Forging simple hardies for the blacksmith shop - tool making 

a man that isn't afraid to admit his mistakes on camera , is a man to learn from! Thank you

This video helped me make my first hot cut hardy tool. Thanks!!!!! Immediately after seeing it, I drove to my own brand new workshop, and made this from a coil spring. I really appreciate your videos. Actually, this is my first Blacksmiths tool I've ever made myself.

Great

Just realized this after watching a couple videos. You are the Ron Swanson of blacksmithing. Love the videos.

Awesome video thank you!!!

This is my new go-to for blacksmithing!

I am recieving a great education with your videos. Thanks for the excellent content!

Your keeping good pace with your videos, and there not short either. Also its good efficiency as you keep signing off with " get out to your shop" or similar and I end up rushing out and trying something lol so I spend more time forging and not just wasting away watching you and others do it.

Watching your videos really makes me want to start blacksmithing. The last hardy is what I've seen at renaissance fairs and really makes sense for the first hardies ever made, because it's quick, simple and effective.

Dude, your videos are the best educational blacksmithing videos on RU-vid in my opinion. I have started making my own equipment to do some projects and the tips and tricks you show are helping me visualise what I need and how to go about it

Thank you, just starting need to keep practicing,

Mr. Bear, finding your videos very helpful, easy to understand, and down to Earth. Thank you.

Thanks John, I'm woodworker who is trying to learn blacksmithing. Every winter I try to teach myself a new trick I can add to my quiver. This winter I chose blacksmithing and your videos have been invaluable! I watch them every afternoon when I get home from my shop and learned so much, with a few chuckles thrown in. My hands are feeling a little numb from spending the day making square shank nails for a customer out of quarter inch round bar. That will make you appreciate automation 😂 Keep up the great videos! I'm learning a lot from you!

Thank you for the 3rd cruder hardy. It's an interesting quick & dirty path to have taken with many other tools e.g. a bending jig as well as options for refinement & variation for example welding a third, central piece of tool steel between lower carbon scrap.

As usual stellar stuff!

Thank you, Love it.

Thank you for making that mistake, because it hammers( pun not intended) out the lesson of keeping you mind on your work. I think I learn more from mistakes, because I make so many of them, oh well, I learned a lot. Keep pounding away, I am watching.

That tooth you were talking about is for a ditching machine commonly used on pipeline jobs to of course cut ditch sometimes called a rock saw. The tip of the ditching machine tooth should have a tungsten carbide insert so dont try forging the tip lol. Sorry if you covered that in the vid i paused it halfway to comment.

Hey good job buddy thanks for sharing how to fix it to

Good video

First of all, thank you for doing these videos. I took some classes but when you get home, you're always left trying to remember what you learned and your videos are awesome to remind me or even show a new way! Keep the videos coming! Question about your hardy hole conversion plate... Did you make it out but it? If you made it, maybe a video? If you bought it, where? I have a Fontanini anvil (same one you got) and some free hardy tools but they're too small for the l my anvil. Thanks and keep the great videos coming!

That last salvage piece that you talked about is a tooth to a milling machine for asphalt. When I used to work for the city's asphalt crew, the machine we used had a big cylinder full of those teeth. They're super hard, and can take a beating. Given, we had to replace them every once in a while due to wear and tear, but they can withstand all sorts of abuse.

Hmm, this sounds like a perfect excuse to attempt a collar weld as well!

The "I don't know" bit is from either an auger or continous miner. Those bits are unbelievably hard. Having worked underground for 7 years, I've seen what those can do and rocks do not stand a chance against them.

What kind of coals are you using? Where do you get them? Thank you for your expertise. You’re a great teacher.

I absolutely love Black Bear Forge's attitude and commentary with projects. Just chill AF and Humble.

What a great video to learn from. I've learned tons from your videos and I am very Thankful. I don't have a great deal of smithing experience, especially being a cabinetmaker. But I have made hardware needed to restore period antiques or repaired and made missing pieces. I had a small forge, I called it the BBQ forge with a cast iron pan and blower. A small anvil about 50 or 60 lbs and it worked okay. I lent them to a guy years back, with some hammers and a few tools, and he disappeared. My mentor gave me the forge and the anvil was my Grandfathers and that's what hurt the worse. So I've looked for anvils, I have a blower or two and can make a forge but anvils are expensepive. But living here in Lancaster Co. Pa. farm country, I keep my eyes open for that anvil that will fit my needs. With all the antique German box locks I've restored or make parts for myself, I've made keepers, a bit of forging on the latch and riveting to a back plate I made traditionally with files and the like. So your videos help a lot. One of the professions of my mentor was, born in 1889,' was a blacksmith in a carriage shop, where he learned black smithing and made 6 cents an hour in his teens. I did learn things from him though he couldn't do much work in his 80s and 90s. But I'm sure you can see something done and do it. Your work is beautiful and I love how you maintain the tradition, which I believe is very important. I use traditional old tools in my work. And I have seen many many pieces of traditional hardware for furniture and houses, which I've been involved with restoring. I have a deep respect for craftsmanship and the creative arts, the art of spirit and making something not just for its practical use but made as best as possible. And I also love running across pieces where someone wasn't necessarily skilled but did the best they could and made it work. In the old day people seemed to have a deeper appreciation and did the best they could. Thus folk art. Something almost lost and a few keeping it alive. I believe there has been a growing interest in all the skills and new appreciation for them in the factory produced goods of today. People are beginning to miss the beauty and spirit place in the love of creating something. Weather it be an apple pie or a beautiful piece of iron crafted with skill, experience and a love for the art. This you do and I'm very Thankful for this and your sharing your art. It keeps it alive. DaveyJO in Pa.

I really enjoy how much quality content you put out! Thanks much and keep up the good work! Always a pleasure.

It is a mine face bit it has a carbide tip

Good tip I am going to call my local tool rental place and see if they have any bits!!

You touched on something that tripped my brain up. Your use of Vermiculite in annealing; I was wondering if you had a video on that process. The questions I have, for things as big as the hardy, do you bring the whole thing up to cherry temp and drop it in a box of the stuff, or what? Preciate the info and I'm learning lots.

Thanks for your videos you are a real asset to people who are new to this craft it should shorten the learning curve for anyone aspiring to learn the trade. I will send you pictures of a couple of hold downs I have made that work pretty good for me. What type of audio system do you use when you make your videos. Thanks for your teaching. Regards Terry

you do a great job teaching. I've done this a few years now and have started watching your videos. I also give lesson's. we, need to keep this craft going. thank you.

Big thing: "What to do when things go wrong"... Thanks.

I have a hardie tool hole in the top of my anvil but I’ve noticed I have another hole straight in the body underneath the hardie been wondering what it’s for I know I have a real old anvil it was in sheds it’s whole life but has pretty intense pitting on the Sides, the top is still flat in 2 spots and in the middle there’s 2 round grooves that were done by forging in that one spot for a long time by my grandfather one larger one smaller across the anvil that I can use perfectly to round metal I’m almost 100% sure it’s wrought iorn so that might give some insight on the age

..I did the same thing with a 45 degree. Made another one right but i like the one a bit off better. Everything i cut falls into my catch bucket instead of hitting my stand and going elsewhere...

When I worked for the fire department the fork of a halligan was broken during training and it was thrown in the trash. I asked my captain if I could have it and he said yes. I was wondering if that would be good for making some hardy tools? The research I've done seems to indicate that it is probably 4140. I'm thinking that I could cut the adz off and weld on square bar for a shank to fit my hardy hole and still have a bunch left over.

Knowing that you make mistakes and can fix them is very encouraging to us beginners. Thank you.

Ive never blacksmithed in my life but i love your videos they are fascinating , many thanks for the content

A 45° Hardy might have been a good idea, but you are here to teach, so showing a "fix" is fine too. The plus is, you get to show the issues with forging large steel bits after twisting. Great teaching moment, thanks.

John I was watching the orientation of the Hexagon as you started forging the cutting edge and thought I might mark an indication to keep me on the right track...As it works out I would NOT call it a failure, reason being as I'm very restricted to space around my anvil to move around so it's better for me to have the cutter at 45 degrees so I stand in the centre and still swing...Just a thought, I guess everyones needs vary...Toby

That anvil sure does ring.

Thank you so much for doing what you do, your videos are amazing well presented and broken down in a way that can be understood by less experienced viewers, without "dumbing it down" as only an experienced craftsmen can explain. So stoked I found your channel, and that you are in the same neighborhood of Colorado! I just recently was fortunate enough to become the owner of my first forge (forced air and far larger than a beginner needs but it was priced to well to pass up)

Carbide tipped grader “Stinger” the last one

Thank goodness Wikipedia knows what a sucker rod is, cuz I sure as heck didn't 😂🤣

Thank you

What I like about your video is you don’t yak more than you wak you don’t run fast time lapse witch I like I would reather watch longer video that explains than watch fast forward

Ya, let's do that... I want to see some wrought iron welded.

i absolutely love your blacksmithing channel, and the wealth of information, the detailed explainations, and your cool demeanor, your structured approach to things. With my limited blacksmithing experience the first jackhammer hardie you are making, i can tell that its a very tough material, but i also see with your experience you know to work it in the bright yellow range, to easen the workload, its a pleasure to watch :)

I would like to see details of a chain makers hardy. I've seen guys make chain on them but haven't been able to find one anywhere. A nice detailed video would be helpful if I wanted to make one.

Justified getting a propane forge for my 64th birthday. Got some tong blanks and a nice 75k english anvil from the 30's. Have to assemble/cure up the forge and go through the misc. steel I've come across. I've some truck leaf spring I may cut, fold and beat into fullers and such. Have some broken jackhammer bits and will play around with old ball hitches. I'll be beating on rebar to make fire pit stuff and other trinkets until I develop some intuitive muscle memory. Looking forward to it, I've appreciated your videos for several years now.

Your videos are instructional and inspirational thank you for making them.

6:28 To my untrained eye, thst looks like a worn out tooth from a trenching arm machine.

Your brilliant Sir thanks for such educational videos I have a lovely old anvil but no tools at all, I want to preserve some forgotten arts and will try to make some tools from your very educational lessons...Thank you for sharing your skill's with us, Toby

Speaking of hardy tools, do you think a old trailer ball might make good hardy cut off tool if forged into the right shape, and do you think the steel would be good enough to harden and temper?

Thank you! Thank you! I started today, what a great day - and you're right, sooner than later. I just need to make a notch on a long piece (coal rake) and I can't hold the peice and some chisel at the same time... Sure appreciated your mistake and repair as well!

im currently trying to make one out of a chisel, I am fairly certain I wont need tongs

You are an amazing person with an amazing sense of understanding

Really enjoying your videos! My first anvil is in shipment to my home, it has no horn. What hardy hole tools can help make up for not having an anvil with a horn?

I'm a boilermaker by trade or metal fabricator these days,shame all the real skill is lost to the machine's im going to try soak as much as I can from you ",trade's" men are in the past that I sadly miss!

I was just about to say it's still nice to know how to fix it or at least try to. But it's also humble of you to say it was your mistake. How long have you been a blacksmith for?

I have a 3 pound cross pein hammer that I find too heavy to swing (blacksmith’s elbow that im resting). I’m considering using it for a hot cut tool because it’s mostly shaped already. Would you recommend this? Or not?

Enjoy all your videos. I work in the oilfield, here are the wrench sizes (flats) for the sucker rods you mentioned: Body Wrench 5/8 7/8 3/4 1 7/8 1 or 1-1/8 1 1 5/16 1 1/8 1 1/2

I am about halfway done with just this very project using a jackhammer bit. Do you have any thoughts about the shape of the cutting edge? If I were to make it just like my slitting chisel, it would be a curved profile with a very acute cutting bevel, much less than 30 degrees. However, the commercial offerings are a flat profile of just at 30 degrees.

I know the camera and lighting play heck with color perception, but it looks like you are starting at a bright yellow and working down into orange before going back to fire. You said welding heat while I was typing this, so yellow?

Nice save on the hardy.Good to see your human.Thanks for another awesome video.

Forgive my ignorance, but what is a "sucker rod"?

I'm using a maul to hot cut with. It's not ideal.

The closed caption listed your first hammer strokes as (music)

Great learning every time Thanks again Sir

would an old trailer hitch ball work for this?

I am very glad I found your channel! Very informative and well explained details. Good job, please keep it up!

Another great video by my internet dad. Thanks, internet dad.

Brand new to metal working and have what is probably a dumb question but you mentioned burning the metal. How can you burn the metal? Won’t it just become softer and softer the more you heat it? Ps. Just found your channel and love it! 👍 Great info!

Still a serviceable tool... It's only a mistake if you can't fix it or use it... Great video nonetheless

Nice. I have some jackhammer bits n didn't think about using them. I can get a bunch. Thanks for the tip. I use whatever seems hard enough to make hardies

It’s funny, but your fiascos are some of our best work!

Note to self: when first starting out blacksmithing always remember to wear a glove on your hammer hand. If not your hand will look like mine and be basically one big blister. Lmao

You fixed it!! Learning how to fix the F-ups is needed. Thank you. 😁😂

Any recovery that results in a working item is a good recovery!! But you do need to have a bit of an ideas to what can be done. Your videos give that iea. Thanks...keep up the great teaching

…you give really good hardness estimates for using repurposed materials… Have you any estimate on 100 yr old silo hoops from a wood silo…?

the i don't know bit is from rock grinding machines. these are replacable teeth with carbide tips that end up wearing off. check to make sure the carbide is gone. vermeer sells these and you could find info from them .

Thanks!

At the 12 minute mark when you start drawing it out, why not use the cross peen to speed up the draw and then switch to the flat when you are close to the right shape? I'm new so I still don't know what's the right tool for certain jobs.

I had no idea what sucker rod is. So I googled it “A sucker rod is a steel rod, typically between 25 and 30 feet (7 to 9 meters) in length, and threaded at both ends, used in the oil industry to join together the surface and downhole components of a reciprocating piston pump installed in an oil well”. Zero chance of finding one of those here in AU 😀 I have a coil spring waiting to be straightened. I see if I can figure out how to do that. Too hot here to light fires at the moment anyway. Hmm could even be a total fire ban.

How much does that hammer weigh

great video John... I'll be contacting all the rental places for sure!

Given the way my anvil is oriented, I would prefer the 45 degrees

As luck would have it, I have an otherwise decent Russian steel anvil that has a 45 degree hardie hole.

Where did you get the tongs you are using?

Another interesting video, thanks! BTW where is the gargoyle, I'm missing him in the back wearing safety glasses.

wish i had seen the last one 8 years ago then i got my own shop started. have used a hacksaw or the hardy on my biking stump for years

Another way to fix mistakes like that: "Oops! I guess I'm making a diagonal fuller now!" :D

Make a hardie tool that has a spring which curves back towards the edge of the anvil and has a flat plate which is in line with the edge of your anvil that acts as a set hammer

What kind of tongs are sitting all wrapped up on the bench? Are they to be twisted? Please say it isn't so!

Regardless of mistakes, you're a straight up bad@$$! Love your videos, man. I'm just days away from completing my forge, and quite excited to start forging some projects. Not sure what the first one will be, probably a chef knife, but I see scoops and spoons on the creative horizon :)

hey that piece of steel your holding at 6:00 is a tooth from what i think is a vermeer trench digger ther are super cool pieces of machinery at least i think thats what it is

Great video. Eventhought the last example was very hokey. Sometimes you gotta make due with what you have on the fly...and that's A-ok 👍👍

Have you ever taken a 2” trailer ball and squared the thread part and used it for a tool?

Thank you for all of your videos! I have learned so much from you and you do a great job explaining and demonstrating it! Again, thanks so much and look forward to more videos!