Wrapped handle fire poker

This wrapped handle fire poker is a good beginners project. featuring one small forge weld (optional) it is a great blacksmithing skill building,
My name is John Switzer, I operate Black Bear Forge, 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
To provide financial support use one of the two links below.
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Mailing address:
Black Bear Forge
P.O. Box 4
Beulah, CO 81023
If you are curious about some of my other interests, you may like my second channel
John Switzer
/ @johnswitzer
Find my online at:
www.blackbearforge.com
www.blackbearforge.etsy.com
/ blackbearforge
/ black-bear-forge-20986...
Below you will find useful links that will help you in your journey as a blacksmith.
My blacksmiths apron
www.Forge-Aprons.com use code BBF
RZmask 99.5% dust mask
rzmask.com?afmc=ay
To find more information in blacksmithing in the US or to search for your local ABANA affiliate group visit.
www.abana.org/
Blacksmithing tools and supplies
Self contained air hammers - www.saymakhammers.com/
General blacksmithing supplies - www.oleoacresfarriersupply.com/
General blacksmithing supplies - www.piehtoolco.com/
General blacksmithing supplies - www.centaurforge.com/
General blacksmithing supplies - www.blacksmithsdepot.com/
General blacksmithing supplies - www.blacksmithsupply.com/
Square head bolts and lags - www.blacksmithbolt.com/
New anvils - www.oldworldanvils.com/
New anvils - www.nimbaanvils.com/
New anvils -
Industrial supplier - www.mcmaster.com
Tong blanks and tools - kensironstore.com/
Fire brick and refractory - refwest.com
Most of my videos are shot on the Canon M50
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Audio is recorded using the RodeLink Filmmaker Wireless Microphone Kit
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I have set up a Facebook group just for you, the viewers of this KZbin channel.
If you would like to share your work that was inspired by my videos
This is the place to do that
/ 101400907400310
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.

[@Arcticcatkid23]

Im 27 years old. Just built my own forge, quench tube, bought a cheep grinder and forged my first set of simple flat jaw tongs and used them to forge a knife out if a old file. Alot of me doing this was inspired by you. Your educational content is amazing and has helped me out tremendously. I appreciate it like no other. Once this knife is done (glueing handle right now) then im going to attempt the veggie chopper from a couple videos ago. Anyways thanks for the inspiration and knowledge!!!!!

[@joeblankenship2360]

Still my favorite blacksmith on KZbin, and this gentleman is a blacksmith in the truest form. He makes stylish, functional pieces of work that are meant to be used. Plus he is keeping the trade alive by providing us neophytes excellent, FREE, instructional videos.

[@cascadehopsful]

Anybody who can name a bat'leth right away is my kind of guy. I knew there was a reason I liked watching your videos. :)

[@OKBushcraft]

You made that forge weld look like I could do it. Thanks for your videos

[@BlackBearForge]

You can do it!

[@BeardedLewis]

I didn't realize it's that simple to do a forge weld! Great idea. Off to the garage!!

[@BlackBearForge]

Glad you liked it!

[@genesmith2416]

Iron mountain flux is wizardry (great stuff)

[@PracticalPrimate]

Same!

[@petepeterson4540]

@@BlackBearForge check out John Jude's comment it is great I should have said it and it goes double for me

[@loul7239]

He made it look easier than it really is. Not that the weld he did is hard because you don't really have to prep with a scarf, but his control of heat, awareness of the right colors and accuracy with smooth light strikes takes practice. If he hit that too hard or at the wrong angle it would have slid apart and turned into a pile of mush.

[@jimmywest1]

Really gotta say your videos has been more and more professionally done and I really wanna give it to you that you're doing a great work. I loved your older videos and I love the newer ones. You give me a lot of inspiration! Thank you, John.

[@BlackBearForge]

I appreciate that!

[@RandomThingsUp]

Wow amazing video great work brother who enjoy ❤️ this video hit the like 👍

[@shawnbailey6608]

I've been interested in traditional blacksmithing for a few years, but thought it was about knife making, until I found your videos. You have completely inspired me to begin blacksmithing, bought a decent anvil and have built a coal forge, after Christmas I'm going to purchase a gas forge thank you for your videos

[@zanemichel4742]

thank you for teaching this skill

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Nice for the wood stove. Thanks for sharing.

[@johnjude2685]

On your fine handle I would elongated the loop and go with a smaller loop for hanging. Great job teaching Sir always love your treatment for us folks that doesn't have great tooling such as a touch ( yes now I know myself good enough that I should have gotten a torch years ago and I would have used it many times. Thanks again Sir

[@shortfuse43]

Well, John, you taught me a good tip in this video. When making pokers like this (usually out of 3/8" square rod), I have trouble keeping the weld from splitting when making the curved "hook" part. I never thought to clamp it in the vise to keep the weld from splitting. Thanks for the tip!! I guess you *can* teach old dogs new tricks, LOL.

[@thomasarussellsr]

If the "weld" is splitting, then it isn't welded. Try taking the heat just a little higher/hotter or longer in the heat soak for the welding.

[@shortfuse43]

@@thomasarussellsr Good point.

[@BlackBearForge]

The problem with multiple welding heats on this style tip is that they get too thin so one heat with a slightly less that perfect weld is better than the thin spindly point.

[@shortfuse43]

@@BlackBearForge That's precisely the problem I was having. Too thin of a point might tend to bend if one isn't careful and leaves it in the stove or campfire too long. Thin tip-hot fire, not good!

[@donloughrey1615]

Thanks and greetings from Minnesota.

[@lennybivona9534]

I never stop learning from you, Thanks.

[@petepeterson4540]

just poking around banking on finding some great videos of yours.

[@WezzAndStuffs]

Your content is so wholesome. So thank you for it. Please keep on rocking and forging.

[@jeffgrier8488]

I really like the handle design on this poker, and since i need to work on my forge welding, i may have to try building one, thanks John!

[@jbkhan1135]

Great project! Was just thinking about making a fire poker for the family, very timely, thank you!

[@McSmithPetr]

simple and straightforward. No show-off. You awesome. Best Reagrds

[@firingsynape]

My favorite blacksmith. So many blacksmithing videos assume that the viewer has a power hammer. Thank you for such educational videos.

[@BlackBearForge]

It isn't so much assuming the viewer has a power hammer, but more showing how that smith actually works.

[@briansworld7153]

Good morning Sir, what a great idea! Thank you very much for the video. It is as you say, a great gift in winter season. Have a wonderful day Sir! Blessings!

[@captainhgreen]

I don't have a forge yet but I have a torch. So I'm going to make me a poker and as you suggested I'll add the additional turns down the handle. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@jonathansimmonds5784]

When I started on the blacksmithing course at Hereford in England 25 years ago this was the first thing the students made as it taught several important factors in one item. We used square stock, the rats tail at the handle end was to teach not burning the metal and where to place it in the forge as well as hammer work, descaling etc. The other end we 'upset' to make a bodkin point, like armour piercing arrowheads! all the time maintaining the square edge, the shaft we did barley twists in two places. No gas torches, no pincers, just hammer anvil and forge. There's a lot of learning to be had from making something as simple as a poker.

[@ricardomaroni8208]

Just found your KZbin channel. I enjoy how you talk . You make it easy to understand. I'll enjoy going back and watching your videos. Thank you so much ric from wnc

[@nathandunning7150]

It looks great & just in time for Christmas.

[@richardmclean525]

Hi John thanks for all the big shows happy Thanksgiving God bless you and your family

[@justinbutts3558]

Hey John, thank you for taking the time to do these videos. I'm brand new to Smithing and watch your video's daily, so thank you again!!

[@douglasfathers4848]

Hi John its 3am in Australia I'm just looking for something to ease the mind mate . So thanks John your projects all ways help , I will make a dozen of the pokers for friends and family so thanks again mate . cheers. (:

[@azura3308]

i just found this channel like 5 minutes ago and im so glad i did

[@EXARCWithGrandpop]

Hi John, Like so many you have inspired me to start blacksmithing. I am 50 years old and I just built my anvil stand for my 66lb anvil. All I need now is a heat source and I am ready to go. Thanks for all you do.

[@Whipple1]

Find a local blacksmithing group and get to a couple of meetings or attend a few “hammer-ins”when this COVID crap clears up. Blacksmith’s are a sharing bunch and you’ll learn more first hand than trying to hone your skills from videos on KZbin. John Switzer is a great teacher, communicator, craftsman and a great resource for blacksmithing, but I’m sure he would be the first guy to tell you there’s so much more to learn when you can see it in person. Good luck with the pursuit of your new hobby! Cheers! Whipple

[@Carterironworks]

I really enjoyed this project and the tips you gave thank you and keep up the good work

[@Edwinthemountainman8454]

Nice just where I was looking for thank you great job 👍

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Thanks for sharing with us John, that’s a great fire poker you made. Take care and have a good Thanksgiving. Fred. 👍👍👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@jdrouse]

Holy smokes! Color grade video! Production value is going up. Projects are going strong. Well done!!!

[@ivorboyd3126]

just started forging here in Ireland. First instruction in forging was at school over fifty years ago and always longed to have another go at it. Recent retirement has offered me that opportunity. Bought an anvil and a gas forge and this looks like something I could give a try. Have learned a lot from watching your video's. Hoping to try my hand at forge welding and think this will be the place to start. Thanks again for the inspiration.

[@BlackBearForge]

Enjoy the journey

[@joeblankenship2360]

Good on ya, you come to the right place, John has made some amazing things on his channel.

[@Manropesaw]

I’ve been interested in blacksmithing and after watching your videos I decided to go for it. Today I tried out my setup. Small propane forge, 18” piece of railroad track mounted on a heavy 3 legged stand with a large old vice mounted on one end. I need bigger arms among other things. Trying to make a pair of tongs out of 3/4 round bar. Thanks for the encouragement

[@trevordeane3940]

Nice job. This is a good starter peice as it teaches a bit of forge welding, eye making and tail reducing and twisting.

[@lightsnsiren79]

I love watching your videos. But identifying stuff from star trek, that was amazing. Thanks for making my day.

[@hellishgrin4604]

Just something about a good glowing piece of metal

[@traildust55]

Always fun watching your videos!

[@andryKnavs]

I love your videos. Keep up the good work. I'm going to build my own forge because of your great videos :). Greetings from Europe (Slovenia).

[@NancyGarcia-cm4yy]

Maestro, ¿ qué le añadió para que fusionara ese extremo ?....excelente trabajo......siempre hay algo por aprender y comprender., abundancia, prosperidad, amor, salud, alegría, armonía...para ud y su familia...hare krishna

[@l.rowanmcknight7853]

One of the things I love about your videos is how often you say, "...but not everyone has [insert tool here] so I'm going to show you how to do it without one."

[@angelopedretti83]

Good morning!

[@harrisonmantooth3647]

Good morning and, thank you John for sharing another great instructional video. I was literally impressed with the ease in which you accomplished that Forge Weld. The Poker turned out great. I think you're right, more length of the round rod is needed so the wrap would be longer to accommodate larger hands. Overall all, I grade this video at 110% 👍. Thanks again for sharing your talent with us. Stan

[@TheDistur]

Very nice poker. I enjoy seeing the bending and other non anvil work.

[@alastairbrown5174]

Wow that looks great

[@robertwhitney2232]

Hi John, you opened up poking around in the stove. I did the same thing this afternoon, had a nice bed of coles, added a piece of flat stock 1 1/4" wide 3/8" x 8" long. Needed to make a hook on one end for a gear puller. Couple of minutes up to very hot, couple more heats nice clean hook. This dosen't mean I am going to stop working on my blacksmith shop. 👍

[@Zogg1281]

I think that bat'leth would look cool with a mini stand to hang it from..... double hook style so it can hang as if it was hanging on a wall 🙂 Your poker cam out looking nice and having the really long rap for the handle sounds quite cool 👍👍👍

[@georgewohl1126]

That's beautiful. Good job.

[@Trigene1004]

your great sir...your one of my favorite americans 😁 your ideas are pure art...everthing has its meaning and isnt useless...every detail of your work is skill and know-how...great videos ✌

[@gurvinderkau1e5w18]

Ya with more spirals it will look more beautiful but it already look awesome. Nice video. 👍👍👍👍🔥🔥🔥

[@stephentimoney6951]

Really enjoyed this video. Thank you for posting.

[@swierkupitok7264]

I'm going to buy some real anvil soon (and replace my old cast iron block) and I think that something like this would be one of my first show of skill for friends. Also need to learn forge welding and that looks not so hard. Thanks for video!

[@kentsanders7127]

Thanks John. I've made a couple of these, but I shape the ring into an long oval so it becomes the handle and fits the hand well.

[@lemix69]

Awesome poker, my brother has a wood burner in his living room and that would've made a great Christmas present, had I seen this sooner. Anyway, great video, I learn more every video I watch. I'm not sure if I'm going to try forging myself yet, but I really enjoy watching it done.

[@NeilGraham.I.M.F]

That's a nice one little project

[@kennymiller4428]

Another fine lesson.

[@moreybandel5560]

Love the Bat'leth bottle opener! And the poker is awesome too! So... In the words of the Klingons... Qapla'! (Success)

[@josephmaschari1073]

Keep them coming, sometime simple are great. Happy Thanksgiving

[@JF-fx2qv]

This is the first video of yours I received notification of in a long time. Battery is dying .

[@gregcoile8887]

Awesome video Really appreciate the content

[@craigmoore7521]

Great job!!!! Love watching your videos. Keep doing what you doing please!!! Thanks

[@thomasarussellsr]

I'd love to see a wrapped handle on square stock with a pineapple twist a third of the way down the bar from the handle to the poker end.

[@OrionsAnvil]

Table looks great!👍

[@samuelbuettner1214]

I don’t have a torch so thank you for showing a method without using one!

[@ChristCenteredIronworks]

Great simple little fire poker john :-) also great video presentation! Hope you and your family are doing well

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks 👍

[@mattthescreamer177]

Great tutorial, thank you very much!

[@jskjsk3986]

Happy Thanksgiving John!🦃

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks 👍

[@baldwindigital]

Great straightforward design and a fun forge weld. Would make nice Christmas presents. I am curious how it would look using square stock. Thanks as always for what you do.

[@frankgaletzka8477]

Hello John Thank you for this toutorial Video This firepoker is a good piece to learn And by the way i think you are a little Trecky as i do too All the best for the next week and stay healthy Yours Frank

[@BlackBearForge]

You are right!

[@stevenbell1888]

You should make a worf action figure with fasteners and other metal odds and ends all welded up :) that would be pretty cool

[@davidlong3824]

Nice job all ways interesting to watch.like your videos.

[@BlackBearForge]

Glad you like them!

[@im4dabirds]

very nice

[@johnvanderwalker4830]

I really hate to suggest something to a pro like yourself, but I used to build wire fences that we wrapped wire over wire much like you are doing on loop end, to do this we used a tube a little larger ID of the wire OD and could slip the tube over the wire and get very tight wraps because the fulcrum was right next to what I was wrapping around. a 2 foot piece of 1/2 ID pipe would do the job here. Again I hate to throw in my two cents but I believe it would speed your wrapping and give give you a very tight wrap. Have a wonderful thanks giving and I hope this is taken in the spirit of thanks I have for your great You Tube channel

[@daveyjoweaver5183]

A lovely poker any fire would enjoy to be poked by! Thanks Kindly! DaveyJO in Pennsylvania

[@lennyfelix98]

This is what I look for to become when I'm older

[@grizzlyyt2335]

I would love to learn under you I want to be a blacksmith but I'm only 19 and it's hard for me to get a proper forge I watch alot of videos like this just learning basic stuff but the way you explained things is so easy for me to understand

[@BlackBearForge]

Keep the interest alive and before you know it you'll be able to start acquiring the tools and equipment you need. A good start is getting involved with a local group.

[@MySickstring]

At 7:05 when you are grabbing the steel I mistook the rusty red color for heat and thought you were superhuman. Well, we know you are, but it would have been proof haha

[@currajeperm8418]

Super profesore

[@ilfarmboy]

this looks great extra wraps not needed

[@rolibus2606]

très beau travail: bravo ;))

[@jbr1074]

John- If perhaps you could mark the round bars w/ soap stone in such a way that folks can better see the rotations- maybe just a line running with the length of the bar, just for a visual reference. Thanks for all your efforts! JBR

[@thomasarussellsr]

Great idea. It is hard to see how he is manuvering the material. Maybe a stripe marked down one side so we can see if he is spinning it or going back and forth, even in square-bar it is sometimes hard to see if the camera us not zoomed in.

[@thomasarussellsr]

I like the idea of the longer wrapped handle. In the Battleth, just a small adjustment/offset on one end, and a sharpen, and it could likely be a can opener too. Something to think about anyway. A hand operated can opener so you can open those pork-n-beans during a power outage. There's a project idea.

[@alwaysbearded1]

Happy Thanksgiving John. I'll be asking my folks if they want a fireplace set. They will never use the fireplace but the hearth does need something...

[@matthewb8229]

By the time I got doen with this project, my wife would ask, "Is it supposed be all wavy and off to one side?" "It's for poking fires that are around the corner." I'd reply.

[@BlackHoleForge]

I have a video idea for you. I noticed when you took the round bar and put it into the fire, you flipped up a little metal holder. Could you do a video on how to make one of those holders to support your extra metal?

[@sonofgod2405]

Cool

[@cuongthanhtran7029]

nice

[@johnvradenburg6477]

riverside Iowa is my neck of the woods lol

[@NMiller_]

I Trek, I approve. If you're at all interested I recommend watching the DS9 episode where Quark (bar tender) gets married to a Klingon. Seems appropriate.

[@hannemannironworks1651]

I need some 3/8 round stock... maybe draw out some of my 1/2 would do thanks for the video John!

[@BlackBearForge]

I might just make the poker a little heavier and use the 1/2" as is

[@johnnyvoodoo666]

You can also hot cut the poker in

[@BlackBearForge]

You can but you need a much greater mass of material to start with or you end up with a point and hook that bend easily kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZOaYqSfn7iDiK8

[@dougalexander7204]

Thumbs up.

[@theuniversalbean9352]

Wow an instant notification for once

[@TheMoosejer]

Looks great. Wondering what the overall length the fire poker is?

[@TheMoosejer]

I would like to share a picture.

[@MrGiXxEr]

Next time all you have to do is bring your wrap material down beside the shaft side you want to wrap. 10 inches is plenty. Get both sides hot and twist them together in a vise. Now it's going to twist both but you get the same effect with less material.

[@BlackBearForge]

I have used tat technique in the past. But I see it as a completely different finished element

[@JF-fx2qv]

Long time, no see.

[@stevemoore5053]

Great idea for a poker John. May I ask what is your hammer size in pounds that your using in this video? Thanks in advance.

[@BlackBearForge]

About 3 pounds

[@aliceharvey1226]

Lovely fire poker John. Question. You say you started with 38” of round stock, and would need maybe 30” to get the amount of wrap you want. Could you get that length just by drawing it out, or would you have to start with more stock to begin with? I’m thinking the latter?

[@BlackBearForge]

I would start with maybe a 60" piece and draw just the end out,

[@dougjohnson6485]

Mind over Metal forge would like to ask When you talk about waxing projects you've completed is there anything special or specific about the wax you use?

[@BlackBearForge]

I use Johnsons paste wax, but bees wax is also good