My favourite part of your videos has got to be the explanation of *why* something is being done a certain way. Yeah, you could just forge a pair of tongs and it would be cool to watch, but it's the why that makes it so much more enjoyable.
You’ve got a thumbs up from my 89 year old Dad for this one Alec, he’s a retired master blacksmith and farrier from County Durham, he says respect matey...👍👍👍
Durham Drona thats so cool!!! your dad should do a video with Alec and teach him some old school techniques that I'm sure younger blacksmiths today have no clue existed I'm sure your father has some really cool tricks💪👌
Dont get me wrong Alec is very knowledgeable but I like how he's not full of himself and isn't afraid to admit he doesn't know everything would be cool to see him learn from someone who has years upon years of experience over him
Mate this is so cool, would have loved to of trained with a blacksmith when I was young, actually I did for a very little bit then he died and there was no more around where I lived.
@@nishidaninja4207 Actually, most smiths (like myself, and Alec) learned from an older smith, often as apprentices. So, there's a lot less institutional knowledge (tips and tricks) lost. Of course, many smiths have their own 'trade secrets', like the technique for making a particular kind of Damascus say. Watch Alec's video on stainless Damascus, he points out that he could call many people for information on how to do it, however it would be inappropriate to share their 'trade secret' on RU-vid. Still, very little gets lost.
A blacksmith proper! Making your own tools to continue your craft. You have embodied the phrase "To Adapt and Overcome" with every project you do; all with energy and enthusiasm. I enjoy learning from you and thank you for bringing us all on this journey Alec!
That ship has sailed,he is famous now,fame has hit him in the head.I used to love his live shows where he took time to explain everything and answer questions.Now its autistic screaming ,selling tshirts and hanging up with famous people.Soon to be creatively dead channel like wranglestar(look what i can find cheap on amazon).
There are heaps of blacksmith channels explaining processes, none doing what he is doing. You still seem to be subbed along with half a million others. Most viewers aren't smiths, you can see that by the amount of views these informative videos get. Videos nearly everyday, don't take him for granted as YT would be pretty lonely without him.
Love it. More tool making please. This is what will help those who want to get into the hobby. I love that blacksmithing is one if the few fields where you use simple tools to make complex tools to make even more complex tools.
I absolutely love riveting. It's my favorite blacksmithing process. If I worked in a production shop and all they wanted me to do was rivet, I could live with that.
Every video I watch makes me want to learn how to blacksmith! I have found myself searching for an old anvil and vice. Thank you for being so inspirational!
Thank you for what you do. Blades are exciting and i have enjoyed all your builds. I have been happier watching the simple functional things lately. Brackets and tools are great. Maybe a hanging pot rack? Again, thanks. Kind Regars to all
Alec i need you to know that i'm currently in a really bad spot right now but every time i see your videos it makes me happy. Please whatever you do don't stop making videos because you're always cheerful in videos and it makes my day just a little bit better
I just started my first blacksmithing project ever with an improvised setup: bbq coal "forge" , a piece of square stock welded on a section of I-beam as an anvil, a normal hammer and a pair of pliers. Works pretty well but I have to say the pliers are the biggest problem. Searched online and found that actual tongs are kinda expensive at ~60 dollars so I'm glad I found this video so I can make my own. Time to fire up the power hammer !
must be INCREDIBLY satisfying to make your own tools!!!! Watched Forged In Fire last and they had to make their own tongs and several of them had never done that before. I kind of thought from watching other videos that it was something all blacksmiths did first. :)
I honestly believe that everyone who takes up smithing should made their own basic tools as practice. I am 4 months into blacksmithing, and I have made 1 horrible punch, 3 god awful tongs, and an alright chisel. But every one that I make I learn a ton and the next one is better.
I just watched that episode too, i'm surprised that nobody had a good pair. I understand the time crunch, but all 4 of the contestants almost seemed lost when it came to thinking how to forge them.
Here's a 2 cent that I figured I'd throw in. In the beginning you cut the flat bar on the flat side. Doing this forces your blade to drag it's cut shaving all the way through the piece to get out the other side. While it takes a little less time, it can cause excess wear on the blade. Cutting on the narrow allows the blade to discard it's material almost immediately after it is cut from the piece. Also, I know this doesn't apply to your band saw, but if you took that habit to a chop saw or a radial arm saw, you could cause a VERY dangerous kick back that could throw a 2 foot piece of steel across the shop like a bullet. Still love watching your work Alec! Keep the videos coming!
You can always tell when a tool is handmade like this. Just as you can always tell when a smith has passed on or retired because you then see them at flea markets and junk shops. Since the person that made them is often the only person that used them they usually end up hanging on someones garage wall as decorative items.
As an aspiring blacksmith I really enjoy and appreciate this tool making videos, and seeing you go I need and tool and just making it well is awesome. I've been bringing your videos as if a new season of my favorite show dropped!
Thank you for another incredibly instructional video Alec I love these videos as they are brief enough to remember yet detailed enough to cover all the information that is necessary. Have a great trip!
I really enjoy the tool making videos. While swords, daggers, and fun items are awesome, tools are just more useful to learn to make. Good video as always. Thanks
Can you produce a video on your equipment? Where they came from, where they were made, background of the companies, how you acquired them and your thought on them? That would be fascinating.
I'ts always fun to watch you forge something; I miss something when it is the weekend. I am anxious to see the monday. I also like very much the things you do as, for us, it looks easy. Please keep entertaining us the way you do. From a Canadian friend.
Brilliant to see you making tools again - it's what brought me here and it's what I love seeing. How would one make all those nifty damascus things without his tools, right?
can we take a moment to appreciate how amazing the editing is on his videos? they make the music match up with the hammer blows! and that just makes it so satisfying to watch!
Everyone...Lets do all we can to let our contacts, friends, family and the general riff raff we know to get Alec 1M subscribers. Commence the challenge!!
Good video! Even the simplest of tools need some good thinking behind them to work well. I have done a bit of iron bashing in the past but I didn't realise you needed so many different tongs.
I know it's unrelated but figured it would be read and give it a shot. When making the wood handle of a knife or sword, drill the center hole then heat the blade to a dull red then use the metal to burn the space. Saved you drilling and sawing, it's the traditional method, leave a 2 or 3mm shim for tightening, and the burn will harden and preserve the wood. It's how traditional long sword handles were made. I've doe it on my own and love the result. Your blade keeps the smell of the workshop forever
Hey Jaime, remember my request for more 'blacksmithing sounds'? Not sure if it was on purpose, but these past couple videos were just great regarding the sound! Thank you
I haven’t commented on a RU-vid video since I was 15 but I think the thing that draws me to this, aside from the artistry that is blacksmithing and how you approach it, is how the editing makes it feel like a music video. Like I’d believe it if some sad pop punk white boy sang a song over your power hammer clips. And I’d love it.
I have to say the production values are really stellar these days, especially the sound work and music integration. when the power hammer hits on the beat it's vera vera rockin! but also kudos for mixing it up with different music and even just the natural sounds of the forge. really adds a sense of journey to each video. keep it up!
There's something just so satisfying watching a more simple video instead of the crazy projects he's been up to. Am I the only one just oddly pleased with this episode?
Nice. It feels good building tools, Im not in your field but I'm currently building myself a 60-1 turn 9inch rotary table for my endmill. It feels good to make your own tools
Man, I can't believe that blacksmithing is a sooooo complicated profession! all the time I thought they're just swinging their hammers and be like "uhh let's see how it goes". but after watching your videos, i realized that there are toooons of things and techniques to learn for years. I'm an electrician and I thought that's a lot to learn, but man blacksmithing scares the shit outta me :D. it's almost like a material art! thanks for your videos alec!
Would love to see some wolf jaw tongs made. On some projects I really enjoy the editing and music, but really miss the tutorial style you used to do at the old forge
I'm not usually an advocate for Damascus steel in tools when modern steels are more reliable, but I think a pair of champion tongs would look sweet. Champion tongs are just so nice to look at.
I'm loving the hammer blows in time with the music I'm starting to see on this channel. As a lifelong musician who also swings hammers at work from time to time, I catch myself using the rhythms in whatever song is on the radio to time out my hammer hits😉
i am at 1:21 in... and omg, that music correlation with the hammer was amazing. this is better than television now. your production quality is ON POINT!!!
Great stuff! Amazing how you got the tongs to bend like that. Looked like you managed to get almost all three bends in there by striking carefully in one spot.
