Forging a Fire Poker with Bryan Dale Headley

In this step-by-step video the Singing Blacksmith, Bryan Dale Headley teaches how to forge a fire poker in his blacksmith shop.
Bryan starts from the raw steel bar, beating the fire poker end. He then turns the end on itself and demonstrates forge welding the turn. He cleans the joint with common borax in the fire. He then hammers the bend until it is forge welded together.
To create the handle, Bryan uses four steel rods and forge welds the end. He then heats the center group of rods, puts them in a vice and twists them downward to create a beautiful handle. He forge welds the handle to the poker. The final step is to create a ring and a loop at the end of the handle to hold the ring.
Forging a fire poker is a wonderful project for an advanced beginner. The excellent close up video shots on the anvil and in the forge make this an easy to follow do-it-yourself forging project.
Techniques learned in this detailed video:
Beating
Forge welding
Forging a basket twist handle
Forging a scarf, scarf welding
Forging a ring
Watch other Bryan Dale Headley video on Rural Heritage’s KZbin channel:
Forging an Unfolded Cross
Forging a J-Hook
Forging a Steak Turner
Forging a Shepherd's Hook

[@gregwells8764]

Thank you , really well done and taught. im ready to move to basket twists now but more importantly the Forge Weld !

[@FSAM2132]

Having recently sold amen up bladesmithing, your videos have inspired me to make blacksmithing a larger part of my hobby..many thanks...

[@FSAM2132]

Taken up...don't you just hate autocorrect..?😂

[@thesingingblacksmith9757]

Thank you Alan, best wishes and happy forging!

[@dougtroutman5695]

Nice work I'm going to try it sometime soon. Thanks for the video.

[@JuanPerez-hb5kb]

I really like all his way of explaining the process. Excellent teacher he is. Thank you sir,

[@thesingingblacksmith9757]

Thank you! We hope you came away with some useful information to help you in your own endeavors

[@bradymcphail9690]

Mr Headley, your instructional skills are fantastic sir! I am a beginning smith and you method of teaching is very helpful easy to follow. Thank you so much. I feel as though I can go out and make the poker tomorrow without problems. I look forward to the next videos.

[@thesingingblacksmith9757]

Brady McPhail Thank you so much for your comment Brady! Best wishes to you with your forging!

[@keithdevers3772]

Brady McPhail go for it. I started my first fire poker today. First time forge welding too. Don't forget to flux, and whare safety glasses. The sparks will fly in all directions. Have fun.

[@ryanbrubaker4972]

Your videos are the best. Keep em' coming!!

[@thesingingblacksmith9757]

Thank you Ryan!

[@konstantinzhdanov5461]

You are a real professional! Respect!👍

[@thesingingblacksmith9757]

Konstantin Zhdanov, We are so glad you liked it!

[@joeblow2238]

Excellent video! Very thorough and well put together, thanks for sharing good sir!

[@thesingingblacksmith9757]

Thank you Joe!

[@ericseegers6038]

U are a great craftsman, make it look easy. Thank u sir

[@thesingingblacksmith9757]

Thank you!

[@redlionforge9173]

I really like this technique! I’ll have to give it a try tomorrow.

[@thesingingblacksmith9757]

Look forward to seeing your success!

[@keithdevers3772]

Just so happens that I started forging a fire poker today. I have the poker end forge welded and it's in the shape of a S. It was my first time ever forge welding and it looks like it's gonna stick. I have watched this video before and that's how I did it. Tomorrow I'll forge weld some spring tines off a hay rake and start making the handle. I'm planning to make a matching shovel and send the set to a friend. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@thesingingblacksmith9757]

Keith Devers When forge welding high carbon steel, you must be extremely careful not to get it too hot. You will lnow if you did when you bring it to the anvil to set the weld and it crumbles like cornbread. High carbons are very unforgiving! Best wishes and good luck with your poker! Bryan

[@keithdevers3772]

Your right. I've worked with these tines before and I have lost a few in the fire. Then today I had a whole spring tine in the fire and when I grabbed the end with my tongs to pull it out and straighten it, I pulled out a nub. I think I'll dig a little deeper in my scrap pile and find some mild steel.

[@rayzrblayd]

Great work sir!

[@thesingingblacksmith9757]

Ashda Kreator Thank you!

[@leperejoe1536]

One of the best KZbin video in teaching weld forging. Very well explained and you took the time to show what you are doing. Thanks and continue the great work.

[@thesingingblacksmith9757]

lepere joe Thank you for your comment! The film man / editor Joe Mischka is owed all the credit editing the shows into a slick, flowing production as sometimes I am not so slick and flowing! It is all of our goal to educate and if you learned, we reached our goal. Thanks agian!

[@benjaminwood6335]

This guy is so cool

[@pielord33321]

Very interesting. I wouldn't have thought to forge in the first point, bend it back, and weld it; I would have tried to upset some material into the tip and then cut it with a chisel to form the two points. Your method seems like it'd get better results.

[@thesingingblacksmith9757]

Jacob Pisello Duga Give it a try and let us know how it went

[@icecoldgaming8778]

This guy is the bob ross of blacksmithing.

[@thesingingblacksmith9757]

Ice Cold Gaming Thank you for that wonderful comment as Bob was such an inspiring ambassador of his art!

[@diggingga6197]

im going to give this a try this weekend.Could i hot cut in the steel to make the basket?

[@thesingingblacksmith9757]

Digging Ga You could but good luck in getting uniform clean cuts hot cutting as I would consider that near impossible..at least for me. Best wishes and I hope yours turn out wonderful!

[@cesarruiz3062]

Dale you remember Tastiota In Sonora mexico?

[@thesingingblacksmith9757]

Cesar Ruiz - I have never been to Mexico

[@tinnyblacksmith3434]

Very nice although your fire needs to be a weee bit bigger your bar should be flat to the forge table you should have a good bead of coals under and a mound of coal on top especially for forge welding this helps achieve a neutral fire that is packed down to keep the heat and in and excess oxygen put

[@thesingingblacksmith9757]

Thanks for all the advice!

[@tinnyblacksmith3434]

Tony De Caro I do apologize if I came off a know it all I am by no means a professional Smith although I do know what I am doing I am simply repeating knowledge my master smith has taught me he was a professional smith of 40 years and he taught me to keep my fire clean and a good mound of coal on top if you have a shallow fire you can still weld but you have more of a chance of inclusions and burning the work piece god bless!

[@dougminnis192]

you did not need borax?

[@erikkayV]

Forge welding is entirely possible without flux. Flux only helps the process it is in no way required for forge welding.

[@thesingingblacksmith9757]

Borax main purpose it to help clean the surfaces to be welded. You dont have to have Borax, but you must have clean surfaces.

[@drdead32]

... ROFL