Blacksmithing The MOST Underrated Tool In My Toolbox - 18th Century Forge

[@zeerob9516]

Brandon is such a chill guy, he explains things so calmly and clearly. Love his videos

[@DrFrag-wh2qh]

I owned a sheet metal manufacturing company for 30 year before I sold it. And you are spot on with the dividers, absolutely one of your most important tools. Some much can be done with them and accurately too. When I got into the trade everything was done without computers. I made sure some of my ppl. knew how to do there job manually cause you never knew when your CAD would go down.

[@najroe]

Having gone through the journeyman for blacksmithing and done sheet metal work (instrument maker and micro mechanics but that is more machining) straight edge, scriber, divider and triangle is very much needed for laying out...

[@DrFrag-wh2qh]

@@najroe Agreed

[@quixototalis]

Brandon really puts himself out there. Attempting a new blacksmithing task for the first time on video takes an amount of bravery I could never exhibit and he does it well. Mad props.

[@Bangalangs]

“We don’t need anything fancy” is how I think of most of my own blacksmithing work. I can do fancy, but I prefer useful.

[@mikeblair2594]

Me too. I like how things were made in the colonial period. You make the functional first and any decoration enhances it. It doesn't tart it up.

[@tomhinerman7582]

As someone who started their working career as a draftsman (pre-CAD systems) I have to say the dividers and triangle were the crux of engineering. My Dad was a draftsman too and we'd watch all the shows about how "it must be aliens that made these stones so uniform!" He'd show me how to do it with a triangle and dividers. I loved this video! Yes, I do still have my dividers & triangles! 🤣

[@gamermanzeake]

People truly are psychotic, aren't they? Made by aliens? Yep for sure. Folks of yesteryear had nothing but time to make things straight and uniform.

[@PKMartin]

One of my most treasured possessions is my dad's set of dividers and compasses from when he studied engineering in the 1950s - I'm no engineer but I still use them occasionally when I'm building things myself.

[@svinkuk2652]

I dont think its the measuring of the stones that are in dispute with the ancient aliens (lol) crowd though. Its more to do with how on earth they *cut* stones perfect like that in the bronze age- since bronze is so soft. Which is still a mystery, though i kinda doubt it was aliens lol.

[@seanbeadles7421]

@@svinkuk2652 you can cut the stones with bronze - however it requires regular replacement as the blade gets reduced more than you’d want. If you’re willing to spare no expense for your ultra monument and final resting place, I think you’d be willing to shell out the bronze ingots for it. I guess many ancient aliens types don’t really believe Egypt had that kind of economic power - despite it being the biggest dog for several thousand miles around

[@coltonross5414]

@@svinkuk2652 the Inca did it with a technique called peck and grind. You'd split the stone to it's rough size with stakes and then tap the stone with another stone in all places where it rose up. You'd then grind the stone until it was the desired dimension.

[@norlofthor7088]

Is amazing this channel. John Townsend let his companions to share their histories on his channel and let to speak as he want viewers to understand that, we share our works by providing you best history of the 18th Century. What a bless person is John Townsend. This channel is a really historical treasure. Good job to Townsends team.

[@reivercaptain510]

Can I suggest getting a higher block for your anvil? Being bent over like that is really hard on your low back and working in such a tight stance is hard on the elbow. Ideally your knuckles of your closed fist should rest on the face of it while you're standing. That's what my old blacksmithing teacher always told me.

[@VictorTyne]

Yes! That was bugging me so much!

[@naolmstead]

Maybe it was a thing that I learned back in school that I have since forgotten, but seeing you use this tool made me realize why so much geometry is done with radius instead of diameter.

[@texasoutlook60]

Thanks for having the music very low while the presenter was talking for those that have hearing problems! No music during the presenter's talk would be better but that's just my opinion! Interesting and enjoyable! Thanks for sharing!

[@SlickRieck]

We still use these today in sheet metal, fantastic tool

[@MaximumScrotum]

I have newfound respect for those small ruler and compass sets that Id get as a kid at school. i feel like i was never taught that those can do things other than circles

[@jermainerace4156]

Look up a guy called "Euclid" he wrote a book that shows how to make all kinds of things with them.

[@drengillespie]

Learn something useful in school? Don’t make me laugh.

[@MrGiXxEr]

Another note, just drift a quick rivet/nail header tool. Upset one end of your rivet material, run the narrow end through your tool and head your rivet. Then cut it off with a little more than the thickness of your assembly, put everything together with a hot rivet and head the other side.

[@snitcheyes411]

I could really use a set of these for my knitting and sewing. You could estimate a knit gauge, draw circles and arcs, mark distances for triangles or keeping bias tape/strips consistent, the applications are endless. Heck, put some little pegs off the outsides and you've got an adjustable pompom maker or ribbon length measure too.

[@ginojaco]

A good effort; best practice is to have only the rivet at a coloured heat when it is being put in & peined over, all in one go. Not easy with a small bit of metal when you're not used to doing it, but it gives best results. That's because this way only the rivet will be deformed during hammering, the pieces being riveted being too cold & hard to get damaged. 👍

[@moniquem783]

I find this toolmaking series fascinating. My Opa was a toolmaker. Post WW2 so I’m sure he was making very different things to what Brandon is doing, but to my young self it always sounded almost magical to make a tool.

[@WarGolem2011]

Im not sure if enough people say thank you, but thank you. Y'all have i inspired me to take up leather working and im going to try my hand at being a cobbler. Gotta keep the old arts alive

[@timberdoodles4647]

Fun project. Everyone needs to play with a set of dividers. One of my favorite jobs for dividers is using them to set up a story stick for clapboard siding so each course is divide equally between sill and top of window and or doors the courses above those windows and doors can vary slightly but you want the last course to come across the top of the window without having to notch the siding. It involves a obtuse line snapped along the space you want to divide( a story stick cut to that length) into bits and then using the dividers to walk off the spaces and a bevel square to connect points.

[@trakksfendacre]

Your most recent videos about tools and stuff are really interesting. I love the cooking videos, and I think it's a very interesting way to practice experimental achaeology, but videos about the whole rest are cool their own way, too. Keep up the good work.

[@kab6754]

I'm thinking of taking a blacksmith class and was researching when I found this video. Now I want to get started even more!

[@rosemcguinn5301]

Thank you, Brandon and the crew at Townsends for bringing this part of frontier life alive for us! I have a special reason for loving the blacksmithing videos -- one of my ancestors was a blacksmith.

[@kylegonewild]

Brandon never fails to make anything he's doing enjoyable to watch along. Watching these videos makes me wanna do rough frontier blacksmithing lol.

[@60kudu]

As a sheetmetal worker I used to use these A LOT in the shop, but not so much on site but I still keep them with me, just in case

[@cupofjoe2112]

As a fellow musician, I have to say the music used for the video is always on point. Thank you. The content is fabulous, but just wanted to say thank for the musicians

[@desiregonzales6246]

Seriously, Brandon, what can't you do? Also, cinematography.... Chef's Kiss.

[@randy-9842]

Brandon, these period videos, especially the blacksmithing, very much make me wish I was a young man again. Thank you!

[@nordicson2835]

Very cool , l buy old tool boxes at garage sales and estate sales , invariably there is always a pair of dividers.

[@earlshaner4441]

Good afternoon from Syracuse NY everyone thank you for sharing a live video in History

[@HLBear]

Agreed this is an essential and underrated tool. Thank you!! I enjoyed the multiple music pieces in this video, too. Good selection, as usual.

[@riograndedosulball248]

Huh, my barn was once a blacksmith's shop, and some years ago I found an iron divider there (rusted stuck, of course) Always wondered what was it's purpose

[@gregphillips.1312]

Fantastic Video, I always enjoy watching a Smithy at Work, my Great Grandfather had the Smith's shop in Wool, Dorset, also had the Carpentry Shop and the Undertakers, my Grandfather made T.E. Lawrences Coffin and my Grandmother Laid him out to rest in it! I love content like this 🙏

[@emmetbyrne1680]

Brilliant video as always! Definitely going to go and make myself a set soon. Two things though, unless you want to hurt your back and hands, raise up that anvil and love the glove on your hammer hand. I had my anvil too low for a bit and did a number on my back.

[@Seamus3051]

Another useful videographic treasure .. Cheers

[@johnsullivan6560]

In the history of tools consistent measurement was critical for so many tasks!

[@ferdi5407]

YAY!! Brandon! Awesome work. Thank you!

[@TheDarklingWolf]

Absolutely love these videos, they give me real "New Yankee Workshop" vibes. My father and I used to sit in the evenings watching that show and I have a lot of very fond memories as a result.

[@MultigrainKevinOs]

Those turned out great! Fairly basic tools and materials and you have a precision device. Great video crew thanks for sharing!

[@pmichael73]

Use of compasses can be seen in many quilted patters and on painted floors and canvas floor coverings of the period.

[@DougPalumbo]

I really enjoy the cooking videos but I love the craftsmanship ones! I grew up woodworking so the cabin building and blacksmithing is right up my alley!

[@zargap]

Really liking where this series is going!

[@CarJul666]

Brandon makes this look easy. That takes a lot of skill to make smithing look easy.

[@Pheatrix]

I always wondered what these dividers are good for if you can't measure with them. Now I know! Great explanation and video

[@timberdoodles4647]

In the attics of old gothic building there have been found lime beds set out with scribs in the lime bed where dividers were used to design from the ground rough framing to finish work all done with dividers. no tape measures. One can design a whole building with dividers and just scale up the size of the building by expanding the size of the design by walking off the given design by a specific number like 12 or 16 steps of the compass. So the width or length of some aspect would be 12 or 16 steps of the compass/dividers. I like the name dividers because it divides distance. 12 and 16 are also even key numbers. you would want to stay away from odd numbers. Just a glimpse of the power of the tool.

[@kimfleury]

Another amazing installment in the Homestead series! The education value is superb ✨

[@pinetree9343]

What a channel. 4 hrs old and 1500 plus views. This is a great instructional video

[@wes326]

I was an Air Force navigator back in the 80s and 90s. Used a set of dividers every flight to measure distance on charts.

[@debbralehrman5957]

I have seen them used on This Old House. They were using them to scribe an edge. To allow a new edge fit into an already existing edge. Worked out great. You couldn't tell it was not put in originally.

[@Trav_Can]

So cool. I love seeing period carpentry and blacksmithing techniques.

[@Spiddas]

Ahhh! The 'Dividers' and the 'Ruled' square. The symbolism says volumes! 👍

[@Rene.Rondeau]

Truly magical. I can't begin to express how much I enjoy your videos. Thank you.

[@j.j.savalle4714]

Nice job Brandon! Simple yet a great tool for projects. Always enjoy the smithing vids!

[@ethan-loves]

This is great. It's amazing seeing how humans have used their technology through the ages.

[@treelore7266]

You can "walk" the dividers along any length and divide it into any number of equal pieces as long as the final "step" hits right on the edge, that's where they get the name. No tape measure needed, and no decimal numbers. Or multiply a small length any number of times. They can also be used on maps the same way to measure distance of an irregular path.

[@johnbryan5608]

Very well done! Thank you!

[@michelledenise5096]

I have a great picture of my Dad onboard ship during the Vietnam War using this on his map.

[@urbanlumberjack]

Loving these smithing and building videos! They’re so inspiring and interesting

[@iaminterface0101]

There is much in geometry that is built with just two tools - the straight edge and the compass.

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

The simplest tools are the most vital ones because without them we couldn't make anything more complex. To the ancients, a tool like this was crucial to develop geometry, and without geometry we pretty much wouldn't engineer anything.

[@johnsullivan6560]

Great video! Informative and helpful! Thank you!

[@dwaynewladyka577]

I've seen blacksmithing done at a historical site in Alberta, Canada. It's a fascinating thing to watch. Very cool to see how tools were made, long ago. Cheers!

[@BobGeanis]

I love you and this channel

[@AppliedCryogenics]

I love you for loving this channel, and I love it too.

[@biblestudyslo]

@@AppliedCryogenics I love you for loving his comment loving this channel, and I love it too.

[@ghrrum]

I'm looking forward to you guys doing some work with sectors too.

[@heyseed2292]

Love your stuff, Brandon! I was really hoping you would do a video on dividers, thank you ☺️ so much!

[@Nightkrowler]

I love how Brandon has grown into his role as a host. Brilliant! Oh, and the content is great, too! :)

[@MorbinNecrim86]

Super satisfying to watch. Always wanted to try blacksmithing

[@MrDerJohann]

Good Job, greetings from Germany🇩🇪❤️🇺🇸

[@susanwoodcarver]

Fascinating! Thank you.

[@Broken_Yugo]

I've seen that sort of half formed rivet even on modern items like scissors. It never occurred to me that's deliberate to give some extra metal to drive in there and tighten it up later, neat.

[@allfields]

With just a simple square and a simple divider, you can literally build anything

[@norlofthor7088]

I think would work those who works in architecture and design interior. I think in 18th Century was used those dividers.

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

They're like the atoms of engineering.

[@Elsa_fr]

Aaah... Why didn't I think about it? My father has one. Indeed it is very useful! I wanted to learn blacksmithing when I was a teen but my school was against it. 🙄

[@chrismusix5669]

10:25 The rivet was in tune with the end of the song when you were dinging it :3

[@winnerscreed6767]

Great video, thank you Brandon

[@theinternexperience890]

Hi Brandon, I was wondering if you could do some more Dutch oven based recipes in the future

[@jwadams1202]

Thank you for your educational videos. Very interesting and informative.

[@lindsayalisonstevens3592]

Very cool build, Brandon! 😎👏🏽

[@Babbajune]

I think that’s quite amazing! ❤

[@genevieve8873]

I don't know the first thing about blacksmithing but was there steel in the 18th century? If not what did they use back then?

[@benjaminsolomon7221]

Ballin Brandon back at it again

[@SoCoolScience]

I love how your videos show how no body needs a government but instead just some good ol fation ingenuity.

[@BrotherMud]

So how many times did you lose the rivet in the coals? Thank you for this series. I really enjoy the tool making, and building videos. Y'all are awsome!

[@Hin_Håle]

I want to build a forge like yours and just go nuts! Maybe one day.

[@KyDarknight]

So cool. Thank y'all for the informative videos.

[@kanrakucheese]

A lot can be done "with a little bit of patience and a hammer"

[@aminals8933]

This is my new favorite person.

[@katanatac]

Well done Brandon!

[@frankmacleod2565]

Love it. Thanks guys

[@KillerBebe]

Aren’t these used aboard ships for navigation?

[@lornemiller3489]

Often a different shape and not realy any more but yes also often everything but the points on maritime omes would be brass because its pretty and antimicrobioial

[@chlorophyll6154]

Simply stunning beautiful video

[@alexiaicenhower8314]

Dividers are needed to Generate and Gnosis of physics

[@matthughes6955]

Those tongs look like a set of bolt tongs from kens custom iron

[@RolloTonéBrownTown]

Does it stay tight or loosen up with use? I know you said you could bang it back into shape if it became lose but does it degrade over time permanently?

[@williamkarlsson785]

Probably but if it broke repair it or build a new one😎

[@jamesvatter5729]

Good stuff, Brandon!

[@robzinawarriorprincess1318]

Beautifully done!

[@joesephrodrigues]

Genuine question: How period accurate are vises with a threaded screw tightening mechanism? I assume for the most part its just a complex anvil production, but did they have a way to produce mechanical screws and threading in the 18th century?

[@singletona082]

Huh. Move the rivet a bit so the flat parts intersect, sharpen the intersecting sides, and you have scissors.

[@worldtraveler930]

I am a BIG Supporter of the Square and Compasses!!! 🤠👍 P.s. 2B1Ask1

[@OwainMeadmaker]

Fantastic, loved it.

[@metalmyke1]

Can you show how they melted the iron or steel enough to make rods or blocks?

[@lornemiller3489]

Not with that forge he couldnt

[@miriambertram2448]

Is there a concern that cooling in h20 could warp the product. And given the amount of work I far more appreciate the value of tools in that era. I always knew these as a compass (72 yo here)

[@staceyreid2763]

Loved the video! Does anyone know what the background music is? Artist or album etc?

[@yelloworangered]

In high school, we called these compasses.

[@TM-ev2tc]

You need to build a three legged, (or a cuttie stool) for milking cows now you have those dividers. Have a good day An 18th century video on milking cows might be nice to. Thank you