Forging a Bow Shackle

[@BlacksmithsWright]

Gary. Your a great teacher I have blacksmithed for 25 yrs and your the best

[@garyhuston]

I trained as a Farrier in Buckinghamshire and we did block release to Hereford Technical College for 6 weeks twice a year.

[@ConorMakes]

Gary, thank you so much for your time and effort to do this video for me. I now see where I'm going wrong, that 30 degree bend in the punched eyes ate the end is the little ****** for me. I'll let you know how it goes when I take the forging exam in June. After leaving the service from 22 years service, I'm loving how Farriers and Blacksmiths help each other. Again Gary thank you for your time and effort mate

[@garyhuston]

Thanks, glad you liked it..

[@garyhuston]

No worries! I'm glad it helped and good luck for your exam. Please do let me know how it goes, I love to get feed back of any sort..

[@garyhuston]

Glad a few people are getting something from them!

[@backyardblacksmiable]

I am hoping you see this comment Gary. I dont believe you lack the ability to forge an axe at all as you have demonstrated that everything comes to basics and take it a step at a time. Desire is completely up to you. I have watched every video you have posted and appreciated all of them. Also you have inspired me to upload videos myself, i just need some editing instruction(not computer savvy)

[@andrewcahill9808]

Thank you for sharing. I learn heaps and enjoy your videos and style.

[@MrWyvyrn]

I love your vids, Gary & I thank you for all you share. You have a knack for inspiring: I never thought of blacksmithing before I ever saw one of your videos. Now I'm scrambling to get started! Please keep the videos coming!

[@gabadoo6969]

excellent presentation Gary,I am fan of your interresting informative videos.Thank you for your time making this also the commentary...You're such an inspiration for some projects i have..Well done mate!!

[@thornwarbler]

your a clever fella......iovely work, man and hammer in perfect harmony

[@Sigharr]

a good demo and a masterpiece of commentary - I'm a fan :)

[@garyhuston]

Thanks Kevin!

[@1996abbi]

funny how beautiful an object like this can. Nice job!

[@leeleegamer1552]

in my farrier lesson we start with 11" bar and then draw the metal out to about 2 and a half inch long and then square it off then round it we then off set the metal on 2 sides and then make an eye that way. It's really cool seeing it done 2 ways. well done

[@1996abbi]

I'm thinking of making a hardy tool with a piece (inside dimension of 1/2") of vertical pipe (say 4" or 5" tall) that you can drop the 1/2 round bar into, then hammer the top portion that is sticking up. I would then upset the ends later. Wish me luck!

[@garyhuston]

Wow! that's not surprising you had trouble! I don't think I would have even tried bending anything that thin.. If I was going to try, I would make a jig the size of your inside diameter, weld it to my bench, then tack weld the strip to the bench and heat it with a torch a little at a time and pull it round the jig bashing it down as I went. Cut your strip much longer than you need and pull it past the start then you can cut it well past the beginning giving a nice finish.

[@joemmams5785]

awesome project,this fellow really knows his stuff

[@garyhuston]

Thanks! Never really thought of myself as a teacher!

[@indianatone218]

Thanks I enjoy watching your demos can't wait to get my forge up n running and try and apply what you've shown us looks gr8 fun ant from Wales UK

[@ericsprado4631]

You made a shackle. The U shaped ones are clevises.. When I went to sea first time and said something about a clevis while looking at a shackle, the skipper jumped me about being another darned farmer turned fisherman.....Funny. Brought back memories.. I had a short career at sea and decided I was better suited to "equine podiatry".. Quit shoeing now bit still have a bit of a blacksmith shop at 75.....

[@garyhuston]

3/4 x 3/16 would work a treat!

[@rickfrazier5284]

Not a waste at all because I wanted to know how it was done, definitely have a subscriber here Im always looking to learn more about the trade I have been at it for over 2 years and I still consider myself a amateur at best, upsetting has been my downfall , Ive been experimenting with making antique household hardware as of late door knockers, handles, hinges etc. keep up the demos, Im watching at least

[@h2o270]

Thanks I will try thicker stock next go around. I think being so thin in a fire might make it bend anyway.

[@tracydelfeljohnson9256]

That was fun! Thanks!

[@reubenvargas2824]

Gary thanks again for the video love watching you and can't wajt to gl out and try it well like I always say (keep pounding) thanks Reuben

[@larsstrohmeier2320]

highly educational, thank you so much for sharing your craftsmanship with us =)

[@owdjockey4459]

Newly subscribed to Gary's video's and enjoying them immensely! Also attempting acquire some of his skills. I think a good update to this video would to demonstrate how you would fit a pin to the shackle, possibly with one of the shackle legs tapped and the pin died?

[@Meadwolf86]

Well done!

[@PossumForge]

Thanks for a great tutorial !

[@garyhuston]

Two things needed to make an axe which I don't have. The ability and the interest!

[@h2o270]

Great video! You make it look easy, but I bet its not. I will try this in my forge this week. I was wondering if you could show how to bend flat stock into a circle the hard way. I made a round trivet last week and I had a heck of time bending it into a circle. I used very thin stock so it kept folding over. I thought maybe there is some kind of trick to it or maybe some tips you could pass along. Thanks Ron

[@doug12341988]

great video!

[@anthonycook9764]

very enjoyable to watch good end result

[@garyhuston]

I've done an anvil hold down but no shop tour.

[@garyhuston]

good luck!

[@gavintorsky5005]

Can you make a video on how you made your punches? I dont wanna spend a arm and a leg to go buy them. If you ever get a chance it would be great! I love your work.

[@markrussell9719]

Good job Gary 👍

[@garyhuston]

Thanks 👍

[@garyhuston]

i've never tried but would think it's even less controllable!

[@kbbacon]

Never a waste of my time! I like your think ahead tips. I probably would have fought with ends. Thanx!

[@shortfuse43]

Gary, I always enjoy your work. You make it all seem so easy! When doing the upsets of the ends and middle, you start with the ends. Wouldn't it be easier to upset the middle first? That way you have the original flat cut ends and not hammered flats to rest the rod on to do your middle, then keep the middle cold and then upset the ends.

[@garyhuston]

shortfuse43 I guess you could do it that way, i just did it they way I was shown as a boy!Try both and see which you prefer..

[@tdruce66]

Much appreciated. I will try this in my night school class this week. Upsetting the middle of a bar looks like a task to make you mad as hell. Is it ant easier if you use a vice for the middle part?

[@dangolwitzer161]

Freaking cool as heck

[@garyhuston]

Thanks, it's just years of practice!

[@garyhuston]

What size material are you using?

[@janvoslos]

what if you used a bit more thicker metal and you just taper the ends down then you don't have to worry about upsetting the middle?

[@aflatminor]

You did a great job ;-)

[@ShockBangHorrorHD]

Oh come September I start training to be a farrier at morton morrell

[@dyeguardian]

Very good video, but would that particular process/end result be able to hold any real weight?

[@ee12svt]

nice..

[@ShockBangHorrorHD]

Were did you train

[@SPQRLegionVIII]

AWESOME!!!We have recently started up a gas forge and are total amateurs, but have (surprisingly) made a few successful things. We have some videos of them on our channel if anyone is interested. Thanks for the video!!

[@helloeveryone775486]

hi garry why not try starting with a thicker piece of steel and tapering it out?

[@garyhuston]

Why? Because it's a forging lesson and lessons usually mean achieving the result using many techniques thus learning.

[@garyhuston]

aflatminor There are many ways to do it but as it says in the description it's a good lesson in several techniques for the beginner. Try it both ways and see what you think!

[@1996abbi]

You need to use your pritchel hole for the hold down, the hardy hole is too big. (I made the same mistake, ha ha)

[@garyhuston]

That might work but it wouldn't be as much of a forging exercise.

[@h2o270]

1/16th by 3/4

[@Coffieman5150]

Absolutely enjoy your work please don't stop making videos. please tell me... what is that awful mechanical wine in the background?

[@garyhuston]

Coffieman5150 the forge motor.

[@seanbrand528]

Wow!