Good to see that Alec is staying true to your teaching, and refers to his time with you a lot... Good teacher is what that means, and a lot of impact in a young mans life... Gratz
Thanks Travis. I made that hammer, and I do have classes where people make their own hammers, but there are also some former students that are now making hammers for sale like Arron Cergol and dave Custer. If you live in Europe, Alec Steele, Julien Puy, or Daniel Lea could also make you one.
Golly that’s a big one. I usually swing a 3lb maybe 3.5 if I’m feeling good. But man that’s insane to me. What about you Alec, what size do you usually swing at your workshop(s)?
THANK YOU! I was lost in a rabbit hole of writing research about forging hammers ... you just made my evening, sir! I wasn't wrong with my first approach, YES! 💪🏻🤩
Great informative video Brian. I just got back from my machinest friends house. I had forged my first 4# rounding hammer from 2" od 4140. We Rockwell tested it then did the actual hardening and temper in his heat treat oven. It finished up at 50c hardness. I live in Central Alabama about a 2 hour drive from you. Hopefully I can manage to scrape together the dollars for a 5 day class late summer 2016.Those hammer tongs are tricky to forge but I managed a set that work ok for the lighter stuff. Now it's time to do a beefier pair for the larger hammers. Thanks so much for posting the videos as they have been a great asset for a newbie to the art. I'm 55 and have been a metal fabricator for over 30 of those years. When my dad asked what got me into 'smithing I told him it was a natural "progression back to the old ways". He's 86 and got a real laugh from that statement.Looking forward to learning from a master..... Hopefully.
Brian makes hammers for those who ask but prefers you take a class with him to learn to forge tools for yourself. Class is $250. a day (including room and board), a hammer 3 1/2 and under is also $250 and can be finished in class along with a hot cut, in less than a day. It is a better value to get tools and forging info with Brian.
i just got back from a hammer in and one of the guys had one of your rounding hammers and i got to use it and i loved it moved metal so fast and smooth looked like i was using a power hammer :-) i want one!!!!
You're welcome, Sam. I've got some copper, too, that I'll give you to play with. I've learned more about forging with copper and silver doing small things than all the other bigger stuff I've ever done.
As a novice, all these hammers look so similar until you see them in action. With my favorite cross-peen, I wouldn’t have been able to hit that metal once it stopped glowing. Also the rounded face is perfect for putting a real dent in what your trying to taper.
Hey Brian Great job on explaining the benefits of a rounding hammer. I enjoyed watching you and the Young Smiths in Rapid City SD. I posted a short clip of them striking.
I use different lengths and widths for different weights of hammers. For most of my smaller hand work I'd use my 3 2/3 pound hammer, and I make that from 2 inch round by 4 1/2 inches long. I will end up with a 3 3/4 pound hammer when I direct a billet of that size. I'd've seen some end up with less than 3 1/2 pounds. If you forge to finish and don't take too many heats you'll lose less than 1/4 pound in the end.
My anvil is mounted to its stand and the stand is mounted to a concrete slab. It rings like a bell if it was just sitting there. Just like a tuning fork, if you grab onto it, it will stop ringing.
Nadeem Kablawi I got lucky and talked to a few people and one person had one hanging around their garage and they said I could have it. I am now the proud owner of a rather quite wrought iron anvil that is about 100 or so years old. I also live in a rural area so that helps if you don't live in a place like that you can get a real anvil online made to order they are crazy money. You can also try antique stores many have them but they tend to not be around very long they are getting rare as blacksmiths buy them up.
Nadeem Kablawi Its funny that you should ask.... the thing is: you spend a lot of time and mony to get your first anvil and sas soon as you dont need any more they just keep coming to you.... look in old workshops, on scrapyards and in your neighbors front yard (used as decoration)
that was a great video,you just saved me so much experimenting!so far ive re-dressed my 2 crosspeins with very rounded faces and man my heats last nearly twice as long,or at least i get twice the forging done.but i never wouldve thought of that in your rounding hammer you have hearly every die(useful dies anyway).its like a rack full of hammers in one. HMMM i just got a small flat bar of copper,looks like im gonna make some copper flowers and leaves! :o)
Great informative video and even better hammer control! Now I want one of those hammers, but I dont think it would be right owning one and not learning how to use it correctly from the man who makes them! Anyway, thanks for putting this video up!
Hi Eric, Brian hand forged his rounding hammer. He prefers to teach others how to forge their own tools but will forge hammers and tools for those who ask. You can however get one faster and less expensive from Brian's student, Dave Custer. Dave could also help you decide on size. facebook.com/dave.custer.169?fref=ts
Brian's class schedule is full through July 2015 and I do not want to book too far into the future. I will know more about future classes and scheduling hopefully in May 2015 and ask that you re-contact us then. Thanks, Karen
What length and diameter of 1045 do you start with in making the rounding hammer. I have two bits of 1045 both are 2 1/8" diameter. One is 5" long the other is 12" long.
+Brian Brazeal I'd like to see how you do one of those. Watching this video I got the idea of making 4-Leaf Clovers in Copper, clean them up a bit then let them naturally tarnish green, seal them in a clear coat lacquer. And sell them on St Patrick's Day.
most blacksmiths forging rounding hammers use some kind of dishing/ cupping tool to forge the round side of the rounding hammer. is there any other way to forge the round face consitantly without a cupping tool designed to do so?
Phillip Taylor I've learned a lot about forging by forging copper, silver, and aluminum. You can easily see every hit while you are forging. I do incourage others to try it and see for themselves. Ask Alec Steele and Lyle Wynn if it helped them.
Brian Brazeal I do have a question about the rebound of an anvil. The entire ball bearing bounce back test and what does it really mean? A blacksmith/RU-vidr did a video about the subject and went on about why the rebound doesn't really make a difference. I was really curious about what your take on this is! I believe the channel is purgatoryironworks , if you want to hear what he says. He makes a lot of videos that are against the grain of age old blacksmith beliefs. They're basically a bunch of videos that are him liking to hear himself talk and tell everyone how "smart" he is. He may be a great blacksmith that knows a bunch but in the words of a student of yours, *Alec Steele* needs less "Yack Yack and more Wack Wack"!!! Back to watching your videos again :)
what is the dimensions of the rounded side i am trying to get my hammer rounded enough but i dont know what degree of a dome a normal rounding hammer has can you give me a ball park figure if possible
It is more like a squashed ball. the ball fuller that made the ball swage that makes the round side of the hammers was made with the shallow dish on a swage block I got from Centaur a long time ago.
Now that I have been watching some of Alec Steele's videos and this video over and over again, is that Alec who was helping you record this? I thought that was his voice when he said "recording". Also, what size stock are you using? Thanks and I really admire your work!
I thought that was Alec. Are you using copper because it's easier to forge or does it make a better leaf? Do you get your copper from the steel distributor? Thanks so much
+Matt Behnke I'm using copper for the video so you can see what happens to the metal better without the glow you get from steel. yes I get copper from a distributor.
a lot of people have made the same comment. watch it again all the way to the very end, and pay better attention. you'll see how and why it is possible. you may want to give it a try some day.
+William Laidlaww yes, and for a very long time if you don't bear on to large of surfaces, and you can slow down and actually see the results of each hit because it is not glowing. just don't overheat it, don't go past bright red or it will be melted and end up in the bottom of your fire pot.
So glad you are trying and therefore teaching yourself good techniques! It is the point of posting the videos and sharing. Shoot us an email if you have questions.. brianbrazealblacksmith@gmail.com
Doug Watson I'm sure there is, but I don't use formulas and I rarely take measurements. It's funny when people in a class ask for measurements and I tell them that I don't usually take measurements but they can, they never take that measurement. My own brother actually blames me for not taking measurements for him, and I've given him plenty of opportunities to take those measurements he asks for.
Nikolai Marquardt Tools to make tools: learning to make, use and maintain your own tools The goal of this class is to enable other to go away with the basic tools to do this course and share it with others. Anyone that wants to forge would benefit from this class. The results of this class can be seen in the world with those that have been here and shared what they learned, especially with the Young Smiths and the farriers. This class can be completed in 5 days, so that is the minimum time that it is offered. The longer the stay, though, the more one can get out of it. The first day begins with forging a hot cut hardy with me directing and the student striking, and then a rounding hammer. This has always been completed before lunch. While the hammer is cooling, we will go through the forging of hand punches, fullers, and chisels. Once the hammer is cooled I will go through the basics of grinding the hammer and hardy. The student can continue forging the hand tools while I finish the grinding. We harden and temper the hammer next, then we handle it. Now you can use your hammer and hot cut. After some punches, fullers, and or chisel are forged and ground we will harden, temper and go through the use of them. Next we go on to make the tools that made the hammer and hot cut. We start with the hammer eye punch. I do this step by step. I cut off an appropriate piece of round stock and we forge an oval billet and punch the hole, then you do the same. I direct the next step, then you do the same. We alternate step by step until the punches are finished with the forging. Then we grind and handle them to use them for the next tools which will be the top fullers that made the hammer. I direct the first fuller all the way through, then you direct the next one. We grind and handle them. Now we forge the bottom tools that made the hammer. I show the first fuller, then you do the other. Next we forge the cupping tool with two strikers. Next we forge the hump tools that act as bolsters for forging the hammer and top tools when needed. These tools get ground when cooled. The tongs that were used to forge the hammer and top tools are next, and finally the drift. These are the basic tool used to make the tools that can be made in the course of five days. Other tools can also be made that were used to make the tools like a set hammer, flatter, large ball fuller, bottom swages, top hot cut, and top side cut. More hammers and top and bottom tools can be made with these tools, and it is up to the individual what to choose next. This course is one on one and shows how to "forge to finish", use and maintain your tools, and it is up to the individual to avail themselves to it. Room and board are included. You should be able to go home with more value in tools than it cost for the class and knowledge to share this with others. Private (1 person) Class - “Tools to make Tools" This is one on one instruction with Brian Brazeal at our place in Brandon Mississippi, for 5 or 7 days ( or more). It is designed to improve your forging skills whether you are a blacksmith, farrier or knife maker. The class concentrates on forging techniques that move metal and the "elements of forging" while you forge the tools you need. Longer classes provide more time to work on more techniques like forge welding, jewelry, collaring etc. Class cost per person is: 5 day 1250., 7 days 1750. Including all meals and a place to lay your head at night. (there are motels nearby if you prefer) You bring your safety gear and know the size of your hardy hole. It is helpful if you watch Brian's videos before you arrive. ru-vid.com?feature=guide No experience required for classes, email Karen for scheduling at brianbrazealblacksmith@gmail.com The price is all inclusive with the exception of specialty foods or drinks- sodas, beer/wine etc.. We have a modest home and students stay in our spare room, I make 3 meals a day and you work with Brian in the shop all day. I pick up and deliver to the airport and do laundry so you can pack light. You just forge and we take care of the rest.
+clyde` melton It is just a habit most of us develop to keep in the swing while thinking about what we want to drop a hammer on next or to give a little extra time while turning.
+clyde` melton They don't. I used to do it just because... Frank Turley broke me of the habit. Called them "dinky blows". Just remember "no dinky blows".
You hit the anvil to get a different grip on the hammer or rest your arm. That split second can really make a difference. Joey Van Der Seeg has a video on this topic I believe
PEN7367 they call it pure copper at the metal distributors. I went ahead and did a Google search on types of copper and there are different types of pure copper it says. I never asked exactly what type they carried because I was not aware there were different types of pure copper till now.
The benefit does not make sense to me. If the face of a german-styled hammer is grinded/shaped correct, you can do the same typ of forming metal. Holding the hammer in different angles you have several fullers to "push" the material into the desired shape. Additional you have a cross-peen, which is even more useful to "push" the material.
松田もしくろす I don't sell any hammers unless someone asks me to make the one. I show people how to make them. I was the one that showed FFF. He was one of my first students to start making them. There are a lot of people all over the world making and selling them now. Some were my students, some were my students students, and some learned by the information my students and I put out there. It's pretty amazing how far this has gone since I started showing others how to do this.
You did not find my hammers on eBay. You found some of my former students hammers on eBay. I give classes that enable others to make their own tools and go home with the tools to make them with others. Before lunch, on the first day of class, everyone has forged a hot cut hardy and a hammer. I've been doing this for the past four years and it has spread all over the world especially with the International Young Smiths and the farriers that have come. We are going to the International Blacksmithing Festival in Devon, England in August with a IYS team to share what we've been doing.
Joseph Penton the same as most any other hammer, usually 1045 or 4140, medium carbon steels. You don't want hammers too hard. They are for hammering. They should be tough, not brittle.
I find that to be funny as it is Alec Steele that I had watched first. He was singing praises about having learned much from you. Brian, you explain things well. Thank you for sharing.
Interesting, I've seen and heard a lot of different people imply the same thing, but you may want to take another look. You may see that it is copper and is quite forgeable. I use it a lot to explain forging and encourage others to try it. You can see it better because it is not glowing and it does allow you to forge it longer. It will work harden like other metals, but you can plainly see that it is not occurring in this video. Give it a try.