Blacksmithing - Forging A Railroad Spike Trivet

[@marknickerson3645]

The monkey punch, is the angrier cousin of the donkey punch. Every blacksmith knows that. Keep posting the videos Chandler, Great to see you back at the anvil.

[@casey197930]

Dude you're such an inspiration to get into this and keeping up the fight in any part of life. God bless you.

[@michaelhuskey9939]

I know the video is two years old but for us novice blacksmiths, watching your struggles with a project and seeing how you work around them helps me more than anything else. Thank you so much for that.

[@Naplesfrank154]

After that project I think you deserve a. If glass of wine 🍷 Make it a red wine it will heat you up in that cold weather up there. I enjoy all of your videos, I think that you are a great teacher because you are never afraid to experiment. Thanks

[@handsanitizermk.268]

Frank Daniels I'm afraid that he must RIDE back to home. drinking wine before riding a car is never a good idea.

[@dijpdepijp2154]

I like these video's a lot. I don't mind it at all when a project fails or not. The sense of reality that comes with finding out what works and not is worth gold.

[@robsmith4286]

Chandler not to sound like a fan boy but you are an inspiration.... perseverance and determination

[@mattregan1862]

Awesome man! Just Awesome. Your "I'm not going to quit" attitude is just inspiring!

[@dougmarygodfrey7358]

Chandler, as a lil'blue fish once said, "Just keep swimming." You're doing great. Love the videos.

[@ericosterhout7564]

Man I'm liking this "series" you are putting together this week. Hand made is hand made. It's all about function not form. I know some people that would love to have that kind of item rough or not.

[@Creamhorses]

As a student of the game, I was impressed with the 'make a tool' portion of the vid. Some stocking stuffers are better than others. I learned something tonight. Thnx

[@TheBilboTN]

I've only done basic smithing around the house but I find your videos to be informative and entertaining! Thank you!

[@bluegryphon3102]

+1 for you, Chandler! Not the prettiest finished project, but the idea and potential for improvement and profit is there! The one thing I like about you, Chandler, is that you're willing to take us on the journey, succeed or fail! Always educational, always entertaining, and always inspirational, you're the best! Thanks for the videos!

[@josephkrug8579]

That came out really cool for another first attempt :) I love spending the evenings watching these. Thanks again for sharing all these :)

[@1969mrchip]

I think it turned out pretty ok. I plan to make a couple of these for my camp cook box. Thanks for the videos. I am very new to the craft, but its something I have always wanted to learn. I find your videos to be very helpful.

[@GranTorino49]

You don't give up and that's what I appreciate about you the most.

[@adrianarnold6499]

Good project, hilarious video. That shit happens to all of us that work hot metal. You are an inspiration for me. Thanks for all your insgruction and encouragement.

[@kevinjennings2112]

You are so funny to watch, love it and keep it up. Watch you all the time and enjoy every minute of it. Thanks Chandler!!!

[@tylerv9840]

hey bud my brother came up months ago from Ohio. he is now back in the coal mine so has very little time to forge.. I myself try when I can also but we both are trying to become better everyday and it's all thanks to you.. keep on keeping on brother

[@SgtSoup]

You're gonna make me cry with your inspirational actions man. Perseverance through adversity definitely begets results

[@Mr.Donahue]

Nice save. Remember expertise is not getting everything perfect, it's your ability to fix mistakes.

[@Magnetic_Spaceman]

In the MIA forgeside chat, it was really interesting seeing the grain structure of the bum steel you broke. I'd be really interested to see a video where you show the difference in grain structure between steels of different hardening techniques. Also, thanks for being so human in your videos. It's easier to show up when you remember everyone else makes mistakes too!

[@glennwiebe5128]

I think there's a couple of things that could make this project easier. First, after you forge the tenon, file the shoulder away so that you've got a clean square tenon. Second, I would heat the mortise and drive the tenon (cold) through. That would eliminate any chance of the tenon bending. I love your perseverance. Keep forging! Merry Christmas!

[@ronthacker211]

Love the projects that you don't see everyday... good job CD

[@johnhorsfall3281]

What a great project .As a prototype it is great, you know and we know that you just can't get it perfect on the first time .I would be proud to own one and I see that it would have good applications in commercial kitchen and as a serving utensil on the table in a restaurant and home as well. Good work and Chandler, the language make me smile. Real men cus .

[@toddbrewer8215]

The imperfections in your videos is part of what makes them so good. Have you ever thought of punching two round holes in a spike and putting a pin in each one with some wheels and make a little spike car?

[@MonteTurner]

I like that idea....but I like your tenacity even more!

[@lowellhurst9695]

I love the look of the trivet, I'd love to have some to use all year long, not just during the holiday season.

[@MobiusHorizons]

Congratulations on successfully getting 3 project videos out this week!!! Fun project.

[@jagboy69]

Great job as always Chandler. Good job sticking it out. I like it and will try my hand at making one too. Don't be afraid before ya start swinging to get out the ruler and measure and mark your work. Taking a few minutes to lay out your game plan will save ya some misery later. been there, done that. Anything you make that has a purpose, be it need a tool, make a tool or a handy household object has real VALUE and I like that. Cool things like this get passed down in families and becomes a part of someones life.

[@tizianahurd3765]

love your vids. Chandler ...you pulled it off again...thumbs up. from Mr.H

[@curtischase9197]

I don't do any blacksmithing but like grandpa always said measure twice cut once. measure and mark where your holes and tenants need to be then get to hammering. you did remarkably well tho for eyeballing it. good shit buddy keep it up👍

[@20gilbert20]

I must really applaud your persistence! That was one uncooperative project. Still, in the end, it was functional, if not perfectly pretty. Kudos to you.

[@oldmanwinter1405]

Ya done good amigo. It looked pretty simple conceptually but mechanically it was fairly complex. As always you inspire me. Thanks.

[@mikecarroll3132]

I just love the way you can laugh at yourself! My 2 cents on the project, as a mechanical designer, I would make sure the distance from the mortise to the tenon shoulder was the same on all 4 spikes. Keep up the good times!

[@philipprigmore8723]

Chandler, as usual you amazed me. I love the way your brain works. I love your ability to continue until you finally get it done (perseverance is one of the strongest attributes I have seen in all your work.) I also am amazed at the ideals you come up with. And although you keep saying failure until the successful end, I see it as corrected mistakes you learn from. But, since we are not the same person, and we both think a bit differently, I don't expect you to quit saying it the way you see it.

[@DrIngo1980]

"The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried." I love your attitude to learning, especially learning by doing. This is true across disciplines. It really is not enough to just watch a million pictures or videos or read a lot of books. At one point you gotta need to get your hands dirty, so to speak. I am glad you are back, because this attitude, especially in your early videos is what got me hooked to your channel. Thank you! As for this video: if you are worried about "wasting" 4 spikes that could be used otherwise for other products, why not try and only use 2 spikes? Instead of a square trivet try to make a circle one out of two half circles (one spike = one half circle). Or draw(?) the 2 out and try to make a triangle one. (Obviously you'd need to flatten the head of the spike or something so it doesn't wobble.) Just my 2cents for ideas (I am not a blacksmith so not sure if this even doable or makes any sense). Anyway, thanks for another great, entertaining and educational video.

[@nickwood7974]

definitely a awesome idea and loved watching it to learn

[@purplealice]

I was watching a channel about 17th century cooking, and they used a lot of trivets, because the cooking was all done over an open fire, or on coals. Most of those trivets were triangular. The triangle is the most stable geometric shape possible, meaning you might not have as much trouble wrestling with the corners. But I love watching you figure stuff out as you go along!

[@PowerOfValmet]

Wrily love to watch you. And its not The bs thing That entertains me, its The personality That you have chandler =) best wisches from northern sweden

[@christopherneelyakagoattmo6078]

10:25 "Can you be that much of an idiot?" I said exactly the same thing today, when I hit my own hand with a 1.5 pound ball peen hammer. heh.

[@williambell7763]

Christopher Neely You can be even worse, I got myself with a 8lb sledge last week, it wasn't fun

[@form_52]

Christopher Neely I took a 4 pound straight peen to the hip just this morning. Can't wait for that bruise to fully kick in

[@geneallgaier9550]

Been watchin you for several years (among others). I don't film myself doing anything because... Why start now, you guys are doing it all for me? Anyway I want you to know that in the next year I will be going completely off grid and building a shop by hand (I'm too old to be doing this again but) and you have been an inspiration for me to do all my own hardware and decorations for the house. Keep your head up, on a swivel and your hands out of the way. There's a lot out there watching you that don't sign on just so you know... I hate having to but I wanted to say... Keep the faith.

[@bestonfamily]

That looks awesome man. you are extremely talented. The non-closed joins on that give it a cool rustic look. I would be proud to own it and i would be proud to have built that. your videos are inspiring. keep it up!

[@mitchcorwin8848]

I love watching your videos keep them coming like you said a small torch to spot heat would help a lot in that project I think

[@rschmid6652]

Chandler, I have to say this is another good idea for a project. It's a bit technical and helps to develop skills for smiths. keep it up. on another note, I've noticed from the last several videos I've seen is that you have a theme developing here. you created several good items that would make a good rustic camping kit. you've got the pans, rams head knives, flipper, and utensils. a perfect all in one outdoorsman kit. good stuff keep up the good work

[@andyreed4960]

Hey Chandler next time try heating the side with the mortise instead of the tenon. Steel expands a thou for every hundred degrees. That way you wouldnt have to worry about the tenon fuckin off on you like that one did. Plus that press fit will hold damn well once it cools

[@Joex51x]

i am surprised he heated the tenor..

[@almeyer405]

That was my first thought as well when he rolled the tennon. Keep it cool and use the tennon as the drift

[@richardlyons7582]

Good to see you back Chandler from the UK 3 in a week great stuff

[@eddylonergan142]

good to see you smiling Chandler.well done

[@chriscraft8636]

honestly the idea in itself is very very simple but in doing it it is very very complicated and sometimes my phone just does not want to do what you want to do like you said practice practice practice probably the most true thing ever said in existence

[@EivindKreyHanssen]

I would, if you were living near me, pay atleast $50 for one of those! Cross my heart! Great video as allways, Chandler! Love from Norway

[@TufStockdogs]

Chandler thank you for sharing all you do of not giving up this is great learning for sure

[@Nodws]

waiting for the "forging a pan from railroad spikes" video

[@johnhorsfall3281]

hahahaha lol

[@DukeNukem5555]

me too !

[@mooneyes2k478]

Engine block.

[@TheFunnykid33]

if he could pull that off i'd call him hephaestus.

[@luedog8385]

forging a railroad spike from a pan

[@timbynum9227]

Great set of videos. Hopefully I will be able to get my forge going in the next week or two. If so, I'll share my first creations on Facebook.

[@dustindrake514]

Hey Chandler, I work at a steel forge shop called McInnes Rolled Rings and part of the job is punching holes in giant pieces of steel. To keep our tooling from sticking to the pieces we put some coal dust on there before the punch comes in. Give that a shot next time and it might relieve your sticking issues. Great job on the videos, my friend. keep em coming!

[@odinvalkyrus]

Glad to see ya still gettin shit done man, keep your head up, forge hot and that hammer moving.

[@verdatum]

I learn so much from seeing failures. Thanks for this. Subscribed. You really should get an oxy-A torch though; they're SO handy for riveting.

[@mikenewman4078]

Chandler, I've been away for a while so just saw your trivet. Ya dun good mate. I read the comments and haven't seen the suggestion I could make. If you taper your punch and open out both sides like when punching a hammer head you will have assembly clearance and easy punch removal, especially if you try some of the good suggestions like coal dust and quenching. If you taper the tenons they will lock in like a hammer handle once you hot rivet them. I believe you will get very quick at this type of project. Key holders, door latches, security grilles and a whole heap of high value stuff can be made cfrom that skill. Regards, Mike

[@Fullthrottle375]

That was inspiring! I'm going to try it with rebar. Can't wait!

[@inframe-brooklyn993]

Hey Chandler love the third project. Just to echo what has already been said, heating the mortise would make the fit stronger and less likely for the tenon to roll. Hind sight is twenty twenty but thank you for leading the way. You are truly an inspiration. Not the least bit as to what our weather here in NY has just dropped down to. If your shop is as cold as mine, you have my respect and sympathies. Keep on hammering.

[@andrewl.2766]

Your awesome at this keep the videos coming. Really enjoy them.

[@BigFella73]

Youre always entertaining Chandler! Best one yet!!

[@kryogenik2073]

good to see you back in action again sir. keep it up or take a breather and come out here to Texas for some R&R

[@evanskinner4231]

Congrats for sticking with it!

[@yellowdeer7163]

Thanks for the encouragement " You don't give up " Practice. Still a good piece. Thanks. And Chandler, please make some tongs you can work with.

[@RavenChopper]

Another great video. Great job Chandler!

[@vinnypd61]

Looks good man. Never give up and one day at a time.

[@patrick7247]

I like the look of that. I go camping a lot and I'd get so much use out of that trivet

[@patrick7247]

Although I think you have to find a way to make it a little bit more elevated. Just so that a small fire can actually fit under the pan/pot

[@pcman88]

loved that idea, loved the holiday trinity videos :)

[@jone99100]

Hi, just recently started watching your videos and would just like to thank you for taking your time to teach and entertain me and others. The reason I watch you is because you do not use super high-tech machines which is appreciated. I could recommend getting a new intro (current one is a bit "cheap" looking with the extreme lens flares etc :) )

[@MrGunPilot]

Man, That was awesome! I gotta try it now. Thanks.

[@LordRaa]

With the caveat that I have less of an idea what I'm doing at this than you, Chandler, some things I would have done slightly differently are: 1) Marked up where to punch the holes on each spike so that the holes are in the same place. Possibly including drilling a pilot hole so you can go in from each side if necessary. 2) Fashion some sort of jig/fixture to help get the holes in the same place each time. 3) Cleaned up the surfaces with grinder/sander so that you know that everything fits better. Of course, these ideas may not be practical and they do take away from the rustic hand made charm that the finished product has. Keep up the good work and I'll keep watching. Maybe even get around to making something myself one day.

[@RyanSadusky]

loved it! I'm going to make one defiantly! Your my hero Chandler...as far as your performance...I got the feeling you had to much coffee while making this video. I don't mind the long videos because I'm learning and after all, there is a fast forward button. lol anyway, always an inspiration!

[@rickdearmont9950]

They say that coal dust helps with the sticky punches.

[@ConstructIcon]

Just as a thought... would it have been easier to connect them all together if the mortises were heated & the tenons were left cold? I may give this a try & find out for myself. Thanks for sharing!

[@budgetoffroadb3623]

I really like these videos, keep em' coming!

[@brett1245]

Another good project... Love to see you hanging in there, even with everything you are going through. As far as that idiot on fb goes, people hear and think what they want, push the negative one's out of your life. Don't give them any of your energy. I know you will get through this and be stronger for it. If there's anything I can do just let me know.

[@kagapeme]

Great video Chandler, hope you and yours are doing well!

[@johnstewart9237]

hey man, I love your vids! amazing idea! I'll have to try it out!

[@marty01957]

I enjoy all your videos. Don't be too hard on yourself, S**t happens. Keep up the good work. P.S. Some of us are learning from the mistakes. I Hope. Lol

[@tippett33]

I like the punch idea ! I don't know anything but looks like it worked good ...

[@jasonhardwick1773]

Chandler not putting your business out there but ; my wife suffers from deep depression and we struggle everyday with it. I almost got evicted because I lost my job, almost my car, my life is screwed up right now but watching you create something out of nothing gives me a sense that something great can happen to anyone or anything. I don't know what you're going through obviously but I wanted you to know that you're the m an. I enjoy watching your videos and I don't even do blacksmithing. I have dabbled into melting down aluminum cans but don't have enough money for a anvil, hammer etc. anyways man keep it up. Enjoy your content

[@78LW]

Good job Chandler, great project. I think if you just slow down and measure, it'll come out better. Thanx for the video, i love learning with a grin.

[@adampierce1086]

I thought it went well and the rough kinda vibe about it makes it cool piece.

[@BaronGlacius]

A pineapple twist on two of the sides would make that an even more beautiful piece! I like it either way.

[@wevikings1790]

Great video Chandler.

[@ianlevine273]

Chandler, another great video. I have a couple guesses at what might work easier, as a non smith. The first is that it would probably go easier if you made a bigger clearance between the mortise and tennon. You might even get all four pieces together cold and when you forge the tennons back they should upset enough in the process to make a tight fit. The second is that when you were flattening at the end, it looked like would have been easier more effective to hold the part you weren't hitting with a second hammer instead of the tongs.

[@KC9UNS]

Enjoy your videos even though I am not a blacksmith, nor have any will to be one. Onto your questions of how I would make it better? First I would of drilled the holes as a guild before punching them and I would of measured it so it would fit right. but over all I think it looks neat and would buy one as is.

[@MichaelBerthelsen]

Hey Chandler, I've never tried it myself, but I've heard putting a little coal or charcoal dust into the punch hole helps lubricate a bit when you go in for the deepening punching. Maybe worth a try? I've never needed it, but with the thickness of those spikes, it might be worth it. Could of course just be psychological, but apparently is also supposed to help withstand welding pressure between the punch and piece.

[@dirtybird4528]

squares are a tough thing to do whether it's wood or metal or anything. might it be easier and quicker also to make a triangle trivet?

[@rickboh]

Good idea on the triangle..i think he should try it!

[@scottmasterson3567]

it's a lot easier to punch through at a 90° than the 66° angle needed to do a triangle

[@SharpWorks]

That looks beautiful man! I see what you mean about making it profitable. Having four railroad spikes would pay out more individually if each were made into something else. Do you think you can attempt another go at this using rebar or something cheaper? You can probably forge in the "railroad heads" to make it stand a bit off the ground. Anything you do though is great. I love watching all of your videos super enjoyable and entertaining!

[@Entarra]

There is something to be said for the amount of work too though, making 4 knives or 2 sets of cutlery would surely take up a good bit more time (thus money) than this, if that makes enough of a difference I do not know.

[@jasonc6970]

hey Chandler what about forging the head into horse or bull heads just to bump the price tag up a bit

[@jailer23044]

I don't think it's ugly at all, actually I think it's pretty cool. Yeah it's not perfect but it shouldn't be, it's hand forged. Nice job Chandler

[@donmotz5528]

Looks awesome......good job

[@JETWTF]

That trivet would be perfect for camping or if you have a cabin. It's rustic and would go great with traditional cast iron cooking over coals and fire pit. One thing it would be perfect for in that way is not to protect a surface but as a warming trivet, move a few coals over from where you are cooking, put the trivet over them and when you finish cooking something and need to cook something else you move the pan to the trivet so it keeps warm. All the flaws give it character and that is better than perfection for a rustic piece.

[@LycanthropiesSpell]

Looks good for a first. Just had an idea : you could add legs to that, and use it in a fireplace or a campfire to put a pot or kettle on it.

[@davidmurray9193]

would it help making your tenons with your magic tool you made for more accuracy? cool idea

[@unknownedidiot6137]

i don't know if you'll read this but if you do here is my idea. You could create a small groove around the head of the spike where you want to join the spikes. after which you could draw out small of the material toward the upper side of the spike to the size of the grove with a bit extra to fit in a possible under side groove which then could be forge wielded to interlock the piece. this might be a bit easier than mortise and tenon.Id also suggest a more square type groove to a circle type groove . This might give you come an idea of what you could do.

[@travislayh6586]

The trivet would look great at your shows with the frying pan on it. You may even be able to sell them as a set.

[@paranoy69]

Super good vidéo, lors of work, very good job

[@davidprice9758]

I really like this idea more than the hook :)

[@dylanzrim1011]

the hook one could almost mount a small clock in it, and be re engineered to hold a coat or hat on a wall simultaneously, check the time just as you leave..

[@joemcdermott9824]

David Price Heya.. love this guys work, and attitude!!

[@stevethepirate2875]

There is a baked on oil finish I've used once before. Leaves the metal with a golden amber look but it will take heat.