Back in the '80s I was 7 and my parents had a cottage on Chautauqua Lake in Western NY. Mom would pack my sister and me up at the end of the school year and we'd spend the summer there. A storm had come through the first year we were there and snapped an old Basswood tree down, clean through about 10 feet up. This was an old girl and had multiple thick branches below the break. Well, the way Dad took her down he left a 4.5' stump and trimmed the lower branches close to the trunk. This was before the internet and video games and the place didn't even have a TV. My entertainment became driving roofing nails into that stump - for probably 5 years filled every surface I could find with any nail I could find. Well, when my Dad went to sell the place 25 years later we needed to take the stump out, a task made much more difficult due to all the steel in her. We ended up having to expose the roots, cut them and drag her out. With some fond memories we threw her on the fire and watched her go over several days. Cleaning up the burn pit we discovered a five gallon bucket of various nails in the ash. Must have weighed close to 50 pounds. Ended up driving a desk for a career, but man did I know how to hammer. Thanks for all you're putting out there! Love the content. All of it.
From the rolling out the joists video to seeing you working on the second story of the spec house made me very excited. I love the framing step of building. It was the most fun aspect of building my 8' X 12' X 12' shed. I can't wait for the next spec house video. I would love to be a framer. It's just not in the cards for me now. I'm a woodworker/handyman. I own St. Josef's Woodshop in Tallahassee, Florida and every time a client asks me to build a shed I get so excited. I got that confidence from watching you build your son's his shed. I used all the tips you taught. I must have watched that video 10 times. I've learned so much from you so far on the spec house and loved the pouring the concrete videos and I'm really looking forward to the framing videos. I just got finished striping a deck and re-staining it. I've worked on it for 2 months. I'm husky back in my woodshop and love it. I know that feeling you have about getting back into the blacksmith shop. You'll be there before you know it. Thank you so much. You have no idea how you have helped change my life from my last career into this career. Keep up the excellent work.
Thank you so very much for taking your precious time to create and share this wisdom. I need this in my life, and was at a certain point, just starting out.....and really needed to see this today
I just stumbled across your channel. I’ve been interested in working with metal in various ways all my life, but never had a chance because life was always in the way (not going into detail because it’s depressing). I’m going to be 44 next month, and I’ve finally gotten my life in order enough that I can start working on actually doing some of these hobbies.
I just restarted blacksmithing after finishing college, and watching my hammer control rebuild from project to project has been immensely satisfying. I haven’t been practicing on nails, but I’ve been making leaf keychains over and over again. Each one only uses maybe two inches of rebar, and I can see clearly on the leaf any hammer blow that wasn’t where I wanted it to be. There will always be time for cool new projects once I’ve developed hammer control, but watching the same project come out better and better with repetition and practice is almost more rewarding than if I had made it perfectly from the beginning
Coming from a rough carpentry and framing background, can't say enough how right he is about not keeping your thumb on the back of the hammer, especially for full power blows. You can give yourself Tendinosis in a big hurry by using a hammer incorrectly with your thumb on the back. The big tendon that attaches your thumb to your wrist is not made to deal with that kind of punishment and a rupture of that tendon will take you out of action for weeks and weeks if not months while you recover from surgery. Hold your hammer the right way with your thumb on the side of the handle. You'll save yourself a ton of pain and you'll keep the use of your hand. Remember, the opposable thumb is what sets us apart from the beasts.
I use a big sledge at my job to hit other metal objects with. A bad hit hurts your hands, wrists, and elbows. A good hit feels like hitting a home run on the sweet spot of a bat. You don't even feel it.
when you love something you can't quit even if you wanted to... if there's no passion for the thing you can have as much determination as you could want but you'll always end up walking away... it's God's desire what we do in life
I've been swinging a hammer for 35 years as a carpenter and your so right about learning the right way of swinging it. A boss told me one time he could tell how long a guy had been a carpenter just by the way he swung his hammer. You work the hammer or the hammer works you. I wish I had a count on how many nails I've nailed
This channel is genuinely one of the most personally life-changing encounters I've had with the internet (and probably one of the more positive ones to boot). As someone who grew up never knowing how to fix even a leaky faucet, there's an unfortunate thing I've noticed with a fair amount of the DIY-ers and general handymen I've known in real life. If you're lacking the knowledge or skill set they possess, they're quick to be irritated should you start asking questions or attempting to understand the mechanics of a thing. Your guys' demonstrations, guides, and advice have broken that barrier down for me (and many others I imagine), and I say with some pride that I have a growing collection of tools (some of which I even know how to use) and I'm doing a ton of reading and research into how to start blacksmithing, spurred by your channel's earlier videos on the subject. To be completely truthful, I've never been more compelled by another endeavor. You're doing good work in sharing your experience and wisdom, and you're doing it very well. So. Thank you.
Hello Scott, I'm enjoying your videos immensely! Andrew's Burke Bar was beyond textbook perfection, your explanation & demonstration of Steel's hues prevented a lot of people of being unsure about the subtleties of treating steel, and that's a big deal. I had my 1st taste of hand forging & welding in my 1st year of high school, made a door knocker & loved doing it. That was 46 years ago now, and I've burned steel from then on. I joined the SEABEES a couple years out of H.S., and became a Steelworker. Following the Navy I stayed with my trade & worked job shops, manufacturing, industrial, you name it. I became certified in Structural/Bridge SMAW AWS D1.1 & D1.5 first, I eventually went on to garner 7 certs all told, including GMAW & Innershield... I can't run up & down the ladders anymore, or work on my knees all day due to the Osteo Arthritis I endure, & I've just had my 2nd 'Trigger Finger' release, so I won't be gripping a hammer in the next few weeks, but it'll pass quickly. I could still run a bead hanging upside down if I had too, (LOL) but those days are pretty much behind me. Restarting my Portable Welding business is probably out of the question as well, it's just too costly in Calif. Finding the right niche in Artistic Blacksmithing has been on my mind for a couple years now, I haven't got an anvil, but I do have the chunk of trunk it'll sit on! I'm apologize if I went on too long, but then I'm an aging Welder with time on his hands! XD
People underappreciated what goes into making something with your hands. Whether you're in concrete, blacksmithing, or framing, there exist a certain philosophy in it. It's not about ethical or existential philosophy, but s philosophy of work. The better you get with your hands, the better worker you can be. This work philosophy transfer to everything you do in life. I've brought it into my office job after doing construction for the majority of my life. I thank you for bringing this philosophy to people that may never have experienced it otherwise. You also bring me back to my working days and make me miss concrete pours.
The fundamental concept that you touched on is why people who try to learn a craft or skill often give up so soon. They always set their initial expectation of their skills too high, and get disappointed when they're not as good as they thought. I believe that, fundamentally, people don't want to learn that it takes a lot of time and effort to develop a skill, clinging to the hope that they happen to have some inherent talent, and get discouraged when they're inevitably let down. This needs to be considered _any_ time a person does _any_ thing they don't normally do. Instead of feeling awkward and inadequate, recognize that your ineptitude is solely because you don't have experience. For me, the skill I wanted to learn was the drum set. I bought one on a whim almost 10 years ago, and you can bet I was disappointed the first time I heard myself play; but I didn't get discouraged. The only thing I ever thought was "I'll try again tomorrow" and "I'll eventually get it", and now I can watch and listen to myself play without any wincing or cringing.
Ive been interested in smithing since i was about 11 years old. Ive dabbled in it a little over the years and I feel like i know my way around a hammer. In fact, ive started buying and making everything I need to get my hobby level smithing back up and running. But watching this video has honestly got me wanting to go buy a box of nails and find an old stump lol I gotta make sure i still got it. This is a fantastic channel and I definitely plan to watch many more videos.
Thank you Scott for sharing your knowledge and wisdom to the masses. We need more positive role models as yourself to teach the aimless youth of today. We need to give yhe young men of today purpose and teach them that all created products dont just come out of a 3D printer and teach them to appreciate true craftsmanship and hard work. The end product is its just reward. God bless you sir for your hard work.
There is something special about seeing a true master and apprentice working together. I am glad to see all of Cy's experience and knowledge will be passed on to this new generation.
I absolutely love this channel so very informative about EVERYTHING!!! I Actually really look up to this man and I wish I had a father figure exactly like you Scott.. keep the great content up fellas and I'll keep pool liking and watching
Kind sir, I have been in the HVAC trade 20 years, I just recently got into blacksmithing and I have the bug ! I have only lit 6 fires but each time it gets better and better ! Your channel and a couple of others have helped me out tremendously! Thank you! Cheers
Really glad I found this video. I built your firebrick forge with a burner I ordered off Amazon. First project - a set of rebar tongs. I think one tong half cracked from work hardening because I was working the metal too cold. I was actually excited that I failed. I knew I would and it set out a list of things I need to learn about and improve on. Some examples being hammer technique, proper heating, and material properties. Second set is not finished yet but sure looks alot better so far. Thank you for being a good teacher!!
I'm only watching my RU-vid feed for new Essential Craftsman videos. Gave my 4 year old son a log to drive nails after seeing it on another video. He'll now spend hours working with me on projects around the house doing all kinds of things. Your videos are inspirational and appreciated. As always, keep up the good work. 👍
I am Building a Modern Cabin by myself(mostly) so that is where my time goes, But I love watching your blacksmithing videos, relaxing, looks like fun. Thank you
Making anything takes time, focus and commitment. From frames, roofs, metal, to food and music...Cool story about the kid. Last year I got my son into hammering nails and deconstructing wooden fence section by removing nails, he loved it.
This is a great tutorial! A small hammer, swung well is so much more effective than an oversized monster- Good posture and core muscles will do work your bicep can only dream of.
The value in this video is that advice is applicable to far more than hammering (though I know you know that). Practicing anything with the expectation that the first couple, dozen, or hundred results probably aren't going to be that great is an important lesson. One I spent many years not learning and getting frustrated with (and still do, to some extent). My 6 year old daughter does the same thing. She's a perfectionist and can't stand not doing something right the first time. Learning to read, learning origami, anything like that frustrates her to no end when she can't "just do it". Tough as a parent to recognize the same path and struggle with how to help her because I'm still so susceptible to the same thing. To tie in to another popular RU-vid persona, Jordan Peterson I believe would reinforce that you need to have an aim. A goal. Something to shoot for beyond the short term "get this particular project done", and recognize that each minuscule step towards that goal is a victory in and of itself. That has helped me tremendously break through some personal walls and move to the next step in a given hobby/skill. I'm not a blacksmith, but I'd summarize this video with "Don't make a pair of tongs today, let it be enough to hammer a few pounds of nails into a useless block of wood". In my world of amateur motorcycle restorations, I sometimes can't have a goal of getting a motor rebuilt, but just "get those old bearings out of the case". Each little step of progress builds confidence and morale to attack the next step. Great video as always.
We've been traveling for almost 2 months, stopping in Fryburg, Maine to watch a blacksmithing demonstration. The smithy turned, asked where we were from and I said, Essential Craftsman Country. Really says he, I watch him. Small country, Scott, really small. Sweetie is glad to catch up on EC. Binge-watching now.
In my high school/college years, I was part of a hand roofing business. I spent hours on the side learning to pull roofers out of my pouch, and nail them in a 2x4. Practicing for weeks. One of the skills that the hobbyist will greatly benefit from.
I'm halfway through the course that started last spring.... it's a fabulous course...I'll complete it once the weather cooperates, and then, I've got a whole list of things to make. I can't wait!
Over the last 5 months of blacksmithing my skills have increased DRAMATICALLY! I started on a railroad tracks with a 1.75lb ball pein hammer and everything started out looking like crap, a big part of that is expecting to be able to make large or intricate things early on. I've found the most progress and improvement in my skills by choosing projects that are small and include lots of fundamentals like long even tapers or keeping things perfectly square or octagon or round. Making sure my scrolls are as perfect as I can get them. I've also learned to move large amounts of steel including tool steel with a lighter hammer than many people would expect. You really only need a 2lb hammer for almost anything. Learning to properly draw out tong handles helped this a ton. It used to take me hours to draw out 3/4 inch square bar into a tong reign now I can get it done in 15 minutes with a 2lb or less hammer because I Forced myself to learn the techniques for moving material efficiently. I'm currently working on getting better at forge welding and have made 2 wrapped eye hatchets so far. Without the fundamentals of making leaf keychains and a bunch of simple hooks and fire pokers I would have never had the skills to move the steel around well enough to make an axe head. Basically I'm saying to anyone who reads this start small, and I mean REALLY small with your projects and work up one incremental step at a time. That way you have a lot of small successful projects that build up into bigger ones. You'll also learn to hammer better without injuring your wrists, elbows, shoulders, etc. Then when your hammering away at a 4lb block of tool steel you'll actually be able to make progress on it by hand without wearing yourself out.
The video quality here is outstanding, with outstanding audio and exquisitely balanced background and subject lighting. The guy behind your camera clearly knows what he is doing. Like using a hammer, those skills didn't come quickly or easily.
Thank you for the chat. I feel this frustration you are talking about. I am 62 and newly retired. I have retired at 60 and 61 and when winter came in Eastern Canada , I got bored and went back to work part time. This winter will be different if I can stick to blacksmithing as a hobby. I hammer and hammer and it doesn't seem to move and then it is cold and goes back into the fire. I know what you say is true, hammer control is my issue, I need to hammer more and more effectively. P R A C T I C E is the Key.... Thanks for the video and getting me interested in the craft....
Thanks for sharing Scott! Really thank you! Your pearls of wisdom are making the world a richer place! I always find a bunch of comments that are worth reading too! Also thanks to Nate too! Almost forgot you buddy!
this discussion of the kinetics of hammering is so much like how martial artists talk about doing strikes. The same notions of relaxation, of whip, of a consistent arc, of the importance of stance, of accuracy.
I just can't get enough of this channel. Scott, you are an amazing blacksmith, a very experienced carpenter, but you are definitely the better TEACHER that I have ever seen. I really wish I had the space and the money to start in the craft right now, but I do not. But I will, eventually. THANK YOU for all the incredible lessons and all that you do for us.
I started trying to black smith when I was 8 or 9, seemed like everyone I talked to tried to dissuade me, or worse lie about information I was looking for, such as welding flux, tongs, where to find coal etc. That was well over 30 years ago, I've built my own forge since then and learned a lot on my own or reading everything available. This course you're setting up is a gold mine and I sincerely thank you. Most of the "smiths" I tried to learn from years ago have all faded away, the new generation is far more open about information now, and that is a really good thing.
Before this guy I thought all people that worked in blue-collar jobs spoke in a incoherent manner and were all hard to understand. This man takes all the knowledge he knows and educates in a professional and clear manner.
You guys are the first and only channel I've ever been inclined to support on Patreon. It's more than entertaining videos to watch. It's also more than just education. Scott, you've influenced my life in a very positive manner and I think a lot of people, particularly younger people, could benefit in more ways than one from your content.
This video is inspiration in a nutshell As a beginner smith and handle maker I look at a workpiece and say yeah that’s pretty good. Then the next time around I try to add something and eventually know that one day I know I’ll be able to perfect my technique and be satisfied knowing that I got there in the end and that I can make what I need to with a professional level of craftsmanship.
The more I watch you, the more I see a natural teacher and mentor. You have a gift and use it to encourage others to become craftsman. I believe you could explain paint drying and I would watch the whole video. Keep on doing what your doing. JJ
From the time I was five my father put a hammer in my hands and taught me how to use it, I'd go out every day after school and especially in the summer and drive nails all day. I stopped about the time I was in high school when I had to focus on my education and almost right out of high school I had to put a roof on one of his houses and boy was it exciting to know I still knew how to hammer almost five years later. Anyways great video Scott! and I wish I had the time to get a forge set up and use those classes you're so graciously providing for us.
The only motivation I need to be a blacksmith! It is a good anvil. I know it's not a reasonable excuse! but and inprovizado with train rails and is not the same. and with the passage of time instead of making it easier and cheaper to buy an anvil ... it is more difficult and more expensive even more in Mexico ... thanks for your advice and experience in this beautiful work you have. and more when you bring CY SWAN I think. I enjoy very much!!! Greetings from SONORA Mex.
Thank you Scott and Nate for these videos, they are truly amazing! Man its crazy... everyone on here know Scotts a badass and so knowledgeable on so many levels but I feel like the message in these videos is for us to generally be successful as well as share the same passion for blacksmithing, carpentry etc.
I've got my own construction project that's consuming my time, but I look forward to taking your blacksmithing course another time! I hope it's still available when I'm able to take it. You're a great teacher that inspires greatness! Keep it up!
Wow, very timely! I was just ‘debating’ some others on other channels about how important it is to develop your hammer swing technique. You can always tell a novice when they put that ‘grip of death’ on the handle (like you said) and they always seem to have a sort of ‘pushing’ swing, rather than the whip you referred to. A light grip and a proper swing is what will save your elbow from blowing up later. 🤜🤛
Your words parallel what my dad taught me about shooting and what my Tai Chi teacher taught me. I won’t blacksmith anytime soon but I know what you’re saying. Great vid!
