Scroll fork forged from road grader blade

[@alwaysbearded1]

Thanks, I learned a lot. No shop work, taxes today!

[@BlackBearForge]

Thats what I was doing yesterday.

[@glencrandall7051]

Woodworker here, but I find smithing fascinating to watch. It was amazing how the handle was shaped. I never would have thought that a rectangular section could be stretched out to that flat blade. It is neat to watch the shape change as the power hammer works. Thank you for sharing.

[@Alwis-Haph-Rytte]

That blade took me back 40+ years. We had a blade on the farm that was older than me. My dad welded that blade into the bucket of a backhoe we picked up to fix. It was fun digging holes with it, LOL. We bolted a long bus axle in the bucket and cut a point on it for spearing into the big round bails to load them on 40ft flat bed trailers. We were hired to move some hay for a guy. Those blades are tough and strong enough to support a 1000lb+ bail of hay. We moved over 200 bails that week. And I tipped a narrow font JD tractor over on it's side that week unloading bails on a slope. That was the 2nd time of tipping a tractor with that bucket. 2 years before that I put the tractor upside down. I bailed off when it started to roll and I felt the wheel hit the back of my foot. I seen a truck come flying down the lane, they seen it roll and thought I was under the tractor. Those grader blades can stir some memories, LOL Thanks. In case your wondering, yeah I had a few other close calls on the farm. Bulls can be mean, Almost lost my fingers to a combine, bees don't like noisy bulldozers, 220 volts doesn't feel good, etc. If I was a cat, I think I used up most of my lives.

[@BCM1959]

I may never own a power hammer but thanks to you and some other blacksmiths if the opportunity presents itself I at least have a basic understanding of its use and potential.

[@billwoehl3051]

The railroad track anvil dad gave me was really loud and super ring to it, but I mounted it on a wood base and used the silicone trick you did in another video, really quiet now!!!

[@jamesreyes4184]

Your a brave man john!! Never seen anyone hot cut metal that hard. 💪💪💪👏👏

[@BlackBearForge]

Next time its a power saw.

[@jamesreyes4184]

I just recently got into blacksmithing and i was wondering if you have ever made a swedge block out of a piece of rr track? I found a small piece and cut it to fit my hardy. Then forged in a few depressions. I think the steel is very similar, hard to forge . Wondering if you have any experience with rr track being used like that

[@MisterTee2010]

I'm not a metal worker, but i' have heard that grader blades and leaf springs are the toughest metals to work with. Thank you for sharing.

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Good job John, enjoyed watching your video and the explanations for the younger generations. So many do not understand the cycle of life and never think of growing old. I wish I had paid closer attention 60 years ago when I was the smartest person alive at the ripe old age of 15. Thanks for sharing with us. Fred

[@Redneckemtb]

Love watching tools be made. Would love to see the hydraulic press get some love.

[@BlackBearForge]

It needs some work on the die holders

[@charleszimmermann7784]

My first bending wrench was made out of a one inch open end box wrench that I got from the scrap yard. I just heated it up and bent the head to suite my needs, it lasted a long time till I tried to bend material that had cooled off too much. As always thank you John for all the great information!

[@hannemannironworks1651]

Power hammer for the win!

[@jorgensalomonsson6739]

very impressed how much force that foot operated hammer has..👍

[@BlackBearForge]

Its a great tool to have available

[@kensmapleleafretirement]

Good fun. Thank you for the lesson. Keeping it real and not being to special effect motivated is attractive to me. I appreciate your dedication and creativity.... Thank you...

[@BlackBearForge]

Here i was thinking we needed more explosions and car chases.

[@KevinFirst86]

Thank you for the excellent video! I appreciate the content/projects that have multiple paths with which you can take to accomplish them. Yes I am aware that is technically all of them, but I like seeing the different types of presses and hammers in use for the things that they're meant to do. Keep it up!

[@BlackBearForge]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching

[@richardsolomon8076]

Great video John, well impressed with how the tredal hammer drove the chisle, watching at 7am voice from across the kitchen say " who's noisy anvil are you watching " ,,, I nearly fell off my chair laughing, was when you were doing the tines on the flat beak :-) sweet finished piece, we have bisaloy scraping blades around here and I've made a couple of forks for the workshop since seeing your videos and they are gr8, I snapped the inside tine off one of them being forceful on cold material but a piece of 20x20 / ¾ x¾ mild took it's place and it still works fine.

[@dadegroot]

I made one last one from truck leaf spring, mostly hot chiselled out, but a couple of the longer cuts for the handle with a cut-off disc on the angle grinder. The spring is plenty strong enough, but doable by hand.

[@douglasfathers4848]

Hi John I really enjoy watching you working the power hammer .I will own one in the near future , so by watching you I will be more aware of all control aspects and dangers so more power hammer please.

[@BlackBearForge]

I will see what I can do

[@gurvinderkau1e5w18]

Very tough material to work with. That F part very well made. Enjoyed a lot. Make a knife from cut out edge material.👍👍👍👍👍

[@BlackBearForge]

Since this is wear resistant steel, I suspect a knife made from it would be extremely tough to sharpen.

[@SuperJaXXas]

Love it when you make tools!

[@waynechambers9121]

I REMEMBER MAKING SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHEN MAKING SHEDS TO TAKE THE TWIST OUT WHEN SCREWING THE FRAMES TOGETHER

[@frankgaletzka8477]

Hello John That bendingtool needs alot of work Likely with this very good steel But you say it if you want a tool for your lifetime do it in this way But you you dont you have to do it so as i do You told us the other ways to made such a tool and that is what i like You are open and you Think about the guys who dont have the tooling you have Well Done Stay safe and healthy dont catch a Corona but drink a corana that helps Greeting yours Frank

[@Biggsy8324]

I said the same thing about owning a power hammer. I got one a couple weeks ago. I came across a small fab shop that was closing and the owner had one in the back that they never used. 50 lb little giant. 😲😲😲 I just said I'll take it.

[@BlackBearForge]

50 pound Littl Giant was my first hammer, they are a real work horse

[@brandonburdette7895]

I love the power hammer

[@jimhumphrey]

It's been two years ago you made a bending fork video. I was scheduled at the time for a class at the John C, Campbell school and I made that bending fork as one of my projects entirely with hammer and anvil. Even with mild steel it wore this old man down.

[@mountaincrittercreations2596]

Great video as always

[@AFGaskillJr]

I enjoyed seeing you use the treadle hammer ,, I have a "Spencer In Line " I use it way more than it is designed for but, it has held up and is about ten years old.

[@BlackBearForge]

The treadle hammer is one of those tools i would not want to live without in the shop.

[@craigljardine]

Great work as usual John. You must have the patience of a saint.

[@NeilGraham.I.M.F]

Very nice, good timing also as thats something I've been wanting to make.

[@peteremerson4150]

Nice work

[@Pseud0rand0m]

I actually just got one of these blades. The local steel place lets me go through their trash bin and I grabbed one. Had no idea what to do with it.. one of my plans was to cut, stack and weld a new set of power hammer rounding dies. I may have to do this project. Thanks.

[@jeffgrier8488]

Thanks for the great video John, I always love your style of sharing information, and I appreciate it!

[@deo53]

A power hammer is the way to go. Thank you for your great videos.

[@medievaljon]

I know there was couple of these blades in nearby scrap yard, I was thinking they might be good for making guillotine and jigs. Luck I have access to cnc plasma cutter though whenever I can I much prefer hand forging. Thanks for all the great inspiration!

[@terrycarwile6499]

Love to see some vids re your power hammer tooling. Good video, thanks!

[@BlackBearForge]

I do hope to do more videos on power hammer tooling

[@GrainneDhu]

Watching you cut off the grading edge, all I could think was "hook of the week material! For the stoutest hook ever." Another great video.

[@stevenjohnson2273]

You could probably hang your anvil from a hook made of that.

[@GrainneDhu]

@@stevenjohnson2273 hey, I don't know of any blacksmiths or woodworkers who have enough room in their shop after the first 6 months (and that is an optimistic estimate). Hanging up the anvil would make room for that other anvil that needs some refurbishment to be perfect...

[@BlackBearForge]

😂

[@brysonalden5414]

Again, I appreciate your sharing your techniques and thought processes. I will never own a power hammer, according to my wife, but the techniques transfer nicely to an anvil, albeit more work involved.

[@jasongannon7676]

Forking great job

[@joedirt.1967]

Great job John love your videos!

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks

[@TomokosEnterprize]

Great stuff bud. Lots of grader blade in my steel rack

[@danielcrawford7315]

Very interesting build project sirSir. After all this time still a bit amazing how the starting object ends up so very different than the ending product. Oh yeah I'm not going to try this w ar plate. Had a go w mild plate that turned out to be ar plate the other day. There is a vast difference in how they work. Lol and your going to go thru idk 5x the abrasive disk to clean up the torch cuts. Love the vidiography and the tool sirSir 🙏 blessed days now Crawford out 🧙‍♂️

[@bartweir1789]

How fitting. I just made a scrolling fork yesterday out of a leaf spring. I used Mark Aspery's method to form the forks, but your style handle I had seen in previous videos.

[@uknowthat1guy688]

Id die of old age trying to make this on my HF anvil.

[@johnjude2685]

Thanks for teaching,yes seems like a handy .I did the Fab & weld but they are harder to make and ugly. Thanks for the teaching

[@BlackBearForge]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@nickverbree]

At about 5:55 I started imagining the Benny Hill theme. Man, that's some dedication.

[@BlackBearForge]

I thought about adding something sililar

[@daretodreamtofly3288]

I find it funny, you are an advocate for Blacksmith's to learn how to forge weld, this seems like just the thing that forge welding would make life easier. Either by drawing the entire piece into a bar then cut a peice off then weld is back where you need it or by drawing it out and bending a section into a U. Lastly maybe cutting just a short section of grade blade off then just notching out the slot, afterwards welding it to a handle

[@BlackBearForge]

Good point. But I have seen very few examples of forge welded bending forks. This approach comes from Francis Whitaker's shop and he was an even greater advocate of forge welding. So there may be a practical reason fore welding wasn't the common approach

[@daretodreamtofly3288]

I wonder what that is? The most I've seen was with a preexisting vice tool or hardie tool that got a handle welded to it (modern welding like MIG ot SMAW)

[@CleaveMountaineering]

Looks like a lot of work even with the power hammer. I just cut a piece off my grader blade - had to heat it up in the fire first so it could cut with a hacksaw without destroying the blade quickly. Not sure what I'll make with it yet, but I am not going to move the metal nearly that far!

[@TheOldaz1]

Tough stuff, thanks John.

[@grandadz_forge]

Wow. Tough stuff to forge.

[@davidbishop5736]

Great info. Now I have to go find a road grader to borrow that blade off of. . . .

[@williamsultana3848]

Hi John

[@williamstrickland4208]

@wranglerstar could use this with his lantern hangers in the tradition 1950s blacksmithing/ elk hunting camp

[@miltonknowlestheinsanewitc4996]

I really need to get a hold of one of those Road grader blades I really really really want to make it would Cleaver out of 1

[@BlackBearForge]

It may not have the best edge holding ability

[@richardbradley961]

THANK YOU..

[@5x535]

When I first saw the title of this video I wondered what new trick John had learned. Never have I attempted to work with a more stubborn material than a grader blade and I doubt I'll ever try again. I was impressed with the work that you did with your treadle hammer. Do you know how heavy the hammer is? I have just begun to assemble a treadle hammer kit and the hammer weighs 90lbs. If my hammer will do what yours does, I'm going to be happy. Great video John.

[@BlackBearForge]

The head on the treadle hammer is about 60 pounds

[@ramboharrisons1917]

John you can forge the sharp edge for a nail setting punch or a "Monkey" style drive hooks

[@LittleAussieRockets]

I'm guessing this stuff would also make good chisels, I was just giving a big old bit of greater blade

[@donnarhill1932]

Power hammer!!!

[@mandolinman2006]

Good work! I foresee a part 2 to how to quiten down a noisy anvil coming out sometime. You can really tell the difference between the two. Did you try out that fancy new saw on this material?

[@BlackBearForge]

I did not. I think that saw will be saved for mild steel and perhaps fully annealed tool steels.

[@nrsrchd]

I did some looking around on the web and found a maintainer/dozier blade manufacturing company by the name of VALK. There was no information on their web site but there was a telephone number, so I called them and made my inquiry. Here's what they have to say about the type of steel they use to make their maintainer/dozier blades. Their top seller, 'Viper' blade (product name) are manufactured from 15B30. The 15B30 series steel has a carbon content between .28 - .34 with a high boron content. The rep I spoke with (Tim) did not know the percentage of boron the blades contain. The blades are water quenched and normalized to achieve a hardness between 44 - 52 on the Rc scale. Keep in mind other companies may, and most likely do use different material to make their blades, but I thought this information might lend a smith some insight into what kind of material this might be and so be better able to work with this very tough abrasion resistant steel. I hope this helps someone.

[@johnanthonymantos1404]

Is that good for knife making

[@MarkATrombley]

You made the fork with square tines. Why square instead of round? I like it when you use the power hammer. I don't think it detracts from learning since what you do there is just like the anvil, just faster.

[@BlackBearForge]

The tines are just fulcrums for leverage and I do round of the corners. If you prefer the look of round tines or needs the tines to double as an exact size jig they can be rounded. Otherwise its just extra work

[@rustybow7293]

That looks alot like the subsoiler points I use, which are approximately about 16" long and absolutely straight...no concave side. Usually high carbon steel but some can be case hardened. What's the carbon content of a road grader? I'm wondering just how similar these old parts are. Thanks.

[@wyoblacksmithtools3097]

Great video John! Do you prefer a variety of bending tools with different distances between the tines? Range? I was thinking about making a double ended bender with 2 different sizes. Would you ever use the power hammer for the chisel cutting rather than the treadle hammer? Thanks, Jerry

[@BlackBearForge]

Yes, it seems like there is always a different spacing that is ideal for each project and for different parts of larger scrolls.

[@montanalivin8248]

John, I maintain the roads for my county and have an unlimited supply of grater blades. We purchase the non hardened or lesser hardened blades due to the price difference. Do you happen to know what kind of steel this is? Would it be decent steel for blade smithing?

[@BlackBearForge]

I know they are a high wear steel, probably similar to AR plate. Exactly what grade is hard to say.

[@bartweir1789]

Most cutting edges for blades, dozers, and loaders is AR500. Some still use AR400. The AR family is not a good choice for making knives. Their high Boron content and lack of Carbon don't allow them harden enough to be considered a good blade material.

[@erikcourtney1834]

I sure don’t mind seeing the power hammer used for this project. I would have used the cutting torch or my press. (I don’t have a hammer yet) That AR steel is some tuff stuff.

[@BlackBearForge]

A torch works well, but leaves a bit more grinding

[@onegreenev]

With the edge you cut off could you make a good usable knife?

[@BlackBearForge]

I think it would be very poor knife steel.

[@pocketchange3543]

Love watching you work, even on the power hammer. I am curious, since it's such a tuff material why not file it while it's hot?

[@BlackBearForge]

That would have been a good idea. But I was hoping the angle grinder would get in where I needed it.

[@MrGiXxEr]

Ok, let's address the elephant in the room. What's the story with that HUGE link of chain in the background?😳

[@BlackBearForge]

It really is just a big chain link. It comes in handy for shaping curves and dish shapes.

[@ericcartrette6118]

I was wondering the same thing.

[@patrickmueller377]

I saw that too wow

[@Bear-Ur2ez]

What do you use it for ?

[@BlackBearForge]

For bending scrolls.

[@kalgrave497]

i wouldn't say i would never need a power hammer, But what what i would say is, i will probably never AFFORD a power hammer LOL

[@meNtor890]

does he have a video where he talks about the chain link in the back at 31:17?

[@BlackBearForge]

You might try here kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHbKh2eKbNJqiNE

[@meNtor890]

@@BlackBearForge thanks for the reply. it's huge!

[@larryjones4713]

Do you have any idea what the material the scraper blade is made of?

[@BlackBearForge]

Its a high wear steel, but I don't know the grade

[@andyroo4887]

Awesome video John! What are you going to do with that giant chain link in the background?

[@BlackBearForge]

It gets used as a dishing swage

[@phantomwraith7289]

g'day john just wondering if you have any idea as to what a grader blade steel is ta

[@BlackBearForge]

its an AR steel, but I can't say exactly what beyond that

[@fryscountrylifechannel4437]

Where did you get the apron from?

[@BlackBearForge]

My blacksmiths apron www.Forge-Aprons.com use code BBF

[@paulcorrigan649]

This might sound dumb but how much drawing out is the treddle hammer capable of?

[@BlackBearForge]

Quite a bit if fitted with drawing dies.

[@NMiller_]

I cannot wait for the day when people just show up and hand me large chunks of metal like they're in an ill considered Field of Dreams sequel and I have become blacksmith Kevin Costner. Though, Forge of Dreams is catchy!

[@BlackBearForge]

It is amazing how much junk people want to give you once they know you're a blacksmith. Some of its actually useful.

[@NMiller_]

@@BlackBearForge My brother picked up a set of cheap files. He took the few round and triangle files he wanted, gave me the flat ones and suggested I make kiridashis. It's a start. I really appreciate your videos and the inspiration and education they provide!

[@ericchandler1631]

Question John can you make knives as well from grader blade or is carbon level to high?

[@BlackBearForge]

grader blades are meant to be abrasion resistant. So a knife made from one would be extremely difficult to sharpen.

[@craigclark2639]

Moral of the story: don't hand forge road graders. Jeez that stuff is no joke.

[@psilverz4848]

What is the liquid you are dipping the chisel into ? I thought maybe it was water to cool the chisel, but maybe it is oil? It seems to be smoke coming up, not steam

[@BlackBearForge]

Just water

[@stuffbywoody5497]

I don't have a power hammer, but I am in the process if building a treadle hammer with an 8-12 pound hammer head on it. Would that make the job easier?

[@BlackBearForge]

It would to some degree. My treadle hammer has a 60 pound head. But anything that can hit harder and keep it up longer will help.

[@stuffbywoody5497]

@@BlackBearForge , thank you John. I think I'll go with a much heavier head then.

[@kaypalmer7485]

Grader blades are really tuff. So are tractor mower blades

[@kaypalmer7485]

I use them for rifle and pistol target. Grader blades are more brittle

[@bobthebike7538]

I'n not a smith, so I would like to ask why the flat handle instead of round or oval? Thanks, Enjoyed as usual.

[@BlackBearForge]

A wide oval would be fine. But the wider flat or oval allows for better control in use. Otherwise it is easy to add a bit of twist

[@TheWoodsman661]

I've got one of those blades. I found it lodged in a tree stump. Edit: Would it make good knives?

[@BlackBearForge]

I think it would be a poor choice for knives

[@TheWoodsman661]

@@BlackBearForge too tough or just not good enough quality for it?

[@BlackBearForge]

@@TheWoodsman661 Not hard enough to hold a good edge but made to be abrasion resistant so it would be harder to sharpen.

[@TheWoodsman661]

@@BlackBearForge thank you, sir. I'm not sure what I'll use mine for, but I'll try to figure something out.

[@Lesnz2009]

A lot of work to get that blade edge off and not surprising given the steel...does the fact one fork is thinker than the other affect its performance as a tool or is it an atheistic thing?...

[@BlackBearForge]

Mostly its aesthetic.

[@Lesnz2009]

Thank you, cool result too.

[@waynechambers9121]

should have used your power hammer

[@waynechambers9121]

your hammer is away to heavy lol

[@buckhood6425]

Make a drawknife out of that pice you cut off.

[@BlackBearForge]

This isn't good knife steel

[@CockatoobirdmanBill]

John if you had to guess what kind of steel do you think that blade is may by one of the AR numbers like 450 or 500 I have a small sheet of AR 500 left over from a job I will try make one and see how it worka...Be well and be safe.............

[@BlackBearForge]

Definitely an AR steel, but I have no idea beyond that