Wrought iron Viking adze

[@richardharris5336]

Hey John. Thank you for your excellent videos over lock down, it's really been great to watch and keep me slightly more sane. Just wanted to comment on the wrought iron that I know you've worked with before and had problems with as well. I've worked a lot with wrought iron over the past couple of years, with some stuff being more refined and some being very unrefined. For aesthetic reasons I actually prefer the less refined stuff... but obviously it is weaker and more difficult to work with in that sense. Saying that, I've not had delaminations for ages now I've found two things more important: only work it at welding heat and be lighter with your hammer blows. It can be a bit of a pain to only work at welding heat but it really seems to work best. Right at the end, I may take some lower temp planishing blows, but really very, very light just to refine the surface appearance.

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks for the suggestions. It is certainly a different material.

[@MrDukaman]

Yes very true. Light blows help

[@stevesyncox9893]

Thanks guys, I work with a lot of wrought as jacket for go mai knives. Light blows make sense. Hot of course. Damn hot.......😁awesome John.

[@johannesmajamaki2626]

Must say, tapping the metal lightly isn't exactly what my conception of a viking smith was like xD

[@jonnyibullarenandersson9134]

Kind of funny sitting in Sweden watching my favorite channel, located in USA, forging a copy of a viking finding from Sweden. 🙂

[@BlackBearForge]

Perfect!

[@eatwhatukiii2532]

LMAO, YES

[@johansten7976]

I'll do you one better - I'm watching it from Gotland, less than 50 km from Mästermyr!

[@keithrhodes7386]

@@johansten7976 And I'm an Englishman, sitting here in France, with a copy of Arwidsson's and Berg's "The Mästermyr Find" on the desk next to me, watching John's video.

[@pondusenglanq8563]

De är fint det! :D

[@thomasbrooks1037]

Thank you for showing usable blades! Almost every video I've watched has been something you would be arrested for carrying on you. "Officer, I didn't realize 14 inches was too big." I'm so pleased to see a true craftsman with a scope of the real world.

[@paulorchard7960]

John, I am a shipwright and an adze man! Was gifted mine by a retiring tradesman when I was in my second year. A fantastic tool, if you know how. While in the building industry on projects with big timbers I would be laughed at with my adze until it was seen just how effective and quickly it got tricky and difficult joints and details done. Love my adze, only sees a bit of work a few times a year now and still treasured! Oh, your handle, perseverance,and congrats on getting something out of that , I would have given it a proper cremation in my forge!

[@beni2094]

Love the series you're making covering this find. Often wonder what they would have thought if they were able to see your shop. What they were capable of producing with such more limited equipment and materials, and yet the designs still hold. Incredible

[@gahtsno1]

thank you a lot for those authentic scenes of the process. A boy came recently with the problem of coil springs. Normally very fine material for little knives. But sometimes it just splits and cracks, however careful he worked on it. In this actual case we were not surprised, how frequent the car mechanic had to exchange those elements.....

[@robphone4895]

Really great skills great job! Thanks for sharing this with us. And I spotted a Gargoyle!! 😃

[@BlackBearForge]

I thought you might

[@eboyd3416]

nice video as always. THX and it's nice to see Gorky is back also.

[@Jaiden62309]

watching you forge is a real pleasure. I may only be 30 but I really enjoy older crafts like this. Its a real shame that there are not a lot of people around to show people like myself how this is done (hands on style). Thank you for the videos and keep up the great work.

[@RyanBarnes]

Awesome work my friend. Thank you for providing all these educational videos!

[@BlackBearForge]

My pleasure! Thank you for your contribution

[@danielhendy8169]

I really enjoy Tool/Useful object videos like this one!!!

[@SchysCraftCo.]

Wow that's pretty cool awesome job keep up the great craftsmanship and work John forge on

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks 👍

[@SchysCraftCo.]

Black Bear Forge ur very welcome my friend

[@hazard2366]

I've been watching this channel for years. I remember enjoying binge watching these while it was too hot for me to work in my garage. I stopped using youtube so much, and I'm really glad that you are still going on.

[@BlackBearForge]

Welcome back!

[@boywonder6659]

I signed up for a one day introductory black smithing course a couple of days back and caught the bug. The guy who was teaching me was most helpful and I found the whole experience compelling. I was absolutely amazed at the amount of tooling he had at his disposal most of which he’d made himself. He must have had fifty different types of tongs alone. I am from the Uk and the days tuition was held up in North Yorkshire. North Yorkshire by the way is God’s country. I am looking for my own forge to buy.

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Great video John, really enjoyed watching you make this project. Excellent work on both iron and wood 👍👍. Thanks for sharing with us, Fred.

[@BlackBearForge]

Very welcome

[@laragwen102]

I so love your warts-and-all approach. Thank you for showing us the times when things don't go as planned.

[@robertlonis9350]

Nice little tool you got there ! Your shop is a never ending playground of neat tools around every corner! Love it

[@5x535]

One of your best videos yet John. No telling where this is going. This project was a lot of fun to watch unfold. From interpreting the drawings to cleaning out the firepit to prepare for your next weld, this really was a master class. Thank you again for helping me "better my game".

[@mikemeister458]

John- As someone that has been looking for an adze for a while, I found this one to be especially enjoyable and informational. Really cool to see you use Gambel Oak for the handle. It’s got really cool color variations but like you said, it can be tricky. Right around Christmas I got a text from a friend that said you had an Adze on your Etsy but when I showed up, it was gone. Sad face emoji.

[@BlackBearForge]

Sorry you missed it. I don't make them often these days, but I do make one from time to time.

[@stevesyncox9893]

Great video John. I love wrought, I use it on my knives when I do Go Mai. It’s so very Dynamic. However on a knife it is cosmetic, mostly, what you are doing is structural. I will have to do one myself now, maybe an axe in the same style. Superb work sir. My thanks.

[@dalekidd420]

John: I was stunned to spot the carpenter's chest right behind you just at the end of the video. I have one almost EXACTLY like it that I picked up at a garage sale a few years ago... similar from the immediately visible interior brackets and tray right to the specific green color! Now, that is truly an odd coincidence... especially considering that I'm in southwestern Ontario.

[@jeffgrier8488]

That's a nice little adze, thanks for taking us through the process. I learn something every time i watch your videos.

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks 👍

[@peterscott1364]

Absolute gem! Thanks very much!!

[@BlackBearForge]

You're welcome!

[@billwoehl3051]

Lol, thanks for the tip about using electrical tools for shaping scrub oak!!😁

[@daxcastro]

I have been watching your videos for quite a while now and you really have improved the quality of your videography. Love your videos and can't wait to get my shop all setup over the next year. We are finally in our forever home so I am more motivated to start putting together my shop.

[@JoseRodriguez-oc5xo]

Good day Mr Black Bear happy to found you I like do any kind of weapons especially 🪓 and 🗡️ I like teaching my grandchildren the art of work with metal I'm come to this my country in 1979 and I started working in a lamps company a punching machine was broken and that day the welder take the day off and I tell to my supervisor let me due I take the machine and I weld and repair the machine since that day I became a welder 45 years welding any kind of metal eventually I go to welding school and I have 4 certificate in welding including aluminum so I the first time I'm blind for 2 days with a lot of pain in my eyes thanks Mr Black Bear for videos and long long life to you and all my respect for you ... sorry for my English by the way.saludos de UN amigo mexicano.

[@brysonalden5414]

Thanks for this one! I can't find much wrought iron in the Pacific Northwest, but based on your experience and other smiths having some of the same problems, I think I will continue to use mild steel and be happy I have it! I did find some square wrought iron rebar which makes amazing leaf hooks because of the texture, but I think I'll stop there.

[@stevesyncox9893]

Bryson Alden look for the older boom chains, from logging. The ones that don’t have the typical chain link bump weld. Lots up there, I was on Vancouver island, lots .

[@mikeonderko3555]

Great job - you are a good teacher and fun to watch.😊

[@dormindont1]

отличная работа! You have gold hands!

[@devilucifer_6]

i do enjoy watching your videos I always learn a lot

[@prestonfunkhouser1301]

Another great video presentation, John. Among other things, you are a skilled educator. Thank you for sharing.

[@jjppres]

Came out really nice John! As always great work!

[@BlackBearForge]

Thank you so much 👍

[@daretodreamtofly3288]

Unintentional ASMR. Blower down low and its raining.

[@garyrhoads3529]

John, another great project to watch. I liked the shaving horse you used when doing the handle. Here in Pennsylvania Dutch/German territory, that is called "schnitzelbank".

[@alwaysbearded1]

Thank you for another fine video. Practical archeology, testing what they made by making it yourself. Your find on the drift/anvil for instance should be incorporated into any studies done of that find. I think we learn more about the past your way by reproducing things this way. I'm sure I'll be following more of your work with the Mastermyr find.

[@gilauth6791]

NICE VERY NICE If not all ready done send a video copy to the publisher I am sure they appreciate your contribution in promoting and diffusing ancient craftsmanship through there publication .Take care

[@andrewhagan7750]

I appreciate the videos you make so much I'm mesmerized by this and anxious to get back to the anvil

[@jackmoler9271]

That was great. I enjoyed watching you with your commentary. I don't have the capability to forge anything.

[@chriskincaid6035]

Thank You ...

[@darrellbolt9376]

John i love how you do your wood work on this handle because every tool you used to make it was made by you

[@BlackBearForge]

Well not all of them, the draw knife and spoke shave were not

[@darrellbolt9376]

@@BlackBearForge thank you for reply. i sit corrected thanks for all you do for Blacksmith community

[@thomasmathews3904]

Very nice tool and another great video.

[@kevinhansen2182]

Good job buddy. Working with hard to work with material and still making it awesome 👌

[@scarface-39]

This was s good one!!! Thanks John 👍🇺🇸

[@gordonburns8731]

Yet another exquisite episode. Keep up the good work, John.

[@k9road]

...excellent tutorial... many thanks Mr. Bear...

[@grandadz_forge]

Well that wrought was a pain in the bum. And you still pulled it off!

[@johnjude2685]

Nice work Sir, great teaching and great learning vidio Thanks

[@marcerivest6204]

I can definitely see that l am no where near being ready to work with wrothiron. Great video John.

[@johnjude2685]

Marice R. Sir I'm into second year smithing,Sir. never say never, You are among some Smiths that love to help

[@stevesyncox9893]

Go for it, hit light work it hot.

[@Alex-ow6hk]

Very cool project, looking forward to getting home and trying some myself. Keep it up 👍

[@richardschneider4775]

Nice tool .It looks like a real pain in the adze to make

[@Zogg1281]

I love that small adze, it's definitely something to come back to when my skills improve and I start learning to forge weld. I think I'll stick to mild steel though as I think it will be easier to learn with. Thanks for another great video 👍

[@stephenmiller8556]

Very nice

[@BerserkerGang2019]

Exactly what I need to make for a Viking buddy in Norway. I'm excited to see if I can do it.

[@BerserkerGang2019]

All hand tools out in a field on my simple forge;)

[@charlescompton4495]

Somewhere in there I see a RR spike! That's a handy tool. Thanks for showing the steps to the finish. Greg

[@askoseppanen3779]

Cool, i noticed you had a birchbark knife sheat on there when you whitled the handle. Good video, thanks.

[@TheOldaz1]

Interesting process with the wrought iron, as you say "a different skill-set". A useful and practical outcome based on an ancient design that possibly couldn't be much improved. Thanks John.

[@DaneStolthed]

Very cool build, thanks for sharing!

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks for watching!

[@Inecendium]

Damn! Doing such a vreat job filming it with very good angles super sweet cameras and a high quality sound!! Juat a pleasure to watch:)

[@BlackBearForge]

Thank you do much

[@1averageamerican]

These are very cool to see. Docs Hotshop and Forge has been doing more projects from this book also.

[@BlackBearForge]

He has done some great videos on the subject

[@NeilGraham.I.M.F]

It looks great. Very fun projects to watch

[@xXMACEMANXx]

The whole "anvil vs drift" debate is fairly interesting. Though it does fit the design of anvils from the time period, I agree it seems much too small to really be of value as an anvil. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen drifts from that time period. Thanks for the video, I appreciate it!

[@hannemannironworks1651]

Quite a nice solid tool John!

[@douglasfathers4848]

Amazing my favourite blacksmith is also a grate wood worker. HI John really liked the mixed video with making the tool and making the handle. it's a good view into some of your many talents.

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks

[@kingtkuehn]

Awesome! Many blessings!

[@richardsolomon8076]

Awesome job John.

[@Lion.s.2]

Super master 👍👍

[@duaneaubuchon9453]

I really like your videos sir nice job!!!

[@johnjude2685]

I'm pretty green and don't have a great assortment of hammers ,At this point of my learning I would think that Swedish hammer you most use, that double dianogal and the dog ear just might be the best 3 types of several wieights would be a great collection to do most work. I made a double dianogal and love it but seldom see other Smiths putting it to use. Thanks for showing problems when they come up and then trouble shooting is great learning for we don't live a trouble free skill job. John Switzer thanks so teaching Sir

[@bilbo_gamers6417]

great work

[@Ludick.J]

Hi John, I enjoyed this process alot. I would live to see more projects being made from that book.

[@BlackBearForge]

I hope to do most of the tools a d e eventually the chest

[@tasatort9778]

I've always been told that when working with wrought, you always want to bring it up to welding temp and refine it (whether it needs it or not). Also, you always want to work it at or near welding temp because it has the tendency to want to crack, and/or, delaminate.

[@iancrump4369]

That was an awesome video thanks John for a very informative tutorial love your work I always get inspired by you thanks again mate 🔥🔥⚒️⚒️👌no guessing what I will be making next 🤣🤣👍

[@BlackBearForge]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@stefflus08]

Norèn and Enander, authors of Klassiskt Järnsmide (classical ironsmithing) (I don't think that particular book exists translated) also found several mislabeled artifacts. They used art. no. 104 as a direct punch instead of slitting and drifting, with art. no. 77 as a bolster. With low carbon iron worked very hot this gave no problems and the hammer eye turned out fine.

[@kennethhelms4775]

I like the handle

[@frankgaletzka8477]

Hello John I have learned from you in this Video As i said before you are a good teacher I hope you dont burn your fingers in the glove you use because at some time the fingertips of the glove Starts Smoking a littlebit Thanks for sharing your skills Have a nice Weekend and a good week Yours Frank

[@BlackBearForge]

They do a great job keeping the heat away. But only up to a point.

[@bobvines00]

John, the adze turned out well and I look forward to seeing you reproduce more Mastermyr tools, including the toolbox (maybe on channel 2), if you decide to do that. Would you also make a video showing how you would _refine_ the wrought iron that has been giving you problems?

[@BlackBearForge]

I may cover it lightly. Mostly its just stack, weld, cut repeat.

[@Lesnz2009]

Looks great and works

[@liegeradontour1901]

I do not know how it was used for but it seems to be great for to remove weed on the fields. Very interesting video John, thank you very much!

[@MrDukaman]

Wow bud nice adze There is a guy on eBay selling wrought iron it’s from a school from the 1870s. I bought one pack from him already and it’s pretty good stuff it welds really nice and doesn’t delaminate at all. Just keep it hot. If I can remember the seller I will forward to you. It’s mostly 3/4 round x 6 ‘’ Aprox. Been trying to make a sign bracket to hang my shop sign. So lots of welding and I did carve out a dragons head and it stayed together really well. I’ll send pic if possible just a heads up. Thx for sharing ....Paul 🇺🇸🔥⚒👍

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks, I'll keep my eyes open

[@johnjude2685]

I copied this using a old Mason hammer and did a good job 👏

[@Phil_Cleaver]

I think that adze will cut a very nice seat for a green wood chair.

[@pressurechangerecord]

Brilliant

Great job!

[@markmoreno7295]

Good one. I accidentally made a comment for this video on your other video for the Pulaski.

[@BlackBearForge]

Ok no problem

[@johnvanderwalker4830]

Three seconds before you said "in the interest of time I took it to the belt sander" I thought--belt grinder.

[@juliancripps1580]

Really inspiring………

[@ThePathOfFire]

100% on the wrought iron being a pain. awesome job though

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks. I like the idea of using wrought iron, but it does require a bit different approach.

[@spongeorpete7289]

Nice camera work from whomever has done that!

[@BlackBearForge]

Thank you very much! I'm just a one man show and crew

[@pallien7501]

This axe style is actually earlier than the viking axe. It belongs in the migration era. The mästermyr find was (mis) dated by a punched symbol on a piece of lead. I hope someday they date this properly, because it is a truly interesting find.

[@Bluegrass499]

Hi, John great project ! Love the wood work bench can you let us know where to find plans to make one ?

[@flatlander6734]

Shoulda lit that fire with flint and steel, like a Viking, John.

[@frankgaletzka8477]

This is not bad but today i tried to use Flint and steel The pain i got as i cut my finger with the flit is not good Now i know move the steel not the Flint☝️☝️😉😳 Yours Frank

[@johnjude2685]

Your 4 ping double diaanglal hammer, That's a Bigfoot size hammer, I picked up one at a flea market that was built by a company that went out of business I'm thinking around 1950s very nice great curve on the tips to heavy for me but really moves steel but I'm 70 and becoming top heavy as I age. Thanks

[@N95787]

Thank you for your GREAT channel!! Just a quick question on this project, why forge weld the hole? Meaning, instead of punching & drifting it.

[@BlackBearForge]

Two main reasons. First this piece is from wrought iron, which has a grain structure similar to wood. Punching leaves short end grain that is easily split out. The second reason is that people without larger tools will find it easier to forge a wrapped eye (once they learn forge welding) than it is to punch and drift the heavier starting material needed for punching

[@johnjude2685]

Vikings Smiths probably knew wroat iron had many grades and what made them search for new lands. Thanks

[@charleszimmermann7784]

Sounds like you are getting some rain 🌧 Thanks John I like he way wrought looks, hate working with it. Wrought iron has not been kind to me.

[@BlackBearForge]

Only a bit of a tease for that rain.

[@billwoehl3051]

Trailer ball for a fuller? I hadn't thought of that but cool idea!!

[@BlackBearForge]

Only had to grind a bit of the threads off to fit in the pritchel hole

[@TheJonasShow]

If you didnt mention your camera dieing and being sorry about the worse audio i probably wouldnt notice

[@crossgrainwoodproductsltd9230]

I love watching you create functional tools out of raw materials. I wish I had gotten into metalworking while I was younger and had the strength to wheel a hammer like that. I'll have to stick to the welding, which I learned about as a kid from my father, but only recently picked it up again. Woodworking is my passion along with the antique tools of that trade. Do you ever sell these small adzes or do you only do them for enjoyment and personal use?

[@BlackBearForge]

I do occasionally have some adzes for sale through my Etsy shop. I hope to have a similar sized one listed the weekend.

[@noctismortis7349]

this is genuinely pretty funny to watch

[@adroaldoribeiro4529]

Since, according to you, you got into blacksmith because of woodworking and you do a bunch of woodworking tools, I think it would be quite nice if you made a short video on how to make a hand plain or a spokeshave

[@BlackBearForge]

If I ever make those tools, I am sure there will be a video