TURNING A $7 HAMMER INTO A $200 HAMMER!!!
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- čas přidán 8. 03. 2020
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We wrote a blog post on hammer styles and weights you can check out here if you want to learn more! alecsteeleshop.com/blogs/blac...
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My name is Alec Steele and I am a 22 year old blacksmith from England, now living in Montana in the USA! With a great team of hardworking folks, we upload videos showcasing the projects we get up to here at the workshop. Lots of sparks, lots of making, lots of fantastic-ness. Great to have you here following along!
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This might be a good series
: Blacksmith on a budget*
Tool mods and re-purposing
Question: what would you do with a Harbor Freight Cross Pein Hammer?
I would absolutely love that!
@@Tastfullight make better tools
There are a few channels where guys take apart Harbor Freight power tools and compare them to expensive tools you'd get at Home Depot or Lowes. Surprisingly, a few of Harbor Freights top shelf tools are better than the more expensive Home Depot stuff. Harbor Freight is perfect for the Blacksmith on a budget!
AvE is great
Was I the only one who saw the first leaf and was really impressed by the more abstract leaf pipping added just through the use of the hammer, only to later hear that they are "unsightly marks"
Ye
Lol... I still like the first leaf
I thought they were done on purpose, nay......WITH purpose
Thought he textured it that way on purpose. I liked it as well
agree, first looked more interesting
I've been forging with a re-ground Harbor Freight hammer for several years. Nice to have your stamp of approval though! :)
I ground a couple into angle piens and they are great. I did them with a grinder.
Nicr
I love your tuna John
@@footrot17 hahaha!
Me too for about 3 years it was one of the 4pounders
Making a $7 hammer into a $200 hammer
Just add a $193 dollar handle
🤣😂🤣
I Just liked a comment even though it was not funny
@@bige3092 i just liked your comment even though it was not funny
And get rid of the obnoxious twit on the camera!
@@Jack-ge1st who?
Now you've converted a "cheaper" hammer to a decent forging hammer, and made a soup can forge in the past, can you also show us how the make/convert something into a good enough starter anvil?
U don't have to "make" one. Just pick up a hefty block of steel.
Rails. They are surprisingly good for small stuff. For bigger things it won't do though
Railroad track works pretty well. You could also pick up a cheap oxy acetylene torch for about $130-$350 and then shape out a horn and a Pritchett or hardy hole.
Agreeed
I own a small railroad track anvil, but I think it would make a good addition to a "how to start on a budget" serie.
Alec, I would like to see a video on the different types of steel and their uses. Maybe even a shopping expedition to a steel mill or wherever the steel may be purchased.
It is now June 2022-I have only just found your Channel. and I am a retired metalworker (an Artificer in the Royal Navy) and it is an absolute delight to see someone such as yourself, showing a technical as well as a passionate skill for a trade that is short of students.- well done young man- you have demonstrated a knowledge that is sadly lacking in some CZcamsrs who profess to be skilled, and it is evident from their videos that they are not. Keep up the good work.
Can we just stop for a minute and appreciate the editing
Yes, Jamie does an incredible job and make all the videos on Alec’s channel fun!
My question is: when are we going to get some armor? I mean, I love a nice sword as much as anyone, and I'll gladly watch you make all manner of weapon. But a helmet or a shield project would: (1) provide a nice challenge that I think you'd enjoy. (2) let you practice and expand upon your other skills, like leatherworking or metal casting. And (3) it would just be really cool and interesting. I look forward to getting my hammer. Cheers.
Alec has noted before Armor is wholly different from making weapons. I doubt you will see him make armor any time soon.
Well, what about a scabbard?
@@psabt10081 Isn't that the point? Armor is completely different. It's outside his wheelhouse, outside his comfort zone, which means he has a lot of opportunities to learn and get creative.
@@billwithers7457 It requires different tooling and a lot more time than any sword.
Ditto to this, it makes sense that different skills, techniques and tools are used but that shouldn't be a limiting factor but an opportunity for challenge, as we've seen before Alec can pick up new blacksmithing methods really well, armour would be some very interesting content.
Dang Alec. This isn’t how you run a business. You’re supposed to say there’s no way a harbor freight hammer could ever be as nice as the hammers I sell. Cmon man!!
"Jimmy Buttcheeks: CFO"
A C Creations has a nice ring lol
By the time you do all the work to the HF hammer it will cost more then one of his.
@@jeromeslack4697 In time perhaps but not dollars. Most handy people will have the basic tools already and modifying this hammer may be the starting point many may need.
@@jeromeslack4697
I don't think so. First make sure to buy one that has a tight handle. They are mounted by hand so results vary greatly. Then grinding and polishing the faces won't take over an hour. Flattening the handle wont take long either.
Can you do a “how to make a starter forge” tutorial for people that would want to get into it? Or is there one out there somewhere?
Check out essential craftsmans channel for a no weld forge. It's a good starter forge
Numerous. The King of Random has a smelter which could easily be used as a forge, and a number of people have made them out of coffee cans and the like.
Tons of those videos out there
@@kingnull2697 this smelter is terrible as a Forge. If someone want simple forge, Google "jabod forge". For air supply you can use a air mattress hand pump and 3/4 steel pipe. It works perfectly with charcoal, and I was able to forge a knife with this setup :D
He litterally has that video. Look into the playlists of his videos. Seriously, only you can find and click it.
Thanks for the incentive to finally do something with a hammer I bought at a yard sale.
25 yrs ago.
For 3$.
Never cleaned it.
Just started working with it as a mechanic. Sometimes a 3-1/2 lb persuader is the perfect tool for the job.
Anyway, it is now my smithing hammer.
Your little video was perfect timing.
Cheers
Step one: buy two hammers
step 2: use one to improve the other
step 3: switch
repeat 2 and 3 until Hephaestus cries tears of joy.
😂
one who can make heavens weep from your craft makes the world just one mark better than when you started. that is how all should strive to be.
Pretty sure that is how we made the first lathes.
Ooh a table saw! Prepare to see that first aid training come in handy.
Finger tips? We don't need no stinking finger tips!
handy being the keyword here.
@@SuicideNeil I am missing TWO fingertips on my left hand, thanks to a table saw. My index finger has one segment left on it and my middle finger has a bit less than that. Saws aren't to be trifled with!
Your hammers are worthy of the hands of a Dwarf from Moria of old.
😂
Are you going to be making some "back to basics" videos? Those are the ones that got me into forging, and it's really fun to see how great a result you can achieve without all the fancy tools. Love Will's videos. More of that please.
This guy has an English and American accent at the same time
Those are called Canadians
Well he was born and raised in the UK but is currently living in Montana.
@@Ianflaer Montana? That's close enough to Canada.
@@gringoamigo8146 yeah it's pretty close🤣
He is from England
Imagine if Raid Shadow Legends marketing guys were spending 1% of their budget into paying their dev and making an actual good game instead of pestering every single youtube viewer about it... One man can dream :)
people actually play that crap?
@@Gantzz321 no, only the youtubers who are contractually obligated to install it and play it while recording the sponsor spot.
You just launch the game and the only people online are youtubers.
I played it for a month it got boring an repetitive fast. Plus it is very pay to win
@@Gantzz321 yeah. It was the single most lucrative game last year. Pretty pathetic how easily manipulated mobile players are.
when i see ANYTHING that is constantly spammed in my face... i skip over and ignore it and will NEVER waste my time even downloading or looking at it... if it's as good as people think then word of mouth is the best advertising!
those "unsightly" marks on the leaf you forged actually gave the leaf more realistic characteristics. the marks looked as if they were the "veins" of the leaf
Yeah not the best example haha
Started 2 years ago and I still am using hammers like the HF one, never knew HOW to modify them, good video so I subscribed! Hopefully my next blades will be better looking and I won't have to grind so much!
I actually love the “unsightly” leaf. I think the unintentional hammer marks gave it a lot of personality :)
Looks more realistic with veins
I think the biggest thing is the word unintentional. It’s one thing to do that on purpose but if you are trying to make it flat and it as those marks then you have a lot more work bc your hammer gave you some extra “character” to work with.
Grant Barber for this specific application it reminds me of a Bob Ross happy little accident.
I thought they were veins that he put in until he said differently
When Alec has a kid, will he start stories like “I use to climb a ladder to use the microwave!” ?
Hot of interest how would alec tell that do a dog (he's already a dad)
Funny you should say that, but back in the og shop the microwave used to be on a shelf so high he struggled to reach it. 😂😂😂
@@MichaelDreksler thats the point
RIP Chef Mike
so awesome.. to see you pushing "not about the tool, but the learning experience".. in so many "hobbies" or "jobs", people feel they need top of the line tools to learn or catchup to the professionals, when it shows, you can get to that point with everyday items... to an extent.. so awesome.
I've been "tuning up" hammers for awhile now. Most of them have some extensive rust pitting since it's so humid here. Thanks for posting this kinda content. It's nice to see the comments from other folks that are using the tools they have the way they want. Modifying tools is the absolute best way to know them and know what they can do for you. 🤙🏾🤙🏾🤙🏾
Question: because you can't "see" it on screen: How does forging feel and smell? How is it like for you, standing next to the fire and hammering on red hot metal?
You come in as a boy, and you exit as a man
It feels like working. Im working in a fabric making elbows for dredging ships.
To me working a hot piece of metal feels like I'm smacking on frozen play dough, or oil based clay that's been sat in the freezer for an hour... or at least all three move almost exactly the same way when struck for the most part.
Heat? Hmmm... That's a good one. I guess it smells a little bit like whatever fuel you're using, a little bit of super-heated rust, and something else I can't accurately describe... I guess it's one of those things that you have to experience for yourself?
If you're using charcoal/ coke it smells like that, a bit like a bbq but maybe a bit more sulphury. With a gas forge it's just a hot smell like an engine room.
The feel is just really satisfying, firm but pliable.
Get a charcoal grill going and fan/blow it as hot as you can.
Put in a piece of semi thin metal (a large untreated nail) and hit that with a hammer on a bigger piece of metal.
That is exactly how it feel, smell and is to forge.
Question: How bad is Will's arthritis going to be in the next year after all the filing and hand sanding he does?
Does the Alec Steele co. offer corporal tunnel insurance for "sanding Willie"?????
@@ryork7923 Carpal tunnel sport. I has it from 40+ years of filing, sanding and beating on various metallic objects.
By far one of my top favorite blacksmiths of the modern age.
Oh and I would also like to preemptively throw my hat in the ring for any future rookie blacksmithing with the master videos. I am probably the greenest of green and would love to learn first hand from you.
**Alec Steele uploads** OMG PART 2,000 OF THE ZWEIHANDER - Alec: Nope.
alec: i want to show you that you don't need expensive tools
also Alec: look at all the new toys i've got.
No one in this video is named Alex.
You don't _need_ them. But if you have them, things get easier!
LiGhTMaGiCk haha I was thinking the same thing “who’s Alex”
Alex was a guest last year lol
After witnessing you improve that hammer, I felt this intense sensation of joy.
You managed to create a thing of beauty.
I know you're a fan of the hammer you typically use, but I would take that $7.00 hammer that you improved than I would the more expensive one you're accustomed too.
With many kudos to you. Keep doing what you're doing.
so happy to see a video with you and only you ;-)
nice job on this hammer !
Also I like that you work at a level that quickly relates to those who may not have the nicest stuff or the most experience!
Raid Shadow Legends should commission something from you guys. That be cool to see being created.
or not, since RSL is a trashy, boring game.
Only if Alec adds pay to win mechanisms to whatever he makes. "You want to form more material? 5 hammer blows 4.99, 10 hammer blows 7.49, 20 14.99"
They did a ring for R:SL, didn’t they?
Nobody:
Me: Watches the entire 7 minute ad Forgetting what I clicked on
Lmao, I've done that before too.
Same lol
Alec, you inspired me to look at my shop and tool set in a wholly new way... Love the energy and creativity, making the best of what you have, even if is from harbor freight!
Just stumbled across this channel. I've really been missing out. Looking forward to diving in much deeper.
Question: How long do your large propane tanks last you between normal forging and forge welding?
Alec: starts selling $200 hammers
Also Alec: makes a video showing why you don't need them...
It's important that people know the difference between luxury and necessity. You don't need a $200 hammer but it's going to feel nicer and if you're doing it all day every day you probably will get your money's worth. I'm a software developer and I've spent $300 on a keyboard but you can obviously get the job done on a 8 dollar keyboard. For software developers a lot of it is "how long will it last" if you have a keyboard that lasts your whole career and is programmable you can really get used to it and therefore go longer between typing errors. My current has replaceable switches and I keep extras.
@@ARVash How long will it last and how consistent will it be. Anyone doing a job will eventually recognize a well made tool designed for a job is always better than the cheap one that "gets it done". This is basically a video about how you could get started in blacksmithing but showing what you will inevitably long for.
@White Wild kid you ever wonder if this is why you don't have any friends?
@White Wild makes sense to me
Not stonks
Always fun watching welders, blacksmiths, fitters, etc play with wood.
Love your channel. I'm a nubee at 63 learned a lot from you. Thanks for posting 🔨
Question: When are you going to have Joey Van Der Steeg back in the shop for a collaboration?
Question: Does the quality of the anvil have more of an impact on forging than the quality of the hammer?
I would say no. An anvil is really just a block of steel with a flat face. Horns are useful but really not necessary and the heel is only there for hardy tools. Having a hammer in the right weight with the right faces is going to help tremendously in creating quality forgings.
I don't know, but I suspect they're about equally important-at least in terms of how much metal you can move, and how quickly.
Essential Craftsman has a video about testing out a harbor freight anvil.
he said it tired him out more than his regular, antique anvil, partly because the work took longer than usual. he was using his regular hammer, and I believe he was doing a familiar task.
in physics terms, when you apply a force to the work on the anvil, the anvil has to apply an equal force in the opposite direction. imagine if your anvil is mounted on a spring, which springs back only after you lift the hammer-a lot of the force is wasted compressing the spring.
to some degree, a solid, heavy, well mounted anvil with a hardened face does that already: some of the force is changed into heat, and some is lost compressing whatever it's mounted on, &c., &c.
I'm not an engineer, so I can't calculate how much that is, but if the best possible anvil returns (for example) 99.9%, and a bowl of jello returns 0%, then:
- at what percentage do you start to feel the difference?
- at what percentage does it make a measurable difference in how long a job takes?
- at what percentage does work actually become impossible?
if EC's impression of the Harbor Freight anvil was accurate, it was returning enough less that he could feel a difference, and the work took noticeably longer to do.
To an extent yes, if your anvil isn't solid you can definitely tell, and you can also tell if it is tiny, but a solid rectangular steel bar of sufficient mass should make a decent anvil for general forging.
ThoperSought It definitely makes a difference but trying to forge with a 5lb hammer on a good anvil would tire you out much quicker than a 3lb hammer on a mild steel block. But yes a well made anvil with the right hammer would be most comfortable to forge with.
@@sterlinghamiltonracing6487
yeah, that makes sense.
I wonder:
if all you have (for example) is a big, mild steel ASO, and a harbor freight hammer, which is more important to upgrade first?
obv., assuming you modify the face of the hammer so it's not leaving unsightly hammer marks.
from this video, it seems like it's more important to upgrade the anvil, but I don't know.
I followed your video and finally modified my hf hammer today. It is so.awesome thank you for this video!
I like the idea of recreating tools, could you possibly come up with a video on how to make the most used tongs on a budget? Keep up the great videos. Thanks
“Unsightly marks in the leaf”.. I thought those were put there on purpose..
MFTomp09 I think he was talking about the round marks in the center that were made by the edge but not meant to be the design he usually puts on the leaves
I liked how it looked. It looked like a more realistic leaf with veins
They definitely were, but don’t forget about a teaching purpose of this video)
Question: To paraphrase a wise old owl, “How many hammer blows does it take to make a steel Tootsie Roll Tootsie Pop?”
I hope he gets a joiner so the planer and table saw can be at their best! Love your videos man!
Just bought one of those hammers from HF and discovered this video. Can't wait to modify it as you have. Thanks for the lesson!!
This was a very helpful video. I'm just starting out and made my first single burner forge and all I have is a 7 dollar hammer from the harbor freight (no joke literally just bought it yesterday). My question is how big of a Propain tank do you need to work with? Unfortunately, there are not many videos or forums out there that give you a clear answer. Thank you in advance!
Love you guys, Saw this channel for the first time 2 months ago and decided it will be an amazing quest to learn a new craft, instead of just sitting around all day doing computer work. Hope all of you have a lovely day.
Colin Carnevale for a small forge a normal one for grilling is fine but as you get a larger burner and forge that will be ran for longer amounts of time then I would go with the 50 pound tanks
Size of propane tank does not matter. It's just how often you feel like changing the tank.
I work with a standard barbecue tank, 3gals? With my single burner (venturi) it lasts quite a while. I forge maybe 4hrs at a time and it lasts at least 5 sessions? (guessing). I have a couple of tanks, when one is empty a quick swap, keep working, and later go fill the previous.
Thank you guys. You have been very helpful. I'm excited as all I've been using till now is a blow torch haha it's very crude.
I like to use a 100lb tank, but then half my forging year is in an otherwise unheated shop in the Canadian winter. 100lb tanks freeze up slower when it's properly cold out and that way I can get more forging done in a session.
Q1: Does using the pine tar on the handle create a sticky grip or does it dry like a wood finish?
Q1.5: Also does burning the handle help with blisters and splinters?
Burning the wood creates a waterproof coating on the wood. Yes, pine tar is sticky.
I'll try to write in english: it's been a while since last time i saw a video of Alec and now that i'm back on this channel i'm realizing how much i missed him! The garage of my new house is waiting its setup for start forging again and Alec's tips and energy are always an amazing help for me...expecially the videos (like this one) where he makes budget friendly projects XD. Great Alec!
Your English is better than some Americans I know
thank you for doing these kinds of videos. I love the normal ones, but, this is just so much more encouraging. thank you
(Reads title)
My brain: _Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Alec!_
hello there
Whomever and whomsoever are real words.
@@arbitrarystuff1229 in modern american english who has almost universally replaced whom as accepted form
@@Krupnekt So, not English then.
I figure after watching all Alec Steele's videos here on CZcams everyone would have the answers to their own questions answered. 🤔
Thank you for showing that basic tools, with a little preparation, are very suitable. We tend to forget this. Also the skills learned at the early stage will serve us well as we progress. Excellent concept. Thank you.
Wow, this is super helpful! Now I know my next project!
My question for you is how do you go about making things symmetrical? For the leaf, for example, how do you make sure each side looks roughly the same? And how do you fix it if it starts 'leaning' to one side?
Im 18 years old and wanted to get into blacksmithing for such a long time now, but also not having the money for good equipment. This video has been such a help because ive been struggling to adjust my cheap Hammers so far. I would verry much like an iconic alec steele Hammer for my own, so my question is:
if i want to find some good quality metal to forge with for cheap, how can i distinguish useless scrap from something as for example high carbon and good hardened steel ? So that i can sellout my local junkyard ;D
grinding on the metal the sparks say a lot. i know that doesn't exactly help you, but the bigger brighter sparks are high carbon and the dimmer little sparks are not (knowledge alec has past on) as for looking at it to tell i haven't the foggiest
Go to a car scrap yard, and get leaf springs. High carbon, cheap and widely available
@@forgotin1 thnx for the tip :D ill try to notice something
@@logancryan7957 have tried that, but unforfunatly no leaf springs at the place where i go to
As already said, the easiest way is to grind test it. Watch how the sparks fly. Do they stay in a straight line, or do they split and fork out, split and fork out. There’s a bunch of videos on it. One other way pretty much requires that the high carbon steel is hardened already, but you can try skating a file. If it skates, it’s hardened. More than likely it’s high carbon, but it could just be case hardened. As far as trying to locate a large piece of high carbon steel, you’re best bet is industrial equipment. Look for things that must be tough. Axle shafts, hydraulic rams, pivot pins on backhoes or loaders, teeth or wear plates on excavation equipment, springs, etc. Anything that is going to take the brunt of the impact, abrasion, or stress will probably be a high carbon steel. They only put it where they need it. If you don’t need a 3-5lb large block, look at pickup truck leaf springs. One set of leaf springs could make a ton of blades or tools.
I think the concepts he has shown in blacksmithing is applicable to lots of different applications elsewhere. We are a tool using species
You have inspired me to take up the art and science of balcksmithing. I hope one day to have a fraction of the skill and knowledge that you have. Bravo sir..
Alec, that's a nice bit of info on the hammers there. If ever I get into forging then I will have to make sure my hammer looks more like the hammer you modified. Great video!
“you can get and angle grinder for like 30 bucks"
*laughs in harbor freight
They just went on sale there for $9.99
Yeah, but a $30 one will last longer and do a better job overall
@@alexbaumgartner8416 but if you are just getting started.... and realize that the harbor freight special will wear out quicker... then the one from harbor freight can get you started
I hate harbor freight tools. I love buying used tools from auctions for dirt cheap
I see milwaulkee grinders sell for $5 all the time. I have 3 of them! Bought 2 and some sawzall for around $10 from one auction
I'd like to see less sword making and more general blacksmithing, like hinges, door handles, storage racks, etc. Also some shop tips or shop organizing tips would be great!
That is a little boring for people people. No one goes into blacksmithing to make a hinge. They go into blacksmithing to make swords and weapons.
@@Woodshadow I make knives and there are tons of knife making channels. I'd like to get better at other things too. I haven't put much knife making content on my own channel since it feels saturated already.
I went with Bloom Forge for hammers in farrier school. I liked the way the instructors fit in my hands and the build quality is excellent.
I just came back to this and rewatched after 3 years. Man Alec, your stuff has just turned into youtube classics for me. And I have to say having "grown up"(relative term as Im currently 30yo) watching your content and learning all my blacksmith knowledge and potential skills from you; ive gotta say man, i feel like Ive studdied at the foot of the master smith of our times. Ive been all over youtube, and in my humble opinion noone else has come close to the amount of skill, technique, attention to detail, and overall quality work that youve shown over the 5 or so years since I started watching you.
Alec I really hope you read this, you are and have been an inspiration to me. Ive been thru some dark times recently, and my passion to create got me thru those times and has finally driven me to try and start my own blacksmithing career after wanting to for so long.
I have a decent steel anvil that ive dressed and made ready. Im very close to assembling my first forge and starting. Thankyou Alec for all the things youve taught me over the years. I really hope that I get to meet you one day, as again, i regard you as one of the greatest smiths of our time.
Question: When buying your first anvil, what “features” do you need to look for, what is necessary ?
A flat face, my first anvil was an eBay lump of steel in the relative shape of an anvil and I've made projects on it that I'm proud of. I would say get a good anvil if you can though and in retrospect I'd get something under 100lbs as it was a pain to move my nearly 350lbs when the floor under it needed repairing
ProbablyAZombie my first anvil setup that I still use consists of a 9” long 2” thick and 5” wide block of 4140 bolted to a damn heavy stump I found that had just been cut down.
@@KimballPrecisionRifles if it works it works
take a look at the purgatory ironworks ASO [Anvil Shaped Objects] video, basically you could probably get something damn close enough to the real deal for free
i love how he says "I don't have a woodworking bandsaw. I'll have to grab one somewhere" when those things cost thousands of dollars
I picked up a bandsaw from Kijiji for $250. It requires a bit of cleaning and a bit of love to get it running, but it's an industrial quality frame. A new blade is about $25 for it, grease the bearings, re-finish the table and it'll be resawing in no time. There were cheaper options (under $150) for smaller jobs, but I wanted to be future-proofed, since I am a carpentry apprentice, so the woodworking is more my appeal.
Blacksmithing is still wicked cool though!
Anyway, I just wanted to drop that to encourage you if you were feeling the cost was prohibitive to entry. If you're willing to put a little work in to repair an older tool, you can get in for pretty cheap.
@@DominicDeegan7 yeah, if you can repair it yourself or haul it yourself, lots of stuff can be had for cheap
Never seen anyone more inspiring in the engineering arena.
And so young and intelligent.
Very unique.
So much negativity in the actual occupation.
Thanks Alec! Some of the pointers in this video will help me improve dressing some of my hammer faces and improve the handles.
Me: Is everyone here for the giveaway hammer from Alec???
Alec Steele: That is a FANTASTIC question!!!!
Question Alec: When forging, you talk about certain temperatures of heating the forge/steel. Can you explain what different temperatures range are/what they accomplish best. Can you also explain why certain blacksmiths "eyeball" temperature and why you don't use more precise measurements with a laser gun or something?
Its a topic for 5 videos 30 min long.Every steel is different and there are 3000 of them known to a man at current time.
@@zumbazumba1 I wouldn't mind a few video to be in depth on information....but understand most of his audience would get bored but still think you can summarize "generalities" into one video
Fallowup question: what pressure do you set your propane at to achieve said temperatures.
Obligitory not an expert but from best I can tell it's sort of just a quick and dirty method that's faster because generally speaking you have Black Hot, Red Hot, Orange Hot, Yellow Hot and White Hot. (A blacksmith once told me that's where we get red and white hot from.) And as a general rule steel will fall within certain temperature ranges based on the heat color and they usually act similarly and consistantly within those ranges and it had to do with malleability and how much of the steel is "melted" Black hot seems to me to mostly be for texturing because moving too much steel at black hot breaks things. Red and Orange for shaping, Yellow for forge welds, and white is burning/sparking hot metal which is a saftey hazard. Again, not an expert and would gladly learn of any corrections or elaborations to what I've said.
great video and how-to. Thanks for the words of encouragement as well. Especially the part about using what you have and making them better. Cheers!
I am just starting out and a friend of mine recommended your channel and I am blown away thank you
This video came at the perfect time as I just bought my first anvil and forge and looked for this very video just the other day as I had thought I had seen the title before.
My questions: What would be the best weight hammer to start with as I was going to do exactly what you did in this video? and What are some good starting projects and material to use for them?
My first hammer was a 1kg or 2.2lbs and that did me fine for the smaller projects I started with as it moved steel without giving me an arm ache. And honestly for material you can get mild steel bars from most DIY or hardware shops that do just fine as practice material.
Question: what are the main fundamentals to forging with a hammer and where can I find a career in blacksmithing, also thank you for the entertainment over the years
All around the U.S. Are local blacksmith clubs, and some members are professional blacksmiths. Check out the ABANA website for a smith or club near you.
I thought you were going to re forge this hammer head to a different shape, but using the angle grinder works as well.
Well done Alex!
I really like the finishing of that handle... I think I will hold off on setting the hoops on my Japanese wood chisels and finish them with pine tar 👍
I would love a series of alec making harbor freight tools better!!
like if you think the same!!
Question: What other tools can be upgraded by the everyman?
Also, idea for more episodes. Go through someone's tool shed/parts pile and make something cool from something they have that's been sitting around.
Justin Murray I like cleaning out my plumbers wrenches and polishing the screws.
Another fun project I I have done was polishing an MSR tent stake hammer and an old crow bar
Well i just started watching your very informative videos. they are very useful i appreiciate the time you take to explain on the "whys" this works as opposed "do it this way" . So keep up the good work . Your helping a lot of people......Keep on hammering!
That was a good video I have not forged yet. This is actual the 8th video I've i am considering. I wish to find a video where it informs you on temperature, oven, deferent ways of heating metal and of hardening or quenching metal and deferent techniques would really help me out and others who are thinking of black smithing. Oh I like the various flags around the shop it says a lot about character. Thanks again for the video.
Question: What's it like to forge on a DIY tire-driven power hammer? It would be a cool series to build one for cheap, tune it up to work as well as it can, and explain how to get the most out of it. You could even sell a kit or plans or something. Love to get the hammer!
Yeah and there are no real good videos on making one
Its good to see Harry Potters brother finally step out of his brothers shadow.
Kudos Alec, I can actually stand to listen to the sponsor segments of your videos
My question was answered when you you showed how to do that with the handler totally going to try that tomorrow with my three pound harbor freight handler
Question: Would it be possible to do a no forge challenge. Taking a metal and forging or repurposing it into something else without the use of a forge? Belt Sanders, hammers, other tools except for the one that is used the most in your shop.
just use a huge chunk and machine it with lathe/mill. Alec is a blacksmith. There are great youtube machinists out there eg clickspring
@@galacticravioli3217 i am still envious of the guy who made his own anvils (250 lb iirc)
I got the tools but no time
Question: I've been blacksmithing for a couple years now and I was thinking of trying to get into doing some damascus steel. Is there any pro-tips to keep in mind when making damascus?
Starter budget blacksmithing would be amazing could probably do a whole series to help people like me to begin.... I always wanted to get started would love to see more videos like this turning tools into better ones!
that was a great vid alec for showing us what we really need in a hammer... maybe you could do more forge tools on the cheap for future videos to show ... how cheap can some one really get started on forging
Question: How to keep forge hot enough without breaking all the tiles around it. Can you build inner layer of steel or something to protect it?
I want to get Into smithing, currently have a course booked about 2 hours from me.. my question, is can you do a vid every now and then like you used to do with some info for us newbies? I definitely enjoyed when you did the small keychain/trinket videos!
Well I know what I’ll be doing before I forge again.. thanks for the tutorial...
I didn't see that first forge coming . You are really good
I'm still waiting on an assassins creed Damascus hidden blade made with the mechanics and the decorative leather arm band. It been over 2 and a half years man. Come on. You could make such an epic one.
The main problem is licensing and the fact that such a blade is largely illegal in most places. The law frowns upon hidden, spring-loaded blades.
@@JacktheFireEater I didn't think that was the case for novelty items.
@@JacktheFireEater there in montana, you can pretty much do whatever you want out there.
Can't wait until Raid dies.
Everytime i see Raid, i dislike.
Alec, greetings from across the pond! I love the content of your CZcams videos and to think that you are keeping the skill of blacksmith work in a live craft. I can tell you have a real passion for your career and may your ventures go from strength to strength. Beats sitting in a cubicle tapping away on a computer...well that is what I think!
Loved this! Thank you for the great info!
Alec first off love the channel ive been watching ever since the shipping container shop and have started forging because of you and i love it. QUESTION IS... When forging damascus by hand is it better to hot cut and fold over or cut when cooled and then tak the two together?
Question: would it be a bad idea to throw the Harbor Freight “hammer” in the forge to create a larger face?
Daniel Damrill. I’ve done that, not to nessecarily make a larger face but to forge it more into a rounding hammer so I don’t have to grind away material an waste money on grinding disks. You just have to redrift the eye to correct shape otherwise there is a high chance of the handle breaking on you. Heatreating these steels are a hit or miss so I don’t bother. Most of my hammers aren’t heat treated as you would want them to be softer than they anvil so if you miss hit and hit the anvil it will dent the hammer not the anvil.
@@LoganBiren I call it a hierarchy of hardness haha. Like using soft wood mallet to hit hard wood into place.
Even my titanium hammer has had its edges rounded over over time and its super hard.
Based on the youtube channels I've seen, and based on this tutorial by Alec above, you might have to replace the handle after doing that, since the forge would likely make charcoal out of the handle. You might could get away with removing the handle, and reinstalling it after forging the different head profile (might even have a narrower eye for the handle to go through afterwards).
I did this recently to an HF 2 lb sledge. Sure, you could reforge the head, but that would likely be overkill. It's only $7 though, so do whatever you want want to with it.
Followed you tutorial using tools I have. Pretty happy with the results.
Could you make a video about making a homemade charcoal forge? I am loving the more simple builds because it gives us something to aspire too to but the forge seems to be the greatest barrier to entry. Love your channel keep up the amazing work!!