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I must the say the way you said that part at the end sounded like a threat. Now I'm worried a mad British blacksmith is going to show up at my door with a pointed metal implement.
Hey Alec! Im a firefighter and our department and many fire departments have a door forcing prop, I bet if you stopped by or called and asked to use the prop you could make a cool video testing it out!
@@Sphs65 Just as reliable and they ask for nothing. Well, other than the fact that they literally have to ask. It sounds like the Sallies had to give them a silly name ;]
@@Sphs65 For a few summers back in the day. Where I've lived it's been all volunteer departments and alot of kids do. Been pretty hard to find people these days though. Might have to figure something out more, reliable. But we hang in there
Might be cool to take it to your local fire brigade as a Christmas gift. They may not want to use it for work but it would be a cool piece of wall art.
It wouldn't be practical for actual use. One of the more important features is the flat spot where the adze and pick meet (it's used a striking surface to drive the forks into the gap in a door jamb). In this case it's too rounded and any blows would have a pretty good chance of sliding off.
I just watched an episode on Forged In Fire when they forged a Halligan just this morning. I'm living in a simulation, and I'm glad you are a part of my simulation.
Unfortunately you're living in the corporate simulation kindly offered to you by Google ™️. At least it's a fine simulation as long as Alec's channel is being part of it 😉😄
I USED to have those dejavu moments in the 90's until I realize the teachers are teaching about sharks, because it's shark week on TV. I assumed it was always coincidental when really you are just, with the times. Sorry to disappoint and for writing this so, metaphorically. I assume you get the point
Alec, truly appreciate this tool and your process and you making this awesome tool that I have used numerous times. I can't remember if you have in the past but perhaps a fireman's axe for the next project? Either way, cheers and as always, thanks for the awesome work.
We should be. Let's just hope this "new variant" does what we think and makes all the symptoms mild and kicks out the bad variant. Because I'm ready for our world to be free again. I hate seeing what's happening everyday everywhere. All the politicians and government want that control, so hopefully this shuts them all up. Where I live in NC we haven't really had much of a lock down, at all. But the only reason they can "mandate" anything is because of the "state of emergency" so once that's gone we can tell them to fk off and give us our lives back. But sadly I think they're waiting on a certain PRESIDENT to come back before they release their next man-made bs on our people. Because they LOVE the control they get by putting people in fear. Fingers crossed we all stand strong and show the government THAT THEY WORK FOR US, not the other way around. Once we get this tyrannical potato out and his crew of commies, we'd be SOOO much better off.
The problem is the ~1/4th of the people who still think it's all a hoax or who are antivaxx. That group makes sure Covid sticks around *and* helps it keep mutating. They've basically turned themselves into a Covid breeding ground. There's just enough of those people that they ruin it for the rest of us. If that same number existed, but weren't clustered into groups, this wouldn't still be happening, but the young and the ignorant seem just absolutely determined to believe that it can't hurt them and therefore doesn't matter.
Hey Alec, 15 year career firefighter here from Ga. That was super awesome to watch and see how that process worked, Been a subscriber for years. Is this halligan going to be for sale? Would love to get my hands on it
With your experience would you say there are any small/large adjustments that would improve the current design and it's capabilities? Thank you for your service you do for your community, I hope you and all your co-workers stay safe, god bless.
The Halligan has saved countless lives since it’s invention. One of the most versatile tools that firefighters carry. I have one in my personal vehicle as well as me department vehicle.
Me: I wish Alec would do more hand forging, like he did a few years ago, when I first started watching. Also me: That looks like hard work, couple whacks with the power hammer and it would be done.
Looks really great! That’s a tough piece to forge. One thing, I noticed the adz and the pick locations should actually be swapped. One might not think it’s a big deal, but there is actually a purpose why the adz and pick are where the are, as well as the slight curve in the forks, pick and adz.
not so much swap the adz and pick ends, because you'd still have the same problem of the fork end sticking up a bit... a simple "twist" perse and put the adz end inline w/ the forked end and the spike to the side... if looking at the Halligan tool in the direction from 10:53 on the video, a 90* counter clockwise "turn" perse would put everything where it needs to be.
@@Ricochet845 ah yes. That is true. Didn’t look hard enough apparently. Just noticed it wasn’t quite right. So they are in the correct positions just not in relation to the fork. Good catch.
@@uhavenosushi all good friend. I am very picky about my halligan tools....I personally own 3. 1 in my truck, one in my garage, and one in my bedroom cause well....reasons lol. and yes pretty much correct, just need that tweeking in relation to being inline with the forks and this would be perfect... that said I still want to buy this one, cause well... I need another one lol.
@@joshualoney1 ehhh…. Some guys like myself prefer to that themselves…. I know I do, and the guys in my truck company do. Nothing against Alec, it’s just a weird thing that a lot of people like to do themselves… get that perfect smooth fit between axe head and halligan shoulders.
What would be cool is for you to bring the Halligan to a training center, so it can be in a controlled environment and have the firefighters there test it for a video
See I would have thought that instead of all that upsetting, you would just draw the thick end out slightly, then split it vertically in half, like an extra thick tuning fork, and bend each half down at a 90 degree angle to make your two tool ends.
Exactly what i was thinking as well, but i guess this would make for a weak corner. The mass at the joint looks like on purpose - and would be even harder to make after splitting and bending - No expert though :)
@@WoodM3chanic The mass at the joint is there to get flat surfaces to hit. The Halligan tool is often used with a big hammer or axe (in our department we have a tnt-hammer, wich is a hybrid between an axe and a sledge hammer) to drive the spike or the abs into an opening in order to pry it open. If it would be split to get the tool ends, you wouldn't have those flat surfaces to hit. This was actually the reason why the guy who got second place in the forged in fire episode where they had to build a Halligan tool lost the finale.
as a fireman, I have to say that is a beautifully made tool there. How much to buy it from you and ship it to New York? (yes one of the treasonous colonies lol)
I'm a lab scientist and the tests... even the PCR tests... only take about 45 minutes depending upon the test methodology. The 48 hour turnaround time is crap 😆
This probably won't ever get read, BUT. Instead of mushrooming the end to generate more material to isolate in 2 spots for the spike and wedge end. Could you have just split the end with a cutter then bent the now 2 sections 90 degrees to become the spike and wedge? I would love to hear your thinking behind your approach. I'm no expert so I am definitely not saying you did anything wrong lol. Love your work so much! Take care!
I think there's several ways to do it. I'd probably tackle this the same as you. Upset the end, split then put the bend in and forge the spike and adze. I've seen tools like scroll wrenches made in a similar fashion to both your method and the way Alec has done it. I guess its personal preference plus the way Alec learned from the smiths that taught him.
@@spwicks1980 agreed. I just feel like it would be soooooo much easier it would have been the obvious way to go. Alec is a expert, he probably has his reasons why this way is better. Such as possibly compressing the steel slightly for more strength. His way may also keep the fingers from bending and the grain would be more erratic compared to if it was bent and the grain would move with the bend.
I would've left the end in its 2 inch round bar form and worked with it for the spike and wedge. Put a nice little split in about 2 inches work of it, then come back to it later once the rest way taken care of.
Oh how I'd love to have a smaller version of this...say 12 inches to carry in my personal vehicle along with my turnout gear and Tactical EMS bag. Amazing work, Alec!!!!!
Considering most of my knowledge about forging comes from your videos - couldn't you just have split the bar into two, creating something like a fork and just bend the two ends 90 deg to the shaft and each other? Wouldn't it be easier to do then offsetting the end, creating a special tool and bending the shaft back and forth?
I was a firefighter for 37 years and retire two years ago this month! I have used a halligan or three in my 60 years. I have a broken one in my shop that was being thrown away because one of the forks broke during training. Captain said that I could take it home. I couldn't see throwing that chunk of steel in the trash bin.
We get sentimental attachments to our tools, don’t we? I’m still in my probationary period on the volunteer department and I’ve already grown attached to a specific halligan, pike pole, axe and apparatus. I’ve been on for nearly three months now and plan on being on for years to come. Congratulations on your retirement, my friend!!
The 30-some seconds after he explained the function of that bend, I think my mind blew up about 12 times... He makes it seem so easy like my boy playing with Duploes, but knowing what craftmanship is, that little evolution/montage, can only inspire awe or higher...
I never bought a anvil I kinda made one. We had some old tractor weights we where no using so I just used them. I’ve experimented with it and and parts to it cause having more than a flat surface can be nice.
Alec if the testing facilities is Montana are still 2 day turn around they aren't doing the testing they are sending it out. Maybe just have a long layover in an east coast state where you can get 24hr service, Massachusetts or New York should be able to do that
I work as an engineer at a custom firetruck manufacturer. I think a good fire fighting tool to try forging would be a traditional new Yorker pike pole with a wooden handle. Most trucks have at least one hook of some kind if not several of them so not only would it be a great project but it's just about simple enough that you could probably develop tooling to be able sell them to local departments if you wanted to. They can be made of mild steel and usually have a white ash handle.
As a guy that works at a fire station with a bunch of guys that love your content @Alec Steele, how can I go about buying that?! We’d love to have it on our fire truck!!
(Amature blacksmith here)Either alec didn't think of that at the time or he just went with this method and it worked🤷♂️ splitting it was my first thought on how id do it to.
My department only uses solid welded or forged Halligan. We don’t like ones that are held together by pins. The pin ones tend to flex to much. Thanks for the vid!
Firefighter here. You need to make the handle and adz longer. Open the forks more and square the shoulders on the forks maybe a little more curve on the forks too. I can’t wait to see your next one!
I'd love for you to show or at least talk about what the team in the Montana workshop are doing. I know that they handle a lot of the production forging for the AlecSteeleCo merch, but it would be cool to see it in action.
Would love to see you loan it to firefighters doing training. The real challenge is what happens when they use it to force a commercial steel door in a steel frame set in concrete. Will your hardening stand up like an actual drop-forged in the dies tool? Also, file the shoulder where the claw meets the bar so it is square. That way we can slide the axe down the bar to strike the claw, even in reduced visibility. The Halligan's with the rounded interface cause the axe to glance off instead of delivering a good hit. If you loan it to firefighters to try, have them mark the spot on the adze where it gets to the back of the doorframe. You can file some marks there to serve as depth guides when driving the Halligan into the door gap. Thanks for showing this. This is a fascinating tool. Consider making an eight to ten pound flat back axe to go with it, complete with the little notches that let the Halligan claw mate up with the axe so they can be carried as one item. That would be way cool! I'll make one more suggestion. We wrap the axe handle with a thick bunch of old wire, mostly up near the head, then wrap tape over the wire. The idea is that if you miss with the axe, you don't tear up the handle. Can you invent something better?
Instead of upsetting the material, why not bend the end 90°, then split it and separate the two strands into the pick and adze? Or even better, do the splitting first so you can get at the adze and pick better, then bend them to where they should be?
Best sponsorship spot ever: "IF YOU WANT TO BE SAFE FROM THIS RANDOM DUDE BREAKING INTO YOUR HOUSE WITH THIS MASSIVE METAL CROWBAR-PICK-HAMMER-TOOL.... we suggest you buy Simply Safe!" Not gonna lie. Amazing advert.
1:10 I SAY IT AGAIN SO U WILL KNOW sand + waterglass + perlite or better Al2O3 (sandblasting sand - u need super small grains or just dust) + waterglass + perlite =best diy insulating mix that when in contact with CO2 hardends in seconds
Welcome back to the States Alec. Outta curiosity, what'll happen to all your stuff back in ol Blighty? Just closed up, or do you have people producing stuff for the store using the stuff there? EDIT: Nevermind, I should stop posting before I've watched the whole vid, didn't realize this was just a quick day trip sorta thing
I abso fucking lutly LOVE your honesty !!! Nothing is ever simple and easy. Especially those things that are worth doing. Making nails is a torture from HELL.
That’s awesome. Welcome back and safe travels back to the UK. With 36 years in the fire service that is the first completely one piece haligan I’ve ever seen. Awesome job.
You know what would probably be fun/awesome? Seeing you make a gunsword (if it is legal) and having it be tested by Matt and yourself over at DemolitionRanch. I don't think y'all have done a crossover if I remember correctly.
Was just going to ask when you were coming back to Montana....then was going to welcome you back to Montana... and now I guess I'll just wait till January. Thanks for the vid though, I've been missing them.
My parents had just been over to visit as well. They came over on the 5th Dec and were travelling home on the 12th Dec. We had to rush out on the Saturday and get tested. Luckily they made it LFT (Lateral Flow Testing) Which is the Quick test and that was not the 24 hour result. But if it had been... We would have been going for tests and not get results for 24 to 72 hours... But they had to have a valid test within 48 hours of the flight... (in my head those numbers do not add up in any way possible.) It took 3 days of research to understand the requirements and avoid a £1,000 fine per person. Even then we were not sure until they were in the Airport and too late to take another test ready for the flight. The rules said "you must have a valid 'Negative' test that was taken within 24 hours of the first stage of your flight" - We thought this was a PCR test and managing this is impossible, as the test takes 24 hours + to get the results. But it turned out they only wanted a quick test done in the last 24 hours and gave a Negative result. Why do they make the rules hard to understand / follow.
Really cool and great job. One thing I noticed is that the orientation of the adze and pick isn't right. The adze and pick should be rotated 90 degrees clockwise if you are looking at the adze/pick from the top. I'm a firefighter and the reason for that orientation is so when you are striking the tool with an axe or sledgehammer to drive the forks into a door jam, you are striking the adze (nice flat surface), and not the pick. New subscriber almost 2 years after this video, I'll be following from here on out
So many firefighters here were waiting for this to be made, myself included! Fourth generation member of the FDNY, same department that invented the halligan. Besides the adz not being on the same plane as the fork it’s nearly perfect. Awesome job.
I would love to see a video where you forge Sir Radzig's Sword from Kingdom Come: Deliverance. Beautiful sword, would love to watch it be created irl using a real forge.
Alec I may have convinced you to get close to home. Close the Bozeman shop and do the whole thing from your UK shop. Since Brexit the limitations on weapon crafting has been lifted so your free to do as you wish now. It would be cheaper to run your company from Norwich.
Here's a project for interview the newer Mortal Kombat movie Scorpion versus Sub-Zero makes scorpions throw Dagger from the first scene of the movie and Damascus
Would this be a good gift for a fireman who’s wife changed my family’s life (she is my son’s therapist) Would a fireman like a set of their own personal forged tools? If so what tools would you want? This bar, a axe to lock into and what else???
I wonder why you do not get to use the hydraulic press for such work as pulling material out fast and effective. Maybe this is not blacksmithing, you say, but I belive it would be more effective.
I'm curious why not forge the bill/pick it as one, split, then forge the pieces side by side with top tools/cut length ect... Then bend/shape to its final position... I see you don't use top tools/clapper dies ect. much of not at all????
Eh … gap in the forks is too narrow, and they’re quite thick with a sharp angle on the tips… those will get hung up on the jamb, and there’s no shoulder to drive off if needed. Adz is too thick, and the spike is too thin. It needs some tuning, but, it’s probably usable for most residential doors, I’d be curious to see what it does on commercial ones.
What are you actually trying to make. LOL , we've all been there. , looks like a giants toothpick, is there a theme here. Fantastic instrument. . I carry a hacksaw in my car incase i ever need to cut someones roof off in an accident. but how about a power hacksaw blade frame ?. Great work.
It's the second time I've seen the SimplySafe ad and I find it really disgusting. I don't know what it is, but theres something about making money of peoples fears and paranoia that just won't resonate with me. Maybe it is a european thing though
Welcome back!! It’s such a great idea to have a workshop in both countries so you can split your time between the two. One for your dreams and passion; but still grounded to your roots and your family back home! I hope your channel grows exponentially so you can have staff at both locations!! Edit: Typed too soon! Haha annnnd back to England you go! I hope we also get some B roll of your staff making stuff for your online store!
Just before the dog poo state, I thought to myself that he could perfectly transition that video into one about glass blowing... That would be a sick effect, seeing him forge such a blob and then suddenly blow a vase from it... hahaha
