Forging a hot set or handled chisel - part 1

[@ripbang8548]

I really appreciate how much work you do over the anvil, I know it's easier for you to use the power hammer and that you're doing it the hard way to teach new smiths.

[@johnwest4788]

I appreciate that you show things made with hammer and anvil even though it would be easier for you to us the power hammer. Thanks!

[@superbalaur1297]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us! I have been learning so much from you by watching your videos. Thank you!

[@3870TheDad]

John, as I've stated before, you are one of the best teachers of the art of Blacksmithing online!! You not only teach by showing HOW to do something, but also describe your thought process for the project. Thank you for another amazing video.

[@edgarbradford]

You beat that S7 like it was 2 months behind on rent.lol

[@NeilGraham.I.M.F]

Already had mine punched n drifted. I just love watchin ur vids 4 insight about a project I'm working on. Give me a slightly better idea then Flying Blind although it is a fairly simple tool

[@jefffarley9223]

I love how you show that something can be done with less. I recently just made my first pair of bolt tongs. And it opened so many more doors with what I can do. Thank you sir for taking that extra time to show us the way. We appreciate it.

[@steveelford97]

I'm not interested in doing any forging or blacksmithing myself, but I enjoy watching the magic of an artist who can turn a chunk of metal into beautiful and functional things. Great videos!

[@shortfuse43]

Be careful what you say!!! Several years ago, I said the very same thing. After spending one day with a group of blacksmiths back then, I was hooked. Been smithing ever since then, LOL

[@Whipple1]

shortfuse43 . I second that. Four months ago I started hanging out at a friend's forge and now I'm making my own forge tools and looking for an anvil! Cheers! Whipple

[@MrDukaman]

It’s a great feeling to be able to make something out of a raw piece of steel with just a hammer and your two hands thx John ...pail

[@QuantumMechanic_88]

I admire they way you reposition the material around the hardie hole while hammering that punch . Great video and Thanks

[@bob3274]

Thanks again for another great video. Thanks for sharing the information at the end about normalizing options for air hardening steels like S7. You, Roy, and Chandler have got me hooked. I can’t wait to get home in April and add a forging area to my steel fab shop. It’s purley a hobby for me as we’re both retired but I love making and repairing things for friends and family. My wife and I spend our winter’s over seas because we’ve grown tired of the Northern WI winters.

[@soundmindtv2911]

Yeah, definitely need to stick with the spoken instructions through the forging process. After watching this video, I’m convinced. The speaking is at least as valuable as the visual, maybe even more in some sections.

[@benloudermilk]

Hats off to you John. You're a one man power hammer.

[@robertdoyle5632]

The s7 sounds like cold steel on the anvil when it’s at a yellow heat.

[@BlackBearForge]

Its not quite that hard, but it is tough stuff

[@trollmcclure1884]

Does it even scale? It looks so clean. This stuff is amazing

[@mieziolu6207]

Greetings from Poland :)

[@richardsolomon8076]

Way cool as a youngin growing up grandad had a hammer like that and it was one of my favorite things :-) and I still know we're it is tho it hasn't been near an anvil for 40 years that I know of, great to see the true purpose of it (-: I have an anvil about the same size as your main one and am keen to be working it again I did make a 6foot x 9foot set of chain harrows some 10/ 15 years ago, watching your videos really gets that urge to strike something flowing, my forge is nothing flash, it's a fire brick lined short tank with forced air from a vacuum cleaner on blow. Love your videos :-)

[@OuroborosArmory]

This is top on my list of things to make, after the hammer drift..

[@dwightcimino1040]

I just wanted to say thank you for your videos. I'm in the process of building a brake drum forge from a big semi tractor similar to another on that is on youtube, . . . just gonna tinker, . . . but many of your ideas will find a way into my tinkering I am sure. 100 years ago, my grandfather was a blacksmith and a Baptist preacher, . . . got the preacher part down pat, . . . working on the blacksmith. Thanks again.

[@lenblacksmith8559]

Good to see some tool work now, and the hot cut haven't made any yet, just use some chisels that I handled. But want to make one like this. Thanks John for sharing.

[@Fernando-qg1zv]

Gracias por todo lo que comparte, usted es generoso.

[@onecrowingrooster2239]

Thanks John. Love your work. Have a great week.

[@KevinSmith-gh5ze]

Great video! It must take a lot of patience to do all that by hand with a power hammer right there next to you! By the way I really like the view from behind the slack tub because I can see both the hammer and the tong hand.

[@TomokosEnterprize]

What a workout my friend ! Well worth it when done though.

[@alwayslearningthankyou2708]

Great teacher!

[@troytreeguy]

New sub here, really enjoying your style and gaining lots of information as an amateur. Thank you and Be Well

[@godislove201]

Great attitude my friend...

[@MrChickadee]

Some old blacksmithing books talk of "edge packing" chisels and other cutting tools. Its supposed to be light hammering at a low heat just before heat treating, they talk of a low red heat just above black and fast hammering with a light ball pein hammer. This was supposed to give a more durable edge to both metal and wood cutting tools. Id love to hear your thoughts on this?

[@soundmindtv2911]

Mr. Chickadee find the video by Now This titled, “How to Forge Bevels on a Blade - The Right Way !” He goes into this a bit in that video. Also, great info in their other video titled, “Misconceptions About Medieval Steel - Wootz vs Bloom.”

[@Smallathe]

Wonderful project. I hope to use this tip in the future. Thank you

[@mikejeffers6371]

Good video

[@markhep]

Nice work 👍

[@ghostforge3303]

Thank you for the instruction, as always very good info about the process and what to do in which order that you have determined that works in your shop, I look forward to trying this project soon

[@renegadescout]

Nice job as always John..

[@MrDukaman]

I have worked with s7 only a few times I really like the tools it makes I do anneal it in vermiculite and it comes out nice and soft filing is easy and grinds great too. I heat up one or two pieces of scrap mild steel and put them in the Vermiculite bucket with the piece of s7 and let them all slow cool together and that seems to work fine. Just like you did in a video I just don’t remember what video it was. But it works fine. Great idea John thx I do like working with s7 just expensive steel to buy....Thx again .... Paul ...

[@davidwhite2988]

John, could you slit and drift that hole as well? If so, why would you choose one method over the other, or would it matter?

[@hannemannironworks1651]

Great video John I’ve seen other smiths just use an axe instead but this is looking promising!

[@BlackBearForge]

I think an axe would be an expedient method if you don't have or can't make tools. But you will rarely find a well equipped shop doing so.

[@hannemannironworks1651]

I know this is much better and designed for the job but i have seen john at old hickory forge use one and have seen it in other videos as well if its all you got it seems to work. That being said I found your videos on this great and an awesome tutorial!

[@TeknoXI]

I'm wondering. Since you are using a round punch, would it be easier to rotate the round punch a bit in your hand instead of spinning your hot steel?

[@kambranictay1]

Yet another to add to the library 👍🏼 Great angle change at 14:45. Love that view. At 17:55 I notice that ya did a retake. This begs the question, for a video the length of this one, how many retakes and or editing is involved to put a finished product out? As always, I appreciate what ya do for us 👍🏼

[@BlackBearForge]

Mostly I start narrating and don't know what I really want to say, so I just start over then try to edit out the false starts. This one got left in accidentally. For this video I recorded about 1 hour of video over three hours in the shop then spend another hour or two editing.

[@kambranictay1]

Man I can’t thank you enough for doing this. Great for those that don’t know how much work you have to do to create the excellent content that you do not only in your shop but editing as well. 👍🏼

[@towelltom]

good information video what is model of the propane regulator for forge

[@msghazi]

You use coal dust as a lubricant for your punch. For those of us who don't use a coal forge, would charcoal dust work similarly?

[@BlackBearForge]

Charcoal might work, but I haven't tried it. I sometimes use ready made punch lubes that contain graphite

[@TheNuggetshooter]

Very interesting video as alsays. QUESTION: Are there different types or grades of vermiculite? Is it course, fine, etc.? If there are different types, what should I look for when buying it for blacksmithing? Thanks.

[@BlackBearForge]

I am not sure of there are different grades, but you do want the certified asbestos free. Another similar product is pearlite.

[@jonnathonspencer]

Do you get the s7 local or online?

[@BlackBearForge]

I buy online. Usually from McMaster Carr because it's convenient and fast. But probably not the lowest price.

[@jonnathonspencer]

@@BlackBearForge thanks for the information will look into it.

[@JarlSeamus]

You have a weird video artifact in there John. Every once in a while we get a couple frames of another clip that flash through. I noticed is maybe 5 times throughout. And it's funny you did this video today, I was planning on doing a hot cut this week.

[@sleepingbear7182]

Are you using subliminal advertising there? ;)

[@BlackBearForge]

Several people have noticed that. It isn't in the file I uploaded, so perhaps it was a bad signal during the upload. The only way to get rid of it would be to delete the video and all of the comments and try again, but I'm not sure if its worth it.

[@Earth-bornGraffics]

Is there an alloy you can recommend for a hot set that a small framed person could actually maneuver? I doubt I could make S7 budge.

[@BlackBearForge]

1045 would be suitable and is easier to work with, but it isn't a good hot work steel so it needs to be cooled frequently. As long as you keep it cool it will perform well enough for most work. 1045 is also water hardening, which is convenient.

[@Earth-bornGraffics]

@@BlackBearForge thank you.

[@tobyjo57]

Where did you get your Apron John ? It looks very protective

[@BlackBearForge]

It came from www.Forge-Aprons.com if you order use code BBF at checkout for a discount

[@CNT12696]

Have you ever made anything out of the slugs from punching the eyes on tools?

[@BlackBearForge]

No, You would have to save up quite a few and then keep them sorted in known steels if you ever wanted to properly heat treat what you made.

[@grahamturner2469]

I am sure you have answered this question a 100 times. However can you tell me what lead you have to mark the metal please ?

[@BlackBearForge]

It is a welders silver pencil. They are available at most welding suppliers and industrial suppliers.

[@grahamturner2469]

@@BlackBearForge Thank you, now I know what I am looking for.

[@theprovopirate]

Are those 1/4 second flashes of you sitting at the table there for a reason?

[@BlackBearForge]

I have no idea what happened there. They don't show up in my edited version, which is what was uploaded. Some sort of glitch in the upload process I would imaging.

[@lenblacksmith8559]

Hi John, I've been given some 4140 and it's 35mm round and I want to make one of these top cuts, should I try and square it first, what do you think if the best way to go about this???

[@BlackBearForge]

I would probably square it first, just to make it easier to punch. But there isn't any other reason you would need to.

[@phrodendekia]

Tough steel

[@garethbaus5471]

This thing didn't look like it wanted to move, no wonder you are using it for hot work.

[@thomasroach4497]

Where did you get your apron?

[@BlackBearForge]

My blacksmiths apron came from www.Forge-Aprons.com use code BBF for a discount

[@VolodymyrMetlyakov]

does anyone notice the 'wear your safetly glasses' 25-th frame?

[@BlackBearForge]

25th frame?

[@VolodymyrMetlyakov]

@@BlackBearForge That's an old myth or joke, from the times of cinema theaters with projectors working at 24 fps. The myth is about our eye is only being able to catch 24 frames per sec, and if there was 25th, it would directly affect our subconscious. Which is only a myth and has never been proven, of course.

[@MarkATrombley]

Where do you get the little squares? I can't seem to find them.

[@sleepingbear7182]

The adjustable squares can be found at the dig box stores (Home Depot, Lowes)

[@BlackBearForge]

I buy them from McMaster Carr www.mcmaster.com/squares

[@loul7239]

In my opinion, one shouldn’t forge a hammer without all the right tools: drifts, punches, etc... This isn’t for any snobbish reasons; rather, it is so fulfilling to make all the tools you need first and then use them. If you approach tool making this way you will amass loads of skill and the tools to exhibit them in no time. Of course, I’m a hypocrite because I’ve taken shortcuts around making the right tool a number of times, but I regret it each time. Every time I soon find myself needing the tool I didn’t make the last time! There is nothing better than a shop filled with useful tools you have made....until it gets old and you start buying them just to save time.

[@20mcarroll02]

John, is s7 harder to forge than say 01 or 4140?

[@JarlSeamus]

You have to work it hotter. By hand it's very tough as it's a shock resistant steel. And as it cools it gets very tough very quickly. I almost never use it, and if I do I do it under a press.

[@20mcarroll02]

@@JarlSeamus ive never worked s7. However i have worked 4140 and 01 and w1. I was asking if s7 was harder than those. I know any tool steels are harder to forge than a36.

[@BlackBearForge]

The S7 is much tougher even at higher heats than many tool steels. Although I have also found O1 to be just as hard to forge. Simple steels like 1085 are much easier to forge.

[@20mcarroll02]

@@BlackBearForge thanks John! Being that im doing ok with the tools steels i mentioned, along with spring steel, i think I'll stick with those. No need for me to make life harder. Besides, all im doing is making all the interior hardware for my little cabin im building.

[@Ghostofchristmasfuture]

Sad I found the channel half a day after the giveaway, won’t miss the next one at 125k or something. Milestones subscriptions have different weights, takes less time to get more as time goes on.

[@jackshadow325]

4:46 ... Some kind of subliminal message? 😄

[@BlackBearForge]

I have no idea what that was

[@jackshadow325]

Black Bear Forge It actually happens several times during the video. No big deal. Thanks for the video!

[@jobbutcher1793]

Oh....

[@billwoehl3051]

Seen a hot cut with a 45° angle last night in this video @1:50 : kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3qnkH2bl92Fn8U I thought "that's different, this guy's smart, hand won't get hot".

[@patrickpitz1879]

"that i can see." All i see is yellow, thank you camera color correction or whatever feature or scientific reason this occurs.

[@jobbutcher1793]

Maybe use a bigger hammer so it does take so long. A 2.5 lbs hammer isn’t going to move anything every quickly

[@trevorjones5428]

If you listened to John at the end of the video. He explained why he used a 2.5 lb hammer

[@jobbutcher1793]

@@trevorjones5428 yes i typed too soon😂