Pinapple twist - using the Fly Press - ornamental blacksmithing

Adding a twist to an iron bar is a simple way to add a decorative effect to one forge work. Some twists do require specific setup work to achieve the desired effect. The pineapple twist is one of these type of twists.
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Fire brick and refractory - refwest.com
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.

[@jonas2431]

they asked you to demonstrate the twist cause your the best

[@sibco96]

I love Sunday morning videos with Black Bear Forge before I go outside.

[@toxicba]

The best video your instructions are precise and well thought out. I just discoverd your video one week ago and I have to admit: your sir are a wonderfull blacksmith! Your very generous to provide sutch useful lesson. I try to become a blacksmith in France and your videos help me a lot! Thank you so much

[@realvictim]

I follow a number of Smiths on KZbin but I really enjoy your practical and relaxed style; the quiet, humble confidence of someone who really knows their art and how to communicate it. Great content, thank you.

[@BlackBearForge]

I appreciate the comment.

[@totila42]

Long life to Black Bear ! Thank you and keep making video like this

[@bunyanforgings7849]

I've watched other videos on this. By far yours is the clearest to me. Cheers.

[@GaryForgingOn]

It amazes me how much force a little screw type fly press can generate.

[@BlackBearForge]

Its about 6 tons

[@sanpogiri]

So in addition to John's many talents, he must be a mind reader as well. I was just thinking I should try a pineapple twist on my new anvil. So I get on YT and this pops up. Thanks, John!

[@IslandMetalForge]

You make me want a fly press brother!

[@BlackBearForge]

They can be awfully handy

[@anvilengine5884]

Same here. Every video I pick up something I didn't know, and get an idea for more cool things I need!

[@IslandMetalForge]

Well, I'll have to see if I can make one... because I highly doubt I can buy one lol

[@BlackBearForge]

They would be difficult to make since they use a 4 lead screw that moves very fast.

[@thomasarussellsr]

@@anvilengine5884 nothing better to press flies with, but how do you get them to stay still while pressing them?

[@bbqhoncho2720]

Another Great n Patient job Thank You

[@ChristCenteredIronworks]

Congratulations John On 60k!!! Keep up the awesome content

[@82finesa]

That was what I was thinking Roy, John has some very good teaching videos.

[@bobwhelk2117]

What’s nice about Johns videos is he completely sincere and gracious, salt of the earth, doesn’t try to sell garbage, and doesn’t preach his own beliefs in his videos ( by far the best black smithing videos on the internet)

[@wyliemacbean1157]

That was awesome !!!!!!! Thank you.

[@mattymcsplatty5440]

wow, incredible what blacksmiths have worked out by experimenting etc, amazing just amazing, u never cease to amaze me John

[@larryking606]

Very good Twist ! I believe I like that larger diamond more than the smaller one ! Thank you , Sir ! Keep Hammering !

[@NeilGraham.I.M.F]

Above 60k now. Greatjob!

[@johndilsaver8409]

I'm re-watching this morning. Nicely done as usual. Thanks!

[@grandadz_forge]

Nice twist. Great video. Love that fly press!

[@couchforgecompany1134]

60K and counting. Congrats John. Once again great video

[@gurvinderkau1e5w18]

Nice video. Twist look beautiful

[@mattymcsplatty5440]

oh yes congrats on the 60k, not long until u get yr silver play button for 100k

[@smartypants5036]

Very nice work. Loved the result.

[@mikechapple2363]

Great video! I like that flypress

[@jeremyjohnston2451]

Thanks!

[@jeremyjohnston2451]

Thanks for the video lesson! Can’t wait to try this twist on my next batch of fire pokers.

[@3870TheDad]

Beautiful work, as always. Your instructions are precise and well thought out. Thanks.

[@broxtonmassey3289]

this makes me want to do a Damascus with the pineapple twist

[@glitched4070]

Brilliant 👍👍👍

[@kensmapleleafretirement]

That is great, Absolutely beautiful... Thanks for sharing.....

[@vesaleskinen4553]

thanks from sweden

[@rightwinggunslinger1]

Excellent! Thank you

[@MediaWhored]

Enjoying the channel Sir. LIKE, Commented, and Subbed

[@billy19461]

Love to watch you work!

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks

[@rjg3876]

Learning with almost each vid Thank You

[@stevesyncox9893]

Very cool, thanks.

[@mikelowerytreemonkey1023]

Thanks John. Vary good info.

[@b2bogster]

Mr. Bear you always seem to have what I'm looking for to teach me the next step I'm my own blacksmith experience. I just made a half rubix twist steak poker/flipper. It turned out really great. Now I have to try this as well. Thank you for the straight forward teaching. More please and keep up the great work! Thank you.

[@fedderback1]

That was cool

[@OuroborosArmory]

Nice video.. Gratz in the 60k

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks

[@patshes1951]

Excelent!

[@wayneshirey6999]

Nice job.

[@freightdawg6762]

That was fun

[@bearshield7138]

very nice

[@debdottir]

So interesting.

[@holsterbuddy3783]

Gonna try this tomorrow.

[@ValhallaIronworks]

I'm so very envious of your beautiful fly press! Another great video, John. Big congrats on the 60k!

[@danielcrawford7315]

That makes about 60k of us alex lol

[@brettsayers7768]

fantastic looking twist, that's the easiest way i have seen it done yet.

[@c0nstantin86]

Come on everybody do the twist! :))

[@billwoehl3051]

Square it, chisel it, twist it, repeat, got it!👍

[@ericjason5773]

The only tme it seems i need lube is on something finicky, with the tongs held between my legs, on tippy toes, one knee bent. That awkward position we all get into sometimes. And of course just as you get that piece to where you can hit it, your tool sticks and the lube is somewhere in the tool box drawer on the other side of the shop... I was told by an old timer once that in a pinch, a pinch of forge scale will get you working. And it does work. Lord knows we all got enough scale laying about.

[@mrdrangen1]

Great video :) one of the best explanations I have seen so far. Thanks to your videos I have started planning my own forge and Im going to take up blacksmothing this summer :D

[@BlackBearForge]

Great, I am sure you will have loads of fun

[@johnjude2677]

Thanks

[@TheShorebird]

First time I've seen this, very nice. I like how the diamonds form.

[@BlackBearForge]

Glad you like it!

[@austinbridge]

WOW

[@elmermainville4429]

Love to start my day by watching your new video with my first cup of coffee!! Congrats on 60k!!

[@stl0127]

Made this twist in blacksmithing class today and it came out great. Thank you so much!

[@danielcrawford7315]

Ha! 700th like 😁😁😁Thank you very much Mr. John. Good indepth study material. Awesome looking results. That fly press...mmmm mmmm mmmm. What a deal. No flies in your ointment. Blessings 2 u sirSir, Crawford out P. S. 60k way to go sirSir, and congradulations to the new subs! Johns a great teacher and really good creator. Pretty sure each of you will find something of intrest here. Bless you all

[@steelpennyforge5152]

Smart use of a fence! I would bet you could set up a little jig to do the same at the anvil if you did lots of these.

[@gregworkshop5713]

hi looking good

[@MrDukaman]

Great video john like always. I just made an all one piece fire poker with the new diagonal peen hammer you made for me. Started out with 5/8 square bar did a my first Rubiks cube swist and drawn it out with the new hammer it went so fast only 20 minutes to draw out the 5/8 bar Used to take well over an hour with my daily 31/2 lbs forging hammer. Thank you. .... Sorry i wish i know how to post a pic......paul.

[@jtetra]

CONGRATULATIONS ON 60K FOLLOWERS!!

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks

[@Schmokeabowl]

I don’t even do this yet I watched the whole video 😂 very interesting

[@edwardhugus2772]

I love all of your vids. The pineapple twist is nice, but the Chevron (Wheat) twist is King in my book. Just my opinion, of course, but the Wheat toast is SOOO Elegant looking. Thank you for all of your great videos, and for all of your effort to produce them.

[@matthewtomes9396]

Do the manky tank john

[@BlackBearForge]

I have been challenged and hope to film that in the next day or two.

[@hannemannironworks1651]

Congrats on 60k John! Awesome tutorial thanks for sharing!

[@christianvonderwerth4518]

I like the pineapple twist , good working glückliche thüringische Grüße Christian (germany)

[@hosiercraft9675]

Really nice work. It's almost BBQ season. I know you've made lots of BBQ things already, but have you made a chicken fork. A 3 tined fork with the middle off set for grilling chicken? Or a chicken rotisserie. A rod with a basket in the center and a crank handle you put in a chicken to rotate over the grill, stand made separately.

[@user-rg8lh8mh5x]

Очень красивая работа привет из россии❤

[@c4dan]

That fly press seems like a lot of extra work.

[@andreacausero4342]

Amazing outcome, like always! This video encouraged me to try it, and try I did, but I've realized that it is particularly difficult to get good results with bars with a thickness below 1 cm. Some of the diamonds look irregular and kind of "dented"... Do you have any suggestions?

[@since1876]

This is amazing! One thing you could do is edit the video to speed up the process of the chiseling. It would help shorten the video and, once you know how to do it, you really don't need to see it at normal speed the rest of the time. But that said, that 18 minutes went by fast. This is incredibly interesting and even without speed up edits I was thoroughly entertained the whole way through

[@ninelivesforge6432]

Didn't know about punch lube, unfortunately on the quick and dirty website it doesn't say what it's made from. What are other more accessible ways to lube a punch or drift, would motor oil work?

[@ninelivesforge6432]

I'd like to add that I live in Russia, so otherwise I'd order the lube from quick and dirty, I really admire how you prefer to support small blacksmith businesses, but we don't have that here

[@BlackBearForge]

I think it is a wax base with a large amount of graphite melted into it. I have seen some recipes that also add some lithium.

[@bobwhelk2117]

That lube container looks like it’s right out of the movie Kill Bill 1.

[@jeremynading2006]

As far as the issue with keeping the work piece on the table instead of getting stuck to the press head, yes your spring idea would work for a time. I only say that because springs fail after so long. In my opinion the cheapest and easiest all though crudest way I have found to remedy the problem is how did on my homemade fly press as well as my other presses. A hole drilled and tapped in the table top and a bolt with a nut welded vertically on top of it to put another bolt through, in the shape a "T" works wonderfully. With the vertical bolt it allows adjustments to be made for how tight you want the piece held to the table and which side of the press head (depending on where the hole placement) with some micro or fine tuning adjustments from the horizontal bolt. The vertical bolt also allows for centering on the work piece. This is all variable with bolt length, size and grade. Not only will it last longer than a spring but if you don't want to use it you only have to mess with one bolt which you can just turn out of the way or take off all together.

[@BrianDaleNeeley]

Maybe an upper stop just a hair higher than 3/4 inch. Basically a loose clamp that doesn't "clamp" the bar. If you used one on the longer side of the bar, you might only need the one. One other thought, has anyone seen a pineapple twist in hex (or even octagonal) stock? I know it would be more work, but I think a hex pineapple twist would look really good.

[@BlackBearForge]

An upper stop or stripper would help, but wasn't worth the trouble to set up for just one. If I were doing multiples it would save some time in the long run. I would think someone has tried other stock for the twist, but I don't recall ever seeing an example

[@davidduffy9806]

The shirt you're wearing highlights your complexion, who do you go to for fashion-cosmetics advice?

[@johngunn5948]

i don't recall seeing you working on that double horn anvil. Is that a new addition to the shop?

[@BlackBearForge]

Not new. It is where I generally do any layout and center piunching

[@-.blackraven.-]

can you add a drip pump to it to slowly put the loobrkint on tha press wall your yousing it

[@Viktor_Johansson]

I think doing a pineapple twist on a layered damascus barstock and then grinding away the bulges would create a cool pattern.

[@billwoehl3051]

Any way to get a overlap, like shingles/snake scales, with a pattern like that?

[@thomasarussellsr]

Interesting, the first time you said "fly press", i thought, [how is he going to forge a chisel cut with a flyswatter?] Then you showed the machine, which I don't see much, and i felt like an idiot. Thanks for that. Beautiful "twist" though. I put the twist in quotes because you untwist it.

[@benvanniekerk4905]

Dumb question but what pencil or marking tool do you use?

[@erniew5805]

he has the pencil in his etsy shop

[@BlackBearForge]

Its a welders silver pencil. They are available from most welding suppliers.

[@Worrsaint]

I am curious if you have ever tried sooting your punches and chisel (or even the work piece) with an AO torch with the oxygen turned off. Gives it a dusty carbon layer. I have seen you use crushed coal dust before so just wondering if this would work too. Might work well as a lubricant, or I could be completely wrong.

[@BlackBearForge]

It might work, but the extra trouble of getting the torch out might not be worth it.

[@Worrsaint]

@@BlackBearForge Yeah I can see how much of a hassle that could be depending on how your shop is setup now that I think about it.

[@Homesteadgrizzly]

It maybe silly to ask but would a pineapple twist work on round stock? Love the videos most informative

[@BlackBearForge]

You could, but you have to square it up to get the pineapple effect

[@michaelhayes1678]

When you squared the bar back up after the first twist, was it to weld all the chisel-cuts closed too, or simply to square the stock back up? Neat how you didn't cut all the way through, and such a magnificent effect on your finished product! This is likely the fourth time I've watched it, always love your content!

[@BlackBearForge]

Not welding. Squaring back up between cuts is what creates the diamond pattern

[@michaelhayes1678]

@@BlackBearForge Thank you! :)

[@linnrich2477]

What is that large machine you used to make the cuts in the bar for the pineaeple twist

[@BlackBearForge]

That is a fly press

[@jorgensalomonsson6739]

have you tried strong salt solution for the hot chisel? don't know if it works for multiple cuts...

[@BlackBearForge]

I have not heard of using salt a lubricant. Interesting idea

[@jorgensalomonsson6739]

@@BlackBearForge I read that back in the day when they bought salted herring by the barrel they used that brining for hotpunch and chisels..

[@SwitchbackXThunter]

What is it that John carries in the leather case on his side? Blacksmithing tools or camera related equipment?

[@BlackBearForge]

iPhone 11

[@SwitchbackXThunter]

@@BlackBearForge thank you. Curiosity killed the cat. ☺️

[@MarkATrombley]

At 15:55 you put the metal back in the forge but you put the end you *aren't* working in first. Then you show that end not hot. Did you push that end thru to the outside of the forge or am I just confused?

[@BlackBearForge]

I wanted to be able grab it from the other end so I put the long end through the fire and out the back door

[@kenrawlings3722]

I wonder how 2 chisel grooves on each side would look?

[@BlackBearForge]

It would be different. Try it and let us know

[@huntintrailmetals9343]

Hey John you wanna sell that little giant hammer?

[@fearlessferrousfire]

Who disliked a black bear forge video!🤭😡🤯

[@mattymcsplatty5440]

but if u really want one u could make yr own play button loll

[@BlackBearForge]

I have thought about it.

[@87elky383able]

Hey those are tongs not a hammer😂😂

[@billwoehl3051]

The tongs not allowing the stock to be flat against the fence.