Forging a scroll wrench or bending fork - blacksmith tools

If you plan to forge scrolls, sooner or later you will need some scroll forks or bending wrenches to help make minor adjustment. This traditional wrench is forged from a single piece of 1/2 x 1 1/4" mild steel bar.
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The following list provides just a few resources to help you find supplies and equipment for blacksmithing.
www.piehtoolco.com/
www.centaurforge.com/
www.blacksmithsdepot.com/
www.blacksmithbolt.com/
www.oldworldanvils.com/
www.nimbaanvils.com/
fontaninianvilandtool.com/
www.abana.org/
www.mcmaster.com
kensironstore.com/
Blacksmithing and related activities can be hazardous. These videos are not a substitute for competent professional instruction. Your safety is your sole responsibility. Always use appropriate safety equipment including eye and ear protection when working in the shop. Follow manufactures safety guidelines for the use of all equipment. In the event something shown in one of these videos seems unsafe, it is up to you to make the appropriate changes to protect yourself.

[@joshsmith6792]

I am just starting to get into the blacksmith bladesmith and you sir are very helpful thank you

[@BlackBearForge]

You're welcome

[@Redtailedhawk99]

Me too so far I have a torch, a welder and an angle grinder. And a couple of hammers. No anvils or forges or foundry yet. I know I don’t need a foundry necessarily, but I would still like to have one eventually.

[@ferraeco]

I learned a lot with your vídeos... Thanks man, and keep forging!!!

[@carriestearns7665]

My first thought was could you have laid the piece across the Hardy hole to isolate the second fork and also could you have split the end of the rod with a chisel and made the forks that way ❤

[@simpleforging3339]

thanks for hammering these out by hand and showing the associated tips and tricks. I imagine most of your viewers don't have power hammers

[@TufStockdogs]

Is Rebar good for them?

[@BlackBearForge]

It would probably work OK if cut and welded, but hard to forge the way this one was done

[@phrodendekia]

I like the format of your videos. How you present the content, your camera positions and explanations I love your channel, keep up the good work, sir! Greeting from Argentina.

[@BS-te3mn]

Awesome channel! I’m not even a blacksmith but I find your videos very interesting! Great work

[@PostwarJeeves]

Thanks for all the videos. I am currently in the process of building a side blast forge and look forward to trying out the concepts you show in your videos.

[@BlackBearForge]

You are welcome, glad you enjoy the videos

[@Repair-rookie]

Grader blade would be bisalloy, seen a bloke distroy a Power hammer trying to make a axe out of the stuff.

[@radarreally2110]

I am not a blacksmith, and i am absolutely not a toolmaker, but i wonder, could you forge a larger knob and then use a hotcut tool to isolate the forks? Would that introduce too much stress in a vital part of the tool? Thank you for all the tool making videos.

[@faelwolf1177]

Scroll forks also come in real handy for bending heavy gauge electrical wire. Made making the bend for the main line inside the breaker box a breeze when wiring my shop. :)

[@jasonslagle3618]

First comment on a fantastic teachers video woo!!! Love your content!

[@workwithnature]

Was wondering, if one could drop the entire piece, handle first into the hardy hole and drawn out initially the side tine, that way. Just popped in me head.

[@BlackBearForge]

If I am understanding the idea correctly, I thin it should work. Having a wedge to hold it tight once inserted would help.

[@erniebeswick7675]

Great video to learn isolating materials. Thanks as always well done and thank you foe your lessons

[@Nicholas.fernandez51]

I thought ron swanson did wood working

[@sharkmato6230]

He reminds me of the mythbusters

[@larskopberg264]

By now You are so popular that you could turn USA over to the metric system. Great thanks for your inspiering videos! Lars Köpberg, Sweden

[@BlackBearForge]

I don't know I get lots of complaining from people that don't like to challenge their comfort zone.

[@poindexter1387]

Did anyone ever tell you.....you are pretty good.....🔨 I am just getting started. I'm 63 I just want to be 1/4 as good as good as you are.thanks so much for posting your video

[@jeanpomerleau8416]

Enjoy your videos, I feel I am learning something. Thank you

[@roywarden5791]

Excellent all the way through--Great demo--Great info-----Thanks

[@TufStockdogs]

Very nice twisting wrench, I think I am heeled enough I am going to go make one for me. I sho thank you very much God bless you buddy

[@trminer]

Along with the scroll work, I love your tool-making demonstrations. Would you at some point demonstrate a snub or penny end scroll? And maybe a scroll starter, if you use one? Thanks!

[@BlackBearForge]

I do plan to look into various styles of scrolls as well as a scroll starter

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Thanks for sharing with us John !!👍👍👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@johnneykrew]

Great stuff. I cut mine out of leaf spring. But, looking at that handle, I think I'm going to put a twist in mine.

[@JF-fx2qv]

Sometimes the simple concepts take the most work ( tricky inner tine ), but make for the best tool.

[@luigiangelolibrizzi356]

I discovered his videos and subscribed to his channel. You reminds me my father who was an old school blacksmith. I still have all her workshop in her house and what intrigues me is the weight of your hammer which seeing how it beats on anvil seems much lighter than what my father used. I would like to ask you the weight of that hammer? thank you for the answer

[@grahamwoolaston5609]

Mate just watched a great video thanks you have showed me so much pitty I live in Australia would love to get glasses of you thanks again please keep them coming evern my wife says you make a great video doesn't mind watching you lol

[@markmoreno7295]

At about 14:30 or thereabouts, I was wondering. I like your idea for a handle. Depending on the stock used, if the neck or that part close to the tines is left a bit oversized but also rounded, could I just twist 90 degrees so there is less drawing out, then square it back up after? Or would this render that area weaker?

[@rosskarasiewicz2529]

Great job John. Rockford blacksmithing and Iron Works.

[@TheOldaz1]

So that's how it's done, often wondered how the inner tine was forged out. Thanks John.

[@allenclark4826]

Around my neck of the woods road grader blades are made from T-1 steel and it is very tough.

[@motome8]

Nice! I was curious how to do the second tine

[@HighWealder]

Great. Would it have been easier to have started with square section?

[@soyquinto2309]

excelente video.... ud es buen herrero

[@chrisrushbrook1587]

Thank you for another great tutorial Sir

[@christopherconkright1317]

I wish you had put marks link in the info section IDK who he is to find him a ton of marks out there

[@brettsayers7768]

I have only seen a welded version, this was an interesting video and I have learnt something as well. Thanks John

[@BlackBearForge]

They are quite simple to weld.

[@davidlong3824]

So interesting from start to finish nice job.

[@adampablodayc]

Your vids are great,i mean on many levels,love your teaching style.

[@dougbones79]

What about forge welding the tines similar to how you do the fire pokers?

[@BlackBearForge]

You can, but it needs to be a near perfect weld or you risk breaking the tine off.

[@currajeperm8418]

Super maestro profesor of albania

[@stephentimoney6951]

Great video, was wondering how it was forged - now I know. Thanks for posting.

[@BlackBearForge]

Glad to help

[@SirFuseable]

Another good one John. Thanks for demonstrating your processes by hand, even though you have the power hammer. Will you also make a scroll form at some stage? I've seen a number made but frequently using tools and equipment not owned by many beginner smiths.

[@BlackBearForge]

Yes I will. While the window grill project with only 4 scrolls should need a scroll form, it will also be a good time to cover the topic.

[@steelpennyforge5152]

I have never made one of these, I am going to have to give it a shot

[@michelrodrigue3739]

thank you john very interesting video

[@NICEFINENEWROBOT]

In the beginning - EXPECTATION at the end - SATISFACTION in between - shaking my head hopelessly, doubtfully.

[@joshhimmelberg3970]

need to make one myself thanks for the help

[@paulorchard7960]

Just watched Chandler forge the same tool. Same dimensions of starting stock, almost the same technique with a different method of getting there. Having mentioned Chandler do you know how he is John? When will he be back posting video?

[@BlackBearForge]

Don't know anything about him. My guess is that he came to the realization that KZbin isn't the best way to pay the bills and started putting his time into customer work.

[@adeelkarlie2724]

Great work ! Thank you

[@DrLeFree]

Very nice! thank you for that!

[@xFalconFixer]

John, how do you keep your metal hot for so long? I get maybe I missed a video edit. Though watching you work, your hot pieces stay hotter longer than mine... I heat to the similar yellow temp.

[@BlackBearForge]

I suspect that some of the reheats are being edited out. I do often stop in the middle of a heat to move the cameras and reheat at the same time. But I try to edit it as a continuous action.

[@donstephenson9474]

You are a power hammer John! Lol :-)

[@leperejoe1536]

Turned out very nice John.

[@madsillywilly4408]

Impressive, thanks

[@GodschildinNC]

Mark has good technique, but I find the way you teach/show them better. He uses a lot of tooling and machines, I really like the anvil and hammer technique.

[@mattthomas1369]

Would a monkey wrench work? I have one that is a right angle ? Thanks so much for the video!

[@BlackBearForge]

Yes, but you may need to round the edges up to prevent scarring your work

[@ukonrautaironworks2541]

Question. Would it be easier to draw out the second tine with a rounding hammer or a cross/straight-pien hammer?

[@BlackBearForge]

I think the cross or straight peen is better for drawing out. But there is not that much material her, so anything will get the job done.

[@ukonrautaironworks2541]

Thanks :-)

[@РоманКондрашкин-ж3ы]

0:19...У нас это называют - ,,щука"!)) Лично у меня их 3, для толстого материала сделана из 22мм рифлёной арматуры, для среднего из 18 мм шестигранной, для 10-12мм из простой круглой. Причём все двухсторонние, с одной стороны поуже зазор, с другой пошире, в воздухе крутанул, поймал, какой удобней! Там сталь хорошая, даже на сварке отлично держит любую толщину, не гнётся! А видео полезное, познавательное!))) Удачи!!!

[@brandonburdette7895]

You do a wonderful job John and you are a great black smith

[@casper1240]

Got to admit i weld all my bending forks

[@BlackBearForge]

Nothing wrong with that

[@AidanShaffer]

Francis had a set identical to yours road grader blade material as well. He gave me some sections but they disappeared years ago.

[@natesforge]

Really cool video dude!

[@robmidwales8513]

Hi John, scroll dogs we call them over in the UK, thanks!

[@TufStockdogs]

Thank you John I think I have hopefully healed enough to try till forge me one of those bending wench in the morning.

[@fourgedmushrooms5958]

Would 5160 be ok? Got a lot of thick bits.

[@BlackBearForge]

Harder to forge, but it would work. It wouldn't need any hardening

[@TufStockdogs]

Very nice buddy thank you I will try this in ther am for my therapy

[@TufStockdogs]

Very nice buddy thank you I will try this in ther am for my therapy

[@chalcedony6858]

I'm really liking your videos!

[@mrPauljacob]

Very nice... Makes me wanna get my butt to the forge

[@mostlycensored7668]

Your voice is exactly Dr. Phil.

[@MrAllan9]

It's called mild steel cause it has no temperament. lol

[@TufStockdogs]

Very nice turning wrench thank you for sharing it with us

[@HudsonLobo-007]

I like the simple way you teach. Demonstrates humility despite great knowledge. Thanks for showing more this video!

[@BlackBearForge]

Thank you

[@kevg3320]

I'm thinking about making my first bending-scroll-wrench-fork (!!) in the next few days, but would love to see your collection on the wall in the meantime. From the other sde of the Atlantic, stay safe in these strange times shipmate!

[@BlackBearForge]

Here is a short video I did today that hopefully answers the question

[@robarcher3892]

Thanks for the video!! Great tutorial. What kind of anvil do you use? It is nice and quiet. Thanks, Rob

[@BlackBearForge]

I think its a Hay Budden. It was pretty loud before I took some extra steps to quite it down. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGSWZ2ise62Lntk

[@oljames1687]

..Thanks John!! This just moved up my list of things to make. If i ever need to skin a cat i'll contact you to see how many ways there are to do it...!!

[@BlackBearForge]

Shh! don't tell the cats

[@wyoblacksmithtools3097]

Thanks John! When you spoke of doing the calculations for the right amount of mass left after cutting it off so you would end up with the length you want, why not draw out before you cut it off. No need for calculations. You did that so you could change tongs. The same thing for the second tine. Draw it out first, then cut it off. For us newer guys, the calcs don't come as easily as it does for you. Jerry

[@BlackBearForge]

For the most part that is what I did do on this piece. But even then you need to have an idea of how much material to allow, if you end up short at the end, its just short and you have no where to go. so even a rough calculation can help ensure you have enough material to trim when you get to that step. On the other hand the only way to get better at both estimating and doing exact calculations is to do the math.

[@pielord33321]

The process of forging the inner tine is fascinating to me. I, in my ignorance, would've started with round stock approximately the size I wanted my tines to end up and then upset material at the end to get the second tine. I would've been wrong; your method looks a lot easier and more consistent. I'd guess this is also how you forge a fire poker, right?

[@BlackBearForge]

I have a few different approaches for fire pokers since they don’t require the clean 90 degree angle.

[@cogpastorc]

How did you make the second pair of tonges? Looks like a real useful pair that would grip very tight.

[@BlackBearForge]

The first and second pair I used are V bit bolt tongs, both are from from Center tools. The final set with the slot are called slotted jaw tongs. They are just like flat jaw tongs, but with a slot cut or punched in them. They are very handy.

[@tobyjo57]

Super Scrolling Forks..Thanks for posting the link to this John

[@BlackBearForge]

Glad you liked it.

[@5x535]

Thank you for making this video, John. I can't believe that my first attempt was with a grader blade. This time I'll use mild steel.

[@BlackBearForge]

Grader blade make a great bending wrench, but man is it hard to forge

[@TheStrosso]

I was looking for a video of how to use that kind of tools on my own language. I couldn't find one. So I saw this video and now I know. Thanks.

[@BlackBearForge]

Glad I could help!

[@LoneWolfsVoice]

I am most likely showing my ignorance here, is there a particular reason you wouldn't split the stock on the end then form them and hammer it inward to square up the corners and reach the desired gap and trim the tine that ends up being too long.

[@BlackBearForge]

I have seen it done that way and it makes a good bending wrench. This was simply the way I chose for this video. Perhaps I will do one the other way as well. There are usually many different approaches to any project.

[@hadleymclain5817]

Thanks for the lesson

[@gavinramsay539]

The ruler you are using what is it called and where can I get one.

[@BlackBearForge]

It is a hook ruler made from an old square.

[@gavinramsay539]

@@BlackBearForge Just starting out in blacksmithing and I'm enjoying your videos . I came across the one that you where making the hook ruler. Thank you now to get a couple make.

[@taylorcrain4740]

I told you that I would bug you a cold shut is what in your teachings if you have a video on this, then point me to it!

[@BlackBearForge]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6G3oaatoNZ_pJY

[@paulgorringe7138]

Hi from the UK .

[@joeelliott4609]

looks alot like Mark Asprey video on bending forks

[@BlackBearForge]

I think I mentioned that in the video

[@glennwiebe5128]

I have a suggestion, John, that would help your audio quality. Due to the position of your mic, your right sleeve often is dragged over the mic and creates unwanted audio. If you make a vertical cut in your apron right over your sternum, you can slide your mic into it. This would keep it central and out of the way of everything. Keep forging! Btw, the video you did for Chandler was spot on. I'm up in central Canada so helping physically is out of the question. I have helped in other ways.

[@BlackBearForge]

Thats an idea, I was thinking of sewing a little loop on.

[@jjlforge3468]

I kinda like it... it sounds a lot like an old steam driven power hammer...what with the the Shoosh-thunk

[@SSSmithing]

Great video

[@dragonwaterforge]

Could u use this technique for fire poker

[@BlackBearForge]

Interesting you ask that question. I saw that same possibility as I was editing the video. It may be a short spike, but it would work.

[@xxxclampgodxxx5511]

Hey John. Do u have any idea what kind of steel the grader blade is made of. Thx ... paul

[@BlackBearForge]

I know it is a high wear steel, but I don't know the grade

[@xxxclampgodxxx5511]

Just was hoping to try a stay from that type of stuff. Some steels are hard enough to work don’t need something even harder. Lol. Thx my friend

[@diggingga6197]

wonder if i can modify a old wrench and make it into that

[@BlackBearForge]

Probably. Just make sure you get all of the plating off first.

[@demastust.2277]

Could it be possible to just forge weld the rear most tine onto the piece?

[@BlackBearForge]

I have seen them done that way. Start with plenty of material so you don't get that area to thin and weak as you refine the weld.

[@demastust.2277]

Amazing!

[@bc65925]

Good tool indeed.

[@shifty3453]

Dumb question but what are half faced blows? Self taught smith you see.

[@elliyahu]

Half-faced blows or as some call this method Half On Half Off refers to when you are working at the edge of the anvil and your hammer blows are making contact with the material when half of the face of the hammer is hitting the material that is on the anvil and the other half face of the hammer is hitting the material that is hanging over the edge on the anvil.

[@iskiebae]

You put the material on the edge of the anvil and strike with the hammer face half on and half off the edge of the anvil.

[@shifty3453]

Thanks that was my understanding of the process.

[@arloringsmuth8985]

It is a aggressive method in drawing out, helps to move a good bit of material with minimal efforts of the smith's part.

[@BlackBearForge]

Looks like they pretty well covered it. The technique is very useful for creating a shoulder or an offset.

[@humeanity2393]

As Salam Alaikum Tim great video how would you go about making that a double sided scoll wrench?

[@BlackBearForge]

In a forged versioin, I am not real sure. I think most of those that I have seen were cut out.

[@matthewhall6087]

Make a video about the right way why i keep the need to learn i keep a coffee can at hand full of water. And a nut and bolt for the same size of the hole size as a drift Hole explain how i as in you always make and use your as a friend... Explain why you on every think black smith related how burn the idea for need for them to ask any q you want ask the man him self he will answer any QA...