Anvil bending or scrolling fork

Forks used for making scrolls or simply bending S hooks can be made in many different ways. This particular scroll fork fits in the anvil hardy hole.
Black Bear Forge is a small one person blacksmith shop located in southern Colorado. My current focus is shifting away from commissions and customer orders and towards education through these videos on KZbin. Thank you for watching
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Blacksmithing tools and supplies
Self contained air hammers - www.saymakhamme...
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New anvils -
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Blacksmithing and related activities can be hazardous. These videos are not a substitute for competent professional instruction. Your safety is your sole responsibility. Always use appropriate safety equipment including eye and ear protection when working in the shop. Follow manufactures safety guidelines for the use of all equipment. In the event something shown in one of these videos seems unsafe, it is up to you to make the appropriate changes to protect yourself.

[@benhobbs538]

I'm sure it's been said before, but you truly are the Bob Ross of blacksmithing! Thanks for all you do John; as much as you deserve your own TV show, the power of KZbin makes you so much more accessible.

[@buckwildebeest398]

Bob Ross was awesome. I could watch him do the same painting over, and over.

[@LowlanderNurse]

Happy lil tongs!

[@buckwildebeest398]

I want to be like you when I grow up. Banging on hot metal seems like what we were put here to do.

[@herbievanbeveren1314]

Nice to see how to do this only with a (hand held) hammer and without a helper. Probably the situation for many of your fans. Like always, THANKS!

[@kensmapleleafretirement]

Well worth the time to make tools the "hard way" to practice. That was a masterful job you did there. Some serious skill involved. Thank you for showing this project to us.

[@BlackBearForge]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@douglasfathers4848]

Hi John really enjoy watching you forging tools by hand ,and appreciate that you have a power hammer and you still take the time to show it can be done at the anvil.so thank you once again.

[@buckwildebeest398]

And he keeps his breathing audible, which helps let you know it's harder than it looks.

[@buckwildebeest398]

I was sure anvil.so wasn't a real web address, so I tried it.

[@gurvinderkau1e5w18]

Well forged out tool. Agreed fun and satisfaction making tools by yourself is uncomparable. I enjoyed the last part of video. 👍👍

[@stationaryenginesworldwide]

Another awesome video John thank you.

[@rabadgett]

Another amazing video that helps me learn more and more thank you John!

[@omarsedano4301]

Love your videos.

[@frankgaletzka8477]

Hallo John It 0700 PM or in German 1900😉 and i have watched you Black Friday video What a pleasure👍👍👍 It very Cold in your Shop but while you work you need no heater you are the heater in your shop 😏😏 And thats all for your viewers thanks so much that you Show us the hard way. I love the Tradition because only the hard way teach us how ( in German ) wertvoll 😏 Good Tools are in a world were everything is availible everytime Go on i love the work you do Good bless you Yours Frank

[@davidoliver2826]

Best way to spend my Black Friday! Blacksmithing!🤓 Thank you sir for sharing your journey with us!

[@tobyjo57]

Wow John that's one nice big bending fork.

[@NeilGraham.I.M.F]

I'm back. To watch the video as I need to make one myself

[@jjppres]

Have been waiting some time now to see you make one like that. Looks like a good weekend project. Thanks John!

[@ericdouglas9804]

Well I guess if it’s too cold for the trike; this served quite nicely as you cardio workout 😎👍. More great stuff John

[@tomayrscotland6890]

Hi black bear Forge. I have watched your work for around a year now, I worked with my grandfather when I was 16 And helped out during the holidays. he and his father were Blacksmith and Farriers. I learned a lot back then but I went to become a Cinema projectionist. I am 73 now so that was a memory from long ago. Watching your show plus Lads making furnaces, I got the urge to make my own forge. That done; My local Steel supplier gave me a large H - Beam so I now have an anvil. I have now got the square bar now for making the Tongs. Keep the videos coming. Thanks, Tom Scotland.

[@danielmoss2089]

Nice video John she came out great. I hope that hammer was OK?

[@BlackBearForge]

It's been a great hammer. Thanks again

[@lenblacksmith8559]

Good one John love making these, made one for the vice from one of your vids, the flat on with two different sizes.

[@williamgarren6815]

Thinks for letting me watch 😀

[@markmoreno7295]

Love it, but ah what's that rack in the background? Maybe you need to do a roundup on various tong/hammer racks. Simple, preferably bolted.

[@hoongfu]

Great video! I don't have a welder so this may be the only way.

[@jimtalbot3989]

Love the ending

[@randallsummers6551]

Good job. Take care and God bless.

[@TheRustyGarageandHomestead]

John good video again

[@duaneaubuchon9453]

Nice job sir!!!

[@MarkATrombley]

It is kinda scary that people are concerned by how loose your holes are. You should start locking your doors.

[@terrycarwile6499]

Excellent video! Thanks so much for doing the work in real time. Lots of vids out there where there's only one camera angle, and done in time lapse. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

[@brysonalden5414]

Came back to this one to convince myself not to use my new welder to fab one up. Never thought I'd need one, and now I need two different sizes. I think forged forks will hold up better for me, having just broken a weld on a tool I bought to make hooks with. Sigh.

[@AZ-kr6ff]

Man, I'm so stupid sometimes... I had a piece of square stock that was too big for my hardy hole so I milled it down to fit. Haha I guess I'm not quite thinking like a blacksmith yet. D'oh!

[@messylaura]

oh its a lot better than what i was thinking "upset your material to make it bigger................"

[@shawnpittard5961]

I ordered some 7/8 stock for my Anvil, as it turns out, i have the exact opposite problem, the hardy is more like 15/16, ill be learning the upset skill I guess. Thanks John, great work

[@AZ-kr6ff]

@@shawnpittard5961 That'll probably be a good project though. Have you been blacksmithing long? I've only been at it a few weeks. Do you have a propane, or coal forge?

[@shawnpittard5961]

@@AZ-kr6ff I have been at it about 3 months , I have a double gas burner from DevilForge. Very happy with it. Yourself?

[@shawnpittard5961]

I want to build a coal forge in the future. I'm currently watching a Livestream from Sam Towns. He has a podcast as well called the ForgeCast. He's a co-host with Alex Norton, both are extremely intelligent and have sped up my process for sure.

[@BCM1959]

I'm betting it is not as easy as you make it look. First time I've heard you breathing hard though so there's that. Nice work as usual, thank you for taking us along. I learn something from most every video you put up.,

[@BlackBearForge]

Mostly you were listening to a more sensitive microphone.

[@TufStockdogs]

That was a funny thing you say lol it don't bother at all either very nice how to make that tool I thank you very much

[@ValhallaIronworks]

Dan Moss certainly makes a damn fine hammer!

[@BlackBearForge]

That he does

[@danielmoss2089]

@@BlackBearForge Thank you John and Alex.

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Thanks John for sharing the bending fork made the traditional way, it’s awesome. Really a great video !

[@TonyUrryMakes]

Really top notch quality on the filming and editing. I really notice the sharp focus and high resolution. Having clarity on what it looks like when you move from octagon to round was helpful.

[@clydebalcom8252]

My father's father had a saying. "A straight Hardie hole is the sign of an anvil that's never been used."

[@waltparkhurst2494]

Thanks John for yet another awesome video, I learn something with every video I watch. Ty.

[@stuffbywoody5497]

I can see how the 1st half of this process can be used to make something to round plates to make something with a curve or something rounded.

[@thedixonway]

Inspiring as always. Man you were doing work! Thanks again for sharing the process for making great things!

[@OldHickoryForge]

Pushing 100k subs! You deserve it big guy!

[@cypherian9821]

That last bit of the bouncing it out of the tongs would be me, I think I would have used a machine to neck it down or it would have been tapered down and done for the day lol

[@anthonystrunk5360]

I would be too tempted by the power hammer to hand forge all that..lol.. you have real dedication! Great video!

[@TheOldaz1]

Currently making tools, so this very appropriate right now - just have to find some more steel - my hardy hole is about 1 1/16" and roughly square, so having to make "adjustments". Thanks John.

[@paulcorrigan649]

Are you making this for a specific project John? Boy that looked like hard work.

[@BlackBearForge]

No, just needed a video idea.

[@MrCodrin1986]

Thank you for sharing with us. Great instructions

[@stevenlarsen1691]

I have two anvils the smaller one has a 1" hole that is straight. and the larger one has a sloppy 1" hardy that is like yours, that is a little crooked. I usually go to the larger sloppy crooked anvil. It's odd how that hardy hole isn't more standard. Thank you very much for sharing another great video.

[@johndilsaver8409]

Very nice hardy tool. I've started making some hardy tools, but haven't made a bending tool yet. Lots of good techniques demo'ed here. Thanks for posting this!

[@BlackBearForge]

You are quite welcome

[@candjwatt]

Nice video, love the mini sledge hammer

[@gateway8833]

The older I get the more popular my Power Hammer becomes.

[@herrero4270]

Thank you for your video. I suppose the aperture can be regulated when you move the two horns to their definitive place, giving more or less curvature at their base.

[@5x535]

I started one of these today with an old truck axel. What a fun project! The 4 & 8 lb hammers got to really give it a go. Thanks for showing me the way.

[@aktrapper6126]

Love your video's and your shop. So you are a traditionalist, I can appreciate that :-)

[@elgringobre]

Excelente... Muy buenos trabajos maestro, saludos desde Argentina.

[@markmoreno7295]

Put me down for that hardy tool tong. I'm thinking a 1" vee bit tong with a cross cut notch?

[@WillPatagonia]

A master class! Yesterday I tried out by welding, and it was catastrophic. I will try this wat even even though it may take me the whole weekend.

[@Lesnz2009]

I am not bothered about how hardy the tools fit in the hole. Whatever works.

[@HWPcville]

Just watching got my heart rate up...lol I admire your dedication to your craft working in a shop with the temp in the teens!. I like working in my shop but when the temp is in the 50's I tend to call it a day. Nice work, thanks for posting.

[@robertwhitney2232]

18 degrees in Colorado, must be warmer than here in Michigan.

[@BlackBearForge]

In many ways I prefer the cold more than the hot summer days

[@aurvangar9811]

It's my second winter as blacksmith. Is there any better way to go through this season?!

[@BlackBearForge]

Probably not. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGPWm4mlopWbe9E

[@johnjude2685]

Power hammer don't warm you up like that rounding hammer. Thanks for showing anougher fine video Sir

[@BlackBearForge]

Power hammer gets the job done so you can head indoors for a hot cup of what ever you prefer.

[@dereksstuff8395]

Nice job. Great project

[@andrefourer]

Great job as usual John.

[@bentoombs]

Very nice tool!! Daniel Moss is the man. My first real hammer. Don't tell him I said that... We talk, I'll know 🤔😂😂

[@heathworsley8347]

Nice work John.

[@donnarhill1932]

👍🏼 ok, get that you are trying to show that one can do this all by hand but . . . . maybe you should consider a third KZbin channel where you use the Saymak power hammer and Hydraulic press more. Love that power hammer stuff ❤️

[@mitchellgreene5981]

Thats one heavy duty sling shot 😂

[@rosswiddison6699]

Thank you John, great to watch and learn mate

[@jockstewart8793]

It is a joy to see videos with no power hammer - this stuff is inspirational because it is achievable. I shall be copying your bending fork technique from the same first principles. Thank you.

[@sbjennings99]

Awesome informational educational video experience Y'alls

[@henrycadorette472]

i cant seem to find the link to paypal .

[@BlackBearForge]

Here you go and thank you www.paypal.me/BlackBearForge

[@jandastroy]

I made a bender like this with some mild steel and a welder a while back and it was great for thin narrow metal. But then the second I used it for something as wide as it in a pinch to make a tool it was too weak. I like your version much better. I hope it works well for you I have found it nice having the mass of the anvil behind your scrolling.

[@mylarhyrule3752]

Looking to build my first treadle, so sorry if it’s a dumb question... forging the top side of that down (to keep the 1/2 inch shoulder) wouldn’t a treadle hammer be a better tool for the job? Extra control and all... does it not hit hard enough or are you trying to avoid all power tools for the viewers? Thanks again and looking forward to other videos!

[@BlackBearForge]

With the right dies a treadle hammer would work very well for this. In this video I wanted to show the entire thing done at the anvil

[@mylarhyrule3752]

Black Bear Forge that’s what I was thinking, I just wanted to make sure... last night I set up my temporary forge for the first time... didn’t get a lot of work work done, but I sure did a LOT of learning in that 2 hour forging session, lol. Biggest three lessons were 1) a pair of solid tongs is possibly as important as a good anvil, and that I need to dress the edges on my railroad track anvil... the corners aren’t nearly sharp enough to get good lines on the transitions, and 3, as a mechanic that is very good with a hammer:.. my arm simply isn’t nearly as good as I thought it was, lol. Keep up the good work sir!!

[@JohnSmith-gs4lw]

Even if it did form cold shuts, on something that thick would it matter?

[@BlackBearForge]

OProbably not in normal use, but if it were stressed heavily, it might

[@RobertFay]

*Seeing how thing were done using old ways before arch-welding fabrication is very Educational !*

[@joelegrand5903]

I could tell this was a difficult chore, I have not worked with anything that difficult as of yet.

[@76irodriguez]

Unusual tuning fork you made there. hahaha

[@mje3055]

Very nice

[@currajeperm8418]

Super maestro profesore of albania thenky per lavorie

[@gunterhausfrau]

My hardy hole has a similar issue, 1inch x 7/8ths I've been noodling with the idea of "fixing it". I don't have more than a couple of hardy tools, so not a huge issue tooling wise, but maybe goofing with it trying to get square is a bad idea... I could see a situation where I have a perfectly square (giant) hole where my anvil used to be...

[@travisnull273]

gunterhausfrau I would probably try to fix it. Many of your hardy tools will be useful in both directions. Just use a file instead of a power tool so you don’t go to far too fast.

[@theking11029]

Add good old rock & this is a little bit too big roll to the background. It will juice it up🎸

[@BigWillSD]

John, another great video. I am curious though. Sometimes when I'm pressed for time I'll watch in 1.5x speed. Does this hinder your monetary stuff from KZbin or affect you negatively?

[@BlackBearForge]

I can't imagine it makes any difference

[@ФагимИшемгулов]

Заебись 👍

[@Redneckemtb]

Cool video. Would have been neat to see it done with the press.

[@christophercharron8690]

Forging that big piece of iron took some serious swinging of the hammers. How many pounds was your largest hammer in that video As always great videos. And more importantly thank you for dedicating your time to show us

[@BlackBearForge]

I think it was about 4

[@Памятьобщеедело]

Красава!

[@OuroborosArmory]

Much prefer traditional tools.. but occasionally the fabricated ones are the tool for now...

[@cameronyoung2004]

1:08 what brass tool is on your aprons right thight?

[@torporvasflam8670]

A ruler I believe

[@BlackBearForge]

It is a folding ruler

[@cameronyoung2004]

@@BlackBearForge Thank you. You are my main forging videos. I enjoy watching you do that voodoo that you do.

[@tubbysnowman]

That looked like a lot of work. I have a question, would it be more difficult to forge weld a piece of round bar to the end of your stake than cutting the square bar?

[@BlackBearForge]

For those comfortable with forge welding, I think it would be about the same amount of effort.

[@grandadz_forge]

It's time to do one of those too!

[@Curtislow2]

What is your opinion of GS's (Glen) bending tool that he featured on video recently?

[@BlackBearForge]

I’ll need to go take a look

[@NeilGraham.I.M.F]

I need 2 make 1 of them. Love how u used the force 2 retrieve ur dropped work

[@danojames8329]

Totally awesome to watch saweet

[@dingodog5677]

Bring on the hardy tool of the week👍 John makes a good point about the bigger hardy hole. Means more working big stock down for hardy tools. If you’re looking at anvils, consider a 1” hardy hole max. Mines 1 1/4” and it does take a fair bit on extra work to make hardies (unless you fabricate them).

[@BlackBearForge]

I have thought about welding a 1” sleeve in to permanently change it to 1”

[@5x535]

@@BlackBearForge I have done that to my anvil and it has worked out just fine so far. I used tubing that had maybe a 3/32nd wall so it had a little give when one of my hardy tools wanted more room to wiggle properly. Welding on the face of the anvil was a little scary but I got it really hot first and no problems have developed. I sure appreciate all that you share with us.

[@hannemannironworks1651]

Well that looked like a ton of work! Good job John!

[@glitched4070]

Great video👍

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks 👍

[@tinkmarshino]

Thanks John.. thanks for braving the cold and the tryptophan over load from yesterday to do this.. it is 10:30 am here an I am still in my PJ's.. no fast moving today for me.. carry on, be safe and have a very pleasant holiday..

[@BlackBearForge]

Don’t forget the videos are filmed ahead of time. There was no shop work on Thanksgiving day.

[@tinkmarshino]

@@BlackBearForge of course.. how silly of me to forget that.. I was able to watch this because my son had decided he wanted to cook his first turkey.. so he and mom took care of the cooking this year and I got to relax.. But I do the goose for christmas..

[@banditbeggers533]

Very nice work

[@GriffonriderTom]

Alright, since we're talking about hardy-holes... I've notice on many occasions that the hardy-hole in your anvil is... well used. What causes wear like this? What precautions can one take to prevent that from happening? At what point will it become a problem, and how would one approach a repair? If I grasp the purpose correctly, the shape of the hole is less important than the fact that the hole/tool interface prevent your tool from spinning. I had always assumed that hardy-holes were a standard size. Seems like that is not the case.

[@tedbownas2748]

He talked about that in a video some time ago; 1" square is a common size; but there's no real standard, and larger anvils may have larger holes, like his, which I think he said is about 1.25" square. In fact, he has some square bushings that adapt his anvil to use common 1" hardy tools. It would take a great deal of wear for the hole to need repair; the top corners wear quicker, obviously, but as long as the hole retains its square shape, the shank won't turn, and it would probably be easier to heat up the tool and upset it a little to fit the anvil, rather than try to weld material into a worn anvil to fit a tool.

[@cholulahotsauce6166]

But if it did ever become a problem, the standard method for anvil repair is to use some hardfacing welding rod and then grind down until you have a good match with the existing.

[@BlackBearForge]

Hardy holes do vary a great deal in size. But they should be square. That allows the tool to be rotated all four directions. My anvil is well used but the worn edges of the hardy hole aren’t really a problem. Sharp square edges require a perfect transition at the shoulder while rounded edges allow a bit of a rounded transition or a weld bead if fabricating the tools.

[@stevesyncox9893]

Great stuff man.

[@tkjazzer]

This video had more tips spoken and shown than most. You are becoming excellent teacher

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks

[@tkjazzer]

I really enjoy your videos and instructions.

[@j.a.mcbean.4043]

Great work!

[@tkjazzer]

Can you elaborate more on what a cold shut is?

[@BlackBearForge]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6G3oaatoNZ_pJY