Forging a Simple Bottle Opener

Today in the shop I’m forging a simple bottle opener to show you how you can do it, and so I can get some more blacksmithing practice under my belt. This project will help you learn to control your hammer blows, hold your projects securely, make even tapers, smooth scrolls and bends, throw a twist into your projects, and leave a nice looking finish to your work. You can use these techniques on any number of forging projects, but whats important is that you get out and try making stuff. Good luck!
Thanks again to all of our Patreon supporters, and congrats to AbiGirlTV for being drawn to receive today’s project. All or your support means the world to us.
f you are interested, please follow us on Instagram @theartofcraftsmanship to see what’s happening in the shop on a daily basis, and catch sneak peeks of our up coming videos.
To those of you who feel like you got something special from our videos and want to know how you can support us further, we have just launched our Patreon page here... www.patreon.com

[@JohnSmith-gs4lw]

Do some digging around the Black Bear Forge channel. He’s got lots of videos on doing twists, including some crazy ones. He commonly uses a welding torch while the piece is in the vise. This allows pinpoint heat and if a spot is twisting too slowly, you can soften it up. Of course easy for me to say; this is ABSOLUTELY one of those things that is much harder than it looks. He’s been doing it about 30 years more than you, so he’s going to make it look easy. I also think square stock would twist much more evenly. That wouldn’t work so well for the opener end though. All that said, not a dang thing wrong with that twist you did.

[@MrBrian8749]

Nice Job..this used to be my hobby when I was working as a welder(30 years)...I noticed your anvil is sitting to low. You will hurt your back this way. Plus you lose "Hammer Control" Hammer technique is the most important part of blacksmithing. I don't see anyone talking about this on KZbin because most are amateurs. Also, your forge is sitting to low. As a rule (for me) the surface of your anvil should be about your crotch level. This allows a full blow without losing control of your hammer. Any lower and not only lose control but this puts stress on your forearm. you see old time blacksmiths with leather bands on the their arm above the hand... This holds the tendons in place. Just some friendly advice from an old guy in constant pain from poor technique

[@JohnSmith-gs4lw]

Correct. And, for the record, John over at the Black Bear Forge channel talks about this quite a bit. He has a whole video on “blacksmith elbow”

[@MrBrian8749]

@@JohnSmith-gs4lw Thank you...I'm old and dont get around much anymore...even on the internet. LOL

[@nicholasmcgreevy8313]

Agreed. I noticed the low anvil as well.

[@kuribuu7876]

@@MrBrian8749 really interesting, thanks for the info!

[@nolanconnors1741]

Correct between knuckle height and the crotch height is where your hammer will pack the biggest punch

[@suprspi]

Nice, that turned out great. I really like this design, I think I'm going to make some of these. Even more skills could be practiced at the anvil if you punched and drifted the holes and cut them with a hot chisel. I'm no expert, I've only been blacksmithing for a couple of years, but it seems to me that your twist wonkiness is because you twisted, looked at it while the twist cooled, and twisted again. The temperature difference will make your twists uneven. Also, if you cut another adjustable wrench head off and weld it to the fixed part of the adjustable wrench you use for twisting you may find it easier to keep the twists even and straight. Or you could make the tool you need and get even more practice forging, but I know I went with the weld some wrenches together route and it's worked out great. It's refreshing to see another beginner blacksmith making cool things without all the fancy stuff, someone I can actually compare myself to! ;) Also, I really like the new logo!

[@skyjac92]

Awesome project! Congratulations AbigirlTV

[@troyswain1310]

Awesome. My buddy and I are going to try this next weekend. Thanks for the video.

[@HARMEtrd]

Its really cool to see this type of stuff

[@garythesaint44]

New skills always start at the beginning its the way it works, great first attempt and as always done with just a sprinkle of craftsmanship class👍

[@kensmapleleafretirement]

Well done. It isn't as easy as it looks... Thanks for sharing your project... be well...

[@genefoster9770]

thanks for the great video see you on the next one

[@TheOldKid]

Nice setup for someone early in their new career. I can see great things in your future. I personally like the not perfect look. Many people get hung up on perfection. I like unique and that bottle opener will forever be a one of a kind. Great jib and I look forward to watching you mature and evolve as a blacksmith

[@normleger2079]

Well done!

[@aspitofmud6257]

Reminds me of my early days. 👍😎

[@stoneinthefield1]

I like the common man shop tools. Shows you don’t need top dollar equipment to make something.

[@yahiravery2097]

You probably dont care at all but does any of you know a method to get back into an Instagram account? I was stupid forgot my login password. I would love any help you can offer me!

[@brentleyryland9689]

@Yahir Avery instablaster =)

[@yahiravery2097]

@Brentley Ryland thanks for your reply. I found the site on google and Im in the hacking process atm. I see it takes a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@yahiravery2097]

@Brentley Ryland it worked and I finally got access to my account again. Im so happy! Thanks so much, you saved my ass!

[@brentleyryland9689]

@Yahir Avery Glad I could help :D

[@Miguel_ON65]

Hi Dustin. Nice to see your work one more time. You going on being my workshop heroe in youtube. Greetings from Madrid and thk for sharing your videa.

[@davestelling]

Now, THAT'S a damn fine bottle opener... Thanks, Dustin...

[@jerryjohnsonii4181]

Very Cool bottle Opener !!!!!!!!!!!

[@nolanpeter2748]

Enjoyed the video.

[@jamesreyes4184]

Its a piece of ground rod!! I use it to make tongs , great video :)

[@thomasclayon9143]

Great video! Keep it up👍👍💯

[@allfiredupltd9108]

Great video mate keep up the hard work can’t wait to see how you are progressed

[@TufStockdogs]

Great job and thank you buddy

[@erasmoruvalcaba8078]

thank-you my friend

[@bgurtek]

Gosh-dang, you do nice work.

[@rainervolk666]

Perfect bottle opener for german beer😀. Cheers from germany

[@hunterhighfill4484]

I really like your enthusiasm! Keep practicing and improving. I'm a beginner as well and just upgraded from the same anvil shaped hunk of iron you're using and im impressed how well you do with it

[@TheArtofCraftsmanship]

Will do!

[@abigirltv5188]

Hey guys, I WIIINNNNNN! I can't wait to use this bottle opener! CHUG CHUG CHUG!

[@TheArtofCraftsmanship]

So happy for you. We will make sure to get your new bottle opener to you soon. Thanks for the channel love Abi

[@wallaceviviansadventures2095]

great job i am going to attempt my first one tomorrow . have a great weekend

[@TheArtofCraftsmanship]

Good luck

[@douglasfathers4848]

Great little bottle opener ,with the twist you went one turn to many. but like you said a fanky looking . Practice is the key element I have 2 years under my belt now and each time I make something I find a different way of doing it . remember get it hot and hit it hard. cheers

[@TheJACKCOLORADO]

I discovered early on if I am going to centerpunch and drill something not to quench it. Even in water, it can harden it to the point that it can contribute to dulling your punch and your bit. I blew the tip off of a cheap centerpunch and had to reheat the piece in order to anneal it so I could mark it. Just a tip I thought I'd pass along. Good work.

[@binnsbrian]

I believe the round rod is a ground rod. It is a long metal rod, usually copper bonded to steel, galvanized iron, or stainless steel. Yours is the copper bonded to steel. I think the end you ground will eventually rust.

[@TheArtofCraftsmanship]

Hmmmmm. Thanks for the info. I’ll keep an eye on it for rusting.

[@steampunkblacksmith4507]

Not that it’ll help answer your question but I had a piece of mystery bar from a pile of scrap which looked just like your mystery bar. Mine turned out to be a 3 foot piece of 3/4” copper round. Take a wire brush and get that scale off, see what color it is. Might get lucky.

[@kenglass1980]

Yay!!!!!

[@DanKoenigJr]

Well done! Its nice to see you rewarding those who support via patreon! For those of us who cant afford such luxery (lolz) please dont forget about us. Dad of two here. Also fellow beer enthusiast

[@nolanconnors1741]

Amazing video the thing that happened with the twist is the heat changed so you weren’t quick enough my boos taught me that

[@johnm840]

A guess on that rod. Doesn't rust, has a browish surface, , hard and the sparks. Looks like 17-4 PH SS to me. Probably heat treated to Rc 43. A wild ass guess.

[@northernwoodsman]

You need to get a better anvil! This one is fine and works, but you deserve better!

[@steffenmadsen8549]

Hi, i think that what you are doing a great job shoving how to execute the project you are doing, i see what you are doing, and you are doing great, but please remember the internet is worldwide and we are a lot of people who is working in Metric not Imperial, so please as many english black smidths do announce your messurements in MM, then it will only yoly be you converting the messurements, regards from Steffen Denmark

[@ericgruel274]

With a little more practice, you can forge the opener end too. Making yourself a bic would help a lot as well.

[@Mark_Halovek]

There is really no reason to dislike the video

[@Mark_Halovek]

Very helpful

[@seanmoloney7621]

Quite like the: "... test it,.. obviously"

[@anthonyburkett2146]

GREAT Video!!!~ Would you be so kind as to provide a description on how you built your forge?

[@thomasclayon9143]

He has a forge build video on his playlist. I recently built the same forge... awesome and works really well. I think the forge cost to build for me was around 50$ (most of cost was spent on the firebrick). Also check out the Frosty T burner builds on youtube. Diy-ed the burners for around 25-30$ each.

[@anthonyburkett2146]

@@thomasclayon9143 Thank You, Thomas! Greatly appreciated!... I will look for that video.

[@Crosswalker.]

Im not into steel but your steel looks like an Opinel blade with patina on it, hm maybe xc90?

[@adamstone7955]

I love how this "beginner" blacksmith has a professional workshop setup. Looks like Mommy and Daddy foot the bill for junior to have "My First Blacksmith Shop" by Playskool

[@TheArtofCraftsmanship]

😂

[@lancerussell666]

It looks like you have your forge set up in the basement you should check into having propane in the basement and burning it down there . Propane is heavier than air and will lay in low areas very dangerous. And burning your forge in the basement you could be putting carbon monoxide though out your house as it is slightly lighter than air be careful I enjoy your videos

[@samholleman7195]

I think the anvil needs to be just a little higher in elevation. Maybe there is a reason it's low like that, but it just seems unnecessary to be hunched over in that way while hammering. I'd imagine you could work for a bit longer if it was raised about a half foot.

[@danielattencio579]

I hope you guys are better at drinking beer than you are at clinking bottles. I know what your next project is. A new set of tongs. Nice job. Danny

[@thomasdement7885]

I’m curious as to how you store your axes. Did you build a custom rack or did you buy something?

[@TheArtofCraftsmanship]

Check out my shop tour vid. I show the rack in that video.

[@dirk480]

Looks great! Unrelated to this project but I have been a subscriber for quite some time and I have noticed that you do very little replying to comments. I think that would help make your channel more successful.

[@Zoso14892]

That's a fair point. I'd always thought the comment section seemed bare and that could be a contributing factor. People wont comment if they dont think the messages are being read. I'm sure they are but a few likes and comments turns a channel into a community. Either way it would be nice to see the channel grow, they do some great work and I hope to see more.

[@TheArtofCraftsmanship]

I actually try to respond to most questions asked, and make a point to try and like almost all of the comments. Thanks for the encouragement and the compliments. I’ll try to stay on top of it more often.

[@Zoso14892]

@@TheArtofCraftsmanship I could well be mistaken, I watch your videos early so you may not have had time! I realise KZbin takes a lot of effort, especially with work and a family so I appreciate all you do. Hopefully you took this as constructive criticism rather than a complaint.

[@DaemonsBane]

2:19 I see you 😉

[@TheArtofCraftsmanship]

Good eye!

[@colinotoole3978]

Crowd source a better anvil for this guy?

[@TheLoxxxton]

I think that round bar is made of metal. You're welcome😳

[@25is27]

Thanks. Had me baffled. Sometimes the answer is just staring you in the face :-)

[@kennethomeara9848]

What kind of anvil do you use? Thank you. I greatly appreciate and enjoy your videos.

[@joetheblacksmith8071]

It's a cheap harbor freight anvil. Not really worth it and it's very soft and dead and cast iron . I recommend the ebay double horn anvil for 122

[@TheArtofCraftsmanship]

I agree with Joe.

[@MikeHerbstUSA]

@@joetheblacksmith8071 I too was seeing he's not getting any help from the anvil. Looks like he's trying to hammer "through" the material instead of letting the head bounce up.

[@joetheblacksmith8071]

@@MikeHerbstUSA well sadly the solid poor cast iron and bondo does not do much because it does not harden. Plus is way too soft. The horn flat aswell.

[@andrewwarner6077]

Use a piece of pipe for a more consistent twist

[@shadetreeforge]

The bar that you are using for a rounding bar, might be Monel, which has the characteristics that you mentioned, keep practicing! you're off to good start! By the way get some better tongs! Smithing is no fun and can be dangerous with ill fitting tongs!

[@amoshopson7923]

Your patreon link in the description takes you to the patreon site not your specific channel there.

[@vadikdart105]

Почему этот загиб не сделать на вилке ?

[@jeanpomerleau8416]

you said 1/8 x 3/4 was it 1/4 x 3/4 ?

[@paulrobertson7980]

It's much easier to just number the patreon members, then use a random number generator instead of writing all the names down and cutting them out

[@josephstaup8868]

It sparks like A36 mild carbon steel. Leave it outside it'll rust.

[@mikejones1141979]

It looked like a shiny tootsie roll 😂

[@GhostRider-wh8jv]

Y not use the horn of the anvil

[@TheArtofCraftsmanship]

The horn was too big for the size loop I wanted. Also, I’m a relative beginner, so I was more confident making a loop around the rod rather then trying to do a large scroll. Thanks.

[@bigninja2]

You should have stopped at one twist.

[@supertrooper7403]

You should have stopped at thinking about commenting.

[@bigninja2]

@@supertrooper7403 You don't think that the extra twists is where mistakes were made?

[@Crosswalker.]

One twist would be more symmetrical but i kind of like how it turned out, looks more "handmade" 🤔🙂

[@binnsbrian]

I'll settle it. He should have stopped at one twist.

[@binnsbrian]

I'll settle it. He should have stopped at one twist.

[@bloodgain]

Be careful about how you give stuff away. By drawing randomly only from people who give you money, you could be considered to be running a lottery under US or state laws. You have to be careful even if it's a free drawing (e.g. Canadian laws), but definitely any time money is involved. That's why you always see sweepstakes marked with "No purchase necessary to win." It might be worth at least calling a lawyer in your area to make sure you're not going to run afoul of any laws.