Forge welded basket twist - basic blacksmithing welded twists part 1

[@SimoncitoReinhardt]

Great video (not a surprise), great outcome (also, not a surprise) and great shirt (this sure is one!). Anyway, keep up with the posting, very well explained!

[@huntintrailmetals9343]

Nice shirt John!

[@jaccobpeterson9735]

hello john! i just wanted to say you are an amazing black smith and I've seen almost all of your videos! for the past couple weeks I've watched you to learn the ways of the black smith! I'm buying a forge during tax season and plan to keep watching your videos to hone and help educate myself on the craft. You are my inspiration to start working it! It'll be a hobby at first but once time and skill progress i hope to make it a full time gig so thank you for all your hard work and your educational videos. They have helped me learn so much

[@bigmacca99]

The was the best. “Wanna clean up those lines and break it off”. John you need to put that on a shirt I WILL buy it if you do.

[@robphone4895]

I love twists, thanks. I like the end, it's good to realise setbacks/problems are part of the game. It's something we all share😉. Thanks for sharing that too!

[@BlackBearForge]

I need to save a file of just those bits to do full videos of the outtakes.

[@robphone4895]

That would be great.

[@loul7239]

Thanks for the bloopers at the end. I got one of those laughs out of it that can only come from someone who has had the exact same experience.

[@1scottws]

"...and break it off." I lol'd for real. Thanks for your videos. Wish I was your neighbor.

[@benwarren2559]

I love how much time you take to explain all the details.I have never forged other than coat hangers in the fire with my dad. I guess my dad inspired me first. Years and years and years and years ago. Now he is not with me thank you very much for the inspiration I really want to get into blacksmithing I have to build my forge soon.

[@gateway8833]

Love the shirt man.

[@squattingturtle7976]

Abby Babby absolutely killer...loving it too

[@sanpogiri]

Just did my first forge welding last weekend at a blacksmithing class I took in Laconia, NH. We did exactly what you did in this video. Forge welded four round bars together, then scarf welded that to a square bar, then did the twist. The class was very well taught and was well worth it.

[@charlessageii2220]

John , you are awesome man. You have singlemotivated motivated me to take an my interest and love of working metal to whole different level and I love it. Thank you.

[@andrewpedersen9502]

my wife and I decided that you are so calming to listen to, and we think you would be a great hostage negotiator. haha Thanks for the great videos! we enjoy watching them.

[@BlackBearForge]

That is a carrier path I never considered. Glad you're enjoying the videos

[@dadegroot]

I was just wondering the other day how basket twists worked, and then like magic, you post this video!

[@lenblacksmith8559]

Always love seeing welding, it's just wonderful.

[@billy19461]

I always wondered how the basket twist was made. Thanks for sharing!

[@GWIRailroad]

Very nice, almost done with the Blacksmith Shop, can not wait to try these twists .

[@lestermcconnell5502]

Attempted my first Basket twist on a fire poker handle after watching your video. Had great success. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge. Les

[@beni2094]

You are a true pleasure to watch. Love the channel

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks

[@lo5042mh]

I'am curious about the twist inside a twist, never heard about that. I can give only óne thumbs up, but you deserve more! 👍👍👍 Loved the bloopers on the end. 😄

[@stanervin7581]

Wow! Gotta see that "basket in basket" technique! Opposite twist directions too!? Sounds like a good challenge! 💈🌀

[@BlackBearForge]

Hopefully I will get around to trying the double basket.

[@billwoehl3051]

Ha! Just watched Marks video you mentioned just a few hours ago 🤪

[@bentoombs]

My two Favorite Things twists, Forge welding and anything blacksmithing and John wait that's more than two.👍👍🔨0n!!!

[@jackdawg4579]

love the hint on using the swage block, I have tried to weld rounds of that size together before and found it like herding cats! I'll be out at the forge trying the swage later today!

[@BlackBearForge]

I hope it helps

[@rayflowers9097]

Beautiful. Love it! Thanks bearman!

[@StarLight-yk6es]

Yea that shirt rocks ! Like , the twist handle lesson too:) !!!! Thanks John !

[@rmcmunoz2]

Very cool! Good video ! im trying this today!

[@workwithnature]

Another really great demonstration, you make it look easy. Just something I have noticed on charcoal, it has only one problem for forge welding if to much ash has build up below after several hours of forging. That wrought iron is much harder to get up to forge welding heat than mild steel.

[@BlackBearForge]

Frequently cleaning the fire is a reality for most fuels. I wonder if a side blast forge has fewer issues.

[@workwithnature]

Actually yes that is the main issue with my forge. It has no hole at the bottom to clean out the ash so I end up getting a lot of ash after some time. Something to consider when I need to make a new one thanks. The side blast could work to push the ash to the back or side.

[@leperejoe1536]

This was very educational; thanks.

[@BlackBearForge]

Glad you liked it

[@tropifiori]

Great ideas for a gate I want to attempt

[@xxxclampgodxxx5511]

Nice work. Good thing to add to a protect. I think it’s time for me to try and forge weld something. I never tried yet but I think I’m up for the challenge... another good one John .... thx ....Paul

[@xxxclampgodxxx5511]

Oh yea. NICE SHIRT!!!

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks

[@mikejeffers6371]

Great twist. Great idea to projects for future ideas

[@bryanthoblit2248]

Made that look so easy

[@grandadz_forge]

Groovy! On many levels... And twists

[@TomokosEnterprize]

That was great fun. Thanks a bunch. I may be making a set of these. See ya soon my friend.That is right, the only holdbacks are imagination (and money, LOL)

[@woutervlok3803]

Jooohn, the black nose blacksmith . . on Rudolph the rednose's tune LOL, sorry, could not resist :)

[@danielbutler6823]

Black bear hippy forge!

[@webneko9842]

Thank you for the great video! I have a question. You often say you can "burn up" your work. Can you get steel too hot? What are you meaning when you say this? Wanted to ask before I try this myself.

[@BlackBearForge]

Too high of a heat with too much oxygen can actually cause iron and steel to burn. Looks like a 4th of July sparkler.

[@92MtB]

At least my left ear enjoyed marks video :)

[@svernwarunos546]

You're too cool man.

[@MauledByBears]

I like a little 1lb or less hammer for that first tack. That and welding without flux help keep the scarfs from slipping, but welding without flux means you have less time before the scale solidifies. I can't find the MSDS for Iron Mountain Flux, but I think it's just anhydrous borax and iron filings. I might make my own and see how grippy I can make it.

[@BlackBearForge]

It doesn't behave like borax does, so I doubt that's what it is. It seems more like easy weld in use.

[@MauledByBears]

I've heard "Sal Ammoniac" or ammonium chloride was commonly mixed with borax and iron filings or used alone as a flux for iron. It was also used extensively for soldering by redsmiths since it cleans copper oxides well. You can still get it in blocks for cleaning soldering irons. I've never tried it or any silica-based flux (like clean sand) because they're both supposedly more noxious at high temperature. Potassium ferrocyanide was also used, but I'm guessing that's probably poisonous too. (EDIT: I just checked, it seems that the ferrocyanide decomposes into KCN with heat. At temperature, the KCN would be in liquid form and possibly fuming. KCN is the "cyanide" you read about smelling like almonds and being super poisonous.) As far as I know, all iron fluxes do one or both of two things: First, lower the melting point of magnetite so that the scale is fluid and can be squirted out of the weld. Second, introduce sacrificial material that's preferentially oxidized like iron filings (and maybe ferrocyanides) so that scale doesn't form as quickly on the work. As to what makes a flux sticky or slippery in use, I have no idea. You almost certainly know all this, I figured I'd share in case anyone else was curious.

[@DavoShed]

Great video, Good to see the out takes. Now I know I’m not a failure if it doesn’t always work first go 😎 (

[@hosiercraft9675]

2 things. 1. I learned that not all acids make good flux. I tried to use pure citric acid once because I can get it free, it burns, makes instant scale, and smells like burning hair. So don't do that. 2. Have you ever done a twist and had it weld together? I've actually done that intentionally for a blade pattern. Great video John. Thanks.

[@BlackBearForge]

Welding the whole twist is common for Damascus work, but would really mess up these ornamental twists. Fluxes for forge welding don't need to be acidic. Historically clean sand was often used.

[@Willisordie]

He sounds just like Dave baker from forged in fire

[@michaelhodges6452]

Is it preferable to open up the basket before you finish the end? I would think that you would want to finish the end before untwisting so you wouldn't mess the basket up.

[@BlackBearForge]

Often times once the end is finished it doesn't provide a good grip for the twisting, but if it does it would probably better to twist and open last.

[@benlear7419]

Some people burn there steel on purpose to forge weld and it seems to work pretty well. I've seen Joey van der Steeg do this, what are the reasons why you shouldn't?

[@BlackBearForge]

Burnt steel is steel lost as well as being permanently damaged. The higher heat and generally high oxygen levels also contribute to more scale which makes a successful weld less likely.

[@1pokras]

Have you ever done a basket within a basket, the inside basket is twisted opposite from the outside one, I've seen them, but for the life of me cannot figure out how it's done! Thanks for great vids!!!

[@BlackBearForge]

As I said in the video, yes I have and will see if we can manage to do one.

[@1pokras]

Good lesson for me to complete watching your videos before I comment, thank you again for your wonderful work!

[@markgoggin2014]

How would you scarf it if you wanted to attach it to something larger like a 1/2 inch round bar?

[@BlackBearForge]

Upset the end first

[@tdemario3753]

I know you didn’t do this In this video, but what oil/waxes do you, use to shine and protect your tools and such after you get done making them?

[@BlackBearForge]

Depending on the tool I generally use Johnsons paste wax or just bees wax.

[@sammanno3303]

John have you ever put a Marble inside the Basket Twist or a Ballbearing?

[@BlackBearForge]

No, but I have seen it done

[@СашаЛ-л2ж]

👍

[@fixerfabricating4707]

be very interested in seeing a multi twist with more than 4 sections

[@BlackBearForge]

I have one in mind. But in most cases when you see numerous bars the bundle becomes too large to twist manually and I don't have a twisting machine. The ones I have seen use old truck or jeep transmissions to get some incredibly high torque capable of twisting large bundles cold.

[@fixerfabricating4707]

good to know, thanks for the info

[@Camowolf-bx5xr]

Yes, enter me.

[@stevenjohnson2273]

The tie dyed blacksmith?

[@BlackBearForge]

That hippie smithy

[@neilyeag]

John did you chase down Peter Follansbee and steel his Tee shirt Ha? Good video BTW.

[@BlackBearForge]

I would never steal Peter's shirt, I like the man to much.

[@austinsaunders370]

What are the pliers you used for the hook called?

[@BlackBearForge]

They are called electricians pliers, but I buy them from blacksmithing suppliers. I think that pair came from Blacksmiths Depot

[@christianandresloboSinPerj-TDR]

"...and break it off..." LOL

[@rayward9265]

Hate the shirt.