Blacksmithing - Forging a leaf key ring

Simple project: How I make a leaf key ring (key fob).
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/ torbjornahman

[@theoptimisticmetalhead7787]

Always love the cutoffs. Torbjörn Åhman; Master artisan, expert blacksmith, fashion icon.

[@torbjornahman]

:)

[@Techathy]

It's videos like this that make me think I should try my hand at blacksmithing.

[@guitargeekforjesus]

G. Bell do it! it's a lot of work but very rewarding. that is if you enjoy it, haha

[@vindiesel3066]

Have you tried it yet?

[@Edcognito]

Have you tried yet?

[@mustgetlife]

I hope you're either teaching others forging already or will be in the future. Your drive for perfection is something most people lack and should learn. I've enjoyed your every video, keep up the good work.

[@Smallathe]

I have watched this video sevral times. I'm trying to have a go at it with my DIY forge and DIY anvil... So far not successful - but one thing for sure - it's a lot of fun... :) Thanks for the inspiration!

[@torbjornahman]

Great, keep at it!

[@Smallathe]

@@torbjornahman Thank you!

[@pjhalchemy]

A pleasure to watch your light handed techniques. That small stock sure looses heat fast. Beautiful as always, Thanks for sharing! ~PJ

[@ryanschamp844]

I bought one of these for my wife to use as a pendant on a leather cord. She loves it. Thanks for sending it to Minnesota.

[@torbjornahman]

Sweet. Thanks!!

[@Stefano2856]

Nice little artwork, worthy of a goldsmith!

[@Shaw11234]

that anvil, 10/10 would want.

[@wytboi1377]

another perfect piece- you are the best blacksmith I've ever seen

[@torbjornahman]

:) Thank you!

[@wytboi1377]

👍

[@powerfoxy9992]

All your makings are awesome

[@PyroShim]

Your anvil is the neatest one I have ever seen.

[@jessefoulk]

I kept on looking at that HUGE anvil. Never fathomed i'd see one that big. You have big files and big anvils, and a big power hammer. Go big.

[@torbjornahman]

jesse foulk He he, exactly... it's one downside though - it's all HEAVY.

[@knivesstuff]

Great video! Nice work, looks very good. I want to do some decorative forging now.

[@facundofd5678]

Exelente!!! saludos desde Argentina!!!

[@Castle6064]

Really Really beautiful you have a wonder art which I could watch all day

[@torbjornahman]

Alan Byrne Thanks!

[@ahmadalhwejh9026]

+Alan Byrne me too

[@benwarren2559]

I think when I get my forge finished I am going to start making those leaves to get my technique try making about fifty to a hundred really enjoyed the video

[@gunterschone8402]

Nice Video.The Keychain Looks great

[@shadowcastre]

T... Nice! I always enjoy new projects. I would love to see a video on your forge, chimney, and blower setup.. how it works, dimensions, and that clever retractable china hat on the stack. Thanks for the video.. Shad

[@torbjornahman]

shadowcastre I might do a video on that in the future... got some requests like that

[@shadowcastre]

I'm looking forward to it!

[@frickandfraker]

excellent job... Thank you for sharing.

[@ahmadalhwejh9026]

i would like to practice blacksmith as a hobby but i don't have the tools or the time :( i would like here to express my admire to your work

[@torbjornahman]

+Ahmad ALHWEJH Thanks! It's never too late you know....

[@demonkey36]

I love your videos so much. Thank you for making them!

[@torbjornahman]

Great! Thank you!

[@Noble909]

YES. Keep making videos!

[@TheBuccleuch]

As I commented on another of your videos, sir, wonderful work! A thought, if you don't mind, for complementary design: fold the leaf back 180 degrees onto the stem, forming a "hook," to make a man's key fob. A man can then drop his keys into his pocket, and hook the leaf over the top of the pocket, showing to the outside. That way, the keys are easily retrieved from the pocket. I have a "key hook" like that, formed out of a short piece of hard copper. Certainly nothing to look at - I would happily buy one of your beautiful works!

[@torbjornahman]

Cool idea! Thanks.

[@liegesaboya8265]

Such a beautiful work ! thanks !

[@ThePathOfFire]

Nice! what kind of camera do you use?

[@torbjornahman]

Thanks. Nikon D800.

[@فریبرزآزادی-ل1ن]

very nice and wonderful

[@waterrocketengeneer]

I see you are using the hammer you made a while ago, very nice. I'm actually practising on that shape these days

[@Cosimao564]

beautiful

[@slowjoe56]

Nice job!!

[@borgesfh]

Belo trabalho!

[@CarterWHern]

Wonderful!

[@CharisWilliams]

Nice work!

[@KeithPeters]

That was great.

[@BelkinFahri]

Amazing!

[@hinduspl]

Cant find words to describe how amazing was that... Do more of these video please! You do this for living? or just an hobby? Keep up great work, wish you all the best.

[@torbjornahman]

+hinduspl Thanks! I just do this for a hobby ... currently :)

[@godstouchministrytherivers1819]

Very nice! Both the leaf and the wrapped vine look were very graceful. As always thanks for posting. I had a question, I was just wondering why you chose not to use the power hammer when thinning and pointing the stock? Was it because it was a small project? Or was it something more?

[@torbjornahman]

God's Touch Ministry The River's Edge Thanks! First of all I wanted to show a simple project like this be forged by hand. Then with small stock it gets trickier with a power hammer. You have more control with a hand hammer and frankly gets more done. I could have used the power hammer a bit in when drawing out the last part of the "stem" though, could have saved 2min of work.

[@Gavin55324]

Bro he got them daisy dukes 😂😂

[@MD-lg2gd]

from india with love

[@mustafako3187]

yes steel make this do good

[@ironchip1]

I was somewhat annoyed, if you will, at the little bouncing the hammer between blows but some educated description makes if sensible... the release of the muscle and the little rattle of striking with loose grip makes for quick recovery on extended hammering session. Being of body building along with many many different hobby/craft/art pursuits, I can appreciate the loosening of the hammering muscles when I really want to get something done.

[@DarrenBoss1984]

Wonderful work! I've always wondered why most blacksmiths work the hot metal with the hammer and after every few strikes they hit the anvil. Is that to remove any stuff from the hammer?

[@anomalousresult]

Darren Boss there are pauses where you want to look at the work to assess your next strikes and bring the hammer to rest but slowing it down with your wrist/hand takes effort so you just drop it on the anvil with a loose grip. It also just... feels right, I don't think it has anything to do with removing debris from the face of the hammer.

[@torbjornahman]

anomalousresult Exactly, you never HIT the anvil, but you drop or rest the hammer on the anvil ever so often.

[@DarrenBoss1984]

Thanks for the reply! I've always wondered.

[@cptbimes1]

+Darren Boss find some Japanese swordsmith videos on here. The Master will tap 'code' by tapping the anvil one or two times. It tells the Apprentice (swinging the sledgehammer) where to hit or to "hit the same spot" again.

[@Ketenkrad96]

Sometimes I wonder what fascinates me about this stuff.... I have nothing to do with stuff like this. I´m an electrician.

[@torbjornahman]

Fire! We all like fire don't we? :)

[@Ketenkrad96]

I guess you are right.

[@bobsimmons919]

Ketenkrad96 it's all about the fire.

[@sundrop27]

Wow!

[@saumpferd]

Sehr schön zu sehen.

[@torbjornahman]

+Norbert Wolff Baron Saumpferd Danke!

[@robg836]

I wonder what kind of metal that anvil is made out of. I'm in love

[@torbjornahman]

Rob G Steel! :)

[@Spagghetii]

I'm curious why you mark your anvil and work in the same spot. Is it to heat the anvil a little reducing heat lost from the work?

[@torbjornahman]

Spagghetii Oh no, it's purely for the video. I pre-focus on a part of the anvil and the markings helps me to find the correct spot :)

[@Spagghetii]

ahh as always I'm overthinking things :) simple and effective

[@Farnoreth]

If that was heated up and had a brass brush run over it would the golden color adhere to the leaf?

[@torbjornahman]

Yes!

[@aspincelaframboise9936]

Wonderfull HUGE anvil. Nice work eh... Ü

[@ricardogava1604]

Really cool project! I don't know if you accept challenges from subscribers, but can you forge hinges and door knockers?

[@torbjornahman]

Ricardo Gava Thanks! I can consider that. Any special type of hinge?

[@ricardogava1604]

Torbjörn Åhman A medieval door hinge will be awesome!

[@yyunko7764]

Ricardo Gava I'll add to that, will you consider making keys? It's one hell of a job to forge a key!

[@torbjornahman]

Ricardo Gava We will see... a key is just 40% forging I would say, it's so much filing and might not be so interesting to watch.

[@seabears_hate_circles]

As always your video doesn't disappoint. How heavy is that anvil?

[@torbjornahman]

LoadedMod94 Thanks. The anvil is 182kg (400 lbs)

[@amalfi460]

i would like to see how to forge a good quality hatchet if u get the time thanx for the great videos

[@torbjornahman]

Neil Amalfitano It's on my to-do list :)

[@ruckus0407]

Did you make the pliers you use to help twist the steel?

[@torbjornahman]

The small flat jaws, no!

[@retkulibin0303]

Здорово!

[@mattbehnke779]

Nice work! About how long do the big block brushes last?

[@torbjornahman]

+Matt Behnke Hard to tell, mine has lost quite allot of wires in the middle part but there is still plenty to be useful. I've had mine for about 5 years, but I don't use it every day :)

[@CordaSonoraAtelier]

I really like your channel, it is amazing. I have a question: What is steel used in the manufacture of rasps and files? Thank you.

[@torbjornahman]

WWWhhh Thanks. Hard to know exactly, but it's a high carbon steel >1.0% carbon. The composition probably depends on size and coarseness also. Probably all oil quenched steel. Thats all I can tell really.

[@CordaSonoraAtelier]

Torbjörn Åhman Mesmo assim obrigado. (Thank you anyway.)

[@TheFlutomaster]

Would a steel dowel work as well as those stocks?

[@torbjornahman]

***** Yes, but it's harder to forge steel and not so forgiving as mild steel.

[@JHF80]

Har du rundet av kanten på ambolten din med en fil der du begynner arbeidet med "hodet" Have you rounded of the edge of you'r anvil with a file where you start forming the "head"

[@torbjornahman]

JHF80 Nej, ingen fil biter på städet. Jag har använt en vinkelslip. Kanterna på städet hade små skador när jag köpte det så jag fixade till det genom att runda av vissa delar.

[@JHF80]

+Torbjörn Åhman. Takk for svar, har sett den avrundete kanten flere ganger og undret. Tenker å gjøre det samme på min egen ambolt. Går ut i fra det er lettere å strekke arbeidet med litt rundere kant?

[@torbjornahman]

JHF80 Ja, vassa kanter på ett städ är nästan helt oanvändbara. Man bör ha flera olika stora rundningar egentligen. Man brukar börja från horn-sidan med en ganska stor rundning och sedan gradvis mindre på en sträcka av 10-15 cm kanske. Detta är klart väldigt individuellt hur man vill göra.

[@neurotoksyn]

I thoroughly enjoy making leaf keychains, mine are a little different in design but they're a good way to try a bunch of techniques and work on hammer control and they don't take much time to hammer out.

[@d.cypher2920]

You ever try electroplating any of your stuff? It's rather simple, and quite effective, both aesthetically and for anti-corrosion.

[@torbjornahman]

As a matter of fact I have... but the result wasn't very good. Need to test that more some day.

[@d.cypher2920]

Torbjörn Åhman i see... fyi:: Negative wire to piece being plated... Lower voltage doesn't produce bubbles, so the plate is actually better. Powdered copper sulphate (i believe) in electrolyte bath for copper, w copper piece on positive side. ... that's sums up my knowledge lol. (Oh, surface cleaned thoroughly w alcohol just prior, oils no good.) Take care.

[@bmx98583]

Is there a reason why you didn't chisel any lines into the leaf?

[@torbjornahman]

Fargraven Not really. If you look at nature the veins show quite differently depending on the type of leaf. I like the hammered texture. I think chiseled veins can give a bit of a naive or stylish feel to it if not done right.

[@bmx98583]

That's very true. It looks well, regardless. If you don't mind me asking, how much would something like that typically sell for?

[@torbjornahman]

Fargraven Thanks. Around $8-$12

[@0mc]

nice work! how do you prevent rusting?

[@torbjornahman]

0mc On a everyday use key ring no problem. I have one among my keys and it actually looks ok without any coating.

[@ArtByKevinZapata]

Where did you get that very nice Anvil??

[@torbjornahman]

Bought it used

[@ahmedmegahed9673]

ماذا يصنع بهذه القطعه ؟

[@TheKorvgubben99]

kan du göra en video när du gör en kniv?

[@TheKorvgubben99]

okej

[@floppinfish]

Liked the video. Thumbs up. But don't become a hunch back. Ok.

[@Supercrewchief]

Beautiful! Where can I purchase one?

[@torbjornahman]

Charles Layne Are you in the US? Postage would probably be ridiculous...

[@Supercrewchief]

Yes US

[@Supercrewchief]

+Torbjörn Åhman I'm in California. 93536 is the zip code. Where are you located?

[@torbjornahman]

Charles Layne Across the pond, in Sweden. :) I can check the postage...

[@Supercrewchief]

Torbjörn Åhman Thank you. I am curious as to what it will cost. Do you have a PayPal acct?

[@piercer4882]

dont u need to flux it?

[@torbjornahman]

+Colin pierce Flux is more or less only used to protect the surface from oxidation in preparation for forge welding.

[@piercer4882]

+Torbjörn Åhman sorry im really not sure how that comment is on your video.. it was intended for a different video of a chain being forge welded

[@torbjornahman]

+Colin pierce Ha ha.. odd. Welding mild steel or wrought iron does not require flux. You may have to compensate somewhat for material loss instead, but the weld is the same, not better or worse.

[@jorgeleon1173]

you sell it ?

[@torbjornahman]

I have some items for sale on my web page.

[@sinisterweirdo]

satan takes tribute, didn't you know? 7 cold forgers every year

[@torbjornahman]

+Axel Furuvik Ok Axel, ha ha. Are you saying I forge too cold? Then you haven't seen true cold forging....

[@IsabelAfOhring]

Torbjörn, schyssta, det vore jättekul att se dig smida en sax. Typ traditionell japansk sax..! Allt du gör blir så fint! Fridens

[@torbjornahman]

+IsabelAfOhring Tack. He he... du skall inte överskatta min förmåga, men kul att du ger förslag. En enklare sax finns nog med på to-do listan, mer typ ull-sax.

[@IsabelAfOhring]

Amen gud, det måste vara en bagatell för dig ju! ^^ Aja, ser fram emot nästa video!

[@vincentbar484]

Probably a very stupid question, but how are you supposed to put a key on there?

[@anomalousresult]

The One Who Does Things I think it's a fob that you would attach either the split ring or spring clip to.

[@torbjornahman]

anomalousresult Yes... In not sure about the correct english terminology. Key fob or key ring, aren't they used interchangeable?

[@donaldasayers]

Did you grind that radius on that part of the anvil. or did it just wear that way?

[@torbjornahman]

It had some bad edges when I bought it so I ground down those parts. That said, you really should grind your edges to have different radii to work with. Usually you have the large radius towards the horn and gradually smaller down the middle of the face.

[@yyunko7764]

Nice video again, lots of practice in your movements, you have a very nice anvil, did you get it new or used? would you mind telling me how much such an anvil is selled for?

[@torbjornahman]

Yyunko Thank you. I bought the anvil used. A used one like mine can be found here in Sweden for about $700-$1000

[@yyunko7764]

Thanks for your answer, itll be a while before I can set up a decent shop, but Ill at least save up some money :)