Forging a Side Chisel - Blacksmithing tools

[@buckwildebeest398]

This guy's my favorite smith on youtube.

[@dmckenzie9281]

As a very green and learning blacksmith I love your tool making videos. Thanks. Auto correct changed my sentence to I you instead of I love your. So I changed it so it didn't sound like I'm a creeper.

[@leecraddock3079]

Perfect way to start my Sunday morning coffee,toast and black bear forge

[@jskjsk3986]

Somehow it’s more rewarding to make the tools than the project. Thanks John.

[@tobyjo57]

A mini Cleaver simple and so effective. John has all the answers from his superb expertise as a true blacksmith. Thanks Mr Switzer Yes you do truly inspire us

[@dalekidd420]

A mini cleaver could, in fact, be made similarly. The steel would certainly work. However, the grind would need to be quite different... a traditional flat grind would be best, perhaps with a slightly convex secondary bevel if hard use is intended.

[@demastust.2277]

Glad to see you got yourself a good blacksmith sponsor

[@moreybandel5560]

That twisted piece would make a beautiful towel rack... For the bathroom or kitchen. A great idea on the chisel, by the way...

[@fredschmidt6802]

My ancestors way way Back were blacksmiths in Germany during the mid evil times . So I always had an interest in blacksmithing . My father was a tool maker & I am a welder . It's always fun making a tool for a piece your going to make or to make your life easier . You can also make it to suit your special needs . Nice video

[@darrenthompson6115]

Morning (UK) Grizzly... nice simple efficient creation there... thanks...👍

[@thefarfiles]

Thanks John

[@davidbutler3661]

I bought a box of old tools a while ago and it had one of those in it. Thanks John for showing me how to use it.

[@frankgaletzka8477]

Hello John That hack is a needfull tool for many Uses Chisel some diffrend angels or cut small wood sticks to start a fire or chop some meat if nothing else is availible 😉😉 Thank you for the Video Take care have a good week Yours Frank Galetzka

[@torbjornahman]

That's looks like a pretty handy little tool to have!

[@wallaceviviansadventures2095]

Good morning John I'm having a coffee and watching your video. great way to start the day. have a great one

[@ga5743]

After experiencing a Nor’easter yesterday it is nice to watch some hot stuff 😀. Sweet Sunday scrap pile project John thank you.

[@richardsolomon8076]

Very nice John that chisel could have some great use in the workshop and I have just the piece for the job 👍🏻 the twisted bar might make a nice marker lamp post somewhere you pull up in the dark.

[@renaissancewomanfarm9175]

Since I really like garden decorations, I think that your twist sample piece would make a good upright section for holding something like a decorative lantern or bird feeder. Draw out the bottom and add a step in, then add a decorative bracket to the top. I have seen some videos where they put solar garden lights into lanterns so no fuss, no muss. If you were really feeling ambitious, you could forge the lantern as well.

[@consultmjp]

What about turning your sample into a weather vain? That's what I thought when I saw it.

[@slesarka_art]

Good afternoon! It turned out to be a good tool , it 's nice to look at your work ! I would use the blank at the end of the roller as a support post for the stair railing . Hello from Russia👍

[@dalekidd420]

I can't help but think that twisted bar would look great as the center vertical bar in a gate or a set of window bars. It's a nice decorative touch for an otherwise utilitarian piece.

[@thethinbrownduke6412]

WOW! I really appreciated the way you formated that video with the use of the tool at the end if the video, I believe the entire video built up to that. Great work Mr. J

[@BlackBearForge]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Shiflettknifeco]

Appears as though you have acquired a new camera! This channel keeps getting better. Appreciate the content, sir!

[@BlackBearForge]

Same camera I have been using for about a year now. However I did decide to shot this video in 4K and wondered if anyone would notice. Unfortunately the file sizes were massive by comparison and took much longer to do everything required after shooting. So I don't know that I would be in a hurry to do it again. I was wondering if anyone would notice.

[@TheBottegaChannel]

Now we know how to make a mini froe for a compact woodworking/ camping kit as well, awesome! As for the twist peice, I'm thinking make it into a coat rack project and incorporate parts from the scrap bucket challange into it over this year. That way, it'll be functional for years to come.

[@stevenolan7972]

I’m seeing a fancy garden gate project in that piece.

[@PANNARALEJ]

I built one of these last year. It worked really well when I was making a big 16inch long feather.

[@colvinwellborn]

I love this stuff John, keep the content on forging tools coming!

[@ivorboyd3126]

When I worked as a mechanic I had one of these that I used to remove oil sumps (pans) from engines. The manufacturers started using sealer instead of gaskets and this was the only way to remove them without causing damage. Never had as good a tool as that. Well done, spring steel is a very useful resource, unfortunately leaf springs have all but disappeared here in Ireland.

[@lukiatiyah-singer5100]

Love the idea :) Thank you John!

[@tdyblacksmithkeithcoleman3365]

I've been trying to figure out how to clean up some crosses I made from square bar.... THANK YOU , for showing me what I need to do. I was thinking too hard, sometimes simple is better.

[@meltingteeth7807]

I've never seen that tool before. Thanks for the demonstration!

[@brianfalls5894]

Nice job on the side chisel John. Till now I didn't even know a tool like that even existed. Good video!!!

[@marcerivest6204]

Your cutting tool would be a good addition for any blacksmith. The slite bar stock would look good in some iron railing or gate.

[@hosiercraft9675]

Hey John, love all your videos, really like the inspirational, imaginative, video, especially like the old school ways. Thanks John.

[@heydenlabelle513]

That would be a really awesome picket for a hand railing.

[@robertwhitney2232]

Hi John, when BS's talk about steel and numbers, I am totally lost, but when you say "leaf spring" I am right with you. I have piles of steel, just steel, that I thought was scrap until I started smithing, now it's stock. 🔥⚒

[@scottjohnson9642]

It's a lot easier than you think to decode the numbers and you need to know what you are working with look up a metal sae chart on the internet or get a old engineers handbook it is good to know so you don't work yourself to death using material not worthy of your labor it is also fascinating to learn about metallurgy and if you ever start selling your wares people will ask about your material

[@Driver944S]

John, you could get some of those large 3 wick candles make a large candle tree out of that sample bar you split and twisted. Stand it in the corner of a room and vola

[@garygraham2974]

Howdy John I never knew of a sidechisle great info

[@jeffgrier8488]

That's a great idea John, i never would have thought about making a side chisel.

[@glencrandall7051]

Great video. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.

[@SchysCraftCo.]

Very nice job John. Very nice video as always. Hopefully you get great use out of it for many years to come my friend. Can't wait to see more videos soon. Keep up the great craftsmanship and hard work my friend. Forge on. Keep making. God bless.

[@nateand3]

Cool side chisel, but I think the split twist you made with it is even cooler. I think it would be awesome as a single accent piece as a spindle in an elsewise rustic wood banister

[@steve_wa]

Love the simple projects and the scrap challenges John. Thanks

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

That really looked and worked good John, thanks for sharing with us. Fred.

[@pjamestx]

That's great, I haven't seen anyone cover a tool like that before, makes a lot of sense!

[@threeriversforge1997]

Very nice work, as always. I just happen to have some 1/4" leaf spring in the shop....

[@Smallathe]

Very cool project. What about making a BIG hook (for a hammock or hanging a heavy planter? with a DIY planter holder) from the twisted bar? It's lovely... :)

[@thecreativecraftingtable8658]

That is a cool tool! 🙂 I made a similar fuller for vein decoration in leaves. Suggestion: you can make a candle holder which has the stand and the dish part connected with tenons and rivets on a vertical piece of slitted and twisted bar. Have a nice evening John!

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks for the tip!

[@zakhickman2371]

Hey John I'm starting to agree with most the comments on making it into a gardening tool, a series of garden tools would be cool.

[@Bangalangs]

Another excellent video sir. And that coupon code is making me take a good long look at the heaviest anvil on that sponsor site.

[@grandadz_forge]

That'll make a nice post for a boot scraper stand

[@larryking606]

Hey John , I can truly say, I learned something new today ! I have never heard of a HACK before, I can definitely see the use for it and I most definitely have some leaf spring laying around ! Thank you very much, I have just added a n new item on my to do list ! Take Care and Be Safe

[@bernardleighan3218]

If the sample piece is tall enough, maybe make a hall tree (coat rack). I would maybe suggest a couple more twisted splits for this idea. Awesome tool John, thanks. God bless.

[@deryiousbarzee627]

Good morning

[@jupiter120810]

Mast for a outdoor weather vane. Which leads into more smithing. I like the videos. Keep them coming. You rock!

[@stoneinthefield1]

Looks like a nice leg great for a rustic live edge side table. Just need 2 or 3 more legs and a top.

[@1noryb]

Good morning John. The side chisel certainly works better than temporarily bending the top out of line with the bottom to make room for a chisel. I like the garden decoration idea to finish the (ballister?). Maybe a bird/squirel feeder?

[@stome3416]

I ordered a pair of those scrolling pliers and should have them in a day or two. Looking forward to them

[@jimmandle498]

John - Nice twist - I see a nice candle holder and that twist would be about 2/3 of the way up from the table with the bottom portion cut into thirds and becoming legs. Then add a cup to the top like one of your earlier candle holders. Enjoyed the video. Thanks!

[@stevezozuk9622]

Very cool John. You really are a great teacher. I enjoy the small projects. they help me understand a few things i need to work on. thank for sharing with us. Cheers

[@texacajundiy]

Made one of these out of a HC rail spike. I only sharpen it about once a year. I felt like it was too low use a tool in my shop to use “good” steel on. It works. I’ll say this, if you’re gonna hit it hard, wear a glove on the chisel hand, hitting the side gives one heck of a shock, not like a straight chisel.

[@stephenborders4654]

Thanks for the video. Looks like something I could make. I like the candle holder idea below.

[@jedinightstalker]

Good work as always. Appreciate the knowledge you share. I learn a lot from your channel. Side note, I use "hack" knives in the glazing world for old putty windows. There also good for woodworking, although now they call them side chisels at home wrecko.

[@LincolnRig]

I have worked with a bit of steel but as of yet am unfamiliar with all the grades. For me it's the basics, steel, aluminum, stainless, copper...eg. I would have called the spring, spring steel hahaha, so I am impressed with your knowledge, that and how to heat treat said material. I thought the twisted piece would look great as a baluster. Your piece is a bit heavy maybe but that look.

[@garethbaus5471]

5160 is the most common grade of spring steel it has roughly .6% carbon with a little bit of chromium for increased toughness. It is a good general purpose hardenable steel that can make mediocre knives, good swords, and great axes. It isn't as heat tolerant as other alloys like s7 and it isn't as tough as lower carbon alloys like 4140 so it isn't the best steel for tools you plan on hitting with a hammer (although it is perfectly adaquate for such tools). If you are using a spring as your raw material you cannot be entirely certain of the alloy(rail clips are usually but not always a Chinese standard equivalent to 1060 for example) but most springs are made from an alloy with similar enough properties to 5160 that it doesn't matter as long as you don't plan on pushing the limits of the material.

[@LincolnRig]

@@garethbaus5471 Thanks for the bit of info. I'm sure there must be a chart of sorts, or maybe a series of charts showing different materials and their properties.

[@garethbaus5471]

@@LincolnRig There are several, plus you can look up just about any object you can think of to guess what it is made from.

[@dragonstonegemironworkscra4740]

Morning Mr John! Another tool on the list of to get made!. Simple but effective and pleasant to the 👀. Bonus footage. Getting to watch the element being made. That was really kuul as well. Blessings Sir. Oh and I hope you get a goodly bit of catch water frome the nice snows! Crawford out 🙏🔥⚒️🧙🏼‍♂️

[@meekee6847]

How about a Boot scraper for outside the front door?

[@MinionsSmithy]

Such a great idea 💡!

[@lonnieporter8566]

Make three more of those twist splits and use them for table legs.

[@louisaziz1235]

Another very interesting and useful tool. Thank you. Do you make your own touch-mark tools? If you do, could you possibly produce a video on that? If not, Can you please tell me where I can get one made?

[@BlackBearForge]

Mine came from Henery Evers company

[@bearshield7138]

nice job

[@OuroborosArmory]

You can turn the spiral into a boot scraper

[@Nrhat123]

How about a simple screw driver with a split handle in both directions.

[@gilauth6791]

Hi John As always beautiful and useful tutorial information.Here something to make you smile Years ago as a young lad my dreams were filled with beautiful things some possible some barely that life .BUT...But... lately seems like a big bad Anvil monopolizes all my dreams. Especially after watching your videos featuring that big bad ANVIL. Clearly a sign of getting Old ? Going Mad ?¿Mature?¿? Not sure ???What do you think . Take care 😉

[@Wedoitall16]

Hey man love the videos I’m actually in Colorado Springs I thought I heard you say you’re about a half hour out of Colorado Springs I was wondering if you could tell me a metal supplier around here and OK come check out your shop? Lol

[@BlackBearForge]

I'm not actually that close to the Springs. I buy most of my materials from Mid West fabrication and Steel in Pueblo, but I would expect there to be a similar supplier or two in Colorado Springs.

[@douglasfathers4848]

Hi John my son got me 2 truck springs and they are big the main leafs are around 30mm thick and 1350 long X 100 mm wide . Do you have any Suggestions on what to make from them . I was thinking a axe head and the tools to make it with . The two springs have 7 leafs each so I have given some to my mates . Cheers. :)

[@BlackBearForge]

Axe and adze heads are certainly the first thing that comes to mind. I hope you have a good way to cut it.

[@douglasfathers4848]

I have a drop saw that takes a 14 inch blade .

[@anvilhead0]

That’s an interesting anvil you have there, what was the purpose of the extension on the side. It sounds nice to work on, I don’t like the steel anvils that ring every time you strike.

[@BlackBearForge]

The side face is largely used for scroll to start curving back under the edge. But it comes in handy for a lot of other things as well.

[@thethinbrownduke6412]

Just wondering if the tool needed to have such a long working surface? How thick a material would you be using that tool for? Would it still be as efficient with more dexterity if it were smaller dimensions in numerous cross sections?

[@livetosurvive4558]

Do you think it is possible to make a knife from a railroad nail knife in the woods with just some coal and the material around. Like other metal on the railroad tracks. If so how would you go about it?

[@hannable3871]

It's a strait razor for steel.

[@skipthoming6241]

John I’m trying to set up my solid fuel forge and was just wondering, do you have a fan on your chimney for drawing the smoke up ? I’ve just never noticed you getting smoked out like I am. Thank you sir.

[@BlackBearForge]

No fan, just a tall chimney pipe to encourage a good draw.

[@robertwhitney2232]

Skip, the secret to no smoke, is a good draft and don't smother the fire. Always leave a little plume of flame when adding coal.

[@IronsInTheFire-Official]

Draw out an arrow point and recreate the arrow fired to defeat Smaug in The Hobbit series, haha :) that's what the twisted split reminds me of.

[@BlackBearForge]

It does look like that doesn't it.

[@jonas2431]

Make a fire poker with it or a dustpan handle

[@randyrocket461]

make a shift lever on a old tractor or something ?

[@fearthereaper298]

Well, we have files right?

[@michaelbietsch2864]

Good morning, love the content, I'd love to see a larger project, something like a Damascus knife or sword?

[@lukiatiyah-singer5100]

John is not really a sword/knife person, at least not anymore. He said something to that effect a while back. And as someone who used to be exclusively into knifemaking, I kind of understand why.

[@Hubilicious90]

Not a blacksmith, so just out of curiosity: how sharp are blacksmithing chisels? Are they sharp at all or just wedge shaped blunt edges?

[@BlackBearForge]

Sharper than a cold chisel but not at all sharp like a wood working tool. No real risk of cutting anything but hot steel.

[@dannygoin6552]

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸👋👋👋☕️☕️☕️👀👀👀🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@richg.8092]

👍👍👍👍☕☕🍩🍩

[@paulorchard7960]

Thanks John