Forging a swage - forge welding with a jump weld

Forge welding can often open doors to possabilties that seem difficult by other means. While power hammers or modern welding equipment can make forging a swage an easier task, today I will do it by forge welding using a jump weld. This is also my first time trying this particular type of forge weld.
Thank you for watching. Black Bear Forge is a small one person shop located in Southern Colorado.
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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.abana.org/
www.mcmaster.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.

[@Stuff1509]

Who are the people that give these videos thumbs down? I enjoy the videos and always look forward to seeing the new ones.

[@BlackBearForge]

I always picture the same couple of curmudgeons sitting in front of the computer not liking anything they see. But overall there are only about half of a percent thumbs down. I am glad you like the videos.

[@davephillips7550]

Black Bear Forge I don't get the thumbs down on a lot of videos. If ya don't like it just click to another video. I appreciate guys taking time to put content out. 😎

[@brianmcdonnell6758]

If someone wants to give a thumbs down, fair enough, but it would be nice for them to post their reason for it. You never know, it could be educational. Personally, I haven't seen one of your videos I haven't enjoyed and learned from. Thank you for doing these videos.

[@pmi7696]

Thank you John. You do difficult things humbly. Not only a forge lesson

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks 👍

[@kevinhansen2182]

I love your videos. I don't mind watching what you have to do for customers. I learn a lot. Keep up the good work.

[@bigoldgrizzly]

Lovin' the ookpik waltz playing in the background around 21 minutes - you have great taste in music John. Going to try one of these welds with 2140 in 1 1/2" square [it's what I have to hand] I'll have to wait till my lad around to strike for me ..... Spirit is willing but the body is knackered ;

[@rwhoward2582]

Thanks again; you have become my favorite blacksmith on the tube; real down to earth smithing!

[@BlackBearForge]

Thank you, that is what I am hoping to be. Just hanging out in the shop forging or talking about blacksmithng.

[@mertonsilliker3686]

I learn something every time I see you work. Thanks

[@truegritbulldog]

Hey John. I have to say, seeing you do something new that you never did was great. As a new smith everything we do is new and has us thinking, struggling and winging it a bit. It is VERY educational to watch you think your way through something new. And the fact you speak out loud as your thinking it through, giving your thoughts and rational is priceless. I greatly admire what your doing. I have learned a tremendous amount from you. My girlfriend even digs your vids and she is not a smith. Well done and THANK YOU for your help.

[@carsonmcmahon8830]

You're doing a dissimilar metal jump weld at the anvil, with scrap no less? You bet I have 33 minutes!

[@BlackBearForge]

I do hope it was worth it.

[@franknash7067]

Mr Switzer, just wanted to say you are by far my favorite blacksmith on youtube. Every video of yours that I watch teaches me something new and drives me to try new things. Thank you

[@BlackBearForge]

You are welcome

[@scottsalgren2024]

I will not be doing anything even closely related to this but I sure did enjoy watching all the way to the end 👍

[@BlackBearForge]

Thank you. Hopefully it will encourage you to try something new.

[@jakepersall3999]

I love the music in the background, Redwing on the fiddle!

[@jimhumphrey]

I found that extremely interesting. I will also like watching you using it as well.

[@gregkovas7658]

Always love seeing you do new kinds of forge welds. I've been wondering what that kind of weld might be called and how one might go about it. Was great to see it done and can't wait to try one myself.

[@davemoore6690]

Great video once again, Sir! Thanks for all your hard work on the behalf of all of us who enjoy smithing!

[@BlackBearForge]

I’m having fun doing it.

[@jakeradcliff3652]

I don't think anyone would mind if you made your content about the order you were currently working on.

[@BlackBearForge]

I don't think so either. I just think it is sometimes helpful to explain why I chose a particular topic instead of continuing on with something we've been working on.

[@ronthacker211]

One of my favorite 'teachers'. thx for all the good info and instruction.

[@johnwest4788]

Great video. Thanks. Please do a video using the swedge to make the handles.

[@BlackBearForge]

I hope to do that today

[@KarlBunker]

That was impressive.

[@michaelhayes1678]

Not the first time I've watched this, but still absolutely fantastic! Thanks John! I certainly always do learn something new in your videos, no matter how many times I revisit.

[@francisgrochon]

Holy cow! That is an amazing process

[@pocobuen]

lol @26:02: " let's try thinking upside down and backwards just a little briefly here, pardon my armpits" hahahahaha! fuckin priceless!. Great vids man. +1

[@5x535]

One of your best so far! I learned several things. It is great hearing how you think your way through the project. Thank you again, Sir!

[@BlackBearForge]

I am glad you enjoyed it

[@robertlonis9350]

Nice job that tool will work great it looks like

[@Roscoe3721]

Awesome job on that weld! I haven't tried to do that type of weld yet myself. Even after seeing it done I'm still a little apprehensive about doing it. Maybe some day. Great video! I give it 👍🏻👍🏻!

[@BlackBearForge]

It took three tries before I got it to stick. Also took me 30 years to get around to trying it.

[@huntintrailmetals9343]

I wish I was there to strike for you my friend! I would love to be in your shop with you!!

[@sammanno3303]

Outstanding Video,Keep then coming.Thank you

[@ThePillenwerfer]

Tutorial or not, it was still interesting and informative.

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks

[@rickisi]

I am always stunned how big things (particularly your hammers) look on camera. That rounding hammer looks like a sledge on camera so when you said it is 3.5lbs i was taken back.

[@BlackBearForge]

They say the camera adds 10 pounds 😉

[@marcsenteney3160]

Thank you for this educational/tutorial video. This is very helpful.

[@BlackBearForge]

You are welcoime

[@ericwiesner3683]

Discovered your channel a few days ago, before I knew it I had watched like five of your videos. I subscribed of course. Thank you for making these high quality videos.

[@BlackBearForge]

I am glad you are enjoying the videos.

[@projectseverywhere856]

Really Enjoying your videos, keep it up, learning so much

[@cgmcpherson33]

Real nice

[@peteremerson4150]

Well done

[@Pseud0rand0m]

Thank you Sir. Good video.

[@TheOldaz1]

Maybe you could have used the press and put the shape in first, then tack weld the form into the plate to hold the shape while you welded the hardy stem on? As to keeping the piece with the ready made hole, you must have been reading my mail as I modified a piece of machinery to fit the hardy hole today. It's an unknown piece of something that is hard enough you can't file it, so I cut part of it off leaving enough to hold it in the hardy hole - it's got 2 different size holes in it and should be very handy. Thanks for a most informative video John.

[@craigbrown7277]

excellemt video

[@camelcitytattooshopp]

shoot yeah great info ... thank ya thank ya

[@paulorchard7960]

Great video John, took me a while to find! Been looking for it after watching the cabinet handle video where you use it. Never heard the term jump weld before.

[@jack5814]

thanks for the lesson,, I'm no ways near that skill level yet but it was interesting,,well done

[@kensmapleleafretirement]

That was amazing. I have to admit, I was routing for you, but I had my doubts about that forge weld working out. Really remarkable work. I was wondering what happened to your air hammer, then I realized this video was nearly 2 years old and you got the air hammer more recently. Thanks for the video, a great one indeed....

[@tobyjo57]

Brilliant weld John I was wondering if that was possible for making swages.

[@petepeterson4540]

John this was or is your best Video I think I will try a Swage and challenge myself But I think I am going to have some help

[@robphone4895]

Nice job! Very good to see that things aren't always easy and you just have to keep going. BTW I noticed that Gargoyly is wearing hearing protection now, very good keep him safe😉

[@BlackBearForge]

I would hate to damage his little ears 😜. I may have to find a bigger hard gargoyle that that stuff fits better, it really would be a good was to store such things. Of course the glasses he is wearing are an old prescription I don't use any more.

[@robphone4895]

Black Bear Forge 😂Haha, and actually a good idea, maybe you can construct a bigger gargoyle. Might be possible with jump welding, maybe 😉

[@robphone4895]

BTW is that you at the right side of the picture www.auroragov.org/departments/fire

[@grubkiller4616]

It's times like these that I'd probably give a leg to have a third arm

[@BlackBearForge]

Having an apprentice would be nice on some days.

[@EduardoSVA]

Hi, John! I wanto to let you know that this is the first jump weld I have ever see here in KZbin! Great job, amazing skills and technic! Greetings from Brazil!

[@BlackBearForge]

Wow, thanks!

[@stephenmcfadyen1385]

Well !! the art of the blacksmith is exampled here in the presentation versus simply metal fabrication. You should be justifiably proud of your bottom tool just the very thing for your production work. 3 1/2 hours to make the tool then how long to edit the video. Well Done !!!

[@BlackBearForge]

Thank you. I think it was well worth it, even though I was tempted by the easy way out.

[@jasonbice1103]

I'm always curious about the bond of a forged weld. It would be interesting to see a piece forged welded onto a piece that is arc welded and pull or push them to destruction and see which one gives up the ghost. Might be good video content. always enjoy your vids your a great teacher.

[@wadestewart9891]

think thats the hardest weld to do ,was a great learning experance ,your daily work is just fine video what you think people might like to see its all intersting to me

[@BlackBearForge]

It was a difficult weld, but mostly trying to get the stem out of the fire and on end without to much fumbling. I also have heard this is a weaker weld, but it should serve fine for this purpose.

[@bvblacksmith]

Butt-welding dissimilar steels surely is some of the trickiest stuff you can do, but it turned out nice.

[@ArmySoldier1972]

John, Great video Loved the content, concept and i am looking forward to more in this series. Did i miss safety equipment as part of this $500 setup? Again great job Thanks Army SE Oregon

[@oljames1687]

..Thanks for this, it's the first video i have seen making this kind of weld...!!!

[@BlackBearForge]

I would be surprised if I'm the first to show it, although I doubt many people use it very often.

[@markmoreno7295]

I'd be y'ur striker, tha's jus' my game. Next time I visit Colorado, where my father was born and my grandfather worked the mines for coal. You are not far from Durango. I could afford a whole day working with a master. Then on to pronghorn spotting in Maybell near Craig on BML lands. Might even see a lost elk, who prefer to migrate north in summer.

[@markdog3355]

Wow. Great job. I know it would take some of the "fun" out of it, but I think I'd arc weld a couple tacks to keep things lined up, before forge welding. I don't think I'd ever be able to maneuver fast enough to do what you did. I'm impressed.

[@BlackBearForge]

Thank you, I would probably do the same thing most days.

[@bc65925]

Very nice project that is definitely going to be a nice addition to your tool box. Now I have to go to see if I can find why it's called "Jump Weld". Guess it could have been because it jumped every time you thumped on it.

[@BlackBearForge]

It's an old term, like jump up on there or something of the sort.

[@bc65925]

Well that saved my research time, gives me more time watching other video's. (On this cold day with a broken blower and another that is not built yet.)

[@d.gregorybrown7779]

Nicely done. I was learning when you weren't teaching, how did that happen? That has giving me some ideas. Thanks!

[@BlackBearForge]

I learn a great deal from just watching others work. I just didn't ant anyone to think this was a step by step how to. When I started i wasn't even sure if I would succeed.

[@d.gregorybrown7779]

I think those are the best lessons sometimes

[@lenblacksmith8559]

Great job mate, love that welding, I haven't welded successfully yet, can't get my gas forge hot enough, have a little coke and charcoal forge, but been too hot to get it going, I think that might work, it gets real hot. Isn't it great to make something that works good and helps you in your work.

[@BlackBearForge]

Being able to get it hot enough is certainly a key issue. I do like being able to make my own tools.

[@lenblacksmith8559]

Yeah mate, I do too.

[@jeremiahjohnson5278]

Nice work! Quick question about the profile ground into the rod, would it have been easier to grind the profile into a more vertical tool that will transfer more of the hammering force straight in?

[@BlackBearForge]

It would be easier to get an initial depression, but since this isn't an even width it would be hard to make a single smaller tool for the full length. Even if you start with a series of smaller tools finishing with a single full size master halps keep things smooth

[@robingibson7503]

Is that my brother in the background playing the fiddle?

[@gardeninginnorway478]

Happy to see you demonstrate a succesful forge welding with the 5160 against the mild steel. Is this flux brand you are using here better for crome containing steel, or would pure borax work as well? (Have only forge welded carbon steel before) Thanks for your nice channel.

[@BlackBearForge]

I don't think the flux is anything that special and borax should work. However I don't like borax for welds when the pieces are not connected somehow. The borax is very slippery and its hard to keep the pieces inline without them sliding around on each other. This flux and easy weld seem to leave a rougher surface that does slip as bad.

[@gardeninginnorway478]

Black Bear Forge Thanks for your good comment!

[@towelltom]

how big is the table in front of your anvil. And your videos are fill of information

[@BlackBearForge]

I am not sure if I know what you are referring to. I have the forge to my right, there is a tool tray just in front (on the viewers side) of the anvil, a swedge block next to that and I have a secondary tool holder just behind the anvil that I use for some specialty jigs.

[@humeanity2393]

👍👍👌

[@Lawnmowerman02346]

Like your videos a lot ,lots to learn . I find myself doing many similar jobs on a small scale ,my question is why not start the swedge using a chisel then rounding it out with your pattern . Was it about the weld ? My experience tells me dissimilar metals don't hold well with gass welding , how is forge welding different , or is it about normalizing and heat treating ?

[@BlackBearForge]

I think starting the depression with a chisel or rough grinding it would have been faster. It always pays to evaluate after he fact to think about how you might have done it better. I suppose in theory the dissimilar metals do make for a weaker joint. Luckily the hardy stem only serves to keep the tool on the anvil and shouldn't get to much abuse in use. On the other hand, this is the way almost all tools with hard steel were made for centuries. Axes, chisels, hammers and anvils all have forge welds with dissimilar metals and most of them have held up extremely well.

[@Lawnmowerman02346]

My experience comes from gas welding shafts for lawn & garden equipment the lo carbon steel I use won't take the torque even if the weld prep starts at a point and you build it up an machine it down to size . If you think leaf spring is hard try truck axle shaft . I can hardly cut it on my lathe even with carbide .

[@thijs199]

where can I get by some H7 steel?

[@brentpaulus4195]

John what do the Clinkers have to do with the heating?? Thanks The Gunny

[@BlackBearForge]

Since they are an accumulation of junk hat doesn't burn the rob heat from the fire. This ten allows more oxygen to reach he work causing increased scaling.

[@charlesmay8251]

could you do a video on hot rasping?

[@BlackBearForge]

I think I discussed it in one of the earlier tool making videos, but I will plan on doing a quick tip just on the subject soon.

[@markgoggin2014]

Would it make more sense or be easier to aneal the steel first before trying to make impressions?

[@BlackBearForge]

Annealing before forging the material hot wouldn't have any effect.

[@markgoggin2014]

@@BlackBearForge ok. I have a background in goldsmithing and annealing in that field removes metal fatigue and softens the metal. Is that not what it does to steel?

[@dancrampton]

John - Stopped the video at about the 5 min mark so I could ask this question, then back to the video. I have an Evolution chop saw, and a $130 blade(?) on it. I've been afraid to use it on leaf spring material and have been cutting that with my angle grinder. There you were just cutting right through yours. I THINK my blade specs said for mild steel only. What kind of blade are you using? Do you anneal your material before you cut it? Does it seem to go OK? Are you worried about ruining your blade? Trying to decide if I need to give that a try or not. Thanks!

[@BlackBearForge]

I use abrasive blades just like what you are probably have on the angle grinder. They are a consumable and wear out as you cut. Since there are no teeth, they are ideal for hardened material. I don't bother to anneal if I am cutting with that type of blade. So I don't worry about ruining a blade, but they do wear out a bit faster. A 14" blade is less than $10 and can usually be found at home centers or I buy from McMaster Carr.

[@charlesmay8251]

love the fiddle music

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks, I forgot I had the radio on.

[@WildBoreWoodWind]

How's your finger going, it isn't as heavily bandaged as it has been?

[@BlackBearForge]

It's getting much better, although the doctor say at least a year for full recovery. Right now the only bandage is a compression bandage to keep the swelling down.

[@WildBoreWoodWind]

So its still giving you trouble, bugger, well at least you've still got your finger :0) - as usual, liked the vid, keep up the good work, all the best from Downunder.

[@manga12]

are you trying to compeat with roy from christ centered ironworks, I know he has mentioned you frequently as of late john?

[@BlackBearForge]

Certainly not in any competition. I like Roys videos and think he has lots of good content. We seem to appeal to a very similar group of viewers who aren't looking for loud music and fancy camera shots. Just hanging out in the shop forging and chatting.

[@manga12]

what I ment to say was he just made a swage block, you know how friends try to one up each other, that was what I thought of when the title said swage

[@DavidKirwanirl]

Any chance the wife would grab that sledge and help out? ;D

[@craigbrown7277]

would it have been easier to go half and half, say you have a four inch handle you want to make a 3/8 to 1/4 Inch taper on both ends, so you go half the material two inches, then go amd turn it the other half to complete that double taper both ends...using that rod that been tapered

[@BlackBearForge]

It could be an option

[@fedderback1]

Why not put it in the press and just press the design you want?

[@BlackBearForge]

Mostly because that wasn't the purpose of this video. But it would also require specialized tooling to hold a hardy tool with the shank in place.