Hand Forged File - 18th Century Forge

[@davidashmore3929]

This Homestead series absolutely delivers time after time. Brandon is an excellent craftsman, and teacher.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

living history that doesn’t take itself too seriously…it’s like watching a friend show you something cool

[@wea69420]

The rust on the tongs makes them look like they're perpetually hot

[@timhutchinson8485]

I noticed that too!

[@bostonrailfan2427]

doubles as a visual cue to keep your hands back!

[@BMarie774]

I noticed that too lol.

[@Bangalangs]

Good rule of thumb for a smith, always assume the working end of your tongs is hot.

[@FiredUpKnifeandTool]

@@Bangalangs tongs should frequently be quenched to prevent exactly that i quench mine every time i put a piece back in the fire

[@swampnutz]

"You can tell it's the right temperature by the way it is." Neat!

[@777-p2t]

It is especially when you do it long enough to get it down to a science! People who never do don't get it Unfortunately. and expect a more detailed explanation when it's not needed.

[@fartzinwind]

crazy how many people watch these. it's like a virtual tour of a historic recreation site. fort Vancouver Washington wishes this many people came to see it.

[@PaulBunyanLookinTwink]

As someone who interned in the forge there during high School I can attest to this lol.

[@kaisenji]

maybe they should put videos on line. I enjoy watching period videos especially with a sort of, wannabe homestead myself.

[@canaan5337]

Reaching in your pocket and pulling out your smartphone and getting on KZbin is a lot easier and more convenient than going to one of those historic recreation places.

[@Flightfirewithfire]

Burninating the countryside….

[@Paintplayer1]

I should take a trip down. I'm in Spokane

[@elizabethlee7448]

The transition at 0:17 was absolutely ridiculous. Fantastic video, as always!

[@bostonrailfan2427]

Blacksmith: they might not get paid much, but they were needed by all and arguably the most important job on the frontier… everyone needs nails, horseshoes, knives, hammers, posts, pans, and other items and have to have them repaired so the smith has continuous work!

[@Tsuchimursu]

it's not the only essential role, good barrels, carts, wheels... you name it, it all takes time, skill and equipment not everyone has.

[@scottmcdivitt2187]

@@Tsuchimursu and a blacksmith to make the iron for it 😁

[@franotoole2702]

Not quite true. In some places they were the highest paid in the towns. Especialy if they were armourers. Realy depended on the area. In some areas bakers were the highest earners.

[@FiredUpKnifeandTool]

Blacksmiths were some of the best paid around and were frequently among the towns leadership due to their role in the community

[@purrdiggle1470]

Historian/author Edwin Tunis said that the blacksmith was the most essential colonial era craftsman since he was needed to make the tools for all other craftsmen.

[@tristanl.2650]

Nice work, Brandon! It's great seeing you guys doing more homestead videos!

[@joejackson4202]

A class of production that is sparsely matched by other youtube channels. Excellent every single time. This is a time capsule which will be further enjoyed in the far future. Entire channel should be in the elementary curriculum.

[@townsends]

Wow, thank you so much for the kind words!

[@Lorriann63]

I love seeing how the metal work is done, as well as the leather goods. Thank you for showing us how it's done, Brandon.

[@danielvargas4793]

Is this the start of a new series? I'd love to see more blacksmithing and tool making from you guys.

[@randy-9842]

So would I !

[@spacecase0]

That sounds fantastic to me. I hope they do it

[@Beaguins]

There have already been several smithing videos, all of them interesting.

[@Paintplayer1]

Look into Townsends Plus

[@HLBear]

There are more on their TownsendsPlus website (reasonable membership and stream lots of their content). I'm glad they're sharing some of those on KZbin also, to reach everyone who's interested!

[@jamesvatter5729]

Really appreciate these smithing videos. Many years ago, my Grandfather had a forge at the farm. I remember it, but wasn't old enough to have learned the skills. Forging some simple tools is on my "bucket list" now. Thanks for sharing.

[@FiredUpKnifeandTool]

@Taylor Chesal go watch black bear forge john knows his stuff ... This guy has aptitude but not enough actual correct knowledge to teach

[@alexanderkao-sowa8841]

Great video! One thing of note - you'll want a taller fire for a side blast charcoal forge (your piece should be ~1-4 inches above the tuyere, depending on airflow and fire pot dimensions, with another inch of fuel on top of that). This prevents heavy scale formation like you guys are getting, and keeps the little embers contained in the fire pot. I suggest putting a brick in the forge to narrow the fire pot when working smaller stock - less wasted fuel.

[@mattclement4658]

9⁹9⁹⁹⁹⁹⁹

[@sheccabaw]

Oh man the way the brush syncs up with the music at 10:55 is SO SATISFYING

[@sheilam4964]

Brandon, as a blacksmith, I imagine the making of your wire bristled brush used to brush your creations would be one of the most difficult tools to make.

[@badassfood5713]

Anyway we can talk you into a homestead “build a blacksmith shoppe” series? From the ground up. Build a forge, construct a bellows, your first pair of tongs…etc? Maybe 17th/18th century homestead type crafts, nails, horseshoes, hammers and chisels, axes, saws… sounds like a way to drive a ton of new content into this channel. Loved the leather craft stuffs too!

[@juliachild9377]

Please keep these types of videos coming.

[@caveofskarzs1544]

There are so few file cutting videos online as it is, glad you guys made this.

[@penultimateh766]

What an amazing capability to make a specific tool suited for a particular purpose.

[@KR-hg8be]

This is the first video I've seen about how this was done useing proper period tools. Fantastic!

[@FiredUpKnifeandTool]

This isnt proper or period infact his whole process is wrong

[@Payowow]

Would really like to see you craft a longsword

[@elpagna]

PPC.

[@xPulse2025]

great idea my little men. ofc

[@skaalfort]

Omg this Payo guy is a genius, please do what little Payo says

[@Polybee]

Yes OFC

[@ve2vfd]

Maybe a bit of a silly question, but where did a frontier blacksmith get his raw material? Did general stores sell iron and steel billots or did they have special suppliers? How tradespeople were supplied could be an interesting topic.

[@Austin-sv6io]

I don't know about the 17th century, but in the 18th and 19th century frontier you could buy "fingers" of iron at trading post.

[@boomeracres4813]

That was my question too. Thanks for part of the answer Austin. 🙂

[@oaksparoakspar3144]

Iron was purchased as bar stock that was hauled in via various merchants. Pretty much all iron/steel production in the US was imported from Europe until blast furnaces were built in the colonies. Bloomery steel died out centuries before America was colonized, so everything was an industrial product that disseminated out. That said, the further out you went the more and more scarce metal became and thus you would see two trends: First, nothing was ever disposed of. Every knife was sharpened over and over until it was a needle. Anything that broke was kept and would be forge welded into something else at some point. Second, tools were made THIN. Imagine that file made with 1/3 the steel with a tang so narrow and thin that you would swear it would break on first use and the flat with half the thickness or less (and likely an inch or two less total length). Those were two things I certainly noticed from my great-grandfather's forge. You could see the poor Appalachian stuff up to the war that was like that and then the stuff from after the war (where the steel was clearly much cheaper and money more available - such that the scrawny tongs had some rebar used in repairs that likely doubled their mass. Pulling and reforging nails was also a clear passion of the man, as he had cans of them in both the before and after condition. Some of the real gems included a cast iron axe forged out of a shard of what seemed to have been a shattered cast iron cauldron (very common for hog cleaning, sourkraut, laundry, etc), a cross cut saw that had been worked smooth and then had fresh teeth forge welded onto it (some of which it subsequently lost in future use), and a hauling chain (for using a mule to haul logs out of a forest) with three different makes of chain connected together with custom links.

[@boomeracres4813]

@@oaksparoakspar3144 thank you! I love learning new things.

[@1noryb]

@@oaksparoakspar3144 Thanks! I was wondering how bloomery iron, wrought iron, and bar iron fit in when he said he was using high carbon steel.

[@gailsears2913]

Great demonstration! Talented man.

[@APV878]

That should be adequate to produce enough ground nutmeg for Jon in the Tavern.... :D

[@bygodfreeman]

Ya just had to go their :)

[@Bildgesmythe]

Never enough nutmeg!

[@gtbkts]

👍

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

This'll be put to good use on the homestead.

[@CharlesAlvarenga88]

LOL

[@kaisenji]

I could sit and watch blacksmithing all day. Its so awesome to watch a piece of metal turned into something useful!

[@TheUnicornApocolypse]

Always a joy to watch talented people work.

[@generalkitten2100]

i really like how this channel has turned into bit like how to make everything frontier edition

[@Woodrow512]

Love how we have episodes in which others take the lead, Brandon is a real one

[@nicholasspychalski9805]

I'm surprised that the forge is not at least partially enclosed to help ward off the wind cooling the metal to quickly.

[@stoneomountain2390]

Well, these guys didn't stay in a place for long, and there were sometimes poisons released while working the metal. The old shops actually had 2 sets of barn doors that allowed a strong draft. The anvil pulls much more heat than the wind in any case.

[@scottmcdivitt2187]

@@stoneomountain2390 modern blacksmithing is actually where toxins are the greater threat, since almost any peice of metal you pick up today has been galvanized. In the period, the totally inert (and food-safe) black oxide finish was the primary finish.

[@franotoole2702]

@@scottmcdivitt2187im a knife maker. thats not true at all. Nobody forges galvanised metal. Galvanise is a finish its not in the metal. While true there are more toxic elements these days they still had bad elements back then, everything from coal dust to aluminum fumes. Thats why alot of the times they need to have strong ventalation, plus its hotter than hell in the forge, especialy with 3 or 4 people working in it which was usualy the case. But the were rarely fully open always as they needed low light conditions to see the colors of the heat and to keep proper temps.

[@scottmcdivitt2187]

@@franotoole2702 my comment was supposed to be about finishes (if you didn't see the mention of black oxide finish). There were certainly more hazards back in the day, with everything from coal dust to horses being a threat to the blacksmith. What there Wasn't was nearly every peice of junkyard scrap being coated in a heavy metal poison to keep it from rusting. Of course, getting around this by throwing the scrap in an open air bonfire for a few minutes and burning off the galvanization is easy enough.

[@stoneomountain2390]

@@scottmcdivitt2187 when I said toxins I meant stuff not removed by the smelting process, remember this is before the puddle oven, and the blowing of air through the metal to clear out impurities. And before you go on about black oxide river sand etc. I'm talking about mined stuff. It contains traces of cyanide as well as some acidic compounds that causes degenerative nerve diseases.

[@firstnamelastname7405]

After he said "morning"...I expected him to say, "nice day for fishing aint it" xD

[@FiredUpKnifeandTool]

Right!?! Huh hup!

[@isaacwhite9255]

That's OUTRAGEOUS!!! Lol!

[@jcboysha117]

😮 How much overlap is there in the VLDL and Townsend's community?!

[@isaacwhite9255]

@@jcboysha117 I wouldn't be surprised if there's a fair amount!

[@notbobrosss3670]

I love watching someone work a forge. Something therapeutic about it and this channels quality makes that doubly so.

[@jedtattum9996]

i really enjoy hearing someone who knows what they are doing explain why they are doing it. thank you.

[@FiredUpKnifeandTool]

Except this time he doesnt and the entire video is wrong

[@BacktoBasicsSimpleLiving]

There's something very satisfying about making your own tools and being able to do so in a historic setting, at that! Great video and really enjoying the blacksmithing and homesteading concept.

[@bs-vo1ii]

Makes you appreciate the stuff they went through to make furniture etc...im sure no one lost their stuff back then!

[@dk439911]

Great video! It's amazing the stuff we take for granted bc we can find it at Lowes without a second thought. Very cool content!

[@lorassorkin]

I'm always fascinated by Brandon's skills. Thanks for the history lessons!

[@amytaylor5458]

Hello there👋👋,how are you doing today?hope you had a good day!GOD BLESS YOU!!!

[@piatpotatopeon8305]

Of all the things to make, I think a file is genius. You'd never really realize how many jobs you use it for until you don't have one.

[@CleaveMountaineering]

A hacksaw, cold chisel, and a file is a poor man's machine shop.

[@juandemarko8348]

Great tool useful for so much and simple to make

[@gtbkts]

I could use one atleast weekly. Even a "rustic" one like this could do the trick.

[@bigoldgrizzly]

I made one of these a few years ago and amazingly it did file - after a fashion. Out of interest, I counted the ridges or teeth on my modern Swiss Vallorbe half round smooth file - 200 teeth per inch - now that would be a heck of a challenge by hand !

[@garethbaus5471]

​@@CleaveMountaineering A brace and bit should be added to that list as well.

[@jorenbosmans8065]

I just love whatching Brandon work. He seems like a great and passionate craftsman and gives wonderfull info.

[@gamer2101]

Please tell me this is a new series!! It would be so interesting to see more blacksmithing videos like this.

[@oblivionguard2286]

What amazing work! Brandon has some real talent with the trades shown in the videos!

[@czarface]

Came for the info, stayed for the music, witch is growing on me.

[@hlynnkeith9334]

Well done on the background music. Kudos and my compliments. 10:28 ". . . quench [the hot file] in oil." What oil was used in the 18th century?

[@brianroe1474]

I've really been enjoying these. Thanks for expanding the types of videos you create.

[@oregonbassboss98]

The Townsends channel just keeps getting better and better. Anyone who loves the history of the 18th century and wants to learn about those times this is the place to be. Just as good as it gets. Thanks to all you good folks that makes this happen.

[@crispincoleman]

I've been looking for a good video of how to make a file. Ive finally found it here. Awesome tutorial, you guys!

[@ciphercode2298]

I've been watching your channel since last fall. Your entire channel fascinates me,but my grandson (who's only 5) is infatuated with blacksmithing and loves it when you we watch your smithing videos together. We're planning on building a small coal fired forge next week. I'm no blacksmith, but I'm willing to learn,especially if it inspires and motivates little ones. Thank you folks for all you do. I know it takes alot of your time and effort.

[@MrCaptainNObeard]

Look up how to make a brakedrum forge. Super easy to do and it's small and manageable enough to be able to move it around.

[@ciphercode2298]

@@MrCaptainNObeard I appreciate that,thank you

[@Toketh]

Great video Brandon! There's something special about this channel.

[@dpeter6396]

Having had some experience with side draft forges I think a much deeper fire would allow better scale control, less decarb and cleaner work. Even with charcoal!! Keep on with your smithing, Brandon, it won't be long before you'll be doing fine work. Practice makes for quick improvement. Please do more vids like this!

[@lordschnitzel7961]

Oh yes a new Video. Awesome. These Videos make my day always a bit better

[@ferdi5407]

WOW!!! Thank you Brandon for explaining so clearly. Awesome video

[@BMarie774]

Ugh, I adore these videos.

[@szasstam204]

I love this channel! every time I watch it I have a greater appreciation for the ingenuity of humans. thank you for sharing history with us!

[@peter4210]

for those who wonder about the science, here is some of the info but It may not be exact as im going off memory Iron crystalizes when it cools down and on a microscopic level it looks like a bunch of crystals locked into one an other. to make it into steel, we allow carbon atom to mix itself in and it crystalize in the iron and it is at this point we call it steel. There are many names for steel depending on the crystalline structure and the carbon content. I think it's usually between o,1 and 3% carbon. The more you add carbon the more it gets hard, but it also reaches a point where it gets more brittle. Think of it as carbon stopping the iron from flexing. When forging the steel, you warm it up to make it more malleable and by hammering it you are able to change the shape permanently but as the iron cools it keeps this compressed shape and becomes stressed and under pressure. The Annealing processes basically reset the tension in the steels crystals making it softer by allowing the crystals to reform slowly and longer. The hardening posses basically causes smaller crystals under tensions to form. Any one who want's to start forging with out knowledge should know that the hardening process can cause steel to crack or bend. Real katakana made the old school low tech Japanese way(katakana are way lower tech then late medieval European steel) get there curved shaped from the hardening process and not the smith. Also poorly doing the last 2 steps can result in a tool under tension that may shatter explosively after an hard enough impact. Look up the myth-busters exploding hammer myth for more info on that. Also note that this file they made will only be effective against softer steels and softer materials. You will need to use harder materials to make a good file effective against harder steel and materials. Hence why diamond files are available. They are less costly then "real" diamonds because industrial diamonds are not under a monopoly and the jewelry industry monopoly stops synthetically made diamond from finding their way in the jewel industry to keep making profits off their blood diamonds they have stocked up for years. I recommend getting an other stone for the engagement ring and bribing a jeweler to use synthetic diamonds or stones.

[@quixototalis]

I just realized, files are things I always wanted to see hand-made and never looked it up for some reason. Very cool!

[@FiredUpKnifeandTool]

Find a better video...i love townsends but this video is entirely false from start to finish

[@quixototalis]

@@FiredUpKnifeandTool I know nothing about blacksmithing. Can you elaborate on what you think was done incorrectly?

[@FiredUpKnifeandTool]

@@quixototalis i covered most of it in my comment on the main section but everything from how he set the shoulder of the tang to how he cut the teeth and even how it was heat treated were all incorrect

[@FiredUpKnifeandTool]

@@quixototalis i will try to find you some relevant videos later tonight when i wake up

[@johnklapp9077]

From the "there is only one way these were made over thousands of years and by hundreds of cultures" fallacy.

[@jjpetunia3981]

Thanks Brandon. Another great video. Interesting and informative. I enjoy how you explain things.

[@Ray2001ify]

Thanks for filming the entire heating process

[@fnorazril]

These are some of my favorite videos (I'm biased though, being an aspiring blacksmith has that effect) and thoroughly enjoy watching Brandon work and talk us through the process.

[@31337ification]

Loving these forging and crafting episodes

[@BombzofJager]

This guy is pretty darn skilled to be able to use such a primitive setup, it really feels like I’m watching someone from way back when forge what they needed.

[@Sport--willow]

Excellent Job! Great informational video! My wife and i will definitely be trying our best to come visit y'all there at the homestead before the snow begins to fall this year. Y'all are doing an awesome job and it ais greatly appreciated

[@kenbaggs3741]

I'm really enjoying this series keep up the good work

[@coolerthanyou9548]

super coincidental ive been researching files for my luthiery and this video comes out how wonderful, ive fallen in love watching rasps and files be made by hand

[@shanek6582]

I’ve got an old blacksmith book that talks about file making, I guess if you do the second side of the file, they had a lead block they strapped it down to so you didn’t mess up the first side you cut. That and supposedly covering the file in some kind of flour mixture before you heat it up to quench.

[@FiredUpKnifeandTool]

Flour was sometimes used as a binder with a bit of water and charcoal dust or just straight charcoal dust then encased in clay it created an oxygen free environment for the file to be heated by heating the whole case and quenching in water to preserve the file teeth and prevent scale its essentially primitive case hardening

[@TheDarklingWolf]

Always a good day when we get to watch Brandon working the forge.

[@comfortablegrey]

Really good cinematography on this video, highlighting the Brandon's skill.

[@slognog4174]

Anyone else enjoying the music as much as the content? I like how wholesome, informative, and entertaining the Townsends videos are. Thank you for the content, it is very refreshing.

[@dwaynewladyka577]

Another great quality video, from start to finish. Cheers!

[@eddiea3782]

I really enjoyed this video. He is very skilled.

[@kirkwhite8600]

I real enjoy these kinds of videos, I still love the historical cooking but these really help bring a broader understanding and feeling of what life was like back then.

[@Airborne_all_the_way718]

in the event of economic collapse I doubt anyone from Townsends & Son will would go hungry or with out needed tools, as a combat vet and prepper I have the security covered but this channel has helped me learn so so much that Is very important in a long term alone in the woods set up. I love your channel and everyone has such a great addituded and positive outlook its great please keep the great content coming

[@Rev.nighthawk..pjred1984]

This is almost a lost art but worthy of learning thank you

[@earlshaner4441]

Thank you for sharing your forge and black smith shop and skills Brandon

[@williamwallace9427]

Pure KZbin gold. Thank you Townsends

[@KennisTheMenace84]

This channel is educational and fun to watch keep up the awesome videos. 👍👍👍

[@maldorthegreat]

Loving the recent diversity in the content! The cooking shows will always be my favorite but the cabin and newer homestead life stuff is so much fun. I also really love the readings of old journals they give a lot of relatable context

[@carlyleporter5388]

That wire brush appears to be suspiciously modern.

[@raisagorbachov]

If you angle the chisel slightly, leaning it toward the handle then you'll get a file that will cut best on the pull stroke.

[@cheryldoorbar7187]

I love watching Brandon do his Smithing.

[@RumViking73]

This is one of my favourite ever channels

[@carlcoco2140]

Nice to see someone using a period correct anvil for this time period. A holdfast might have sped the tooth cutting. Nice job!

[@leonharkth]

i would love to see townsend regularly produce metallurgy content

[@Kenjiro5775]

This was an incredibly enjoyable vid to watch. That tool would have been so valuable on the homestead. 😁👍

[@RBGlider1970]

So Strike while the iron is hot. Love these homestead videos! Thanks.

[@Steven-iv2ub]

If you pay attention and learn you can use these skills. Thats why I like to watch these videos. Knowledge is a valuable resource.

[@Italiandanish]

Yess! More stuff like this super interested in seeing more smithing stuff

[@danhamilton2193]

Thank you, so much. I have used files and rasps so often without even thinking about how to make one.

[@jasonsummit1885]

I'll have to try making one in my coal forge this fall or winter, it's too hot and dry to fire it up now.😁

[@bovinicusdivinicus]

Very useful info. Thank you. Never actually thought how files were made. But always wondered.. now I know.

[@murraykriner9425]

Love all the tiny details in its manufacture. The ash annealing was a subtle event, but many who take interest would probably never guess it was part and parcel.

[@cardrave]

Thanks for the video Townsends :)

[@elitearbor]

Wow. You know what, that's it. I'm going to try making a file as soon as I have the spare time. You make it look worlds easier than it is, I'm sure, but why not give it a go? Thanks for the inspiration!

[@erinhowett3630]

Do it! And let is know how it goes.

[@freshtoast9578]

Make sure to heat it to yellow not red. High carbon steels are extremely fussy about heat if you beat it while its not bright yellow it will have alot of stress that can ruin the piece when you harden. Dont beat high carbon steel cold either because it will stress out the steel. Cooling with water is also bad to do since even if the steel is just grey hot the steel will stress out over it. But of course be careful not to burn the steel since once it burns it ruins the steel.

[@FiredUpKnifeandTool]

@@freshtoast9578 i water quench high carbon steels all the time its a relatively easy process

[@freshtoast9578]

@@FiredUpKnifeandTool quenching when hardening is fine as long as the carbon content is low enough. I was more reffering to cooling the steel for whatever reason when not hardening.

[@FiredUpKnifeandTool]

@@freshtoast9578 uhh...what? Quenching is the process of rapidly cooling the steel... Hardening is determined by alloy and carbon content ...the higher the carbon the harder the steel as quenched prior to tempering...basically... The heat treatment process goes anneal, nornalize, thermo cycle, quench, temper

[@jamesgraham1772]

This dude is such a versatile craftsman, he does so much different stuff.

[@LolaBathory]

Really fun and interesting to watch, as always👏🏼👏🏼

[@jakedaniels7676]

I usually don’t care to much about townsends videos but this seemed like a survival tool no one would think to ever make

[@zeening]

that hand cranked bellows is absolutely awesome and insane, i was like wait hows he operating it he's standing on the side... IT'S LEVER OPERATED!?!?!?!? GENIUS! lol you guys have THE most interesting channel on youtube

[@nnies12]

Love these types of videos!

[@FrikInCasualMode]

Always fascinating to watch how skilled craftsman turns lump of metal into useful tool.

[@williamstewart1883]

I demand more blacksmithing!

[@williamstewart1883]

@@amytaylor5458 no thank you. Keep your blessings to yourself.

[@williamstewart1883]

@@amytaylor5458 hail Satan!

[@TheSlavChef]

First! I always enjoy these craft videos. Great content!

[@DougPalumbo]

Great video! Love the homestead series!

[@amytaylor5458]

Hello there👋👋,how are you doing today?hope you had a good day!GOD BLESS YOU!!!

[@josephthompson4615]

A smoother cutting file can be made by using the raised bur of the first cutting edge as a guide for the next. Great job. There are some skillfully hand made chisel videos on youtube too