Forging 10 Saws Into 1 Big Saw!

Go to tryfum.com/ALECSTEELE and use code ALECSTEELE to save an additional 10% off your order today.
OUR PRODUCTS: alecsteeleco.com/
INSTAGRAM: / alecsteele
ALECSTEELECO KZbin: bit.ly/alecsteelecoYT
ALECSTEELECO INSTAGRAM: / alecsteeleco
LEARN BLACKSMITHING ONLINE: beginblacksmithing.com/
PATREON: / alecsteele
Instagrams:
Alec: @alecsteele
Jamie: @jamie.popple
My name is Alec Steele and I am a 24 year old blacksmith. We make videos about making interesting things, learning about craft and appreciating the joy of creativity. Great to have you here following along!
If you want to get into blacksmithing or knifemaking, check out our Montana based online store where we stock a range of great metalworking equipment for these crafts as well as our work-wear line and other products: alecsteeleco.com/
Thank you for watching!
Alec
/ alecsteele
INSTAGRAM @alecsteele
FACEBOOK PAGE / alecsteeleblacksmith
MUSIC:
Epidemic Sound - goo.gl/iThmfx
-signing up at this link supports the show!
SoundStripe soundstripe.com?fpr=alec84
- signing up at this link supports the show!
MUSIC - goo.gl/iThmfx signing up at this link supports the show!
------------------------------------------------
AMAZON AFFILIATE LINKS TO GEAR I LIKE, buying here supports us:
--------------
CAMERA + MAIN LENS: amzn.to/2CrLyYP
WIDE LENS: amzn.to/2CsAZou
TRIPOD: amzn.to/2GpBX7f
MIC: amzn.to/2CrBmiQ
SD CARD: amzn.to/2sF0i7g
COMPUTER: amzn.to/2C4i0oo
Alec Steele Blacksmith 2022

[@AlecSteele]

Jamie was right, we should've used 20 saws. Go to tryfum.com/ALECSTEELE and use code ALECSTEELE to save an additional 10% off your order today.

[@stevealford230]

YOU'RE one big saw!

[@Hillbilly-Tech]

English and speak Brittish? Just wait a sec... Brittish and speak English? Wait... err What the hell? ARGH!! LOL! Aluminum, Aluminium... Everyone is right! 😁Thanks and I still really hope to see another Alec impersonation video from Jamie. :)

[@TomsBackyardWorkshop]

Everyone who ive ever known who tried to quit smoking with a vape now has a vaping habbit and most of them still smoke.

[@ZevVeli]

@@TomsBackyardWorkshop yeah, mounting evidence shows vaping 1) does not work to help with nicotine addiction and 2) is worse for you than cigarettes in every possible way.

[@dylbonez]

I would look at reviews for this company. It's getting slammed lol

[@NoodleHausColubrids]

"We won't be able to know how much steel we actually have". Ah yes, maths, not an Alec strongpoint.

[@sillyscru1]

I was thinking that too. In the end I'm not sure it even matters and may have been on purpose just to mess with folks.

[@planeben]

Perfectly reasonable omission when your ad-libbing. If it were me, .001 second after it came out of my mouth, I'd stop and slap myself for not realizing there was still a solution available to calculate total weight.😂

[@pvic6959]

@@sillyscru1 do you really think the doesnt know how to do x10 LOLOL. its a joke or sure~

[@lordinsect]

Came here to say this 😂

[@joeybillings780]

5.5lbs lol

[@WoodMachinist]

A lot of hand saw plates are CS85 or CS95 steel, I have dozens of dull blades that I cut up and grind to make bespoke card scrapers when matching timber mouldings. A video worth watching on how traditional hand saws were made would be the ones that Ken Hawley recorded in Sheffield back in the '90s when the industry was dying off, they're available on KZbin.

[@williamjudge4913]

The difference between traditional saws and modern one (in part) is the hardening. Old saws had the whole panel hardened and tempered. Modern ones, only the teeth are hardened so sharpening would require hardening tempering then sharpening. Or throw it out and buy a new one.

[@WoodMachinist]

@@williamjudge4913 Yes, and the best saws were taper ground as well, thicker at the teeth and thinner at the top of the saw. I think the only person left in Britain that makes saws in such a manner is Shane Skelton.

[@gibbnasta]

​@@williamjudge4913I'm thankful I was taught to sharpen saws. I can get my grandpa's ancient panel saw much sharper and sharper linger than the one I bought a few years ago.

[@Grandwigg]

I think it was Essential Craftsman that had some good saw sharpening videos . He did logging work at one point. And his conversations with Cy (Sy?) Swan are amazing. (I know he's done stuff about chainsaw maintenance, bit I think he's done some on this has as well )

[@benjaminjackson8713]

That's really good to know! I've been looking to get some card scrapers recently and have a cheap home depot saw I was going to get rid of. Thank you!

[@koshey245]

Will: "Ive become a master bladesmith and want to perfect the Kitchen Knife and all its variants" Alec: "haha big household items" And im here for both of em

[@MeegMaster]

Gosh, the banter between you two always make me smile. There's a sadness that you left Montana in your awesome workshop there, but damn having Jamie back has been such a treat. Keep it up, y'all!

[@marksmallman4572]

why did he leave, I must have missed something?

[@MystearicaClaws]

​@@marksmallman4572businesses didn't pan out, never really recovering from the covid headaches

[@giggityguy]

I love that words like "kerf" exist. If you don't use saws a whole lot, you probably didn't think you needed a word for the slot cut by a saw, but I'm sure that for many people in history, it was so important that it was given a one syllable word so you could say it a lot.

[@Tegemor]

Kerf is also a word for lost material during plasma cutting. really any type of cutting that involves lost material.

[@lasersight70]

Hey! The points on the saw blades you purchased are point hardened or "Impulse" hardened. basically, the blade it self is soft and flexible, but the teeth are hardened to such a degree that you would need a diamond file to sharpen it.. They do tend to stay sharper longer, but most people thro them away and buy a new one when they get dull.

[@elimg.3684]

That's right, they are not considered to be worth sharpening by woodworkers. Back in the day the teeth werent hardened this way which meant they got dull quicker, but were quite easily sharpened.

[@b62boom1]

I'm pretty old! My father taught me how to hand set and sharpen saws, chisels, plane blades, all sorts of stuff when I was a kid. It's a dying art these days.

[@sam1812seal]

The tool I always wanted was my uncle’s Victorian saw set. A genius piece of tool work that no doubt will last for another century at least.

[@SenorSenorStacks]

*Sand blasting cabinet suggestion. Source a big old office printer with scanning bed. The tempered glass those things were made with is quite special. Use it to replace the viewing glass on the cabinet, especially useful if the blasting agent you use is particularly harsh as it will wear slower and be less prone to chips and pitting. Pretty sure Jason from Fireball Tools did something similar with his big cabinet, but he needed two panels and a custom frame to make it work.

[@Skinflaps_Meatslapper]

I just use clear vinyl like a screen protector and stick it to the inside glass. When it gets too hard to see through after wiping it off, I peel it off and put a new one on. I don't sandblast a whole lot, but they typically last half a year while using it maybe once or twice for a half hour or so every few days. I've also learned that being mindful of where the "ricochet" of the media will end up helps to reduce wear on the protector, and a good vacuum to provide a lot of air exchange helps to keep the air and window dust free.

[@pontiusthepilot]

Alec, I know there's probably detractors that are upset you're not just doing another damascus weapon but I really love these little projects that you're clearly excited about. Not only is it fresh new content, it's genuinely enjoyable seeing you excited about the project.

[@vilemberanek4448]

Hope there will be some hand forging soon, as its my favorite, always like the troubleshooting though. And i thing that a pepper mill could be an interesting project to make.

[@reecec626]

The video editing is brilliantly nuanced.

[@stefan17x]

I think it'd be pretty cool to see Alex and Jamie do a podcast together. You guys seem to vibe really well and I think it'd make some both fun and informative content.

[@NoobNoobNews]

Steel being fluffy is the most horrifying sentence I never thought I would ever hear.

[@ConfusedRaccoon]

The shot of the "Shop Crocs" @ 1:37 brought about a question. They're not Crocs, I know. But either way, how much heat can they take before your toe beans are in danger?

[@IanZainea1990]

12:41 the orange light is nice. Even with the white balance being off. Adds a nice character to that area

[@F0XD1E]

Ah I remember wranglerstar. One of the several fallen from grace after completely losing their minds.

[@dack42]

I love these projects! That's a ridiculously thick saw. Perhaps you could make a roller setup to get it thinner (and also larger)?

[@LoreTunderin]

I've seen it all now. Alec huffing on an air freshener wasn't on my bingo card for today.

[@WoobCrab]

I love these 'small' projects, genuinely my favourites are things like the carabiner and your pen builds. Just have fun! We love the energy no matter the project!

[@gusteg83]

2:21 Sonic coin sound. 😂❤

[@youtubeSuckssNow]

Please make a bunch of tiny tools and a tiny forge for the tiny power hammer

[@SaszaDerRoyt]

You should make your own version of the Füm device, maybe using something like mokume gane for a decorative flair!

[@jamesmeals1430]

Most high end saws were tempered to be rather soft so that a user can sharpen his own saw with a file. The cheap hardware saws generally have hardened teeth because they are disposable. That is also why they have crappy plastic handles compared to the ornate and ergonomic wooden ones that you see in a lot of fine woodworking shops.

[@tonyimperial5323]

The woodworking hand tool line by Steele. I love it

[@dto7321]

Alec’s videos always put me in a good mood.

[@mikedx617x]

RIP to How Its Made, the best show to ever be on television

[@theunbeardedbrother]

😆 Jamie pointing out the "big" saw blade is almost the same size as the original 😂 classic stuff man

[@travisolander4749]

It's honestly impressive how flexible that steel is, given its carbon content.

[@ehsnils]

It may be that the blade is actually from two different steel qualities - one carrier alloy that's flexible and one cutting that's hard and high in carbon.

[@howlinger8610]

Have you ever thought of forging the “Wabbajack” from skyrim? I think it would be a very cool process and use a lot of your skill to get right!!

[@beniself]

You learn something new every time!!! That’s the fun part

[@FDKMOGAR]

Seeing how young and successful Alec is, is the reason I decided to try and start my own business/brand

[@steelefarmllc142]

I'm looking forward to the part where you take all the plastic from the original and forge them together to make the bigger handle 🤣

[@simcoespring]

you can try making a broach like in your last video - set it up in a jig and move it down the milling machine with the DRO and broach each tooth.

[@Lonelymountainblades]

Wow alec, you're so bored you've graduated to a whole nother level of awesomeness. Keep it up!!!!!!

[@aserta]

12:42 they just stamp it, then pass the teeth section through an induction heater. That's it.

[@sarahschlindwein603]

This feels like one of those videos where they had no idea for a video or they have a bigger video that is taking longer than expected so they threw out a random idea and said yeah that will work.

[@mitchpw2996]

That's got to be the most chaotic power hammer shots of any of your videos when the plastic handles are just everywhere on the screen hahah

[@carolbuzelim]

I learn about the sparkles with you and my professor was so proud and he thought me anything at all

[@ThePillenwerfer]

Traditionally saws were hardened enough to spring back into shape if bent (within reason) but not as hard as most other cutting tools. They may have needed sharpening relatively often but that was easily done with a file. In more recent times the teeth only have been hardened more, as shown in the video you found. They stay sharp for longer but can't be practically sharpened when they do get blunt. If the whole plate was hardened to the same degree there'd be a big risk of the entire thing snapping. Traditional Japanese saws are harder than western ones but cut on the pull and beginners still manage to snap them.

[@madetv1647]

Finally Back to Forging!!!!! 💪💪👊🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲 Thank You Alec, this is what brought me to your channel as a Subscriber years ago, and to be Honest the videos in recent times I just FF through. Forging though, Can't Get Enough!! The Katana build was one of your Best Build Series in your Channels History, Get Back to Your Roots, PLEASE & THANK YOU!!!

[@maximilianbondi6297]

as a carpenter is really love the title and the idea.

[@ehsnils]

You should have put in an ad to ask for old worn out saw blades and other metal tools of varying kinds. That might be the next project for a damascus forge with some interesting results given the mix of materials you'd get. Some saw blades are actually built from different materials in the blade and the teeth.

[@DjDolHaus86]

Irwin Jack saws are phenomenal saws for the money

[@ivoleather]

Paul sellers has great videos on cutting new teeth and setting them, really easy with basic tools.

[@davidjoiner2914]

My granddad had a few old saw that he used to re sharpend. He used a wide clamp and triangle file to form them, then a setting tool that looked similar to a hole punch.

[@xavierlewis4945]

Should make a Damascus block plane at some point. Could be really cool and plenty of surface area to make it pretty or fancy

[@robbieward7026]

I seem to remember you making WranglerStar a beautiful pickeroon! Long time viewer, I think I started watching you just after you got out of your first workshop with the dirt floors and leaky roof.

[@ahmadhasan3258]

12:18 he was actually excited someone agreed on the light

[@elementaldraco]

NHK World did quite an interesting video on the making of Japanese pull saws where modern manufacturing was pitted against traditional handmade. Have you ever made a Japanese pull saw?

[@JacobE-23]

I just watched that yesterday, lol. Love that channel!

[@amazoniancustodian]

You mentioned the atmosphere causing immediate oxidation. Imagine doing forge work inside of a giant glove box 💃

[@alejandrocorralmejia469]

Love to see the Gigantic Orange lamp on the background. It gives the shop a fun look to it.

[@kaisera4996]

You can make an indexing punch that cuts the teeth used on the press or power hammer

[@gbfguy]

Make it thinner! Less material to relocate while using the tool means faster results

[@gibbnasta]

As a 3rd generation carpenter who was made to learn how to use hand tools before i could touch any power tools this one was pretty cool. Showing this to my grandpa tomorrow. Hes always said a real carpenter still uses hand tools. I still use one of his old planers and I don't go to any job without the rule he taught me to measure with.

[@ctje1638]

this first part is basically just you making a really fancy plate

[@bradley3549]

I didn't know you forged stuff! Pretty cool!

[@rainmannoodles]

I'm going to make sure to save all of the videos from this series. In the future, if I'm ever in a bind and happen to: - have 10 small saws and need 1 slightly larger one - for some reason can't go to a store, *and* - happen to have an entire workshop handy ...then I'll know exactly what to do. 😂

[@thecaveman9001]

Great fun video as usual! Hook upp the shop vac to the sandblasting cab and run it on low-medium speed and you will get great visibility in the cabinet. I have the same type and had the same problem. I would also upgrade the light in the cabinet. Atleast if it is as dim as mine. Maybe just stick a good led flashlight with a magnet in there. 👍👍

[@r0nd0n39]

I would watch Paul Sellers here on youtube to learn how to set the teeth of a saw, he's the best handtool woodworking expert I've found.

[@natebowman7593]

1:53 rounding at 253 grams x 10 saw blades =2,530 grams, or 2.53 Kg, or 5.5 pounds in case anyone wants to know. That's a pretty good sized billet.

[@merelyChirs]

I was confused why he didn't just multiply by 10 😂

[@America_Yea]

You can use the wire wheel or scotchbright to finish your scale after sandblasting. It makes it signifigantly easier to remove the rest.

[@America_Yea]

Your steel was thick enough to not need it but still.

[@henritheron3050]

Always fun to see a new vid

[@kill3st]

Alec, I love it when you talk to inanimate objects!

[@aapo0881]

1:15 "sometimes reasonable men must do unreasonable things" -Marvin Heemeyer

[@karl_alan]

There are a lot of hand-tool woodworkers on youtube that have videos around re-setting the teeth & sharpening a western style saw like this one.

[@aperson5006]

A reference to the professional homesteader wasn't something that i expected from this video

[@s3b_Leney]

Someone please teach alec his 10 times tables😂

[@andrepienaar6459]

Cut each saw into about 4-6 pieces, forge them together and work it down to a saw's thickness.

[@colepowell1275]

So Alec, seing that board in the background of the end shot of the video gave me an idea. FORGED SKATEBOARD TRUCKS

[@scottm9605]

Modern saw plates on mass market saws are spring tempered and the teeth are hardened after sharpening and setting. Old saws and good craftsman made modern saws the teeth are not hardened, the plate is given a nice even temper so that they can be sharpened with a file.

[@PureNrGG]

I swear my brain is broken because after seeing you use the power hammer to break the plastic handles, i wanna see ya try and forge plastic 😂 it would be interesting to see if it works with the heat generated

[@infidelgaming1670]

You need to fine tune your sand/air mix. Play around with glass beads and walnut shells while you're at it. Walnut shells will give you a softer blast

[@zzzires5045]

Not being able to run a forge lately, I have heard vinegar eats scale and softens it for easier removal (also saving belts ect)

[@benjaminfreeman2996]

You need to get the vacuum attachment for the blast cabinet. It makes a huge difference in visibility.

[@jamest.5001]

I was expecting you to cut the saws up! Making a block of steel roughly 6" x 8"

[@ewanrollo5562]

Ive been looking for a slightly bigger, way more expensive, harder to use saw for years now. Hopefully this will be avaliable online soon

[@ewanrollo5562]

Sorry I know it will be something great when its finished.

[@TheWoodsman308]

In the Alps I once saw a simple contraption to bend the teeth of the saws used by lumberjacks, it is basically a lever that presses on the tooth, since the punch is close to the fulcrum you have quite a lot of force, with little but precise range of motion thanks to a rivet that made shure you can't push further than a certain angle, it shouldn't be too complicated to build and shuld make the work quick and even.

[@justinbanks2380]

1:37 is Alec seriously wearing Crocs in the shop? Com'on man!

[@MrBassjan]

Saws with darker coloured teeth: These are the types of saws to avoid when looking for a saw. Only the teeth are hardened, so sharpening is out of the question, once dull it is ready to throw away. Proper saws are heat treated all the way, this allows for them to be sharpened over and over again. I have a few marvelous exemples of that where the saw is reduced to a little strip of metal over many many years of use.

[@Lukaslevanen1435]

Your blast cabinet needs a vacuum for dust collection that will make it far easier to see.

[@Arithorath]

In American saw mills the techs that sharpen, repair, and maintain saw blades are called “Saw Fitters”. There may be other names as well.

[@rickseiden1]

So many opportunities for Michael Scott in this video.

[@user-nh3wt2zp1c]

Assuming you haven't already filmed part two. You could use your mill to both cut your saw teeth and to do the set. Left, straight, right, straight..... would be the set I'd use.

[@hubertanatol9446]

I would really love to see primitive technology video series from Alec! He has a skillset and motivation that would make it very interesting

[@sergiofilosofo3355]

Reminds me to the Serie "Forged in fire". Would be cool if you Alec could do something as the rules in that serie.

[@saginawdan]

Finally, you're forging steel. 👍

[@frankjung9094]

People don't talk enough about the Alex Calcium era 9:00

[@psychattra5750]

When you said you were going to forge weld/ make saw Damascus, I was expecting saws to get cut up and made into a block that then got forged out to a saw.

[@taylormcintyre5759]

6:07 forbidden pizza slice

[@StuartGeers]

This reminds me of those reels where someone drills a hole, taps it, fills it with a bolt, welds it in, grinds it off, drills a hole, taps it, fills it with a bolt......

[@GreayInAk]

You should make a shillelagh next.

[@shieldwolf8093]

4:26.. Alec. it's floppy, it's very floppy! Me.. Thas what she said 😆

[@BurritoMaster24]

the ending reminds me of the old days whe i would forge and just be holding my tongs desperatly trying to use the heat i got into the steel using a pit forge , wood powered, that I had to kneel in front of to work with. "ow oww oww I'm being burnt! " "my eyes!" thoze vice grips got hot fast lol

[@Admitting_tulip]

Best video i saw in a while!

[@bigguns45acp]

To make your view in the sanblaster better, you need to hook up a dust extractor to the exhuast port on it. It will also make your blast media work more effectively due to most of the fine dust removed.

[@U014B]

9:01 You kidding? They made a whole movie about it with you and a mutant reindeer!

[@justinbanks2380]

5:56 I hate when that happens... Gotta know where to focus it 🤣

[@pesomasagravedad]

Some one needs to turn "omg it's floppy, it's floppy" into a tiktok sound! 😂😂😂