Making My Wedding Ring From A Block Of Steel!

Last February I made a decision that would change my life. I asked the most wonderful person to ever enter my world, to be my wife. We were on a mini-vacation in Washington DC and I got down on a knee in front of the Washington Monument like any true gentleman, and I popped the question. Fortunately, she said yes! Fast forward to September 2019, a short 8 months later, and we're 30 days away from the big day. As any true maker would, I didn't want to go purchase some random old wedding band, so I started to dig a little deeper.
Craig Cowan is a local blacksmith with his own business called The Barefoot Forge. Where he teaches classes in Pittsburgh PA, on making Damascus Wedding Rings. I knew this was the perfect choice for me. So I took him up on an offer to take a class and made 2 beautiful stainless steel Damascus Rings!
#Damascus #Forging #WeddingRing
WIN A DAMASCUS RING FOM THE BAREFOOT FORGE
gleam.io/oGFIq... OPEN UNTIL SEPT 30, 2019!
THE BAREFOOT FORGE
www.thebarefoo...
MY SAFETY GLASSES
geni.us/5AAtH (Amazon)
Proudly Supported By:
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Send me your stickers!
John Malecki
224 Braddock Ave.
Braddock Pa 15104

[@tomd1871]

If you can't feel the heat on your meat, you're too far away from the kitchen... I'm gonna need that on a t-shirt. STAT

[@John_Malecki]

Working on it! ahaha

[@26japrey]

Awesome looking ring! Just got married last year and had a Damascus band made for myself as well, with a 3 mm hammered white gold inlay as well. I'm so glad I went Damascus, such a unique look that not many people have seen or know much about

[@John_Malecki]

Ya I’m so pumped. Making it was so cool too! Congrats on a year !!

[@jayeckhart1561]

Congratulations John! Beautiful ring. From the point of view of 38 years of wedded bliss (or so she tells me) keep this one rule in mind; Happy wife happy life. All the best.

[@John_Malecki]

Thanks Jay! Appreciate the advice !

[@clydebalcom8252]

From one happily married man to another, I wish you and your family every happiness.

[@GibClark]

You need to forge more!!!!

[@TheBarefootForge]

He does!

[@GibClark]

Those look awesome 👍👍👍👍

[@brianewhiteguy]

Yeah, the ring is cool and all, but those safety glasses! Where did you get them?!? Do they come with a Run DMC tape??

[@theusconstitution1776]

The hell with WINNING the ring! I WANNA COME MAKE MY OWN❤️❤️🇺🇸. GREAT SHOW, AND THE SKILL LEVEL IS AMAZING💥

[@BulatsSchmiede]

Hi John !This is the best wedding rings have seen here !Great job man !Nice work!!👍👍👍😎🤘

[@shanewarren9872]

I love all your builds, but this has to be the most badass thing I've ever seen. Congrats on the engagement!!

[@John_Malecki]

Thanks Shane, i kinda agree. Its super cool!

[@TheBarefootForge]

Come make one! This is a service we offer to the public and YOU can come and make a ring just like John did! www.thebarefootforge.com/make-your-own-ring

[@doubledarefan]

Wedding band: A group of people who perform songs like "Here Comes The Bride".

[@John_Malecki]

Yea, you didnt see when i made them ?

[@kenmaira]

Congrats on the wedding! It's probably not going to be a change at all, (it wasn't for us, because we've been together so long). it's amazing none the less.

[@John_Malecki]

Thank you kenmaira! super excited !

[@FredMcIntyre]

Awesome rings, nicely done John! 😃👍🏻👊🏻

[@John_Malecki]

Thanks Fred !

[@Kkuts37]

Awesome rings, John! Congratulations to you and your Bride! Wishing you a lifetime of happiness. :)

[@John_Malecki]

Thanks Kathleen!

[@Lorddanielrushton371]

Congratulations on getting married.

[@John_Malecki]

Thanks Daniel!

[@philippedunienville1987]

Congrats on the big day bro. Wishing you and yours many many years of health and blessing.

[@John_Malecki]

Really appreciate that Phil !

[@andrewchristian1910]

@12:57 Are you polishing your steel ring on the machine that says "NO STEEL"? 🤣

[@ftwtexasstephens9629]

Congratulations. Great ring.

[@John_Malecki]

Thank you!

[@dkrako1]

Lost it at "Is that why you see a bunch of pricks on the internet just tack welding?" Bahahahahah

[@John_Malecki]

Hahaha yes those “real” blacksmiths

[@michaelpotase]

Great collab. and congrats on the upcoming big day. Craig is a great craftsman seen some of his work posted on the ILTMS forum. I just found out he has a YT channel.

[@John_Malecki]

Thanks Michael! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MultiTom1956]

One beautiful looking ring John👌it's called the Damascus style or something 😊

[@John_Malecki]

Yea I think that’s what it’s called

[@matthewmyers9846]

make a ring from a brass flare nut but only use a dremel to do it

[@lextheap1638]

Grinder: clear says no steel John: lucky i cant read lol

[@clarefabula4588]

1:32 one of my favorite things about forging is that everything you do is so dramatic. :)

[@bobwoodhams7242]

that's really neat...….. does the misses love it

[@John_Malecki]

Thanks Bob! She is a fan!

[@roycenelson6370]

That would be great on a sticker or a shirt

[@John_Malecki]

I sure think so!

[@smitty2000]

DUDE!🤣👍 YOU'RE HILARIOUS! GREAT JOB ON THE RINGS!!

[@AdamRich1785]

i had the privilege of stopping by Craig's shop the last time i was in Pittsburgh. Was a great experience! he does classes of all types and not just rings. Check it out!

[@John_Malecki]

Yea it was awesome !

[@TheBarefootForge]

Adam- Come back and play sometime!

[@colemyrick5608]

So if I wanted to make my wedding band, could I pay and go to the shop or do you personally know the guy?

[@John_Malecki]

Look em up, they’re linked

[@TheTranq]

That looks dope

[@John_Malecki]

Thank you my friend!

[@ddayfamily2688]

Dream office

[@blazinblade8907]

You just like... blew my mind with the "big squish" part I thought it was metal like wtf

[@MrWaffle47]

10 seconds in and this video is already worth the next 13 minutes and 50 seconds ...even if it's just static

[@stoptheinsanity2806]

At 13:00 label on polisher motor says “NO STEEL”, as they are polishing steel! LOL! 😂

[@14768]

Stainless is not steel, they are wildly different. Pretty much as different as aluminum and steel.

[@stoptheinsanity2806]

@Dustin Graybill They are not “wildly different”! Steel is made by adding iron to carbon, which hardens the iron. When stainless steel is prepared from STEEL, chromium, nickel, nitrogen and molybdenum is added. This high chromium content that forms an invisible layer on the surface of the steel to prevent it from staining. Maybe you should know what you are talking before you correct someone with the wrong information!

[@14768]

@@stoptheinsanity2806 It has a similar composition to steel in that it's based on iron, but the rest of the ingredients are wildly different. In 1921 it was marketed as 'an unstainable steel' because it did not rust, and the name stuck, changing over the years to just stainless steel. Instead of trying to be a smart ass maybe you should research it yourself before thinking you're the smartest person in the room, but the answer to your question is a marketing gimmick. To continue the smart-assery, I would also point out that steel, stainless steel, tungsten, titanium, aluminum, and magnesium area all also called 'metals', but that doesn't make them the same thing. The reason his buffing wheel says 'no steel' is because if you polish steel and then polish stainless, steel can be deposited on the stainless and it will cause surface rust. It's a very common thing in metal working to not mix tools for steel and stainless.

[@stoptheinsanity2806]

@Dustin Graybill This does not sound like your first comment “Pretty much as different as aluminum and steel” Re-read my note. Stainless steel has a high chromium content that forms an invisible layer on the surface of the steel to prevent it from staining.

[@14768]

I never contradicted myself I just added supporting information, and you edited your first douchebag comment to make me look like the aggressor. Lots of things are made from other things, but that doesn't make them the same. Steel is made from iron but they are not the same thing at all. I would also point out your body has a shit load of carbon in it, does that mean you are also steel? As I said, stainless is in fact as different from steel as aluminum is from steel, but i'm not going to keep arguing this with you, your first comment is still stupid. You do not mix buffing wheels between dissimilar metals, you laughed at something that literally everyone who works with metal does. You will see the same thing with grinding wheels on bench grinders, flap wheels on angle grinders, sand paper, and many other abrasives in shops all over the world. If you use an abrasive tarnished with steel on stainless, the stainless WILL rust. I'm done with this conversation. You're clearly too dumb to learn anything.

[@jcmakes5977]

Looks aw some! Lucky man!

[@John_Malecki]

Thanks my friend !

[@jcmakes5977]

John Malecki and I really enjoyed the video too. Is that your new video style?

[@rafatrill]

That's badass

[@John_Malecki]

Thanks Rafael!

[@KevBotWorkshop]

Ive been waiting for this video ever since you showed the ring on Insta.. Congrats on the engagement btw, if you need a wedding videographer, I do it for a living ;)

[@John_Malecki]

Hahah thanks Kev, were a month out so thats already locked up! but thanks for the offer

[@sailornick7]

What was the purpose of the insert inside the ring? Just for sizing purposes?

[@mikesgarage5066]

Very cool! Awesome to see something like this done, makes you appreciate the ring you'll wear hopefully forever even more. Question though- do you see yourself going to a rubber/silicone ring for everyday wear being a maker?

[@John_Malecki]

Thanks MIke! I'll probably only wear this when im trying to be fancy. I'll rock the rubber in the shop!

[@mikesgarage5066]

@@John_Malecki Good deal, I do the same. P.S.- Sending some stickers your way this weekend!

[@peterreid]

my mate aaron plays rugby

[@tomb3516]

Cool that you got Ed Sheeran to help you make your wedding ring! 💪🏼👌🏻

[@pmm4177]

I'd much rather wear flip flops while forging molten steel over having a man bun any day

[@timnoneya7930]

Molten steel would be liquid...

[@clarefabula4588]

So would I. LMAO

[@clarefabula4588]

@@timnoneya7930 True, nobody seems to get that.

[@julietphillips1991]

All the best to you and yours John...very exciting and memorable time ahead for you both. Why can't you keep the ring as wide as you wanted? (He said,"no"). Did you make one for you and one for your wife? If you did that is very special!

[@John_Malecki]

Thanks Juliet! I made 2 blanks so I could see the process. When you take the class he uses one for test, and you get to pick your pattern!

[@TheBarefootForge]

Juliet what we've found is that we need to start the day by writing down the size and width of the ring we're making, or we're going to make a ring that almost certainly won't fit. What happens is we make the rings WAY wider initially (so it might be forged to 12mm wide even if we're making a 7mm wide ring) then we need to cut that down to the desired width. We etch it before doing this, which reveals the pattern. At this point, everyone falls in love with the whole thing and it be comes that much harder not to say "hey instead of a 7mm wide ring, lets go with a 10mm wide ring". Well, a 10mm wide ring fits completely differently then a 7mm wide ring, and that'll change your size... but we've already cut the size. So in summary, if we let everyone make the ring entirely the way they wanted- they'd be 12mm wide and wouldn't fit.....anyone.

[@Diggers_daughter]

😪loss of another good single man

[@karlbasson6695]

Very cool piece. Pitty the camera work is so bad.

[@johnsoma6485]

Well... gold and silver are used for jewelry because they are non-toxic. Iron and steel not so much. But I am sure it will be fine. Yeah.

[@andrzej3511]

Bardzo ładne i bardzo oryginalne! A tak na marginesie: co z korozją?

[@SuperDave44Mag]

Flippy flops while forging...WTF?!?

[@John_Malecki]

Thats his thing hahaha

[@SuperDave44Mag]

@@John_Malecki IKR?!? I just can't take a guy serious in the shop with flippy flops on.

[@HappilyHomicidalHooligan]

God help him if he has an accident of any kind in that shop...OSHA will absolutely CRUCIFY him even if it wasn't his feet that got hurt...

[@carolbuzelim]

Now i know why the blacksmiths i follow dont have kids…the heat on the meat

[@stormyeffects4795]

Is gold, silver Damascus a thing?

[@victorius3d391]

where u socks on the sandals ? :D nice videos

[@darixidor]

hehe, denugget

[@emilianopoggio2897]

Do you have Italian roots?

[@odoyle6778]

Anyone notice the Damascus puddy??

[@PEYates]

Forgive me... I have never done metal work in my life; so, I have to ask. Did he just cut that steel wirh a razor blade?!🤔🤔🤔

[@WhitworthStud]

Bravo. That was fun. I want all the forge tools. And let’s be honest, the best way to learn about dragons breath is to experience dragons breath. Hah

[@timthompson7205]

John, you know malecki is Irish not Italian right? They don’t make Italians as big as you..

[@14768]

The bearings in that lathe are fuuuuuuuuuucked.

[@HappilyHomicidalHooligan]

8:58 Would you like some Cheese with that Whine?

[@John_Malecki]

I love cheese, thank you!

[@skeltonslay8er781]

“If you can’t feel the heat on your meat, your too far from the kitchen” Get a tattoo saying that. Now.

[@hashbestus8502]

It would be cooler if you turned down the music so we could hear the other dude…just sayin’

[@boyce1204]

Don't do Instagram!

[@davidpatel5267]

First

[@John_Malecki]

Crushed it Dave! thank you !

[@davidpatel5267]

@@John_Malecki Get innnnnn loved the video btw

[@alexturner-nowak2030]

This dude is filled with killer lines. Personal favourite: "If you put your face in the Dragon's Breath, it will affect your face."

[@trenton6621]

7:56 had no idea that was clay i lost it

[@LostRespxct]

you mean 5:56 ?

[@jimgam730]

Cool ring. You know what Red Green used to say, if your woman doesn't find you handsome she should at least find you handy. I think your's will find you very handy..... lol

[@John_Malecki]

Great point my friend hahah

[@readysetnogo]

Red Green was my favorite growing up! A handyman's secret weapon?... duct tape. Man, I miss that show.

[@Sarphendon]

"A coaching session to tell me [not to put my hand in the fire]" Fire hot John. Fire hot.

[@jimstewart1044]

Cool project! Congratulations! (I'd recommend NOT punching her in the face😳😜)

[@John_Malecki]

HAhahah thanks Jim! Noted!

[@mikefrancis6861]

Thats not damascus steel. Thats just layered steel this guy is a joke. Its sad because I love maleckis channel. But this guy is a hack

[@moh.alsam.3565]

I am from Damascus , how can I get a ring like that?

[@sherryblaylock9117]

Nice video. Although, forging/blacksmithing while wearing sandals has to be one of the stupidest ideas since the invention of shoes.

[@angijohnston]

Beautiful ring, looks like wood grain. So awesome. Incredible to see how it’s made.

[@Santamonicadrainco]

I bought mine at Walmart. $25 bucks. :). You should have Alec steel make your soon to be wife’s ring.

[@John_Malecki]

Walmart... hell of a store

[@DEFCONx19]

The benefit to Craig's rings are they are made of non nickel surgical stainless and tool steel. So your fingers wont turn orange after a few years.

[@shadedragonblade9280]

Nice video, but why did it show up when I put in no power tools.

[@Will_JJHP]

Congrats! Pitt guy from NoVA here. My fianceé graduated from Franklin Regional a year before you. H2P!

[@John_Malecki]

Hell ya! Thats awesome William!! I probably know her!

[@Will_JJHP]

@@John_Malecki just DM'ed you on IG.

[@darktimbercustomknives6248]

What did u guys use as the internal steal

[@NadineMiller1974]

Is it rude of me to ask if there is significance of the flowers in the shop? CONGRATULATIONS BTW!!!

[@vikingmobt.v.4021]

I kinda like canisters

[@matts1741]

5:34 I thought that man just cut steel in half with a razor blade. I’ve never been so confused and then immediately Disappointed in my self before

[@DavidHansen92]

I dub the the dew die pie ring. Now only if it was red

[@John_Malecki]

Haha does it need to be red ?

[@SgtRudySmith31bRet]

What was the flat metal that was turned into a ring? 10:05 mark

[@John_Malecki]

Sterling Silver

[@SgtRudySmith31bRet]

@@John_Malecki was that used as a liner to the stainless?

[@John_Malecki]

Yes

[@Adrian-rx4pb]

Thank you for asking this, I was so confused what was going on 😂

[@blaccteezy]

Adrian Sifuentez same here for a sec. I was like, why’d they do though all of this just to make a ring out of silver 😂🤦🏿‍♂️. Awesome work!

[@jesusbonnie]

I’ll buy that sticker..

[@John_Malecki]

Hahaha hilarious right ?

[@jesusbonnie]

@@John_Malecki Absolutely...I even replayed it for the wife...and said..."IF THESE TWO FUCKERS DESIGN THAT STICKER....I'M GETTING IT" lol It's not everyday that you drive and see those words in the back of a car or truck...

[@alisonphilp7497]

That is so cool I wanna make one 🤣

[@michaelcamenzuli2518]

Run Forest Run

[@davidwhite9906]

That’s the kind of Damascus you buy at the county fair

[@John_Malecki]

Ah there it is. And why is this Damascus not up to your standards Mr. David White

[@davidwhite9906]

Didn’t say it wasn’t up to my standards I just don’t believe that’s high quality

[@John_Malecki]

Well I’m curious on what your standard of quality is then, it’s a stainless still Damascus billet we hand forged. Not sure where the drip off to Walmart status came across. I’m trying to get educated as well my friends

[@davidwhite9906]

You have Damascus that sells for a lot and you have Damascus you can get out of a Bud K magazine or like I said at a county fair and I personally don’t believe there was enough time put into that to be a higher quality Damascus especially not stainless Damascus

[@TheBarefootForge]

Hey David- I don't Like to engage with Internet trolls but luckily, you're a professional metallurgist and a damascus steel expert, so I look forward to the resulting discussion. As an internationally recognized producer of some of the highest quality stainless damascus steel on the market today, a statement I can back with metallurgical testing and a team of experts in house- I would certainly take offense to being told our product isn't high quality from anyone other then a true expert like yourself. In terms of not enough time being applied- this is a video, that sums up about 20 hours of filming in 14minutes. Additionally, as mentioned in the video that block being shown being made is not the block the ring is made of - that block was made up ahead of time in a controlled atmosphere using the highest quality stainless steels available and it took several hours of prep to produce. As you know from the lab you run, using materials with certified ASM alloy standards results in consistency products- so we purchase all our materials directly from Uhlbrich and have them processed in ISO9001 facilities right here in the USA. Since the heating and Eutectic bonding process can change aspects of the alloys- we have additional chemical and physical testing performed to make sure the block remains within our established ranges and tolerances. We send random samples out for EU1811 nickel permeation testing, to ensure that unlike carbon damascus (containing 15N20 steel)- our stainless damascus will not cause any nickel poisoning/permenant skin allergies. I tried to look over your youtube channel to see examples of your expertise, but found no content. It's hard to demonstrate expertise without content, but certainly you make ALOT of damascus and particularly have mastered the tricky aspects of stainless damascus if you're going to mention and criticize the quality of whats shown. Because I'm confident you're not an internet troll who's never swung a hammer let alone done any forge welding and that you are in fact an expert with a degree in metallurgy (Such as the three Material Science experts that work in our shop)- I've chosen to take the higher road and subscribe to your youtube channel. I look forward to learning!

[@davidfoss9174]

That ring is awesome! Thank you for sharing. As an Emergency Physician I worry about having to cut this off and the safety of a steel ring for someone who uses power tools for a living. Tungsten rings are brittle and will shatter. Gold/silver are soft and can be cut. I am not sure how we would remove this ring if you had an injury that resulted in swelling...

[@TheBarefootForge]

Easily. Our rings are tested extensively for this exact reason and will be easily cut off with a standard "Beaver" style ring cutter, hack saw, dremel, or all manner of tools available to an emergency Physician. We've worked directly with EMTs, Emergency room doctors, and a variety of materials engineers to test these procedures in real world situations and even on real ringers.

[@davidfoss9174]

Sweet. Thanks for the reply. The rings are fantastic. I enjoyed watching...

[@TheBarefootForge]

@notfiveo you lost my respect when you chose to give none. Thanks for referencing my age rather then my experience and expertise.