Fundamentals of Blacksmithing - Punching Holes

[@wayneheitz8390]

This series will be a lot of help for beginners, thank you for all you do.

[@BlackBearForgeII]

You're very welcome!

[@honthirty_]

Punching is one of the best THINGS TO DO. Love how the material moves.

[@hosiercraft9675]

The biscuit some times is also called a slug, in olden days they we're saved and loaded into black powder shot gun shells.

[@AssassinAgent]

My left ear loves this vid

[@BlackBearForgeII]

Not sure why it didn't have sound on both sides.

[@CoyoteFallsForge]

Been playing at being a blacksmith for 7 months now...and punching holes is still the bane of my existence! I'll keep on, though. I've had it work really well a few times.

[@douglasfathers4848]

Love these short refresher videos , it's amazing how they help . cheers . :)

[@gurvinderkau1e5w18]

I love watching punching an eye in hammer. Dipping punch in water again and again ,heating stock,sprinkling coal dust.wow!!!👍👍🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@BlackBearForgeII]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@mannaz3322]

Excellent lesson, thanks John.

[@stanervin6108]

Great tutorial, John! 🐾🔥⚒👍

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Thanks for sharing with us John. Looks good! 🙏🏻🙏🏻👍👍👏🏻👏🏻👋👋

[@BlackBearForgeII]

Thanks for watching

[@CarlJohnson-ry3gc]

THANK you.

[@mattsfirewoodvideos738]

As an armature blacksmith thank you

[@ironhand9096]

You should have a show on Discovery. A true master. 😊

[@rac-qb4dt]

What would happen if you tried drilling hole in hot steel?

[@BlackBearForgeII]

Ruin your drill bit

[@masthan3431]

Nice 🙂

[@BlackBearForgeII]

Thanks 😋

[@samosdolphins123]

I have a square punch about 4mm on the striker end. I have not used it yet. I was thinking of using it for making my next tongs, so am working on making a drift first. can I use the square punch to make the hole and then use the round drift to open it and make it round for my rivet?

[@jacknickolstine3355]

"Thats right ,the square hole."

[@dragonwaterforge]

I struggle with this i dont know why gret vid

[@valve0radio]

Punching is structurally superior where a through-fastener is taking quite a load, as drilling may take away say 1/3 of the bar material, right where the structural forces are trying to pull/ shear/ bend, especially if it mid way along the bar . Where-as the punching swells the material wider around the hole, instead of the drilling waste going in the bin! It can also give a nicer styling, as this piece is forged to shape, not looking so pre-fab'd ! :--)

[@rcr6684]

Hello! I know this is long after this was posted but I'm pretty new to blacksmithing and was wondering if this is as easy as it looks

[@BlackBearForgeII]

Not at first, but with practice it becomes easier.

[@rcr6684]

@@BlackBearForgeII Thanks! Will do, as it'll be essential in a project I'm working on

[@The1Helleri]

Possible to make a punch with a shape like this | O | to keep the sides from swelling like that?

[@zackfitch3404]

Do you have any tips for new blacksmiths? I’ve only done it 3 times alone and have not made a good set of tongs yet. If you have any other tips, please tell me.

[@zackfitch3404]

Any tips not in the videos of course (they are amazing).

[@BlackBearForgeII]

I don't consider tongs to be a good first project. Hooks, pokers and other very simple items that work even if not exactly correct are a great place to start. If you can buy a first set of tongs suitable for your work, that is a great way to know what good tongs look like and how they work. Starting with a pair of pre cut tong blanks like Kens Custom Iron sells is also a good way to get decent tongs without starting from scratch. I'll have a video on that available on the main channel Sunday morning.

[@zackfitch3404]

Ok thank you so much sir! Keep up the good videos! Again thank you a lot.

[@stanervin6108]

@@zackfitch3404 Only tip that I have is to always work the metal at orange or hotter heat. Less physical work, less mental fatigue and stress, and better end results. I earned my charred wings making keychain ornaments from horseshoe nails. A box of50 nails at the farmers supply usually runs less than ten $. Get the largest size they sell. You will get hammer finesse by the end of that first box! Only takes a twelve to sixteen oz hammer. As you build up hammer control, graduate to reclaimed railroad spikes. Cheap at flea markets. Letter openers are not so hard. I believe Mr. Switzer has a video on the process in his library of great videos. Well, that's my two cents. Read less. Forge more!

[@3870TheDad]

Glad I didn't "punch" out of this video. Thanks, John!!!

[@croc3819]

Would you be able to do this effectively without a punching hole in your anvil, I only have access to a piece of railroad track, can I still do this or would I need some kind of bit to get a hollow striking surface?

[@BlackBearForgeII]

You can just use a bolster that sits on the anvil to punch through.

[@TomoyoTatar]

IVE ALWAYS WANTED TO DABBLE IN BLACKSMITHING!

[@richardcameron3681]

John do you use anything other than water to keep your punches cooled off while using them

[@BlackBearForgeII]

Just water

[@mattwyeth3156]

I find that when i punch a square hole when i punch through to the anvil the turn over and attempt to punch the slug out i end up getting a twist in the hole could you please explain why this happens and would i eliminate this if i only punch through half way and then punch through from the other side or do i just drill a hole then drift i square

[@ARTISTvsENGINEER]

what do you use to edit your videos?

[@richardsolomon8076]

⚒😎👍

[@mikechapple2363]

I find punching far more efficient than drilling. Drilling a hole is very time consuming.

[@johnnymills9546]

Got video no sound

[@BlackBearForgeII]

Seems like it all came out one one side. All left channel I believe

[@HotWaxArgentina]

up

[@hannemannironworks1651]

Man I know punching is useful but 1/2 the time I just drill it out to me it’s quicker cause I end up drilling a bunch of holes at once

[@nigelolympia]

Thanks bud! You Rock!

[@BlackBearForgeII]

Glad to help!