A Majestic Elephant Head Forged from a Single Steel Bar

#blacksmithing #forging #forginganimals
ELEPHANT. An exercise in forging metals, remembering what i love about the craft of the blacksmith that metal can also be sculpted with tools, hammers, chisels, punches and other blacksmithing tools. Forging animal heads was always a passion of mine. forging animals in general. but ive lost some of that passion these last few years so im rekindling the fire and seeing if i still have that burning desire.
I needed a new curtain rail holder as the other wasnt cutting the mustard so decided to forge one. In the last video of forging a flatter i used the press to push material in a certain direction, this gave me the idea of forging ears or antlers and other head dresses of nature i just needed to figure out a way to get the mass on the end the right shape. i drew it on paper and immediately seen an elephant, looked at the curtain rail and knew i wanted to do exactly that. but how???? i just used the same forging technique to create the ears and the rest was just improvisation.
Its good to be back on the metal sculptures again and its all i want to do at the moment.
I hope you enjoy the video as uch as i enjoyed making it. Have a great day!
Oh yeh! let me know in the comments what animal heads you would like to see made.

[@workingwithiron]

What would you want to see made next? If someone else has mentioned something you would enjoy then give it a thumbs up. If not let me know

[@velhallendale1237]

Dragon?

[@GeorgiaOutsiders]

Christmas Stocking hangers/hooks for the mantle.

[@deemedappropriate4790]

Full body crocodile

[@ИванКовалев-г8к]

День добрый. Отличная работа и подча материала. Голова быка была бы очень кстати.

[@juanmanriquez6510]

A lion

[@threeriversforge1997]

Great work, as always. I really appreciate you showing the use of the chisels and such as I think we too often get away from that. Folks tend to think it all has to be done with the hammer and forget that there are butchers, files and a whole host of other tools that blacksmiths have used for eons.

[@crappie119]

your so talented man. I appreciate the work you share online with the rest of us to watch.

[@btsm1973]

Amazing work. I would love to see how you would make a platypus.

[@paulnester1440]

Perry da Platypus? (Sry had to)

[@ВладимирМальцев-й3ч]

👍👍👍 Отличная работа! Крассиво получилось!

[@neilblythin2134]

That was, without a doubt, the best forged elephant I’ve ever seen! All that extra work you did on the wrinkle texturing really made the difference. Very well done!!!

[@wolfparty4234]

A walrus head would be cool!💪🏼🔥🔥👍🏻

[@workingwithiron]

I do like the sound of that!

[@Vikingwerk]

Well that is just incredible.

[@marcsenteney3160]

Once again well done sir.

[@letsgo6500]

This is wonderful absolutely wonderful. I feel like I am right in your shop watching this masterpiece come to life. So cool. Your amazingly talented. I am glad you found my channel so I could find yours.. I am firing up some popcorn so I can just sit here binge watching your videos 😀 so cool. You truly brought that bar of steel to life.

[@kennethelwell8574]

@letsgo6500 I just discovered your channel today (on my own) and watched many of your videos about creatures/animals! Then noticed in the alligator video, a comment by @workingwithiron ... I only found *your* channel two months ago... Both of you are making nice things, and teaching about them very well. Keep up the good work!

[@TOPORISTA]

Очень эксклюзивно!Браво Мастеру👍👏👏👏👏👏

[@Lmr6973]

You done gone to just showing off now!😁. Great work as always sir.

[@pjamestx]

Amazing, very well done!!

[@GeorgiaOutsiders]

Dadgummit you're good. Best blacksmithing channel on KZbin.

[@mrmyorky5634]

Beautiful and Inspiring work, Thank you.

[@andyjagger4364]

Another amazingly clear and detailed "How to" ! your work is outstanding Nathan, especially as its for real smiths as opposed to entertainment for dreamers. Please keep producing. Suggestions for a future project? A friend and I recently made a caduceus for the '150mm challenge ' Australian version. We'd love to see your approach to it. Thanks mate.

[@griseobarba7989]

Very cool Nathan.

[@christinemcdonald8705]

Oh that’s gorgeous. I wish I could do anything even close to that.

[@christiankaiser444]

Wow unglaublich tolle Arbeit👍👍👍

[@LordofTheLords5]

Always a pleasure to watch you work. I wish I could appreciate under you

[@rlgroshans]

Threaded tusks? Ingenious!!!

[@LezPaylor]

Stunning work mate..

[@vsevles6620]

Потрясающая работа! Браво! 👏

[@workingwithiron]

Спасибо, сэр

[@douglasfathers4848]

WoW mate one of the best Animal heads I have seen made Awesome . :)

[@danp3796]

Totally fantastic! Thank you for sharing this with us.

[@Alanbataar]

Most impressive. I don't forge often enough to get beyond struggling with tongs.

[@davidlynn7161]

Beautiful work as always and your film work is wonderful to watch. I'd to see a frog forged.

[@robertmseay7641]

You are truly the consummate metal artist. I would enjoy seeing your rendition of the turtle from a few years back. I know it’s not something new but it displays your skill and artistry.

[@Onlydads5]

Great work! My vote of for a sloth on the next one.

[@KowalstwoBillert]

Great Work!

[@artsmith100]

An EXCELLENT video!

[@workingwithiron]

Thanks Kirk!

[@techronmattic5876]

I'll be staying up for this

[@ahorseman4ever1]

I loved watching this video! what a work of art. I found your channel when I watched you forge your camp tripod. while I watched you use just your anvil hammer and forge I knew you were an artist (no Jigs). I have been a farrier for over 30 years and have moved a lot of metal and I recognized this instantly. Bravo my friend!

[@katigroszek]

Love it! 👍👍👍 I will try to replicate it.

[@ginojaco]

Very good work; only someone who has made one of these, or something very similar, can understand the great 'relief' at having finished the forging and being able to start the texturing - it's all downhill from then. 🙂

[@demastust.2277]

Some deer antler tines could be neat to insert into the tusk socket

[@joshuarachita9265]

Incredible!

[@NjalLaing]

Very nice work. Enjoyable watch😊

[@duff8402]

Beautiful work sir! I've only ever seen maybe three forged elephants, this is exponentially the best of them! Amazing!

[@nix8960]

Fantastic

[@Ludick.J]

A black rhino head would be a phenomenal challenge.

[@kalifammm]

Amaizing peace of art!!

[@jacoklopper4772]

Your work is amazing Sir! Thank you for sharing. Hope to be thie good one day

[@stuwilson6130]

1st class craftsmanship as ever mate :-)

[@marksmallman4572]

Gorgeous, astonoshing work.

[@velhallendale1237]

Thats some real nice handwork with the textures. Absolutely awesome

[@rolandoacano1967]

Excellent Work!!

[@u1es]

Beautiful! Great work! I just got my first forge, and planning to make small items like this ❤

[@albinoblksheep9231]

I see a lot of good work. This impressed me.

[@Welshy259_]

You are just so good! GG's

[@fernandobalina8787]

Que belleza. Herrería en estado puro. Saludos desde el país que salió campeón del mundo

[@SchysCraftCo.]

Very beautiful design and job. Keep up the great craftsmanship and hard work my friend. Forge on. Keep making. God bless.

[@Strive1974]

Nice work

[@PedalSteel-by2hx]

Brother you’re skill level is off the charts. Always excited for your new videos. God bless.

[@Lmr6973]

I do hope all is well with you. I really enjoy your channel and hope to see some more content in the future. Take care.

[@workingwithiron]

All is well my friend, I've just been doing other life things lately. Shouldn't be too long until another video is out. I have a lot filmed just gotta motivate myself to get them edited. Thanks for the well wishes.

[@lukespread]

Excellent work, excellent use of tools!

[@traceybaker5289]

Loved the intro and music very clever 😀

[@rickeyhall6115]

very nice work

[@SuperiorEtchworx]

That would have to be one of the best blacksmithing videos of all time!! It was entertaining and instructive at the same time. I will have to give an elephant a try

[@nicktyger5718]

Amazing work man. That’s so awesome

[@ДмитрийЛарин-г4л]

Восхитительно!!!

[@rustymeadows3482]

Thank you

[@Beltfed45]

That was very cool! Beautiful work!

[@billwoehl3051]

You made that look so easy, and all those chiseled wrinkles made it look really good, think I would have put a slight upward curve on those tusks though ♥️👍🤔

[@williamslusser4461]

Brilliant

[@peterodda548]

That was brilliant maybe a t.rex

[@Shanningun]

How does this not have more views?????

[@ironhammer3734]

This is amazing! What a fantastic representation of our beautiful elephants. I believe in going to try and steal this design from you for our home. Great job and great video work.

[@kemet-son]

amzing 😍😍😍😍❤❤❤

[@xylemmelyx]

masterful.

[@jacoklopper4772]

This is amazing! Would be awesome to see a Rhino

[@bearshield7138]

excellent

[@NickandMildred]

Wow !

[@ThrashingBuddha]

Wauw, these are some seriously impressive videos! As a beginner, i'm defo gonna try some of these to learn! Thanks!

[@FeatherForge]

Superb work Nath as always. That was just spot on. The texture on the skin is great. Funny I was thinking about doing a stylised elephant this morning. All the best Andy

[@bertiebosscat]

Perfect. ❤

[@brysonalden5414]

Selfishly, because I am working on one, I'd love to see your take on an Archaeoptryx! The elephant was wonderful, of course.

[@scottsalgren2024]

Great to see you forging again. It is amazing how much work you did with such gentle blows. How much time did you actually spend on this? A lions head would be pretty epic.

[@workingwithiron]

Its been a long time for sure! I probably spent about 2 hours on the making with filming also. when i make something new it takes a long time to figure the process out, so i will forge a bit then take it home on the evening and think about the piece and what the next steps are and keep repeating that process. all my good work is created that way. so sometimes a 2 hour forging could take a week of thinking, but thats the way my brain works.

[@sanktanton33]

Unbelievable work!! You must have enough steel animals to open your own zoo by now!!

[@fabiozava8261]

uhhh bellissimo👍👍💪💪

[@1son8043]

It looks quite easy too make or you make it easy looking

[@workingwithiron]

Its easy enough, slow and steady wins the race.... give it a go!

[@_Korinzu]

I would use this for a key hook instead just so I can look at it everyday.

[@koval-UA]

Класно. У вас є чому повчитися.

[@aussieanvil9187]

amazing well done i would love to see a wild boar head ive asked plenty of blacksmiths but no body will take it on

[@davidmcminn1843]

Nice. Looking forward to this! I wouldn't mind seeing a full bodied horse if you have any ideas on that :D Someone I know wants me to make a decorative horse shoe for a gift for their daughter who loves them. Not really sure how to make a fancy looking horseshoe, so I thought I might make a shoe that stands up and has a horse jumping through the gap, but I haven't figured out the horse yet!

[@workingwithiron]

Check mark aspery, I'm sure he did a horse jumping from flat bar.

[@workingwithiron]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnuriWifjs1-qsU this is the horse.

[@davidmcminn1843]

@@workingwithiron Nice one! Cheers mate. Looks tricky, but definitely will give it a crack!

[@davidmcminn1843]

@@workingwithiron Elephant turned out great! At one point in the forging (drawing out trunk under p/hammer) I could see a Manta Ray

[@davidmcminn1843]

Could also become a squid fairly easily too I think

[@frankheger5185]

👍👍🍻

[@LWzz33]

Best

[@jesseallan32]

Awesome. Would you be willing to take a quick video showing what tools you used on what parts?

[@workingwithiron]

butcher tool first, really round corner though. Round punch just domed over Small round fuller (chisel rounded over) Eye punch And a sharp concave chisel for texture. I can do a video and link it when i do it for the other channel.

[@robertogrady1321]

That's cool. How would a Rhino look?

[@workingwithiron]

I've been thinking about them also. Keeping with the safari theme. Great idea

[@robertogrady1321]

@@workingwithiron Thanks. The steel lends itself well to the Elephant and Rhino skin 👍✊

[@FryingMike]

Like ya screw the tusks in

[@reigninoel]

Beautiful work as always. Anyway an elephant makes me think why not stick with the African heavyweights, hippo and/or rhino?

[@kristianespensen8206]

Rhino! Excellent!

[@kristianespensen8206]

I learn something new, every time I watch.

[@christopherconkright1317]

A lion would look good with its main in steel

[@grandmajosephine383]

What happened to the giant turtle?

[@1917Enfield]

Brother, how about trying a Rhino?

[@TheSimocor]

My toxic trait is thinking I can do this now

[@christopherconkright1317]

Did you stop making videos?

[@workingwithiron]

for the moment yes. unfortunately. when the next ones will be i have no idea.