Forging a different sort of Monkey Tool

[@DireWolfForge]

That’s a great example of craftsmanship, John. Always a pleasure.

[@BlackBearForge]

I appreciate that

[@Vikingwerk]

Make a tool to make a tool to do a project, the eternal blacksmithing state!

[@stewartwoerle6351]

Hello John, I came up with almost the same tool, only in reverse. In the centre of 1/2 or 3/4 flat bar make your tenon hole to whatever shape/size required. Bend both sides up 90 deg then squeeze the ends together and weld to form the striking end and you end up with an open sided monkey tool that looks very much like yours…😊

[@BlackBearForge]

Great idea

[@MasterOfNone2023]

That is a great idea. I'll be saving that one for myself

[@lefterisxalepopoulos4036]

I am 60 years old from Greece.And i like your job.Straight and high quality.

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Thanks for sharing with us John, that was a good build of that Monkey tool. It was quite interesting to watch. Stay safe and keep up the good videos. Fred.

[@LarryKidkil]

thats a clever use of the press. Its a handy hydraulic vise

[@erikcourtney1834]

I understand using materials that’s on hand. With that said my approach would have been with a piece of 1.5”sch 80 or 160 pipe. Forged to rectangular shape, then drifted it to final dimension. If any concern with it being made from mild steel then a little hard facing weld around the shoulder would help with that. I am a fabricator welder by trade so maybe I’m more intuitive to fabricate before forging. 🤷🏼‍♂️. Great tool and video John.

[@RaymondWKing-dn8wf]

Hi John thanks for the interesting Demo!

[@waynewilson112]

Really enjoyed this video, great to see a tool that’s in someone’s head become a reality 👍🏻 well edited and well put together 👌🏻

[@Bangalangs]

I’m very interested in seeing how this tool performs. I can’t think of a more straightforward way to make it than the approach that you took. Another excellent video sir.

[@threeriversforge1997]

Very nice design. Like you, I've never seen a rectangular monkey tool. Even square is a hard shape to find! I did make a rectangular monkey tool years ago for a project, but it was nowhere nearly as nice as what you've come up with. I fabricated mine 100%, and from mild steel. It held up well enough, but I think I made a mistake in grinding the welds down completely to give it a nice look. After the hammering was done, I noticed every weld had a hairline crack through it, basically making the tool useless. I could have welded them back up and left the full bead there, but that never happened and now the tool is lost in a pile of stuff somewhere, if I still even have it. Never got around to making a better version, but I might just have to give it a go.

[@GypsyJvan]

I have never seen a rectangular monkey tool, either..looks nice !.. thanks.. ..Black Art Forge..

[@TalRohan]

Ive been thinking about this for a while, Ive never seen one but that just means Ive not seen all the tools in any one blacksmiths shop, I did consider punching the long slot then punching the end slot while supporting the tool in a vice but honestly with warping etc I think you came up with the best way to do it accurately Cool tool John Thanks for sharing, I'll be looking out for the next video and seeing how it performs

[@doingitoutdoors7083]

Loved the video as always. Making the tool to make a tool to make a whatever, is the fun of blacksmithing. Mine are way cruder than yours but they get the job done. Most times anyway.

[@americanpatriot2979]

Good video John. Like to see you using the tool you just made. 😊

[@Smallathe]

Very cool. I think it's faster than milling and broaching or milling a square/rectangular hole. Very cool project and DIY. :)

[@ChristCenteredIronworks]

Love seeing your process John keep up the great work

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks 👍

[@jessegreywolf]

Learning a lot from your vids. Like the straightforward presentation. thanks for sharing

[@maknifeandrods7701]

How did I miss you getting a new gas forge!!! That is beautiful.

[@BlackBearForge]

That was last year, here is a video about it kzbin.info/www/bejne/mGe3lWagq86tfcUsi=JiTi0EDIhwvJrFdC

[@manfoodchannel]

thanks nice tool cant wait to see it used

[@jsmyrick8066]

Nice unique job! Thanks!

[@pjamestx]

Great project, end result was very satisfying, thanks for sharing!!

[@stevenlisk2468]

Outstanding work

[@virtusleather]

Great video John. Lots of different skills there to make that. I suppose a big mill yes would do the same but wheres the fun in that?! 🤪

[@BlackBearForge]

Exactly!

[@bigredbeard65]

Once again I've gotten my sunday start to the week off on a good note, got to watch another great and informative black bear forge video, thanks John! There are times I wonder why is he doing that? But then it becomes obvious. Thank you for another great video, I'm looking forward to getting to see the new tools in action.

[@kentcostello5286]

I love your videos and channel. Because you bring the passed to the present.

[@Mucidamascusblades]

I wish I saw this video last month when I had do make a smaller rectangular monkey tool as well. The way I came out with was drilling a round bar on my lathe to the appropriate size, then heating it up and pressing it under my press. Then I refined the hole with a drift. I bet you can use the same technique without a lathe, under the drill press but the tenon you need to make is a lot bigger than the one I needed so… pretty sure your approach is more appropriate. Thank you for sharing

[@wolfsforge2]

Always glad to watch your videos.

[@hanowahgames2517]

Really loving ur improvement with your video editing skills. Cant wait to see what u show us this year! * secretly hoping you might redo an old video of making some tongs. Always rewatching as im slowly building up my collection can never go wrong with a refresher. But will say the difference from than to now is certainly Night and Day. - Cheers and thanks for all you do

[@MrJamesjustin]

That's a beauty John. Top job

[@garychaiken808]

Great job. Thank you 😊

[@normanfrazier6695]

That will get the job done, Awesome

[@lytken]

again a great video can you please make a video showing what this tool is used for

[@davidlong6173]

Very interesting teaching video thank you.

[@larryjones4713]

Enjoyed the video. Love the monkey tool

[@TheNotGinger]

Hey, John really good video I like the new layout that you did maybe for the future to make it easier on you. Do you more videos like this with less talking? So it's quick and easy for you to get out and then at a later date. Maybe do a sit down, chat the finer details of the project.

[@belterglj]

Just trying to think how you could do that without welding. Could you punch a slot in the side, drill the end and work both holes to the shape you want?

[@BlackBearForge]

I have done a square monkey tool doing something similar

[@cthoma17]

Would it work with pipe welded to the bottom instead? Or would it not hold up over time?

[@BlackBearForge]

It might work for a while, but I think it wouldn't hold up to long term use

[@mikehodges6598]

Did you have to make the big punch you used with the Saymak just for this project? And how long did it take the monkey to cool in the vermiculite?

[@BlackBearForge]

I already had the punch, things like that seem to collect over the years. I let things cool over night, but I doubt it needed that long. Although I have had axes buried at the end of the day that were still warm the next morning

[@AdamDeal-KF0PRI]

Spurs commercials goes on KZbin if your a die hard pay the extra money if you can for add free through youtube! im gald i did i got tired of some channels going over an hour just for the video alone and adding a ton of adds inbetween. thanks john for another good video!

[@coryofalltrades3568]

Morning John, curious as to what vise that blue on you used in the video was haven't seen one like that

[@BlackBearForge]

That is a Kanca vise. There is a video about it here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXrPiIGCeLtrmsksi=b_UESgVpOvJaU-GU

[@coryofalltrades3568]

@@BlackBearForgeOK, didn't realize it was a post vise from the video.

[@fozbstudios]

Can anyone tell me what the hammer is called (not treadle, hand swung, or power), that John used by means of an overhead wheel? Don’t recall seeing one, but I’m not a blacksmith just a fan

[@BlackBearForge]

Thats called a "Fly Press" It doesn't hammer so much as it squeezes. Not as powerful as a hydraulic press, but a very versatile tool.

[@TheGuidedSharpeningGuide]

Great video!!! What size Wilton is that? I finally snagged an 800's at a flea market for $200 paint was horrible on it but other than that it was in phenomenal condition.

[@BlackBearForge]

Thats the 6" model

[@TheGuidedSharpeningGuide]

@@BlackBearForge nice. They are great tools.

[@jrdudgeon]

Im just 15 and i am trying to start forging, i have a axel and a peice of pto shaft im going to try to make a small specialized anvil do you have any suggestions or advice?

[@jrdudgeon]

I might make a video on it sometime in the future

[@BlackBearForge]

I would recommend using some cutoffs from that material for test hardening. You'll need to know if it's air hardening, oil hardening or water hardening.

[@mikelastname]

Very interesting build - I am surprised my blacksmithing journey has turned more into making tools than doing anything with them beyond an initial test. That's a nice looking table for your portaband - I watched the original one from years ago with your DIY frame - do you have a video about this upgraded one?

[@BlackBearForge]

Not an uncommon trend

[@bjh4970]

For a portaband frame, I’m loving the Hercules “universal” bandsaw stand from Harbor Freight; it does both horizontal and vertical orientations and has been a game-changer in my small hobbyist shop.

[@mikelastname]

​@@bjh4970 Thanks, that looks like something I was about to try and make myself - likely at twice the price and half the utility. I found the one that John is using at Swag offroad, but for all its benefits as a vertical stand, I was keen to find something that let's me also do the more common horizontal mode.

[@kenbartlett3823]

Great video sir

[@jeanpomerleau8416]

using the hydraulic press as a clamp is a great idea! Just wish I had a hydraulic press :)

[@smash5967]

I think i would have built the working end by welding four pieces of flat bar around an appropriately sized mandrel, then welded that to a shank if desired. Using aluminum for the mandrel or steel with paper shims would keep the tool from sticking to it during welding, and open corners provide plenty of weld and therefore strength. You probably could have saved some time by drilling a hole at the end of the slot you sawed in the shank and cutting to the hole rather than opening it up super far to get in there with a die grinder. Both of these suggestions come from my background as a weldor and machinist, not a blacksmith, and I'm sure your way made perfect sense to you.

[@BlackBearForge]

Great suggetion

[@stevelambert6404]

Where did the name come from or is it just one of those accepted things

[@BlackBearForge]

I really have no idea.

[@Rose-f2t]

Great video, John. Unfortunately I don't know what "Monkey Tool" do. Can you show how to use it ?

[@BlackBearForge]

A monkey tool is used to square the shoulder on a tenon. You will see this one in use when i do the log rack. One can also be seen in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoGvZ5-EedOCj6Msi=Lc5ab26iL179k8uN&t=527

[@Rose-f2t]

@@BlackBearForge Thank you, John. Great video.

[@timocsutube]

Came out ok....cool beans

[@mrrberger]

Stacked flat bar from a cheap grinder and stick welder. done.

[@reigninoel]

Something I have always been curious about is why/how it became known as a "monkey tool". Mr. Switzer/anyone else have any idea?

[@BlackBearForge]

I have no idea where the name comes from.

[@deryiousbarzee627]

Good morning

[@BlackBearForge]

Morning