Blacksmithing - Forging door handles - scrap iron challenge

Blacksmithing allows us to try things that aren't practical using other methods. Forging channel iron into an interesting door handle and drawer pulls is just one example.
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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.

[@kazan1510]

Great ideas! The small closed handle looks like good option for kitchen rail mount. Just make two of these and put bar through them and some hooks.

[@doingitoutdoors7083]

See, there you go again. I'm supposed to be working on my shop addition so that I'll have a dedicated metal working area and now I'm thinking about making some door handles for doors I don't even have yet. Thanks for the videos and keep up the good work.

[@objectmetal]

Great idea! So out to the secondary resource pile tomorrow to gather up the channel shorts.

[@blacksmithcowboy4725]

Like the use of the channel iron to make useful items. Watching you use your files, made me think of a trick i picked up for the handles on my files. Golf balls make great handles. Drill a 1/4" hole about 2/3 of the way into the golf ball and tap it onto the taper. It fits great in the hand for file work.

[@robsonsantosOSO]

The forging work gives life to the piece of steel and the filing work accentuates the beauty of the piece.

[@beardedbiker333]

Wow, so many things to do with scrap metal and drops. Thanks for the videos and all the cool ideas.

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks for watching!

[@bigredbeard65]

Great idea, I can see multiple possibilities for making different types of handles and braces depending on what materials you have and what you like. Thanks for showing us some of your other designs as well as some that you wound up not caring for, might inspire someone else make something similar but alter it to his or her liking.

[@TonyUrryMakes]

I installed the 9 foot red oak shelf with the brackets today- gold holders paste on them made for my crude work. It looks great .

[@BlackBearForge]

Thats great, I'm glad you could use the idea.

[@dwwoodbuilds]

So glad you shared this John! I definitely need to work on seeing the possibilities in existing standard steel forms (C-channel, angel iron, etc). Thank you!

[@rogerarmstrong2539]

Bravo John - great ideas - I'm thankful at least one of us has a vivid creative imagination. You've got me thinking and I've fired up the forge. Keep it up.

[@BlackBearForge]

Go for it!

[@4ager505]

Thank you, John! As always, INFORMATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL! You really provide a lot of good ideas, inspiration, and guidance for those of us who need a a little help. Hope you have time today to enjoy yourself in your own shop.👍👍👍

[@BlackBearForge]

My pleasure!

[@4ager505]

@@BlackBearForge And ours too!

[@russelbutler6704]

This is why I love your channel. I would never think to make handles out of that and I find it in the bin all the time.

[@leroycomans-bi3sq]

It's another great video!! I usualy don't comment on KZbin but I did wanna let you know that thanks to youi started forging my very first work today! Thank you for the amazing amount of lessons and encouragement!

[@BlackBearForge]

That is awesome, enjoy the journey

[@carpetania47]

Always learning with you... Thank you.. Greetings from Toledo Spain 🇪🇸🇺🇸

[@billywalker9223]

Great ideas, John. I knew there would be uses for my channel drops. The first chipping hammer that I made years ago was from part of an H beam drop.

[@KoJaksKranium]

I agree and thank you as well. Always good ideas and excellent common sense instruction / know-how.

[@timocsutube]

Looks like some fun experimenting...Thanks John.

[@markmartinblacksmith]

Very nice John! I have several sizes of channel iron in my scrap buckets. I've been picking around them for too long... thanks for the inspiration!

[@TonyUrryMakes]

I just made 6 shelf supports from channel iron. Great little project. I learned a few things about some hammer control issues I was having- the sixth of six is great - the first was a bit crude… the next six will be fine. Great little learning project!

[@Lccastaldo]

These are really wonderful ideas! Thank you! 😁

[@BlackBearForge]

You are so welcome!

[@waltercoronel8489]

Excelente trabajo como siempre maestro !!!

[@Vikingwerk]

Wow, lots of possibilities here! The shelf bracket version might also look interesting with the ends flattened/drawn out like you said, then rolled up in a scroll. The small round one kept suggesting a ‘no snag’ towel hook to me as well.

[@toddcaldwell5614]

Love the simple projects videos . I use angle iron scrap to make hooks . Got that idea from you . Thanks again for teaching us

[@tonyjones9715]

Thanks for another great video.

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks for watching!

[@gurvinderkaur6996]

Beautiful handle. Love the design

[@BlackBearForge]

Thank you very much!

[@reveivl]

Ok, got six drawer handles to make. Might try this for them. Great idea.

[@BlackBearForge]

Glad it helps

[@reveivl]

@@BlackBearForge Just dropped in at the local metal recycler and got some 6" and some 4" channel. Thanks again.

[@akukorhonen5182]

Thx for the idea. May come in handy.

[@mickellis8747]

A twist in the handle would be interesting

[@johncoulter1507]

Great ideas! Thanks for sharing your creativity (again)!

[@robertsimmons3556]

Great post! Good use of random scrap! I like all your ideas! Thanks for posting!!

[@richh5824]

Great work as always! Great teacher as well!

[@mountainwolf1]

Good morning john, This is a good idea thanks for sharing and for the inspiration godbless and good health.

[@pamtnman1515]

outstanding video, thank you. channel iron is the easiest scrap to get

[@stoneinthefield1]

A door knocker is what my mind came up with on the bent together one. But fantastic up cycling idea.

[@TuckerThompson-f6z]

Your forge idea are amazing and unique

[@MrGiXxEr]

Maaaan, I've passed up channel in my local scrap honeypot but never again. Great idea, think that extra corner material would make a great start to leaves or other things too. Guess im heading to the scrap bins tomorrow!😂

[@richardbryant7972]

Like this idea very much, got me thinking for sure.

[@daved8858]

Thanks!

[@BlackBearForge]

and thank you for the support

[@332mcdaniel]

Great job as usual John!! New idea I had not considered. Thx for sharing!!

[@josephmaschari1073]

Kim Thomas demonstrated at our northwest Ohio blacksmithing hammer In. he used angle iron and made some very nice scrolls with it.

[@brockwarren5673]

John / Black bear forge You remind me of my pop, same eyes. His fam from new york, Titus. Love your work from Aus 👍🏼🤠

[@marty01957]

Another great idea, Thanks, John!!!

[@BlackBearForge]

Glad you liked it!

[@orvillevoyles9451]

Looks like a great tool holders

[@stevelambert6404]

The shelf bracket looked awesome to my eye

[@Sigma-sj7mq]

Very nice!

[@The_Smith]

Great idea thankyou John! I often use a chunk of angle for that already square corner, never thought of using channel though! I have an idea . . .

[@davidstevens5908]

I made one about 2yrs. ago. I just made an over plate with chased roses on top and bottom.

[@akinma]

Wonderful versatile creations. The small closed handle could be used on a hook and eye latch too. Just need two and a hook. The hook could be done from the bigger channel iron?

[@BlackBearForge]

Great idea!

[@shortfuse43]

John, WHAT A RABBIT HOLE YOU HAVE CREATED!!!!! You were right, I have conjured up several neat ideas for the scrap channel iron that I need to make for upcoming projects! Thanks for stimulating my dormant right brain. 😀👍

[@messylaura]

that second channel the smaller one if you getting it for free would make good tool holders with the one initial bend to make it into a loop

[@BlackBearForge]

Good idea

[@ohdubwest7533]

Dang, that’s some big channel. I never thought of using channel for something like that, but the extra material at the corners is perfect for handles and latches 🤔

[@Smallathe]

Awesome demonstration.

[@danojames8329]

Those r awesome ideas 👍👌💯💢💥

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Thanks for sharing this with us John, really a great use of left over's. So many ways to use them and the excellent use for handles. Looks great. Stay safe, Fred.

[@BlackBearForge]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@dennisreyna]

Thanks for sharing!

[@glencrandall7051]

I like the little "u" shape without the flares.🙂🙂

[@andystoolbox]

A word of advice John Buy some end mills and chuck them into your drill press to start a hole on a n angled piece of steel. Then proceed as normal. As usual your work is well achieved. Your pieces just get better with your age. Cheers

[@BlackBearForge]

Great tip

[@johndondertman1502]

Nice design.

[@GypsyJvan]

nice ! thanks. ..Black Art Forge..

[@jasonlonontoolmaker]

Nice work.

[@stephenpadilla4086]

Thank you for giving us inspiration! Maybe I could make a bunch of handles in the Omega shape and mark them with a big Alpha in the front?

[@smash5967]

Harware for the small shop, or for the log cabin?

[@BlackBearForge]

Mostly just exploring an idea.

[@jeffreyjones6409]

Thanks for sharing, instead of hook of the week, maybe handle of the week?

[@ReconJeep77]

2 small ones used to attach a door knocker of some sort

[@matthewmerrick4452]

I think the small one without the flair would look good with perpendicular straps going across the feet to hold it in place.

[@PaulBogert-q1u]

Those would make good tie off eyes for utility trailer sides

[@MASI_forging]

Great idea 👍👍

[@anthonysutherland9487]

The feet could be vine leaves and the arch of the handle could be a twisted vine.

[@SchysCraftCo.]

Awesome 👏

[@tylerhebert8237]

I wonder if the closed loop could be bent to the side, and the whole piece turned 90 degrees and used as a coat hook. I like these creativity challenges, thanks!

[@BlackBearForge]

Give it a try, sounds like an interesting idea

[@leonardmettlach2614]

Better not let my wife see this i know ill be forging kitchen handles soon lol

[@cudamank]

Nice project ideas. Wonder anout putting in a twist on the handle of the large one.

[@BlackBearForge]

Definitely!

[@cholulahotsauce6166]

Ribbon burner looks like it's working grand

[@gregnuckols1055]

Really nice work, very interesting to see. A random thought FWIW, not relevant to channel iron: I wonder if the offset approach to the small handle would work well starting with a straight workpiece, tapering both ends, then bending to produce a circular handle. Kind of a curlicue approach.

[@BlackBearForge]

It should work, just a bit more labor intensive

[@aleksvitek798]

Hi, can you forge a roller bearing

[@ryan-uu9lj]

The smaller handle without the file work would look good, I think, with a staple over each end holding it to whatever piece you attach it to. At least that's what my mind went to when I saw it.

[@SiCkDiAbLo]

I like to grab a piece of scrape, see what I can make with it...Imagination is the key!

[@jskjsk3986]

The things we forge today will be in use long after we are gone.

[@anthonyedwards4423]

Wow that is an awesome anvil b

[@andromedajacobson2520]

Cool music at the end

[@snowstorm8180]

When you started flaring the ends out I thought ducks flipper. Maybe it was your statement about the feet you saw or my growing up on a farm. I don't think it would take much to turn them into a flipper.

[@AlpacaRenee]

I have anvil envy!!!

[@davidfeunteun4292]

Hello from french Guyana... Please what is channel iron? I love tour vidéos, so inspiring. Thank you

[@alfredomarotta6604]

Metal shaped like a [ (c)

[@BlackBearForge]

It’s structural steel that is C shaped. Also called C channel or even double angle iron.

[@davidfeunteun4292]

@@BlackBearForge thank you M Switzer

[@daleolson3506]

Nice

[@JeffSearust]

Brass brush!

[@BlackBearForge]

Certainly worth a try

[@antheaxe7340]

you can y do handels of similer stuff like I beam haven done it but should verk

[@samuelfoster6235]

Maybe for the offset handle, try hammering in the offset on opposite sides. then bend it

[@BlackBearForge]

That would be worth trying

[@kevingunter5994]

Now I have to pick up some propane to make some handles for my new shop I'm building.

[@User0resU-1]

Is it just the camera angle or is that anvil about 3.5 feet long!

[@waterst20]

How wide?

[@anthonymartin6119]

Have you twisted any of those just out of curiosity?

[@BlackBearForge]

No, but it would be worth a try

[@tomhysell596]

why not put a little coating of brazing in the file work?

[@BlackBearForge]

Worth trying to find out what it looks like

[@billwoehl3051]

Since the corner wants to fight ya, maybe the induction forge would help?

[@BlackBearForge]

It does help but the larger handle fit better in the gas forge

[@ButtersGettingHard]

Did your Facebook channel get hacked? I was pretty sad to see that, hopefully the youtube channel stays good

[@BlackBearForge]

Yes it did. There shouldn’t be any related risk on KZbin.

[@caleblandry1780]

Hey John amazing video as always, very sad to hear about your Facebook page being hacked by some lowlife scammer.. hope you get your page back, I wonder if u got in contact with fb if they would help you out.. regardless if there trynna sell it back to you I think the best thing to do would be just to make a new account and we’ll support it like we did that one

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks, so far it has been impossible to actually contact Facebook directly. But I do work with a page management service that should have more pull. Only time will tell

[@hobbyhermit66]

👍🏻

[@countryboysurvives16]

Love your page, I follow on Facebook, you've been hacked. They changed the name to Blacksmith work but it's not remotely blacksmithing related

[@BlackBearForge]

Yes I am aware. Hopefully will be able to get it back.

[@WeberAmazon]

It looks like your page on Facebook has been hacked?! It said it has changed name and only one upload.

[@BlackBearForge]

It has been, hopefully I will be able to get it restored

[@WeberAmazon]

@@BlackBearForge good to know that you are aware of the issue! 👍🏻 And Hello from a fan in Sweden! 😃

[@eddyarundale1566]

👋🏻

[@Halli50]

The US belongs to a VERY unique club of nations: 'Murica, Liberia (a failed small state in Africa) and Myanmar (formerly Burma). When the dust has settled and the blood dried ( in a decade or two), we will see which of the three will be the last to go metric. What I find interesting is how you are quietly introducing metric thinking on you channel - as an 'Murican, your go-to measures are Imperial (and you fought a hard-won revolutionary war to get rid of the Imperial nonsense!), but by the simple expedient of mentioning the millimeter dimensions as well, the knowledge will begin to seep in through the thick skull of some of your uktra-hyper-conservative countrymen.