Forging Jay's Doorstop

Straight from Jay Reakirt's playbook, this quick little item uses several other techniques for more complicated projects like our table top candle holders. A neat gadget!

[@DRCHUCKWRIGHTMD]

Hi Trenton, The best part is that the techniques are largely the same as a basis for the the copper candle holder project from a few years back as well as making antlered animal head fireplace tools, etc. Thanks so much and am glad to see you back on KZbin.

[@purgatoryironworks]

A new candle holder video is actually coming up! And the fire poker videos as well.

[@DRCHUCKWRIGHTMD]

Do you still have the blacksmithing and knifemaking DVD in stock? From a few years ago. IF so consider them sold. Just need to know where to send the payment .. Thanks again!!!

[@jeffreynolds0414]

Hi Trent, I've enjoyed your videos for a few years now. Thanks for all the great info and instruction. Here is another answer to the perplexing "door stop" question. I'm 62 and a retired Firefighter. Before my FF career I worked in residential construction from the age of 16. As a framing/ trim carpenter, I've been involved with the evolution of home construction, especially hanging "doors" of all makes and models. Installing today's pre-hung doors is such a delight. Easy to plumb and they usually stay where you put them. I also I remember the 50's and growing up in my grandparent's home in Florida. Their house was built in the 1930's. In the days of old, many of the houses were built on a foundation of brick pillars/piers spaced about 10 to 12' apart. Usually, the sill was of 4x6 and the joists were installed on the sill. This style of construction dates back to the early pioneering days of the 1600 and 1700's. I'm in rural TN now and there are still Board on Board structures set neatly on piers of field stone throughout the countryside. I know that in your neck of the woods there are pillar foundations as far as the eye can see too. The problem with these foundations is that they are notorious for sinking, throwing the house out of level. This sometimes would cause the doors to swing closed with little provocation, inhibiting the much needed air flow. Then you add in the cross ventilation factor an you pretty much went crazy trying to keep the doors propped open. We've used books, decorative wood blocks and even a small carved elephant that I still use today. And now, I have an authentic, PIW door stop. Thanks agai. Jeff Reynolds, Pikeville TN

[@purgatoryironworks]

Mr. Jeff, can't tell you how much I appreciate your words, things have been going so well for the shop lately, its great to hear from long time watchers. This is the first time we have been this consistent, this long, with the videos and people are really responding to it. I wish we could do it full time!

[@jessew5152]

My grandma lived in an old house where there was a doorway between every room to help hot air from the fireplace or cool wind from outside circulate. I always figured doorstops were from those days. Thanks for another great vid!

[@kf4ung]

Door stops were used before AC became common. The houses used breezes from outside to cool the house, so you opened your windows and propped open the door, using doorstops so all the rooms would cool with the breezes. I bet you can still find many older houses down there with breezeways, or the house sitting at an angle to the road, because of the prevailing breezes to get better airflow through the house. Jay probably learned his craft from an older smith who had to make those doorstops for peoples houses. Pre60s houses rarely had AC unless it was a window unit, and you had to have money or you didn't have one of those. I keep forgetting how young you are, compared to myself. My parent's home, my great-grandparent's and my grandparent's houses did not have AC, and they used doorstops with the windows open until the 70s, then got AC for their houses (window units for their living room or parlor, but the bedrooms still just propped open a window at night to sleep.

[@Aminuts2009]

Nice one.. love the series. Great little piece. Thanks for everything you do for our blacksmithing community.

[@gedhuffadine1873]

Just made my first hook, the hammered part looking great so I hammered all of it with my ball pane looks so much better

[@manmachinemake3708]

Another way to make a "nice crotch" without a saw is to drill a 1/16" hole then hot slit to the hole. I really like this simple project, thanks for demonstrating it.

[@bc65925]

Real nice project. I have door stops around the house, need em when the whole house fan is on.

[@marbles430]

Neat project, thanks for sharing.

[@onedirtydieseltech]

I'm having a hard time drawing out the ends to make things like this. Anyway you could try to explain it a touch better like an instructional on techniques to draw out an end. I get them tapered but not thin like you can. Or is this all feel and experience? Thx for your videos they are awesome and brutally honest which is great ! That's the stuff I need when learning new stuff. Been a mechanic all my life and always played with welding and fabrication but now I'm trying my hand at blacksmithing and I've been ok at it but I was a terrible mechanic once too so I hold out hope lol. Thx again

[@conservat1vepatr1ot]

Ooh make Jacobs latter next!

[@johndoe4373]

For your future videos will you be showing how to make a set of tongs? I know so far you have mainly shown things that are more like sellable projects but i would also love to see some tool making.

[@nicko9404]

Were did tent go? Great video keep up the great work!

[@moonasha]

this video gave me a PTSD attack, vietnam flashback of when my dad first shaved his beard off.

[@daviddrinen1265]

Before AC people had all the windows open and if you did not have a door stop your inside doors would blow shut with a loud Bang. they are used to keep the door open.

[@markgoggin2014]

Why do I get flashbacks to fabricating and fixing tongues for bracelets.

[@sjbl1962]

Trent, looks simple enough, I'll have to give this a try. What days are you planning on being in Perry?

[@purgatoryironworks]

We will be in Perry from the 4th to the 16th

[@sjbl1962]

Great, if I am able to make it there this year, it'll be during the week... do you have a show schedule?

[@purgatoryironworks]

Not yet but there are 5 shows a day!

[@sjbl1962]

Please announce the show dates as soon as you know the dates so I can plan what day I'll be there, if you don't mind. I the mean time, enjoy this recent cooler Georgia weather.

[@purgatoryironworks]

They usually hand me the schedule when I get there, I shoot it out on FB!

[@miles3787]

Could almost sell them as medieval wall hooks, just drift out the two small turkey tails and countersink for screws.

[@daviddrinen1265]

I do think they would be a grate wall hook

[@dfbess]

david drinen, * great *

[@charlescurtius2261]

wasnt sure it was you so clean shaven :P

[@benwortham9228]

Do you have a video of forging a cork screw? If not can you post one.

[@tommywright7196]

People used to use them to hold the doors open so air could circulate through the house u might could sell some now if u would advertis them as a security device to to keep door from being open

[@benjaminzedrine]

You can slit it clean if you punch a small slug out at the full depth of cut. Of course then you need to dress each side up. Although these days I guess everyone's got a hack saw.

[@rickyburton4642]

That’s. cool

[@mondriaa]

making of a Hodor

[@grimshadow2764]

Is it just me or if u forge welded the feet back on the door stop u would end up with a cross gard for a knife/dagger ?

[@danteryman5150]

Second verse same as the first, are you related to @Emgo316?

[@Cornefeu]

Now that you're shaved you look like the french comedian François Rollin ^_^

[@DeltaDonnaLynn]

Gee, without your whiskers you look about ten years younger!

[@purgatoryironworks]

I was told by editing to never shave again

[@DeltaDonnaLynn]

*giggle*

[@markling712]

you look so different now!!!!!! wow, amazing what shaving has done. I think you looked better with the beard.....just my opinion.....

[@jackdawg4579]

That foeded section is begging for a cows face!

[@purgatoryironworks]

Good call, that is the exact technique used to do the bulls head!

[@daviddrinen1265]

good job but it is too long and you can trip on it.

[@117nh]

He never did answer whether or not the fire was real, does anyone know the answer? On a more serious note, I've learned long ago to never doubt the stupidity the general public. I get less surprised that way.

[@Crismodin]

You need a new microphone.

[@dragontattooee]

aaaaaarrrrggghhh a bald chin . What's keeping your face warm