Blacksmithing - Forging a stainless steel lifting bracket

Today I'm taking on a project for the Proofmakers. I was asked to forge a part for their boat project. They are restoring an old Riva Super Florida 211. A very ambitious project considering the state of the boat! I'm making this stainless steel lifting bracket for them.
Proofmakers - / @proofmakers
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[@ericgarrett7875]

Looks very nice... I didn't see your makers mark!

[@torbjornahman]

Thanks. No I didn't want to create an area where I could not grind clean! Stainless needs to have a clean surface to be stainless! :)

[@MrTim3990]

That s why they call it stain-less and not stain-proof

[@jasonsummit1885]

I think the only way he could have done it would be to acid etch it on then clear coat it.

[@haraldschurr1035]

@@jasonsummit1885 yes or by laser

[@gilbertojunqueira314]

looks like an inch worm. 8-)

[@stephanegauthier4580]

We're so proud that we asked Torbjörn to make this piece ! It's better than the original. Thank you so much! Our Riva is going to be beautiful with this level of detail and perfection. Stéphane, Proofmakers

[@torbjornahman]

You are welcome, thank you!

[@HASHHASSIN]

He is *Steel Whisperer*

[@iteerrex8166]

How could you go wrong with a magician? XD

[@psidvicious]

Stéphane - Do you have a channel? I would be very interested to see this build you’re working on.

[@stephanegauthier4580]

@@psidvicious Hello, Yes of course, we have a chain for the restoration of our Riva. We don't have a lot of time so it's not going at the desired speed :) This is the chain: Proofmakers Here is the address: kzbin.info/door/_FZrfNKA3n2HhMk8VafaXA I hope you like it. sincerely Stephane

[@ElvenHorses]

What I like most about your videos are how quiet they are and that you really show the entire process, from your thinking to mistakes and how you correct them. There's a peacefulness about your videos that I always enjoy and admire. Thank you for sharing your experiences. :)

[@glencrandall7051]

I am not a smith, I am a woodworker. I am impressed by your work. Thanks for sharing.

[@adroaldoribeiro4529]

Ah, finally. That fine moment when Törbjorn updates and we slow down to watch a wonderful piece to emerge from his hands

[@torbjornahman]

:)

[@Alanbataar]

The tooling for this job is very informative, thank you! Regarding passivation, you can also use a TIG welder as a power source, the same citric acid, applied with a carbon-fiber brush. The CF brush is held in the stick-welding holder, and voltage is controlled with the foot pedal. The CF brushes are consumable, and aren't cheap, but work extremely well. IIRC, Walter makes them.

[@torbjornahman]

Thanks! Have been looking into that, and frankly it's a bit confusing... pickling or passivation. Pickling is the actual cleaning operation to my understanding, removing oxides and gunk, which I think you do with the process you describe. It can also be done with pickling paste, which is a nasty product. Passivation seems to be a rapid way of restoring the chromium oxide layer which would have formed naturally anyway. Perhaps the acid also removes small amounts of iron contamination.

[@Alanbataar]

@@torbjornahman Yep, the chemistry is pretty far over my head. I just follow a recipe/process. IIRC, pickling is a soak, whereas passivation is electro-chemical. It's very closely related to electro-polishing. I'll see if I can find bookmarks for the pages I found informative.

[@muggzzzzz]

When you forged this handle, I noticed that the stainless steel almost doesn't have the oxidized iron scales, the metal surface remains clean and smooth. Beautiful work as always. Me and my daughter love to see your work!

[@torbjornahman]

Great thank you! Yes you're right the scale is different

[@muggzzzzz]

@ivan schafeldt I think you are right.

[@Gottenhimfella]

@@muggzzzzz Indeed. I wonder if the quench helps, too. As Törbjorn implies, austenitic stainless steels (3xx) do not have the ferritic atomic structure which causes hardening when quenched. But I suspect the thermal shock is good for loosening the grip of any scale there might be (even heat resisting stainless alloys do oxidise to a certain degree)

[@A-Goose-]

I didn't know that you can forge stain-less steel without losing its properties Thank you for the insight!

[@jaredlariscey713]

Nice job ! Anyone who has ever tried to forge stainless steel knows how incredibly tough and difficult it is to work. Hope to see it lift the boat!

[@gettinwithit9275]

0:59 The power of a TRUE blacksmith!

[@jimmydiresta]

Lots of learning in this one. Thank you

[@torbjornahman]

Yes indeed... took a few tries to get the tooling to work like I wanted. Still not perfect but with a one off like this I can accept it :) :) A beast to bend I might add.

[@53prime]

Two of my favorite channels interacting with each other

[@canaldoalexandre6562]

2 Masters!!!

[@randytravis3998]

@@torbjornahman i think the shop moved before the part bent lol .. i think you could have bent a prybar as much as you were pulling

[@kennethwhite1883]

Anything to put a Old or New wood boat on the water is worthwhile , been around for thousands of year, and talk to the heart with handcrafted beauty.

[@drain_001]

I was really confused why you were swaging it like that until I realized the scale of this thing. That's a big tie down!

[@tommypetraglia4688]

It might be a lift ring

[@zettle2345]

That's the same thing that got me. I saw the thumbnail and thought, you can buy those at the hardware store, don't cost much either... But the scale of that bracket made it clear why it needed to be forged.

[@ianbertenshaw4350]

Same here ! from the picture of it on the wooden table it is difficult to gauge its size and i was thinking why make something that is easily available for a few dollars , then he showed the piece of bar he was going to use and it all clicked into place !

[@babcockcopper]

As always learned a ton. Im a stainless fabricator and watching a smith actually passivate the end product was a real treat. You did everything right. Love your channel.

[@torbjornahman]

Thanks!!!

[@torbjornahman]

Still worried that I might have missed small spots with oxides somewhere, but I hope it will work out ok.

[@ricardohoffmann4285]

Hats off! Anyone who has cut/drilled/bent this extremely hard and stiff material, knows what a nigthmare it can be.

[@torbjornahman]

Thanks! I'm definitely an experience richer :)

[@douglasfathers4848]

Sir you are amazing .first a master blacksmith second you have a green thumb and thread you are a magician .The way you snap that block of steel in half ,that's why you are called THUNDER BEAR. cheers.

[@torbjornahman]

:)

[@mkivy]

You are a marvel to watch...u take an ordinary item and add class and sophistication to it....thank u sir...i still love ur green house episode. I wish i could do this when i get moved...u are so talented. Thank you for the demos...bless u and ur family...

[@torbjornahman]

Thanks Mike!

[@Madlintelf]

Always a pleasure watching your video's, and this is the first time I've seen a blacksmith work with stainless steel, thanks for the education and the magic tricks!

[@danielpirone8028]

This Old Torbjorn ... well done!

[@earlemorgan5068]

It's so pleasurable to watch a true craftman. He gets every detail.

[@franmelendez1971]

Crafts and work in its purest form, without shortcuts. Nice details of sensitivity to nature, and fun hints of humor, 👍

[@trumanhw]

You put a lot of work in to taking us along for the artistic journey of a ride ... pruning grapevines, and all. Thank you

[@phill903]

Very fine looking stainless steel lifting bracket.

[@jerryjohnsonii4181]

Awesome an very enjoyable to watch you make this stainless steel lifting bracket !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@drivestowork]

As always, fantastic work!!! Even something as simple as a footman's loop/tow eye becomes a work of art!!!

[@dutchcuda]

Beautiful piece. Shaping stainless that size is an ambitious project by itself. Thanks for sharing.

[@lenbelton248]

a beautiful piece of workmanship

[@konphlicted8933]

here i thought TA was just a great at growing things, black smithing, building, you tubing, and being a family man, but now i see he is a magician also.... is there anything this man can't do?

[@ChristCenteredIronworks]

Great job and all but I will need 10 more by next Friday so chop chop! 😆 😆 thank you for bringing us along for the ride 😊

[@torbjornahman]

Ha ha, thanks. It was a beast to bend I might add... stickers are in the mail btw.

[@ChristCenteredIronworks]

@@torbjornahman awesome! Thank you for the stickers and yours are on the way as well 😊🔨🔥

[@bronzalba1159]

You made it very beautiful and solid It's like modern art This is the first time I see you haven't stamped your work! Good luck

[@marty01957]

Very good job, Torbjörn ! Looks like it will give them good service!

[@torbjornahman]

Thanks!

[@allenwilson9656]

Wow you're not just a black smith and a forger you're also a magician 🧙‍♂️ great work

[@mitchelperkins6723]

I like your thought processes for designing and making the needed tooling to create this monster tie down. Nice work like we have come to expect from you. You've been eating lots of good food, the strength to snap that 1045 bar in half doesn't come easy😂🤘

[@torbjornahman]

Thanks! Oh yes, christmas food is the best to prepare for this kind of work!

[@Timf1964]

Its a good job you wrapped up such a delicate creation in bubble wrap! Lovely work, beautiful piece.

[@Ms.Nightshade]

The jig for precisely upsetting the round bar was absolutely brilliant!

[@ТимофейСухов-г4я]

Я думаю заказчики будут довольны такой шикарной работай. Как всегда суперская работа. Молодец!!!! Снега у вас вообще нет.

[@torbjornahman]

Thanks! No snow yet... wonder if it will come at all..

[@TheOldaz1]

Very nice, it's a lot bigger than I thought. Thank you.

[@63256325N]

A real pleasure to watch. Thank you.

[@risfutile]

All that packaging at the end must be to protect the postal car from the bracket 😁

[@ItsMeChillTyme]

Yeah heavy pieces like these would peek out of the packaging if not lined with shock absorbers lol.

[@eastexas9793]

Your craftsmanship is second to none! Always a good morning when theres a new video! Thank you!

[@torbjornahman]

Thanks Lee!

[@OlneyaTesota]

I could watch Torbjorn hour after hour.....he is the best! Jc

[@JK-ol9bb]

The stove was made by Husqvarna... I never would have guessed they made stoves. You do great work!!! It’s relaxing to watch.

[@Trigene1004]

you sir are an absolutly genius in metal-art...i love it

[@pridonki]

Петля сделана на высшем уровне! Спасибо за интересное и познавательное видео.

[@xsbiggy6349]

Again, another superb job. Love how you toss in the little segments of your daily life. Cheers from The States.

[@robertlassiter5808]

New sub here. Came here as a result of the “Essential Craftsman “ channel. He mentioned your channel and the rest is history. I can honestly say that this one of, if not the most interesting channels on KZbin. Thank you for sharing your beautiful work with us. Greetings from Alabama, USA.

[@torbjornahman]

Wow, thank you so much Robert!!

[@Phoeff99]

Watching swage work is so satisfying. (Your) Manual hammer work is incredible too but watching malleable steel take on the shape of a form tool is just the best! Is probably one of the strongest pieces on that boat. 👍🏻

[@torbjornahman]

Thanks, yes that is satisfying!

[@Buses2Bikes]

I saw the bracket on the cover photo for this video and I said to myself.... " OK. A little bit of heating and shaping and a lot of polishing. " Then you see what's REALLY involved in making it. Holy Cow.

[@ajwhittlebang6977]

Elegant result (as always) from a particularly obstinate material. 316 is among those difficult but beautiful "raw" materials.

[@Gottenhimfella]

Heck, as a machinist give me 316 any day over common garden mild steel, or 304 SS (in fact, give me 303 over 304, but preferably 316) I've never understood its bad rep. It's a bit more difficult to afford, but once it's bought and paid for I'm a big fan, personally.

[@robertgriffin662]

I think thats the most molds/ bending devices that I've seen you use for a vid! Thanks for sharing.

[@daverigby2577]

Beautiful, your jigs are incredible, your attention to detail is over the top. Great Job on this (and you other work). I enjoy your videos.

[@carmelpule6954]

Excellent work. Considering those two sharp highly stressed bends merging the round rod handle to the two rectangular attachment points, the bending procedure for the shallower and smoother handle curve seems to produce a better shallower curve using the procedure at 12:19 rather than 12:24. Such a lot of work to achieve a beautiful merger. That lifting bracket is strong enough to lift the Riva lock, stock and barrel!

[@adrianelsner4936]

Excellent work as always. I associate 316L with watch cases and bracelets.

[@torbjornahman]

Thanks!

[@psidvicious]

-@1:00 😂😂 I try not to snap steel in half like that anymore. It always hurts my thumbs a little these days 🙁 -Beautiful work once again Torbjörn!! Your video formula is outstanding! The forging projects are always very interesting and the trips to the garden are always a welcome addition. -You already answered my question about the makers mark. -And you’ve got great subscribers as well. Always enjoy reading the comments on your channel. Rarely very much negativity.

[@torbjornahman]

Thank you, that's great to hear!!

[@voldmar]

Wow! Looks like magic to me

[@isher__]

Fantastic piece of highly technical work! I'll enjoy seeing it on the boat.

[@TJDukit1]

Sometimes I get so confused at the beginning of your videos. Mostly just trying to figure out how what you do to start is getting you to the end product. I wish my metal working skills were more than cutting and welding. Watching you work is always a joy.

[@timothynewkirk2654]

Brilliant, as always! ...Newk from Kentucky USA

[@stevedingman474]

A very fine bracket indeed !

[@2bigbufords]

beautiful, looks like a piece of art

[@2bigbufords]

@Andrew Grengs (Student) its in the eye of the beholder

[@yopyopu3258]

I don't think that i'm the only one who would like to see a bit more of videos tha are diferent topic than blacksmithing. Like more gardening and other stuff and yes i know its winter but still your way of making this videos makes them interesting :D

[@Moondog-wc4vm]

Ah magic!, The Gandalf of blacksmithing. I'm glad you won't be in charge of my mastersmith exam otherwise "I shall not pass!" Seriously though, this vid shows some deep knowledge of the craft and the material. I'm in awe. Thank you for sharing.

[@Folktopia]

Wow. Incredible object.

[@shifty3453]

I was impressed with the little passivation bit. Will keep that In mind

[@joacyii]

Beautiful! Excellent work!Forward.

[@Porthosity]

Another great video0 I've always been curious how stainless steel is manipulated. Also- the little video editing tricks are really really endearing.

[@torbjornahman]

Thanks!

[@SuperJaXXas]

That is one most serious lifting bracket! Queen Mary or possibly the Titanic? Very nice work as usual!

[@tonybirdwell2917]

WOW ! Another fantastic job!

[@ataarjomand]

Absolutely excellent work and nice filming.

[@Gottenhimfella]

Ah! I love watching Swedish workshop clips, because in almost any shop, the machine tools are always SO beautiful and functional. Your lathe could grace any gallery of timeless industrial high art. Even your bench grinder is a thing of beauty. Which bench grinders NEVER are! And I was watching close-ups of you drilling the holes in the bracket and thinking "I BET it's an Argoga drill press" and sure enough at 17:30 : voila! I currently have three Arboga machines and one Modigs radial drill (Arboga copy? Or was it the other way round?). I owned a U2508 and had to sell it because someone else needed it more than I did, as I had bought a much bigger (French Cincinatti) milling machine with outstanding quality and nominally overlapping capability, but when another sweet little U2508 came on the market a few years later I had to buy it because I missed the first one -- my first really quality machine, SO much!

[@torbjornahman]

Yes, old machines were build to last and as you say often were made with some esthetics in mind.

[@RobertFay]

*Wow! . . . and the strength of Mirthful Irreverence to snap that steel in two was fun, too, Torbjörn.*

[@NazgulGnome]

Always a pleasure watching you work. I see those lessons on cutting steel from This Old Tony have paid off 😁

[@torbjornahman]

Thanks! :)

[@brucek6563]

Wow, what an intricate part you had to make and it turned out beautiful!! You did an excellent job! Very interesting to watch what you had to do to make it stainless streel!!! Great video as always!!! 👍

[@N-A674]

Another perfect video, thank you, Torbjörn. Noticed a few of custom instruments for bending and smiting. Also I assume that bubble wrap applied not to protect damage _of_ this bracket, but _with_ this bracket )

[@torbjornahman]

Thanks! That's right, or to make it stay put in the package. :)

[@manyirons]

Beautiful work, as always!

[@THEBASIL1946]

What a piece of work outstanding

[@THEBASIL1946]

I have done some forging when I was working in a wedding shop fixing jackhammers bitts

[@ДмитрийЖурин-ю9ш]

Вчера только подумал что давно новых видео не было , не случилось ли чего . А сегодня порадовал !!!

[@alantorrance6153]

Another work of art. Very nicely done, sir.

[@vesslewiththepesstle]

Good thing you packaged it so well, it looks fragile. Great vid, up to your usual high standard.

[@andometalworks708]

This is so much more technical than I ever would have thought

[@torbjornahman]

I'm probably making it too complicated, but this is the way I figured out... the transition from flat to round is the problem....

[@andometalworks708]

@@torbjornahman I love how it turned out it's just that I would have probably lost a lot of time trying to do it in an easier way

[@veteranironoutdoors8320]

That is one VERY solidly mounted post vise.

[@thelamb288]

I like "This Old Tony" touch you have included when "cutting" material :) Cheers.

[@davimaia]

this! hahahaha

[@johnjude2685]

Sir I think I seeing the best use of a swage block ever then upsetting. I'm only a old 69 year old hobby Smith and now going to apply the upsetting into my shop . Always a lot of smart ways you show. Only stuipid people could thumbs down any of your videos Sir so let the few watch phorn and rap crap Thanks for the teaching Sir

[@BCM1959]

Not as simple of a part as I first thought. Very nice work, again.

[@mehmethanaydn3113]

I congratulate you for making this beautiful video

[@michaelomalley6]

Dude you are so awesome one of my favorite youtubers! Thank you

[@kirstenwhitworth8079]

I see the Christmas elf gave you some extra strength for snapping steel bars! Your work is always as beautiful as it is functional. Special thanks for a peek at your grapes and lemon tree. Last fall, I planted two grape vines on a homemade arch; I've never grown European grapes before. I appreciate the pruning tip. I planted a lemon tree and a grapefruit tree the year before I left Texas; I got one beautiful and delicious grapefruit 6 years ago, but never got to try the lemons. My friends now have both trees, but I always forget to ask after them because we talk about the Muscadine grapes I gave them - they are a different species than European grapes. Thank you for sharing your time and work with us. Happy New Year!

[@torbjornahman]

Thanks Kirsten!

[@thunderstruck1078]

These are works of art. You should consider opening a web shop and the stuff you produce would fly out, even at exclusive prices. All the best from Croatia.

[@torbjornahman]

If I only could clone myself.... there is no time for that I'm afraid.

[@fatihyildirim7321]

Ya sen ne güzel insansın. Hem şakacı, hem çok yeteneklisin. Sana çok özeniyorum . Türkiye 🇹🇷 den selam.

[@kennethdodds2323]

A Herculean task, with an elegant result.

[@alysongr]

Hey, Alec Steele need some classes with you! He´s good but you Sir, you´re the best!

[@torbjornahman]

Ha ha, thanks! I think he will manage! :)

[@risfutile]

@@torbjornahman He could learn a calm and peaceful way of making videos... Imagine Alec Steele making a video where he doesn't speak a single word. I think he would explode 😀

[@maiorov.m]

I didn't expect it is that hard to make such a thing! Great work!

[@ratroddiesels1981]

was that magick when you snapped that steel bar with your fingers . thank you

[@stevenlisk2468]

Great work yet again 👏 😊

[@Soulsmithing]

Amazing job! I really appreciate how you develop each forging step. A great lesson for me. BTW, stainless is actually made stainless by passivating, that is etching it once the piece is completed so that it dissolves off any contaminants (such as microscopic inclusions of mild steel), and exposes a fresh layer of chromium, which oxidizes instantly and this (the chromium oxide layer) is what is truly stainless (resists oxidation). Otherwise, leftover contaminants will corrode and contaminate the main body. That's why you see exterior stainless steel with rust spots: it either wasn't passivated, or something metallic hit it and contaminated it.

[@evanpiquette5019]

I noticed he wears a respirator. Do you know if it's always necessary to wear one when working with stainless? I've been given nearly half a ton of scrap 17-4 stainless rods in various diameters and just wondering if I should be wearing a respirator when working with it.

[@Gottenhimfella]

@@evanpiquette5019 I think that's only necessary for hot work (ie, red hot or nearly so)

[@mtyson9004]

Very nice work Torbjorn! Thanks for sharing and God Bless you guys!

[@Generic_Username_0331]

The thumbnail made me think this was kitchen cabinet sized. Great editing. Made me laugh when you snapped the block in half with your thumbs.

[@torbjornahman]

:) Thanks!

[@cojones8518]

That was the This Old Tony method. You should see Tony's 4 inch death punch through a piece of 6 inch cast iron when he made a chuck back plate.

[@jeffgoodsonwoodworking8627]

As always a master at his craft. Great job.

[@eclecticneophyte2581]

Splitting steel like that is something that requires a lot of physical training and dedication (as well as a large supply of clean underwear...). Well done! :)

[@torbjornahman]

:) That's right! You need muscles both here and there, trust me! :)

[@pirate323i]

From the thumbnail I thought it was tiny, then I saw the stock you were using! Perfect proportions!

[@53prime]

Yeah, suddenly the table grain seems huge.