Blacksmiths Weed Whacker

[@dogslobbergardens6606]

As a gardener and homesteader, I've got to tell you, this tool is sheer genius. Basically a mattock for all those small jobs that don't require a big heavy tool.

[@louispassmore4740]

Me and my eight-year-old son look forward to watching your videos an awesome job done on the yard tool John you are one of the greatest blacksmiths out there in the best teacher thank you for sharing this video with all of us

[@DjeehBear]

Been around for about a month and my main interest was the blacksmithing content. Now I get to feel more and more of your personality and I am definitely enjoying it. You know sometimes, people have high valued and comprehensive knowledge but when you get into what I consider has "personality" and "opinions", then it doesn't quite match your values and stuff and the interest kinda goes away... that is not what I am encountering with BBF! So I have gratitude for both your knowledge and your person John. Btw, dandelion is awesome plant! Much respect to you all guys.

[@paulorchard7960]

Stick around G-Bear, John is a wealth of knowledge!

[@merrickchristian9392]

I know im asking randomly but does anyone know of a tool to log back into an Instagram account?? I was dumb lost the password. I appreciate any tips you can offer me.

[@merrickchristian9392]

@Zion Mayson thanks so much for your reply. I found the site on google and Im in the hacking process atm. Seems to take quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@merrickchristian9392]

@Zion Mayson it worked and I finally got access to my account again. I'm so happy:D Thanks so much, you saved my account !

[@zionmayson635]

@Merrick Christian no problem xD

[@torporvasflam8670]

PBS needs to take your show on.

[@melanisticmandalorian]

seriously ... He is the Bob Ross of Blacksmithing, he belongs on PBS

[@bradmccormick358]

What is the saying? Necessity is the mother of inventions. Or something like that. And this is the result of what happens when you are a blacksmith with a smoke eater background. Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing.

[@alan-sk7ky]

'Mattock' is the tool you are after, albeit a lighter one.

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Good morning John, that’s an awesome weed and snake charmer. Really enjoyed watching you turn that flat material into the yard tool. You did a great job 👍👍. Thanks for sharing with us. Fred.

[@johnjude2685]

Today I made you the two yard and garden tools I grab for cleaning up weeds,under flowers and just whenever they get my attention. I'm planning to mail by UPS Monday hopefully you and Janet finds them as great as I do and age 68 I have seen lots of seasons. Thanks for the teaching as always I love your videos Sir

[@BlackBearForge]

Sounds great!

[@obh7762]

Just put up the last stud wall on my own forge. Gonna start putting up shiplap this afternoon. And I got four big bags of coal so that I can start working again soon!

[@maryspeight2840]

As a former machinist of almost twenty years, now some twenty years ago, yea I know Boomer, this has been music to my ears. Thanks , and keep swinging the hammer '(s) G.S.

[@SushiKing123NorskGaming]

I appreciate the work you put into your videos, it really shows! I'm impressed as always... Wish you the best.

[@BlackBearForge]

Thank you very much!

[@paulbilodeau9882]

John, another GREAT video. I'm going to scrounge thru my leaf spring pile and try to make one of these. Just bought 2 shirts from Etsy. 1 for me and 1 for my wife. My wife says you need some female colors for the shirts. I like CHARCOAL just fine. We can't wait until the shirts arrive. THANKS.

[@BigHat83]

mini Pulaski. a have an axe I use for weeding, I call it a grubber. I like the idea of the mattock end. thanks for sharing

[@slvalleyboy]

It always amazes me what a blacksmith can do with metal.

[@tokolosh11]

Nice video as always John. Thanks for the hint on the heat treat app... I downloaded that quick smart...

[@randallsummers6551]

This is something my wife and I can differently use! I'll be making two of these John! Thanks for this video! Take care and God bless. Be safe brother.

[@fixedified]

You are as entertaining as you are informative.

[@noctismortis7349]

You are the bob ross of blacksmithing. Happy little heats.

[@SSSmithing]

Great work for handle making alot of times I hit up tractor supply they have hickory wheel barrow handles they are pretty long and beefy enough to work for most things

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks for the tip

[@SSSmithing]

@@BlackBearForge your very welcome hope it comes in handy some day if your in a pinch

[@troymartin5511]

Mullein is a great plant to have, the leaves make an awesome tea for a congested cough.

[@MrJamesjustin]

That's a little beauty mate.

[@DaddyClown4805]

the shape of that head had me thinking you could go with a nice slim long handle so it could be used a bit like a walking stick holding the tool head as a handle allowing for a fair bit of reach which could be handy if you came across some non friendly wild life while out weeding great work john

[@BlackBearForge]

I do plan on a long not to heavy handle

[@frankgaletzka8477]

Hello John That is a very nice Video thanks for sharing you skills and work with us I am inspired by you for my work Thanks for this Greetings from Germany Yours Frank

[@alexandredasilvaflor731]

Sir! Thank you for sharing your knowledge, I'm a beginner cutler and I always learn a lot from your work! Congratulations on the excellent content made available to all steel lovers… greetings from Brazil 👏🏻

[@virtusleather]

Favourite youtube channel right now. 🇺🇸🇨🇦

[@honeycuttracing]

1:28, spewed coffee outta my nose😲😲🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@vanlifeinthecity9798]

We made several out of an old edger blade welded to a piece of rebar as the tang, then put into a nice handle. Used them for years doing landscaping work. I love your idea even better I believe. Great video

[@jeffgrier8488]

Nice work John, i'm guessing that's going to make a darn good tool with a long handle on it!

[@thedixonway]

Great video John. Always inspiring to watch you work and move around obstacles whether they are of your own making or not. Thanks again! Much respect. 👍🔥⚒🇨🇦

[@louisaziz1235]

What a great video. You have given me an awesome idea for a gift for my gardening brother. Thank you. Could you please give me some advice on refacing an anvil that I was given. It is old and slightly dished with a few chips on the edge, but still better than what I have.

[@moretimethanmoney8611]

A sharpened pitching wedge is good for weeding if you don't need to remove the root. One with a nice long handle is ideal.

[@cav89-]

When you see a tall, heavily built guy with huge forearms and a glorious but somewhat intimidating mustache like John one could never imagine something like 16:20 coming out of his mouth. Instalike. Got to your channel about one year ago trying to find out about holdfasts (following the track of Chris Schwartz recommendations) and never left. And now im adding blacksmithing to my woodworking. Your content is awesome, I really like your presentation, style, and overall personality and dispositions, as some other viewer said here in the comments. Hope you are doing well, be safe and be sure that what you make and teach reaches and is appreciated by a LOT people in so many places. Best wishes, all the way down from Brasil! Obrigado!

[@jjholl3826]

What a great vid John!! Tips and tricks to boot!! As always, thanks for your time, the great content and lessons sir!! Take care , stay happy , healthy and safe 👍😎

[@torporvasflam8670]

On design to reduce bending over, I suggest the axe side to have a squared off beard with a curved underbelly, allowing the user to more securely hook and maneuver plant material.

[@TheOldaz1]

Reckon it would be a great camping tool if you just shortened that sledge handle about 6". Waiting with interest to see how you attach the handle. Thanks john.

[@sbjennings99]

Awesome informative Video experience 👏 Y'alls

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks for watching!

[@magellanicraincloud]

I bought a flame weeder to use as a diy gas forge powerplant and so far I haven't made a forge yet but I have been doing flame weeding! Great for getting things growing in cracks in concrete and plants that are herbicide resistant.

[@sheepscotforge8980]

Mullein and thistle are both super beneficial for bees and make very yummy medicinal teas as well so let them grow!

[@BlackBearForge]

Thistle and Mullein are both invasive in our area and push out other beneficial plants. Thistle specifically is classified as a noxious weed and as such is illegal to let grow intentionally. Both exist on our property because previous owners had horses and brought in hay containing seeds from outside the area. There are plenty of native plants that will prosper and provide flowers for the bees if the weeds can be controlled.

[@kimcurtis9366]

John, is your anvil face breaking lose? If so, when it comes time for a repair, I hope you'll video how to do that! I really enjoyed this vid! We live in t Wyoming's sagebrush country and there is a lot of it that needs to be grubbed up, every year. I'm going to try to make one of these that's just a bit heavier and wider to accomplish the task! Thanks for all you do for each of us, who aren't as far along in our Blacksmithing!!

[@BlackBearForge]

No it is not. I did talk some about what you're seeing in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2K8lGilgNuqms0

[@brysonalden5414]

Thanks for this video; got me thinking about forging something to deal with the weed that's the bane of our existence, the dreaded blackberry. My wife won't let me use C4, so I've got to come up with an acceptable alternative.

[@5x535]

Bryson Alden, I have cut the same Blackberry plants to the ground for over thirty years. I KNOW what you mean by "the bane of our existence". Blackberry routinely gets 1 1/4 in diameter and twenty feet tall/long here. And then a friend introduced me to Tordon RTU. Now I clip them off at the ground, spray the stawb with Tordon----and I'll never hear from it again--period. It works on cherry, ash, and everything else that I have used it on. A quart lasts forever because I use it so sparingly. This stuff is an amazing tool and while not nearly as much fun as C4, which I am quite familiar with using, it is easier to obtain, quieter, and leaves no mess to clean up and you can use it right up next to the house, if necessary. Have fun!

[@brysonalden5414]

@@5x535 Thanks for the recommendation, but the main area we are concerned with is in and around our pasture, which is above a creek with salmon, so while I'm sure it would work wonders, we have concerns about its effect on critters.

[@5x535]

@@brysonalden5414 maybe---just barely maybe if either you or the salmon could measure in parts per trillion you might be able to detect ---something-- but there is about no chance of that happening.

[@richardsolomon8076]

Likey lots , very functional tool. Great job John

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks 👍

[@paulorchard7960]

Love your work John, learn a little extra every video! Im still a little way from employing the power hammer fairies to pay me a visit but I know you will agree, with hard work rewards will come!

[@douglasfathers4848]

How you turned a flat piece of steel into a garden tool was amazing John . looking foreward to seeing you fitting the handle.

[@marcerivest6204]

I think that it turned out perfect.l like that you show that a plan is subject to change. On another note, thistle need a second spaying, usually about 10 days after the first. I been farming for most of my life a d they are a bugger to get rid off. As usual ,love your channel.

[@ga5743]

That was a cool video John, yup bending over in an awkward position is for the birds to say the least.

[@richardtrumbo164]

Thanks.

[@willchoate7072]

I absolutely love this one. I'm going to make one or two for myself and a few gardening friends. I believe I'll make something similar for walking stick head.

[@hacgarimman9660]

That is some fine cross pien work on the adze side. Very good work John. Your videos are very inspiring and are serving a real honest purpose for our future knowledge. Keep up the awesome work.

[@gundanium3126]

I use the same app.

[@davidmorgan7586]

GREAT VIDEO I AM GOING TO TRY MAKING SOME ADZE EHEN I GET MY SHOP BACK UP AN RUNNING

[@tomjeffersonwasright2288]

It looked like you didn't have enough metal for the tool, but it came out just right. I would love to see a video on estimating how much metal you need to come out right in a very different form……..Other than quickly aquiring 10 years experience.

[@BlackBearForge]

Great suggestion!

[@hannemannironworks1651]

That’s a really cool tool!

[@Lesnz2009]

cool project

[@patrickkenneth7772]

I'll see what I can do this weekend

[@daretodreamtofly3288]

The little weed wacker looks like it would an excellent root and bulb harvesting tool. Maybe if the az was a little larger with a tomahawk eye for being off the trail.

[@torchofkck4989]

Thanks for sharing. Nice video. Kinda wish you'd have pulled the head off the ice pick & curved the pick down & turned that end into a brush axe... Then reassemble it. I know, too easy.

[@5x535]

Great video, John. Here I try to see how tall the mullen can get. A little over ten feet seems to be about as much as they can muster. Thanks for showing us how its done, once again.

[@clydebalcom8252]

Really good idea. Perhaps you could make a type of scabbard later.

[@mathewlommerse8973]

Hey John try no till gardening, it is so much easier and you get better results

[@haroldtunich8809]

I enjoy watching you do your thing, and the way you talk very personable. Thank you for great videos. Michigan thumb.

[@BlackBearForge]

I appreciate that!

[@andybyerly5629]

Great Job!

[@SonoraSlinger]

Mullein is great for lungs. Blacksmiths should look into it. Awesome tool sir, always love your videos.

[@marty01957]

Nice little chopper, John! Great video!

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks 👍

[@jarlove]

I am borowing this ide! Awesome idea

[@BlackBearForge]

Go for it!

[@dalekidd420]

Very smart little tool, John. I think I might give this one a try. I'm envisioning it with a bit shorter handle than you're talking about... maybe a 2' stick, which would make shaping one from 1.25" or 1.5" dowel stock practical.

[@MarkATrombley]

For a different sort of tool you could put a mattock on one side and a place for your foot on the other. Put the mattock against the base of the weed and shove with your foot to cut it off. Sort of like a 2" wide shovel with an oddly placed handle.

[@BlackBearForge]

You certainly could, but I really want a light weight swung tool that allows you to stroll the land clearing weeds without having to stop at each one

[@markmoreno7295]

For bigger weeds a fish tail adze works nice. And if monster sized put a slight twist in it as in a broad axe to keep from barking the hand.

[@BlackBearForge]

I'm hoping to get them before they get that big

[@stanervin6108]

Looks very useful, John. 👍 🐾🔥⚒

[@jamesmclane2826]

I am a new subscriber and just realized your name is John😁🤔 I love your channel you are a wonderful teacher🙏😃 I know two other people named John they spell their names differently😁Jon 🤔 so if I spelled your name wrong I apologize🤔🙏 just want to say I appreciate all the knowledge and the way you teach it😃👍✊️

[@NeilGraham.I.M.F]

Wondered what that was going to turn out to be. Great idea and great project

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks 👍

[@johnjude2685]

1 hammer I built from scratch (not perfect for my angle isn't 45 true ) is a dianogal only 1.8# but a joy to work, I'm surprised not to see more in use by Blacksmith in video. I make a weeder nickname the Arrow head" If I mail one will you try it , I made mine from leaf spring so yes sharp and tuff Thanks for the teaching Sir

[@BlackBearForge]

I could certainly give it a try

[@veteranironoutdoors8320]

Mullein is one of the staple medicinals, I have the opposite problem, I’m trying to cultivate it!

[@BlackBearForge]

Mullen is at least native. But it really moves in anyplace you dig up the ground. Even 10 years after building they are really a problem.

[@kimcurtis9366]

@@BlackBearForge Is there any way to get seed for this wonderful plant? I'd love to grow some of it for our medicinal kits! This part of Wyoming doesn't have any mullein. Lots of it in Colorado and Idaho but, not here. If you ever let any go to seed, let ,e know as I'd rally like to get some growing, here. Thanks so much for your well thought out videos! Best wishes for a great year!

[@josephmeier3215]

I think starting with a shovel handle might be a good direction John. Easy to find them at the hardware store and gets you plenty of length to play with in 1.5" hickory or ash

[@BlackBearForge]

I aggree

[@davidcoats1037]

Very cool little weed getter there. I’ve been wanting something like this for a while. Wild make a neat handle for a walking stick. I was thinking an adze on one side and a two pronged fork or “weed popper” on the other. Do you have any videos talking about the Wilton square wheel belt grinder? I recently acquired the exact same one you have. Take care. 👍🏼

[@BlackBearForge]

I think I discuss it some in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2S5Y5V7ereeatU

[@Dfrantz87]

Very nice as always John!

[@SourSaturn1]

great video john, saw the post on insta and it looks amazing!

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks so much!

[@billastell3753]

The worst weed for me is the burdock. You have to cut the root well under ground to kill them. I was at a yard sale and an old guy had a vintage looking home made sort of tool that had an oak or hickory handle well burnished from use. The metal head looked like an arched piece of spring steel with the end farthest from the handle hammer flat and about 2 inches wide and somewhat sharp. I bought it not knowing what it was used for. Soon after I found some big burdocks that needed killing. For whatever reason I thought of the crazy old tool. I took it out and with one swing it cut down through the dirt and severed the burdock root ell under the ground.. Then I pried it and the plant popped out of the ground. No idea if that is what it was made for but it Is perfect.

[@clydebalcom8252]

I'm glad you found the perfect use for your find. Congratulations and best of luck.

[@jacobrawles8687]

Will you put langets on the handle or a metal collar to keep the wood from splitting?

[@BlackBearForge]

I'm thinking a metal collar might be the way to go

[@kevintooley7434]

Love the video and the tool. Looks awedone

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks 👍

[@sirtblairjr]

Hey there, I like this video and your channel..that's a nice weed whacker. But, where did you get your ruler. I like to use , have one? Very cool.. Thank you for sharing God Bless

[@BlackBearForge]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZC9opSAbpiXpsU

[@albertoguerreiro006]

nice one boss !! as usual !!

[@karm65]

I would sharpen the lower edge of the hatchet like a brush hook. but looks great otherwise.

[@sithinstructor]

I'll take one.

[@ericdouglas9804]

That axe end forged out like it was done by CNC: man can get lucky occasionally or as granddaddy said: “ blind hog will find an acorn evey now and again “ 😂😎. Nice job as usual

[@finleycole978]

John what drill bits do you use? Seem to be pretty good quality

[@BlackBearForge]

Lately I have been using these kzbin.info/www/bejne/fWHUqmyObZyDbrs

[@502deth]

i went to school with a mike polaski. that said, if it were me, first of all, it would look like a mangled mess, but i think id do a metal pipe handle on the head, it would add some length and "armor" the part that is more likely to get messed up hitting rocks and what not in the dirt, and then socket it into a wooden handle for the rest of your length and comfort.

[@LukeMcMullin]

Hi, I love your videos very informative, I want to make one of those tools. First question what kind of marking pencil are you using? Second question : could I make a similar tool from a circular saw blade and twist the hoe end 90 degrees, or do you think it would be too weak?

[@BlackBearForge]

The pencil is a silver welders pencil available at most welding shops or through my Etsy shop. A saw blade would make a much lighter tool, but it would work for smaller weeds.

[@tomjeffersonwasright2288]

Not sure why, but I find this one of your best videos. I was planning to make a strawberry hoe design, but I will try one like this too. Big roots will chop easier with the axe oriented blade. I like the old "strawberry hoe" or mattock hoe design, with one wider blade, and one narrow one, both with an adze like orientation. It has a long handle. Seamour makes one, that Walmart sells. 51 inch handle.

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it

[@jandastroy]

Just curious, but have you ever tried playing with things like clay during delicate operations like trying to not overheat your tool end while heating your stem? I know a lot of knife makers out there use various formulas for making a hamon, which is kind of what you're trying to do in this thin material scenario.

[@BlackBearForge]

I haven't yet. But for very detailed work it would be helpful

[@billwoehl3865]

Since you had to twist the axe side out of the way so you could get to the tang, am curious, why upset the material for the adze side instead of just drawing it out on it's original plain and twisting it to it's final position?

[@BlackBearForge]

That is one approach, but the twist can have its own issues.

[@barrybueler3356]

Very cool wouldn’t be my 1st pick to clear weeds though 😅

[@randomguyfromtexas1185]

Great video as always and I know this is going to be a stupid/goofy question, but I was wondering what kind of pencil you were using there? Im a knife maker and always use the regular soap stone that you can get at my local hardware store, #2 social or a sharpie, but something like you’re using would be perfect.

[@BlackBearForge]

thats a welders silver pencil. should be available at most welding suppliers

[@randomguyfromtexas1185]

Black Bear Forge guess I never thought about that, thanks for the info and keep up the great videos, I truly enjoy them!!

[@orionkroulek5275]

Hi John- I love your videos, so please don't take this as a criticism, but I was wondering why you made this axe with a tang, which required all of the cutting in the beginning. Wouldn't it be more expedient to knock a hole with a drift in it and put a wooden haft on for an axe? Or is this a specific dimension of the ice axe (I would assume to reinforce it against blows from ice and rock, I don't know, I'm a Southerner, we only have ice in little puddles, at most)?

[@barrybertin1268]

I’m late on this video, but I have a question. You said that if you upset an item that is 4 times taller then it’s width then it doesn’t work well. My question is this, where or what reference book would you recommend, that has that kind of information in it? I’m learning blacksmithing via KZbin, because there are no classes close and money is an issue.

[@FWDish]

Mr Switzer, what model paragon heat treat oven are you using in this video? Thanks

[@rsluggy6485]

Just curious, why do you use the toaster oven instead of the Paragon for tempering? My guess is that the Paragon is just a larger oven that pulls more power. Am I on the right track?

[@BlackBearForge]

Most of the time I use the Paragon for hardening and it takes hours to cool back down for use in tempering. So its partly just habit. But it is also faster ti turn on then programing the paragon.

[@robertlunsford1350]

Bees like thistles too : )

[@BlackBearForge]

True, but thistles bloom later when there are plenty of other food sources. But mostly thistles are classified as a noxious weed and cause serious damage to grazing in the area.

[@rodmrc5863]

I´m no blacksmith (yet), so, I wonder whats the reason not to make 2 "axe" blades em bend 90º? will that make the "joint" so much weaker? Aesthetics?

[@BlackBearForge]

ou can certainly do it that way.

[@bwood6337]

What do you have more of cameras or belt sanders?

[@BlackBearForge]

I suppose it depends in what you count. I have the three big belt grinders in the shop, two small hand held detail belt sanders ans a couple of woodworking sanders in the wood shop. No, I still have more cameras

[@jimhumphrey]

I have not finished watching the video yet but this seems like a tool I need to make. But I have an off topic question. What brand band saw blade are you using? I've been buying Milwaukie and the weld on the blades and not very good. Your blade appears to be very smooth running.

[@BlackBearForge]

I just order from McMaster Carr. They change up brands from time to time, so I'm not sure what the current blade is.