Forging a Cabinet Latch

[@grandadz_forge]

Hardware could keep a blacksmith busy forever. The forged construction & look has "heart" and warmth. You'll never get that out of a factory.

[@scmroman]

This video is a year old and has 0 dislikes. That's amazing.

[@jonnykelly556]

My machinist instructor back in trade school had a saying: "We've been inching towards metric for years." Seems appropriate for your opening comments regarding the metric equivalents.

[@RedmarKerkhof]

I just want to say that I appreciate you giving metic measurements along with imperial even though you don't have to. There's a big enough market and audience for blacksmithing in the US alone that you can get by just fine without ever thinking about a milimeter but you go that extra 1,6 kilometer anyway. Thanks for that.

[@BlackBearForge]

👍😂

[@Zogg1281]

Err, how far is that in miles? 😋😂

[@smokeyforge9498]

@@Zogg1281 1. thats the joke lol

[@kennywoods8713]

John, I would second Redmars comment, I did my schooling in the UK in the 70/80's as the UK was converting so I switch between the two to which is convenient at the time. Now the schools only do metric so don't even know what an inch is. Railway also uses chains, now that even more confusing.

[@phredd6070]

My wife likes to watch your videos with me, so much that she is picking up the lingo. Now when she has a particular tedious task for me, she tells me needs me to work on the "fiddley bits" :)

[@weallmattergatorwilliams9434]

You are the Bob Ross of the blacksmithing world....you make everything look so easy!....thanks for your time. I learn so much from your videos!

[@BlackBearForge]

You are very welcome

[@jasperherrironworks5216]

a simple piece of hardware like this has so much beauty when it is handmade

[@renaissancewomanfarm9175]

Love this!! I have started taking apart some pallets with an eye towards making some small cupboards for the barn and shop. This would be the perfect rustic latch to use. My neighbor does some small welding projects and when pieces get too small he throws them away. I need to start going through his scrap!

[@kalm4th]

That reseat of your anvil really did a good job of taking the ring out of it.

[@BlackBearForge]

It is much less painful on the ears.

[@pmi7696]

Guess what? I was just needing one for an ancient country cabinet I found. I'll make it a lot like this one, with maybe bigger back plates and a half-iron crossing of the two parts (sorry, translation from French ... don't know the English term). Thanks for inspiration.

[@tobyjo57]

Did anyone catch how John teaches us even the smallest things in this creative video. For me it was the use of the Safe Edge File...I;ve never seen one in my life and in UK...But I could take a normal fille and grind off one edge... If you saw anything else please comment. Thanks Again John for yet another valuble lesson your the master. Bye the way I like hoe you admit you could improve by making the back plates a little larger, that's how we all learn by trial and error. It's called product development.

[@kevg3320]

When I did my engineering apprenticeship in the UK back in the 80's, almost all of my files had one safe edge. I've stll got them and accumulated more over the years but never bought a single one. Can't vouch for how the new ones would be.

[@madwilliamflint]

"may require filing to get it perfectly round, but you REAL close at the anvil" Yeah, YOU can ;) I'll get there.

[@dingodog5677]

Great video again John. I knocked one up just now, nice little project👍 thanks again.

[@jeffgrier8488]

I could definitely see these in a kitchen with rustic style cabinets. They would be great in a cabin too!

[@deo53]

My favorite Blacksmith. Thanks

[@brysonalden5414]

It's always refreshing and instructional to see the project being made and then a discussion of what would work better. Thanks for saving me the trouble of making a bad one of these! I will, anyway, but I will start with your recommendations.

[@BlackBearForge]

You're very welcome!

[@springwoodcottage4248]

Charming little latch, a joy for the eyes and fingers on every use. Thank you for sharing!

[@BlackBearForge]

Glad you like it!

[@beni2094]

Was eyeballing this at work on instagram in anticipation! Finally! Thank you!

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

👍👍 great job John, turned out great, thanks for sharing with us. Fred

[@BlackBearForge]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@KingLoopie1]

I've always filed on the edge of a bench or holding something by hand... I wondered what those things hanging on the shop wall were. Thanks for showing the filing vise use and clearing that up! 👍

[@BlackBearForge]

I have several videos on the filing vises

[@KingLoopie1]

@@BlackBearForge Thanks! I just found them. They look handy enough to make a couple!

[@Dfrantz87]

Love your videos! Always inspiring! Love your sense of humor!

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks so much!!

[@oracle1239]

THIS is why I love blacksmithing!

[@richardsurber8226]

This is a neat project

[@thomasarussellsr]

Good looking design. If the latch arm was symmetrical, it wouldn't matter which way the door swung. Universal latch. As is, reversing the offset would make a dedicated left side latch instead of this right hand. (Thanks Capt. Obvious). Anyways, I like it. Might have to make a full set for my kitchen once we start remodeling.

[@OddBall1958]

You could flip it to the other side and it would be fine. Now you have to make the opposite side (right and left hand). Thanks for the great video's!

[@folkentolken]

Excellent work! Greetings from Argentina

[@JustinTopp]

That’s awesome!! Hardware is one of my favorite parts of blacksmithing

[@TheOldaz1]

Thanks John, enjoyed watching this take shape. Could use a few bigger versions on some of the farm gates.

[@frankgaletzka8477]

Hello John I like this little latch as it is All this lumpy and bumpy 😏 Make the Charme of your work If i want totaly Perfektion i go in a Hardware store and buy a faceless latch I am 59 years old and i have Done alot of work with my hands an even today i have learned something from you The answer why a file has a cut side and flat side without teeth You may Smile now but i havent thought about until i have seen you working John habe a good day stay healthy Greetings Yours Frank

[@BlackBearForge]

Thank you Frank.

[@danp3796]

I hate to say this John , but I think I will try to make one of these for the outhouse door at my cabin. It will add class to a building most people don't want to even think about! LOL (already forged a covid ready TP holder and it looks great) Thanks for all your hard work.

[@diggingblacksmith]

Thanks, John. Another great lesson

[@steelpennyforge5152]

Great looking latch! I love this kind of project

[@jeremiahjohnson1325]

John I think my shop set up is looking good. Between the Longhorn hook of the week and the cutting of my hair this is my goal to make hardware for the log cabins and log work I do thank you john

[@BlackBearForge]

Sounds great!

[@rlgroshans]

Such a great little project, that uses so many needed skills. This is now on my list of things to make for use in my shop.

[@BlackBearForge]

Have fun!

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Very nice small latch John.,,Enjoyed, Thank you for sharing.

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks for watching

[@douglasfathers4848]

Believe it or not John i went to the hard wear store the other day and brought a latch for my cabinet . I do need some more so thanks for this one .cheers.

[@hosiercraft9675]

Really nice work. I'll probably copy your method for some work on the farm. Many of my doors have a 3 hook and slide bar. This is more elegant and resourceful. Thanks John.

[@BlackBearForge]

Glad to help

[@MrJamesjustin]

That's excellent mate.

[@davidsimons9132]

Thanks for the video john. I have to replace some worn out latches on an old cabinet and was really wondering what I should use. Now I don't have to wonder any longer.

[@BlackBearForge]

You are welcome!

[@FBPrepping]

i muted the ads and let them run. You better be making some money, mister. LOL. You are a MASTER.

[@BlackBearForge]

One can only hope 😜.

[@hannemannironworks1651]

Great video John thanks for sharing!

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks for watching

[@richardsolomon8076]

Lovely latch John, well done :) have a great weekend

[@NeilGraham.I.M.F]

I like that. Very nice piece and not very complicated

[@BlackBearForge]

Glad you like it!

[@NeilGraham.I.M.F]

@@BlackBearForge always do! I like the simplicity but the character it carries Is far greater. Sometimes we forget that and overthink things

[@kennywoods8713]

Love the little stuff that doesn't require a massive arm but some skill. Thanks. I'm just building a little forge building in my small yard in the UK. (wooden 2M x 3.3M). I'm hoping to make all my own hardware, have you done any hinges in the past as I can see me making a few for my little shop. Stay safe and all the best from Thirsk North Yorkshire.

[@MatthewBuntyn]

Planing stop as a pointer. I like it 👍🏽

[@BlackBearForge]

It just happened to be on the bench

[@marcerivest6204]

A great video for a guy like me, l have lots to learn

[@BlackBearForge]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@johnjude2685]

Adding I love your blue marking pen so much I will add another one so I don't have to run from garage my welding area and one to stay in the Forge I will put tape or paint the one for the Forge Always great learning as I find myself watching the your next video. Sir please accept my thanks

[@BlackBearForge]

Sounds great!

[@Warnerad]

Would you do anything different if you were doing a production run of these? Say, a dozen sets or so for a kitchen's worth of cabinets.

[@BlackBearForge]

Figure the details out with a test piece and then forge all of each part in batches then do all of the assembly work.

[@ZekeWaters_]

Great video, as always. What would be your recommendations for building a simple coke forge? As a 15 year old just starting out, I really could use all the help I can get :D

[@ZekeWaters_]

@@williamtodd-dunning7278 Thank you for the advice. I will look them up when I get the chance!

[@fedderback1]

John you must trust your hammer much more than I trust mine as you thumb is a lot closer than I allow mine to get when I hammer. LOL

[@BlackBearForge]

I don't think I've ever hit my thumb blacksmithing but I have driving nails

[@jenniferoliver8765]

Love the channel. We watch your channel all the time. Love this little latch. Question: what if you flip the latch 180 degrees... would sit flat?

[@BlackBearForge]

No, the taper in the latch bar is fairly even

[@scarfing]

John, if you made that a left hand hatch, wouldn't it then be more level? I like your videos. Good work.

[@scarfing]

What I had in mind was to move the small catch to the left of the latch arm. Then the angled part of the latch would be facing up, thus lowering the arm to level.

[@maoribaca2655]

What is that hacksaw. Just a gorgeous tool. Excellent video thanks

[@BlackBearForge]

I think its made by Starrett.

[@hedge685]

1 inch = 25.4 mm is the only thing you really need to remember...everything else you can figure from that.

[@stuffbywoody5497]

I've been trying to work out how to incorporate a spring into this, came up with a few ideas. The easiest one is probably the ugliest one and involves buying a pack of springs. Unfortunately it's really hard to find black springs and most prefabricated springs are that shiny zinc colour. I do have a question, how difficult is it to make a tiny flat but curved spring out of coil spring or flat suspension leaf spring? Is it worth the hasle?

[@BlackBearForge]

Adding a spring usually means a larger back plate with room for a flat spring

[@stuffbywoody5497]

@@BlackBearForge , thank you for the reply. I want to make something similar, but for a smallish double door.

[@ragingbonibus147]

Could you make a video on how to make your own charcoal? I watched a video you made a few years ago and you mentioned it

[@BlackBearForge]

We are already under a fire ban due to hot dry weather. So no charcoal making unless we get some rain.

[@ragingbonibus147]

@@BlackBearForge understandable, hope you have a safe quarantine and can't wait for the next video

[@berlinetta350]

Is that little file vise you used sold anywhere?

[@BlackBearForge]

This one was a gift from a friend. I did do a series of videos on the subject and show how to make one kzbin.info/www/bejne/favEhGqVr5V6mNU

[@kevg3320]

What is the name/description of the white marker pen you use for marking out? Love your vids btw. Regards from UK :)

[@BlackBearForge]

Its a welders silver pencil. They are available at most welding shops, but if you can't locate one I do have some for sale on my Etsy shop

[@kevg3320]

@@BlackBearForge Thanks shipmate, appreciated. Stay safe!

[@theinsaneblacksmith1153]

Ooh I could have used this video when I was still forging in my barn, the bolt I forged is nowhere near as pretty

[@richardsnellenberger9985]

Hardware of the week. Lol