand. What if you are using a 1/4 inch rivet in a half inch of material? 1 1/2 of 1/4 is 3/8, it wouldn't work. Can you help me with this? I really appreciate your videos, they are very helpful. Thank you for teaching.
The rule of thummb for 1 1/2 times the diameter of the rivet is for the head of the rivet. So a 1/4" rivet in 1/2" material would require 1/2" to go through the material plus 3/8" to form the head on the other side (assuming it started with one head, otherwise it would need 3/8 on each side for both heads) so you would need a 7/8" rivet. A 1/4" rivet through 1" of material would need to be 1 3/8"
A good log can be used as a swedge block for years, I don't anchor the log, its just a chunk that lives in the shop and get set up on the iron swedge block or on the floor when I need it. It also gets used for splitting kindling for the wood stove.
I've been watching a lot of blacksmithing videos lately. Primarily yours, and Alec Steele. While both of you are educational, directional, intellectual, well crafted, and highly experienced; I see the same problem. Basic shop safety. Gloves, sleeves, glasses. I've been in the metal field for around a decade, and every job I've ever been at, every project I've been on, every procedure; the very FIRST step is PPE. I know you have been at this for a while, you're working in the comfort of your own shop, you know your tools inside and out, top to bottom; probably even named one or two. However, as more and more new, young people start to experiment, research, and imitate experienced smiths; it troubles me to think that they will look towards, and copy people who often times disregard standard PPE. Yes I see the left handed glove when using the tongs, and the apron. However, in my opinion, full PPE should be used during EVERY aspect of every job/project/art piece, every step. Something small like not putting on a glove, could lead to catastrophe. I know if I was just starting welding a major burn, or significant grind cut, or whatever would discourage me from finishing my schooling, and becoming a seasoned welder. Again, I do enjoy watching your videos, and your journey on your craft ( and have been taking notes ), and have been slowly building a forge of my own, and plan on using some of your videos to make my own tools. So carry on, and happy holidays.
In a blacksmith shop gloves are often the cause of serious burns when not used appropriately. As glove design improves more smiths wear gloves. But they still represent a very real risk in the shop, gloves worn around machinery can catch and cause much worse injuries than a bare hand would have received. Assuming that something like wearing gloves makes you safe is putting you at much greater risk of injury. A blacksmith shop forging hot iron is a much different place than a welding shop. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--e9fFoTkU6Q.html
The triple templar candle holder when the 3 candles melt (allah or hindu symbol) it becomes short 3 and the ear can be turned thats why the breaking up the morning chill ear and put the leg on little girl situation floating 😭😂
John, I just happened across this video. Good video, but please, do some editing. Take out some of the mundane stuff like excess chisel cutting, band saw cutting, etc.
I understand you want to demonstrate techniques which are particular to blacksmithing.... but tell me you are using a bandsaw in normal circumstances? That said, it is not without value that anybody who is into metal work of any kind knows how to do this. Paddy
