Forging a 4 way split hook - Hook of the Week 25

[@robertoswalt319]

In an era where it seems that people think black smithing is about making knives out of Damascus steel, your channel is a welcome refuge. Thanks for sharing your creativity and skills with us.

[@BlackBearForge]

Thank you. One of my goals is to stay away from the current fad and present a more realistic view of what blacksmithing can be.

[@Katzztar]

Or make anything from Damascus, as a follow up to the knives.

[@jakeblanchard4049]

Love this. Once I get my forge up and I'm a little... I mean a lot more practiced I'm definitely gonna try something like this.

[@johnjude2685]

A man who has no boundaries, Electric can't stop you sir. Ok I've saw enough snow and I ready for spring time. Thanks for the showing and teaching Sir

[@BlackBearForge]

Its a lot of snow for October thats for sure

[@marbles430]

Really stunning that you are able to take a length of steel bar and see the elegant hook arrangement that it became. Thanks for the great video and delivery.

[@BlackBearForge]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@tinkmarshino]

dang walk through the snow.. set up the camera walk back.. then walk back through the snow again.. Just to get a shot of you comin' in to the shop.. a lot of work John! But I bet it will be nice tonight.. candle light.. wood stove.. We here are not set up for a power outage.. my wife has a fear of fire so no candles or fire place just the sound of a genny and battery back up.. But still we can see the stars then.. Great little hook.. I am always amazed that you can take a chunk of steel and make something useful out of it.. What a talent.. carry on, be safe and enjoy your time here John..

[@jjppres]

Pretty darn unique if you ask me. I like the look and especially the fact that it's all 1 piece. Nice job John! Thanks for sharing it.

[@kensmapleleafretirement]

Sunday morning with a cup of coffee, my two favorite buddies curled up beside me and a Hook of the week video. Life is good. Thanks you for your contribution to this beautiful morning.

[@SpacewolfDan]

From Spain too and doing the same. That snow gave me the chills and i am back in London soon.

[@PavlovsBob]

Sundays wouldn't be the same without Hook of the Week! A lot going on with this one. 👍👍👍

[@idahobob173]

We've got snow flurries today in north Idaho too, but not a heavy build up ... yet! I wish my shop had a roof on it before the snow really starts to fly. (Sigh) Looks like I'm gonna have to wait for spring and I'm not getting any younger. John, your channel is my refuge when the weather turns cold. Thank you very much for everything.

[@BlackBearForge]

We had about 8 today and they say another 5 tomorrow evening. Pretty cold and snowy for October. Probably end up being in the 70s at Christmas

[@danielcrawford7315]

I'm thinking this may rival for the best hook yet. Not cuz its fancy or adorned, but because it was done from a single piece and just turned out nice and serviceable. Plus it shows so many problem solving skills that one doesn't see on a daily basis. Excellent job sirSir! Though I'm sure, given your style and ethics, you feel you coulda done this that or the other different or better or what not...I reckon a bunch of us think it turned out great from what it started. Id'a never thought of that from a piece of square bar. Hats off to you again. Thank you for sharing this. 🙏blessings abundant sirSir and stay warm. Crawford out 🧙‍♂️

[@BlackBearForge]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. It was a fun idea to try out

[@mikepettengill2706]

Digging that snow from sunny Southern California.

[@shadetreeforge]

Loving the hook of the week videos! I don't let the lack of electricity stop me! atmospheric 1 brick forge and an old table top BBQ grill converted to hand crank blower, and a 40lb chunk of D2 for an anvil and we're good to go! Really missing not having a vise! gotta get one set up some day...

[@Hoaxer51]

Frank Strock, whatever it takes!

[@random40s]

That is one cool hook! Loads of stuff could be done with that idea. Very cool!

[@leontorkelson6246]

Great project. All one piece and not much parent stock left. Great job.

[@fauseth]

I kinda’ hope my power goes out now. Thank you John! I love “Hook of the Week!” This one is particularly awesome.

[@richardsolomon8076]

Next one makes the 6 month hook :-) great searies John. Very interesting 4 way hook :)

[@thomasarussellsr]

I guess it'll be time for a new bucket pretty soon, the pickin's are gettin' purtty slim in the first one there.

[@douglasfathers4848]

That is one nice hook John, but the beginning of the video wear you show the snow is truly beautiful.

[@BlackBearForge]

Glad you liked it

[@Luis-eu2ow]

I loved the opener of the video today. As always a pleasure! Hope your power comes back on soon!

[@stevedingman474]

John please keep that snow out West! Not ready for it yet but I did go get the snow shovels outta shed and sat them at the doors ... ugh , but what a great hook!

[@BlackBearForge]

I will do what I can, we need the moisture

[@stevedingman474]

Black Bear Forge thx John it’s now predicted to be a wintery mix is all and the ground is way too warm to stick around long ! Kiddos will have a hard time trick or treating! Tho

[@tobyjo57]

Very Ingenuative as always John. Love the Vice held scroling Jig. Your skills and techniques truely do Inspire us novices ( newby's ) out here learning from you guys. I'm sure a lot of professional smiths also learn from your ideas and methods. Thanks for all you share

[@BlackBearForge]

That jig is one a viewer sent me a while back

[@tobyjo57]

Shows how they admire and appreciate you

[@paulhanlon8233]

Another great Job John. Thanks alot. Always look forward to Sunday mornings Hook of the week. Keep up the good work.😄👍

[@johnblanton9845]

Great hook idea , lot of potential projects. Thanks for sharing

[@stanervin6108]

Hey, John. Next time you make a hot cut out of S7 or S5, try angling the cutting edge at 25° to 30° from parallel to the handle. Much easier to use ergonomically and keeps your knuckles away from the heat.

[@BlackBearForge]

I have always found its easier to keep the cut straight with an inline edge

[@croyce7699]

I'm not even a novice blacksmith, but curious as to why you wouldn't stand on the other side of the anvil, thus having your non-hammer hand away from the heat?

[@thomasarussellsr]

@@croyce7699 because the risk of the hammer/tool hitting the hot steel sticking up is much greater? Good question.

[@donniebeall8152]

Love it now my favorite hook

[@superradicaljam4509]

Not sure if its the extra light coming in from the snow outside but this video looked really nice and crisp! Was also handy for viewing the heat colors, looked much closer to real life, maybe because of the outside light as a reference that everyone can recognise? Certainly seemed less dependant on the cameras exposure level as to how the piece looked which was nice

[@BlackBearForge]

Thats an interesting observation.

[@Zogg1281]

I think this is my favourite hook, I love the look and thinking behind it. I'm definitely goimg to try this one and I'm thinkimg that, instead of bringing the side hooks back, I'm goimg to go for a longer top hook that swoops farward so it ends up with 3 levels of hook that step back as they move down 🤔 I've got loads of offcuts of box section and I'm wondering it something even more quirky could be done 🤔🤔🤔 This should be fun!!!! 😁👍👍👍👍👍

[@BlackBearForge]

Sounds like you've got those creative wheels in motion

[@Zogg1281]

@@BlackBearForge I have definitely got creative stuff flowing....... somehow I went from wanting to make hooks, to looking at your tadpole recumbent trike ...... saw the price and started thinking about making a tadpole recumbent trike..... then thinking about the weights bench I'm fixing up for a friend and how easy it could be turning into a tadpole recumbent trike with some parts from some old bikes I've got laying around........ then realised the clocks have just changed which is screwing with my creative juices and that definitely a recumbent trike build is in my future but not with parts from a weights bench. Happily I'm back to thinking about very cool and random hooks. I think I just dodged a bullet!!!!! 😅 LOL

[@thomasarussellsr]

@@Zogg1281 clocks don't change here in the USA until next Sunday night at 2:00am (Monday morning). Where are you from that they already changed?

[@Zogg1281]

@@thomasarussellsr The Uk. Interesting that they don't change at the same time, I would have thought countries would have tried to standerdise that for the sake of global business or something. I know it wasn't anything to do with the clocks, but that was literally how my thought process went yesturday. Pritty random. LOL

[@thomasarussellsr]

@@Zogg1281 interesting for sure. May have something to do with it wanting the time change to be in the middle of the workday for roughly 1/3 of the globe? I don't know why we even still have the time changes, the majority of people don't work agriculture any more. City and industrial jobs don't much matter the outdoor light level. And for the few industries that do, shifts can be adjusted to match the prevailing light of the season. Hmmm, plenty there for a philosophical discussion, but back to work, it's 9:15 a.m. where I'm at right now.

[@johndrogden897]

U gave me a idea and when I get started iam going to do it and show u what I did thanks alot

[@lenblacksmith8559]

That was different and had great potential. Well done.

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks

[@johndilsaver8409]

Very creative hook, well done. I'm not really looking forward to the snow, but it is pretty. I recently made a hammer eye punch with the handle coming out at right angles to the axis of the hammer eye, and I'm thinking about a handled hot cut chisel with the same arrangement. It'll be an experiment to see how hard it is to follow a straight line with that type tool.

[@scotthaddad563]

That’s one funky hook. I like it!

[@mattilindholm1941]

As usual realy nice hook. I hope the power is back soon. Have a great day. 🤘😃🤘

[@BlackBearForge]

It was off for about 8 hours and apparently in a pretty big area

[@mattilindholm1941]

Black Bear Forge Great to hear that the power is back. 👍👍 I’m a beginner blacksmith started this summer and i don’t do blacksmithing videos. But i do wetshaving videos and i did a short blacksmiding video for my wetshaving friends where i showed my first hook. If you got 3,22min left you maby want to see the video. Have a great day and take care. 🤘😃🤘 I’m from Sweden so sorry for the spelling. 😂😂😂 kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2XLlqmle6ydfpo.

[@harrisgraves592]

Nice Zero thumbs down I live for these videos

[@mitchelperkins6723]

Most unique hook yet. I like it!

[@TheRustyGarageandHomestead]

Thank You John

[@gurvinderkau1e5w18]

That hook on no power day. Wow sir u like challenges👍

[@BlackBearForge]

Thank you

[@mandolinman2006]

Here's a couple questions I have. How do you handle winter in your shop? I know you have the wood stove, but what about your water bucket? I'm also curious about your rain collection system. How is it affected by the cold? I think those could be interesting to do a short video on.

[@BlackBearForge]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGPWm4mlopWbe9E The water system is buried deep enough that it doesn't freeze

[@TufStockdogs]

That was great to watch John thank you for sharing it. Have a blessed day to buddy

[@robertspath4824]

Buddy I watch you all the time ! I get the new alerts and watch the new videos as soon as I get the alerts. I've learned quite a few things that never occurred to me as a novice blacksmith and I'm catching up on the wealth of past videos that you've uploaded prior to me finding your channel! That being said I love the hook of the week but what's left of the scrap bucket is killing me everytime I see it! Please for the love of all that is good and proper in this world replace it!...lol just kidding but not really! Keep the videos coming!

[@BlackBearForge]

Actually it was deciding that I would rather empty and throw out the bucket, than to replace it that started the whole hook of the week idea.

[@thomasarussellsr]

@@BlackBearForge next bucket, then? Please.

[@jimtalbot3989]

I kinda like when things don't go perfectly on the videos, then we get to see how you fix it, takes the aggravation out of it when we try it.

[@idahobob173]

Jim Talbot: "... we get to see how you fix it, takes the aggravation out of it when we try" Amen to that!

[@marty01957]

I really like this hook, John! As you said there are so many more possible ways of finishing it, or going with it! Thank You

[@gilcore5245]

glad about the lack of electricity. Nice Demo

[@robertayers9424]

The possibilities of what can be done with blacksmithing! Excellent point on forges and electricity or the lack of. Thanks!

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Good job on this weeks hook, thanks for sharing with us.

[@NeilGraham.I.M.F]

Brilliant creativity, great hook

[@jefffarley9223]

That is one awesome hook! You truly are a master.

[@erniebeswick7675]

Great idea for a hook

[@mikemichelizzi2023]

That hook's pretty weird. I love it!

[@marcbotnope1728]

Now you are just showing of.... I like it!

[@stanervin6108]

I started out using a Buffalo forge with an Acme hand crank blower. Think the name of my first anvil was 'Iron City' about 120 lb. !

[@jeanpomerleau8416]

I see a lot of hold-fast hanging there, I plan to try to make one when the 11/16ths steel round bar comes in.

[@mountaingroveforge6554]

That snow sure is pretty.

[@stanervin6108]

🏆

[@billy19461]

My wife would have loved it.

[@aliceharvey3019]

@@billy19461 Brrrrr! I can only appreciate it from afar. Very afar. :)

[@billy19461]

Alice. Nope me and my wife loved it. She way more than me. She would take the kids out and play as long as they could. She always wanted to be snowed in in a cabin in the woods with a fire place and a bear skin rug. I pray that the Good Lord will give her what I never could.

[@allanking3800]

Wow that is a really neat hook. Amazing what a perfect can do with some time and the the right tools awesome hook of the week.

[@thomasarussellsr]

Perfect = person, in this comment? I absolutely hate auto-finish/auto-correct. How about you?

[@ronthacker211]

Pretty cool... i like it.

[@richardsnellenberger9985]

I really enjoyed this project, maybe you could do one similar, and add some candle cups to it. Just a thought. :)

[@BlackBearForge]

Just don't hang your coat on the candle😱

[@BrianDaleNeeley]

It's certainly an unusual pattern, but it looks like it would work well as a shop hook. It would be a good place to hang an apron, dust mask, ear phones, AND face shield. All it's missing is a place for safety glasses, but maybe they should go on a small shelf right above the hook (perhaps with a box of foam ear plugs). I think it's a good idea to keep all your PPE in one spot, and preferably right by the door of the shop.

[@BlackBearForge]

Good ideas, glad you enjoyed it

[@Jason-jd1jv]

Hey John, I've been thinking about making a pot rack to hang all of my cast iron skillets on and I'd like to see how you would tackle such a project.

[@BlackBearForge]

That would be a good multi part video

[@Jason-jd1jv]

@@BlackBearForge That's what I was thinking. It might be too involved for a single video. But either way, I'll be looking for it coming up lol.

[@harrisgraves592]

I need to make one

[@danielcrawford7315]

@@BlackBearForge wholey purple cow, so many directions that project could take! Welp gotta admit that would make a grand project to watch and learn from. HMMMMM gota wonder if your lovely wife needs a pot rack. ROFLMBO . 🙏 blessings abundant stay warm yall Crawford out 🧙‍♂️

[@beeforge4260]

i do like the look and potential. Nice job. I get tired of the same same everywhere you look. i was just thinking about the way all the cars look. I went to visit someone at the hospital and there were 5 "crossover" cars in the visitor lot that all looked the same parked next to each other. Thank god for the antenna toppers and "my kids are smarter than yours" sign. I almost thought I was at a car lot. Thanks for your time and video.

[@BlackBearForge]

Cars have really become boring.

[@danielcrawford7315]

@@BlackBearForge, in my humble opinion, John Switzer is anything but a clone or copycat Smith. Occasionally he works on a project that is released at the same time another works on a project similar... but not often. He is most definitely a unique character that does his own thing. Thank God for that, and for him being one of the best here in KZbin. Many of us are blessed with being able to learn from his experience and efforts. Top notch guy, ifin you ask me. Would be awesome to meet him one day. I've got to meet and work w Roy Adams now and Scott from Essential Craftsman, as well as Daniel Moss, trust me I'm a black smith. All are really nice and real as on video. John is next on my list!!!😀😀😀 one day soon I hope, but as much as i comment on his videos...he'll probably run the other way lol. 🙏blessed days now y'all Crawford out 🧙‍♂️

[@jjholl3826]

Another great piece sir! Hey, is there a reason why hot sets aren’t made with the handle perpendicular to the chisel blade? Seems like it would make it easier to guide like that.. but then again I’ve not yet had the pleasure of using one. Thanks for the lesson and the content John 👍

[@ga5743]

Wow you did your exercises on that one. Nice hook, but not one on my bucket list, don’t have the strength for cutting that split. So love this series John, and how did 25 weeks go by so fast? Beautiful shot of the snow......our leaves are in the midst of color right now, beautiful also.

[@bennyhill3642]

I agree, those arms could stand to be a little longer. Great Vid Mr John!!!😇

[@mountainviewturning5319]

Very nice video 👍

[@JarlSeamus]

I feel you on the heat on your knuckles while using that hot cut. I was thinking of making myself one with a 45 degree offset, like a diagonal peen hammer. (Hey, that might make a great video!)

[@BlackBearForge]

I have tried diagonal cutters and find it harder to steer a straight line

[@shortfuse43]

@@BlackBearForge X2 on that!!

[@jimackerman5323]

Sounds like a pretty good way to spend an evening...

[@sbjennings99]

Awesome informational educational video experience Y'alls

[@jasonsisk2902]

Very cool

[@billy19461]

Loved the video!

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks

[@stevedingman474]

John brother you are the best smitty on KZbin... I used to watch a bunch but over the Last couple of years many have dropped off my watch list ... used to like Christ centered but they do more selling merchandise then blacksmithing and that drives me crazy we already get bombed with adds from KZbin then listen to him and her go on about their stuff ... nope 👎 its u and Alex Steele and his crazy kid stuff he also does adds and merchandise but they are in the end and I just shut him off at his ad speech lol!!! Keep it up John!!! Christmas 🎄 is coming id love some gift ideas 💡!!! Now instead of later because my wife loves u also ! And she seems to find things she likes and wants 25 a week before Christmas from me 😂!

[@BlackBearForge]

While I appreciate the sentiment, I also understand why people have all of those things on their channel. Making KZbin videos is time consuming and takes away from paid jobs. So many creators have a choice of using those things to supplement their income, which allows them to make videos, or they go back to paid work and stop making videos.

[@stevedingman474]

Black Bear Forge if it was work sure I love too help support there channel !

[@stanervin6108]

Looks a tad on the chilly side, John! 🐾🔥⚒🌡⛄

[@BlackBearForge]

Not so bad really. But it won't be above freezing for the next 4 days around here.

[@richyscameracaptures276]

Thank you, that was fantastic.

[@shortfuse43]

I often have trouble keeping the split uniform with depth, much less straight. I have found that the biggest problem with keeping the split uniform with depth it keeping the hot cut absolutely vertical.

[@davidwatsonii9469]

POWER OR NOT, ALWAYS INTERESTING

[@stevenolan7972]

Got a suggestion how about forging a 5or 6 pronged pitch fork? Think it would be an interesting forging.

[@BlackBearForge]

That would be a challenge.

[@danielcrawford7315]

A lesson in forge welding I'd bet.

[@TheRustyGarageandHomestead]

Mr John are you gona be able to have a countdown to christmas again this year? Just wondering. I really enjoyed it last year.

[@BlackBearForge]

I have thought about it, but I'm not sure if I will have time for a video a day. But I will think about it.

[@TheRustyGarageandHomestead]

@@BlackBearForge thank you sir

[@thomasarussellsr]

Cool as heck hook. Love the way it looks, kinda midevil. "Gonna go in the house and build a fire"? Hope there is enough residual heat to keep the wife from freezing if you didn't build the fire before going out to the shop.

[@BlackBearForge]

The house does pretty well with solar gain during the day, but needs a bit of heat in the evening

[@thomasarussellsr]

@@BlackBearForge oh, that's good. Saves on wood too.

[@glenwaldenhomestead8]

Great work John. Thanks. I have an unheated/unpowered shop up here in Canada and I'm concerned I may crack my anvil unless it is warmed somewhat. I am curious to know how much consideration you give to hammering with cold tools. It may be hogwash as I know smiths/farriers worked the logging camps out here all winter without heat. I would love to hear your opinion. Thanks again.

[@BlackBearForge]

I have heard enough stories to wonder if its an issue. At the very least a cold anvil sucks the heat out of your work. In very cold weather I preheat the anvil with some large pieces of steel heated in the forge and just set on the anvil face.

[@glenwaldenhomestead8]

@@BlackBearForge Thanks John. Keep up the great work.

[@curtisbarkes6271]

That's a really cool, unique looking hook. I love watching you work, and seeing the work you produce. What PSI do you run your forge without a blower?

[@BlackBearForge]

Everey forge and burner combination is different. This one runs between 6 and 25 psi depending on the heat required

[@curtisbarkes6271]

@@BlackBearForge thank you

[@danbreyfogle8486]

Hope the power came back on for you...

[@BlackBearForge]

It was off close to 8 hours

[@BigWillSD]

Not my favorite finished hook, but the techniques used were priceless.

[@grandadz_forge]

Oh that was driving me crazy when you were cutting that. I assume it was due to the camera angle that you did it in that position? I would have stood at the end of the Anvil facing the holdfast. As if I would know a better way to do anything I just had to get that off my chest LOL

[@BlackBearForge]

I would actually use the treadle hammer in most cases

[@5x535]

@@BlackBearForge Music to my ears! I have got my treadle hammer in service now and the entire time you were splitting I was wondering why you did not use your treadle. That certainly is a great chisel. I need to make one like it.

[@TufStockdogs]

Nice chisel what would that be called a hot handled chisel or what should I look for?

[@BlackBearForge]

Frequently they are just called a set chisel

[@realvictim]

Lovely original idea. The length of the standoff would make the top hook kinda awkward to use, I think I'd make it shorter... Still a great piece :)

[@towerjokeytower8484]

Did the power come back on?

[@BlackBearForge]

It was off for about 8 hours

[@timothyconley1267]

Is that Chile forge really that quiet? Or edit.

[@BlackBearForge]

No, I shut it off to help the audio quality

[@johndrogden897]

How would I find a blacksmith near me thanks

[@BlackBearForge]

Internet search or perhaps use the ABANA web site to find a nearby affiliate group.

[@manga12]

hmm that is a big bar, doing old school blacksmithing, wearing and old school blacksmiths hat, I cant imagine how long it actually took to cut that down the middle or how hard that is a big bar.

[@BlackBearForge]

All of the chiseling was shown, just not the time heating

[@MCAS1924]

4 hooks and not a single twist, I'm disappointed. LOL. Also, I think you need to stop calling that a bucket!

[@oneshotme]

Just wanted to ask have you heard anything from Chandler Dickinson as of late?? I know you ad tried to help at one time and haven't heard anything from him in months Thank Haven't seen him on here and worried that his doing well or not with what he was dealing with

[@BlackBearForge]

No, I have not

[@oneshotme]

@@BlackBearForge Thanks anyway

[@SpacewolfDan]

those candle holders came into use today then ...

[@BlackBearForge]

Its amazing how many you use when the power is out

[@SpacewolfDan]

@@BlackBearForge i bet and the slow burn can be expensive

[@douglasfathers4848]

John there is only 4 peaces left in the so called bucket better start thinking witch bucket is next.

[@BlackBearForge]

I may work from several buckets as we move forward.

[@curtisvonepp4335]

John what neck of the woods do you live in 😨. I cheat and split the iron with a band saw if no power i use a hand saw 🐤🐤🐤😁.

[@BlackBearForge]

We are in Southern Colorado

[@pavelvitek28]

Oh Dear John. The hook is really ugly. 😁But I love how you do that. You rule! Master. I really like your job! No offence.

[@kevinbyrd6482]

You need an Apprentice that could have hack sawed that for you.

[@cypherian9821]

Ok now your just showing off lol

[@danielcrawford7315]

Lol, when he's good and he knows it....lol Shoot ida never thought of that. Hope your well my friend, see ya next year I hope. 🙏blessed days now y'all Crawford out 🧙‍♂️

[@DavidGrassSr]

Well,you can't make a mistake..Right .. just fix it ? One thing i was taught not to do and was never hit two hammer heads together, still carrying the piece of steel in my chest.. Be Safe.., Texas