Hot Raising Steel

This video was made in 2008 as part of my graduate studies in metalsmithing at the University of North Texas. It demonstrates, in detail, the steps taken in the creation of a hot raised steel form. In this case, I'm raising a bowl in preparation for a shield boss. You can see more work like this at my website:
www.crescentmoonarmoury.net

[@hunhrrrright5453]

I thank you soooo much for this video! I have been trying to make bowls/helmets, watching leather bag and mallet, or stump videos, and I have abused many pieces of metal only to have them tear. Your instructional video just clicked with me. It made sense. Thank you again! You know how people say, "if it helps just one person..." well, YOU HAVE!

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Don't make me cry. There's no crying in armoursmithing.

[@LovesHina]

Fantastic video, the diagrams really helped show just where to hit the metal to move it correctly, Thanks.

[@ParkerBrown1979]

You can work with sheet steel to produce armour without the use of heat. Many of my first armour projects were done completely cold. Look into the use of dishing and sinking as well as curling. These three techniques are performed cold and can lead to some great first projects. Google "how to make a spangenhelm". This is a simple project that is a good introduction into armour making. But, if armour is something you want to continue with, you should invest in a torch/forge setup. Good luck.

[@Lebedis66]

Very informative, thank you!

[@filipthealucard]

i find working with metal to be fascinating... brain and strength working together to create something is really amazing

[@aron137]

Me too buddy. Not to mention being able to make just about anything, including the tools required to make other things. It's a skill at the forefront of human civilization.

[@TimmiTification]

Hello, could I have some advice please? I have been into metal smithing for a couple of months now only working with copper and brass making bowls and various decorations. All of this is done with cold forming. I would like to start working with steel as I would like to make armour. Is there anything else I could use other than a oxy torch like what you use? Me using one of those torches is out of the question for me. Great work would love to see more videos. Tim. England.

[@mostgrossdanger04]

Yet again...well done..

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Thank you both :)

[@ohev1]

Oh My! Are you still raising? I am getting back into raising silver. I can only imagine what it must be like to raise hot metal. The amount of force must be greater in raising steel versus silver. Would you have to sink first? I am extremely impressed.

[@ParkerBrown1979]

I raise on a constant basis as I work as a full time silversmith. Got raising steel actually requires less force that cold raising annealed silver ;-).

[@nataliapetak1445]

q buen video, q bien explicado, GRACIAS!!! saludos desde Argentina!!!

[@ParkerBrown1979]

¡Muchas gracias! Mire los vídeos están llegando pronto.

[@WinDancerX]

Bravo! Very clear explanations and easy to understand. Thanks for sharing! Do you ever make steel shot 'glasses' ? Dave

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Thanks, Dave! I'm glad that my 10 year old video is still helping clarify the process :-). I have not made a steel shot glass, but I do currently work as a silversmith at Colonial Williamsburg and I just so happen to be making two matching julep cups right now! It wouldn't be too much of a stretch (no pun intended) to do it in stainless steel....they would be dishwasher safe!

[@erice3990]

Am I correct in thinking that dishing stretches the metal, therefore you are thinning the metal where in raising you are shrinking, and the metal at least retains thickness if not gets a little thicker?

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Yes, sinking does tend to stretch the metal. Raising, with skill, allows you to thin, thicken or maintain thickness within the piece as you work it.

[@etownandrewg]

I made a shield boss today and started out with the calculation suggested in the video and my boss ended up too big. I suspect that this may be due to my sinking the boss instead of raising it on a ball. I started over and figured out that to make a 6" boss by sinking I needed to start with a 6" diameter piece.

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Sinking and raising are very different techniques. Raising doesn't stretch the metal into shape. Be aware that a sunken boss will have a thin apex while a raised boss will not.

[@DrawbridgeProps]

love your videos Parker!! wondering what brand your cast iron sinking forms are as i'm trying to purchase some for my shop and yours look great.

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Thank you! I purchased my dishing forms many years ago from Ironmonger Armory. They're bolted to wood blocks that I set into a recess on my work bench. It works very well, especially for a work area with limited space. Good luck and happy hammering!

[@ohev1]

Great video. Do you get a “wave” of metal moving like you do with silver?

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Yes! Whether it's hot steel or annealed silver, the physical effect of raising is pretty much the same.

[@chevypbrdipper]

this needs allot more likes

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Thanks! It's an old video, but it gets the information across :-).

[@chevypbrdipper]

would love to see more

[@dannyjones44]

helpful video, + the trousers did make me laugh XD

[@aron137]

I have a stephen bader belt sander too. Cost me a pretty penny.

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Same here. But it has served me very well for almost 10 years. Good investment!

[@girliedog]

Very nice video but pointing the torch toward the tanks makes me a bit nervous.

[@ParkerBrown1979]

The flame of the torch is actually never pointed towards the tanks. The angle of the camera is giving the illusion that I'm pointing it directly at the tanks. In the 10+ years I've used this system, I've never had a mishap (knock on wood).

[@girliedog]

thank you I feel better now, looks like a great gadget

[@Seabourne_Actual]

UNT!!! GO MEAN GREEN!!

[@andrewjenks37]

Wooohooo Mean green. -denton

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Yes, I am a proud graduate of UNT :-). I also grew up in Denton, so even though I now live in Williamsburg, VA I will always love and miss all of the varied weirdness that makes up Denton and UNT :-).

[@егорлазовский-з3ф]

жалко что ничего не понятно

[@JezCane]

nice nice but why blue jeans?

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Blue jeans tend to not catch fire as easily as synthetic materials ;-).