i dont mean to be off topic but does any of you know a way to log back into an Instagram account?? I was stupid forgot the password. I appreciate any tricks you can offer me
@Nathanael Casen I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff now. Takes a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
About 6 years ago, I came across a blacksmith RUclips video. That was it for me. Watched more and more. Damascus is a passion I have. I still haven't forged, yet. Living in urban jungle limits were I can. But I changed my career. Took up metal fabrication. Made a forge out of plate steel in foundations coarse. My desire is still as strong as when I discovered that RUclips video
I related to your comment pretty weld I was studying to be a vet but 5 years ago I found a video on RUclips with a guy making a forge outta gardening materials and it changed what I wanted to do I tried to get into it and found my self being a welder the desire to create with fire and metal is still there strong as ever
I sold 2 old shotguns and a generator to get started bladesmithing. I don’t regret it at all. Well not until the power goes out and I need that generator 😂
I just wanted to say THANK YOU for being realistic, honest, and grounded in your explanation of what it takes to "start" a new adventure. Please keep up the amazing content and I look forward to scooping up all of the knowledge that is being passed along on your channel!
When I first started having an interest in bladesmithing my biggest hobby was airsoft (I was 17). Once I decided I wanted to make knives seriously I sold everything I had for airsoft and bought myself a forge and built myself a belt grinder. Three years later and it was the best decision I have made so far
@@3-dogs its not too hard, to make life easier for myself I got a wheel kit on ebay and a 2.2kw (3hp) motor online. The rest was old bolts salvaged from an engine, some box section steel and some heavy plate steel. 6mm or 1/4 inch is heavy enough really. I also salvaged an old gas strut from a broken car as a tensioner. It basically uses the box iron for a frame, the plate as a base, table and platen and the bolts to hold some stuff together. If you are on Facebook there is a group called 'home made belt grinders' which is a VERY helpful group, there's loads of plans for grinders there and lots of people who can show you photos of what to do and give some helpful tips and tricks 😊 my page is brugman knife works if you want to check me out! I can send some photos of mine as an example then!
I’ve been driving for an hour once a week to use his forge. He’s now helping build my own. I’ve learned a lot. Still gonna go up once a week. But now I’m gonna get more hammer time at home. Super stoked. Great advice
@@richlabombard6780 mostly for fun. I do make a bit of profit but it’s more for creativity. I’m a aircraft fabricator by trade and need to stick to blueprints. So it’s fun just to be able to play and if I make a mistake oh well. 🤷🏼♂️. I do knives for family and friends that ask. I’ve done a lot of iron gates and railings for people. My latest project was a mediaeval kettle helm a buddy wanted. I’m willing to try most stuff if it looks fun.
I paused it at 3-ish mins... And I already love this. Dude is on point. No matter what it is, you gotta love what you do. Like the old saying " if you truly love what you do for a living, then you never work." Because it's a love, not a chore.
You’re 100% right Jason. In the blade smith realm you’re my idol man. I’ve basically followed all of these principles and it has served me well. Next year I’ll be applying for LLC and pushing for my dream.
Thanks for this, I had a similar discussion with my dear old Dad of 78 today,. He’s all on about not having enough money or time to do what he wants, I respond with sell something you don’t use and get what you will use. Money buys experiences, in my opinion, and time is of the essence, especially in my Dad’s case.
Learn from some is the best thing you said. I am a welder with 15 years experience. When I started I talk and listened to old guys . They may seem grumpy and gruff but they love teaching their craft. I learned more from them than school.
“Uncommon sense”. Hell yeah! Am a high school teacher with a hobby in knife making. Have been using this phrase for a while - nice to hear it’s a common sentiment.
The first part about wanting to bladesmith or blacksmith is true. My forge is a campfire with a hair dryer, my anvil is a 1" thick 6" x 4" chunk of scrap steel from a welding shop, a cross ping hammer, and pair of welding gloves. I have been watching blacksmithing videos and want to do this! I have only been at this for 2 weeks now have made several tent stakes and currently working on making tongs out of rebar. Not there yet for blades but I am working on it.
I’m a mechanical engineer and keen on getting into knife making. Watching this video has been fantastic in making me realise passion for the art of it is more important than starting off with all the big tools. Thank you
As a current ME major with a specialization in Biomedical Engineering, I keep hearing people talking about how we moved on too quickly from hand forging to drop forging and it cost us quality. Lots of people in my classes are looking back at history and trying to correct course.
The sage speaks true, slowly but surely I turned part of my woodshed into my shop. Run power to, got my forge set up, got the tools in. Saving up for the anvil, it's a process that requires love and devotion. And, the learning never stops.
Awesome advise. And the best part about it is: It goes for pretty much everything. If you wanna make music or you wanna be a sculptor or bladesmith or whatever. Without the desire and without learning from people who know what they do, you'Re getting nowhere. And I love all your videos. You seem like such a cool chill guy to hang out with. Much respect from germany.
Never a truer word said I absolutely agree with everything said. I am a wood machinist I make furniture for a living. I have 20 years experience and still love what I do and am now getting in to blade smithing and am loving just making something new and just learning at every stage.
Hey Jason you know nothing!!! If I have learned anything from Disney movies... all you need to make a legendary weapon is a special metal ingot, the power of a star and a casting mold!
Over the past 2 yrs bladesmithing has become an obsession of mine. I work as a welder so i went to work and built a forge. I finally got a setup built. got my burner tuned perfect, but i am struggling a bit. I feel like i just cant get anything right. Cant get my bevels nice and straight. Cant seem to get my shoulders even. Anyhow for some reason the way u break shit down makes it easier for me to understand. And when i hear people like you talk about starting out and how little you had, it inspires me to get out there and get smithing. Ive noticed a lot of smiths have totally different views and some are straight contradicting to each other so im gonna stick with your techniques and info so keep em coming my friend!
I literally asked what I would need to get started in the comment section of another video. I’m glad Jason Knight decided to pass on his knowledge and trade. I will be making use of this and your other videos. It’s rare that people put this much into passing on knowledge please absorb as much as you can.
I am watching this to help my fifteen year old son get started in forging but I really understand what you are saying about giving other things up. If I had to choose between buying more clothes or buy gardening items, I am buying the gardening items every time.
100% correct on the first point. I started watching fif and learned that people still forge knives and I was instantly obsessed and in love. I wanted it!! There wasn’t a force on this planet that could have kept me from it! Started with a jerry rigged coal forge and a thick piece of plate for an anvil in my back yard. Made my first knife and the obsession took off to whole new levels. I’m not a rich guy by any means but because I wanted it I now have a shop, nice anvil, good grinder, good forge, and just acquired a power hammer. My hobby has turned in to a self sustaining craft. Nowadays Every penny spent on blade making has been made from blade making. And also, Jason, your content is absolutely addictive! Keep that shit up.
It's good advice. Crappy tools and lack of time isn't what will stop you from being a competent knife maker. You have to make it your hobby, it needs to be something you look forward to doing when you come home after your real job, and have the desire to pick up knowledge from others. We live in great times with access to so much info on almost any subject. Doesn't matter what you want to try just go for it, life is short have fun!
I started with the desire and a fire pit in the back yard with a pipe in it with a hairdryer for air flow, a rock was my anvil. Bought a cheap harbour freight 1x30. I’ve come a long way since then.
You started out better off than I did, I didn't have a hair dryer so I started by blowing into an iron pipe and then switched to structuring my fires to funnel the wind, and then finally got a cheap blower.
Thanks for being there for us. Although youre a master bladesmith, you dont put yourself i a towering position above beginners. Your eagerness to teach is admirable. Thanks again. Paul "wannabe bladesmith" Sauvé.😊
I appreciate your no bs video, raw and information filled. I have been debating for years, yet have held back. I am coming to the end of my time in the military, and I realize that I am going to need something to invest in for the long run, that helps to get me out of bed in the morning. I enjoyed your forged in fire time, but this video was honestly my tipping point. I look forward to diving into this skillset with a passion, and I appreciate people like you that have kept it going. Thank you sir.
I really enjoyed this video. The information is great but what I really enjoyed is Jason Knight being himself and his light hearted and genuine spirit. Thank you for making this video 👍
I started from nothing, found old plymouth drumbrake and made forge out of it and I still use it after 22 years lol. Gathered tools where I could and I have had fun, made quite a few puukos to this day. Now I want and need a Shop and big anvil, maybe desent grinder, which are hard to find here in Finland
Hi Jason....Well put brother....you have to respect anyone that can basically take nothing & make it a master piece sometimes...Those are the type of people that made America the great country that it is today!....May God bless them all!
Took a blacksmithing class and 2 bladesmithing classes. Have that itch to keep forging, but for now I live in an apartment complex. Once the shop starts its open forge again I'm gonna be there constantly, and when I move to the house I'm setting up my own forge. Can't wait to get there.
Thanks for the inspiration. Going to start this with my son. Always wanted to learn blade smithing. To do it with my son would be the best. Thanks again.
I'm in the process of my first kife! Making a chef's knife from a leaf spring. So far, so good, I'm in the grinding and sanding process right now. Knifemaking is very different than blacksmithing, but I love learning new processes.
20 seconds in, I was about to leave this video in a huff since it's been a long night during a stressful time and I just wanted to learn something since I got a small blade forge for Christmas when I wasn't expecting one. I'm glad I caught myself and kept going a few seconds and read the comments.
I'm in my early 60's & have been making things, doing my own fabricating & making custom tools & jigs for many decades but haven't made my fist knife, machete, or axe yet. Now I'm ready & thank Jason for making these videos & being an inspiration. As soon as the weather turns I'll be building my own forge, power hammer, and forge press. The 2 main things I need to buy is a decent anvil & a better belt grinder. Thanks to the bladesmiths on RUclips like Jason Knight & few other favorites I can start applying their tips & techniques later this year. I figure that 2020 is a good year to be known as the year I started making my own knives & edged weapons, so I'm anxious to get started.
@@timasuarthegreat2383 Slower than anticipated. Fixing my truck went way over budget so getting everything I needed had to be put on hold due to money being tight. I managed to get an Accaciao 66lb anvil on ebay, got my refractory materials for the forge and acquired a used 3hp motor for when I start building the hammer. My primary shop heater finally broke for good so it's been too cold to do much of anything this winter. Last year was an extended clusterfuck so hopefully this spring I can get a lot more done.
Nice to see a well groomed Man with life wisdom teaching others his priceless experience. Unlike the kids who barely hit puberty claiming to be experts in the field. Thank you Sensai! 😀
I knew i liked you from the first ad on youtube i saw with you i am very much so a novice in an area where this is pretty much non existant due to my job and my family i cant go travel to take a class so i am doing this the hard and less efficient way: Trial and error. Your knowledge is of great value and thank you for sharing.
I’ve always loved working with my hands. Models, bows, to name a couple…now starting to create knives. I love your style, straight up and honest, informative. Love your videos. It’s like looking in the mirror. We’ll, my kids say you could be my brother. Lol. Anyhow, best wishes, and thanks for all your help! Adam
I got a half ass railroad track anvil from a antique dealer in NC for $20.00 last year. Right now I am planning reworking it for what I need. I am learning how to use my cutting torches. I get free garbage rusty tools and bring them back when I am watching videos to add to my experience, hammers, axes and screwdrivers, Saw blades I am holding for the first knife cut out. I came across a tapered to an edge metal file it just might be my first blade. Yesterday I picked up a cast Iron fire pit to be converted into a forge! My day Job is HVAC I save the small scrap brass, copper, aluminium, to melt down my own ingots this is an adventure! it will evolve. Watch the free stuff on CL in your area for things you can use! I got the old tools and fire pit that way. Drive around for scrap steel, talk to the scrap guys picking up the scrap they rather sell to you than the scrap yard anyway for super cheap! Must haves after desire, a grinder, a vice, and fire to start.That's all!
Yes sir! I built my first forge out of an old portable air tank with black iron pipe and mig welding tips for burners. And I rescued my great-grandad's old anvil from a flower bed. Made my first pair of tongs out of a salvaged piece of rebar and used a 4lb shop hammer. My most expensive piece of equipment was a cheap 4x36 belt sander but before that I just used a walmart angle grinder. Where there's a will, there's a way.
I had nothing but scraps laying around and I managed to build a coal/wood forge from some angle iron, steel roofing, a cast iron skillet and a mattress pump. It's ugly as sin, but I simply love it. It fires up fast and gets hotter than hell. Making your own forge is a great way to get that solid information you're talking about, as my next one will be more refined and larger. With the exception of hammers I have opted to make my own tools, for the main reason that doing so will help me develop solid hammer skills, refine my ability to measure temperature by color, understand the fundamentals of engineering the items I've traditionally just bought. I'm in no rush for big grinders as hand finishing is gearing me up for foundations of the grind. I admit the fantasy of someday earning my supper with smithing, but for now I'm completely saturated in the joys of learning. Solid video as always, sir. To all the other amateur smiths out there, our only true limit to what we can do is ourselves. Kepp it hot, and hit it hard!
Lots of wisdom offered here. I've been on two paths towards mastery in my life; as a photoengraver/stripper in the printing industry and as a tea man. I've taken lots of classes and spent decades studying each, and one thing I've noticed about the best Teachers; they view Mastery not as a goal but as an ever-improving journey. Thanks for this inspiring reminder.
Thank you for sharing your time, experience and knowledge with those of us who weren’t sure where to start. Until you know SOMETHING, you don’t know what to ask.
I got into knife making to spend time with my son and started using it to test myself I have been making my tools, tongs ,forge,foundry and now I’m building a power hammer I don’t want to sell my knives because I don’t want it to become a tedious job I do it to push my skills and to relax. I appreciate your information
Funny thing, liking stuff is what got me into making knives. The stuff I like tends to have blades, so now learning to make better stuff so I like it more.
I'll start off by saying thank you for making this video. I watched this video when it originally came out and it was enough to finally inspire me to try for myself. I've always been interested in forging. Even as a little kid my grandfather had an old anvil and anytime I would go to visit I would want to see what he was working on. When I saw this video originally my grandfather had just passed away so I guess to honor him I finally said f*** it and decided I was going to try for myself. I live in a northren part of Canada and despite what people may think there is not a huge amount of people that do any blacksmithing. Some of my biggest challenges have been finding materials and finding mentorship. Over the past year I sold a few tings and bought a mig welder, taught myself how to mig weld, built a steel welding table, a forge and forced air propane forge burner, an anvil base, an extension on my workshop for forging and just recently the last piece to my puzzle I built what I use as my anvil ( a whole crapload of 1/2 thick plate steel all beveled and welded together to 8" thick and then an extra inch of A500 target steel for the face. I know it's not perfect and I spent a week drilling and hand filing a 3/4" hardy into it but I'm pretty proud of it. ) Anyways I digress, I've made 5 blades so far. My very first had a stress fracture on the tang but taught me that I don't have to "kill" the metal with my swings and to let the hammer do the work. My second turned out nothing like I wanted when I started but taught me to better plan out and setup for my projects. My 3rd blade turned out like I expected when forging but I got pretty aggressive with my grinder and well I'm still kind of upset about that one but it taught me to take my time and also improved my shop by encouraging me to make some basic grinding guides and jigs. My 4th blade was an made from mild steel simply to practice forging. It looks like I wanted it to though and my bevels and plunge line turned out almost perfect. Finally my 5th blade is the one I was working on tonight while while listening to RUclips autoplay thru forging tutorials when this video came back on. So far this blade has turned out exactly how I've wanted it. I plan on heat treating it tomorrow. If all goes well with that it will be the first one that I will put a handle on and give a good edge to. I know I have MANY more lessons that I need to learn along the way and I'm honestly really excited for them. Again I thank you for making this video in the first place and giving me the confidence to do something that I probably wouldn't have done otherwise. It has ignited a passion in me for the art and given me the drive to not only follow thru but to learn and adapt. Your videos have helped me out so much along the way to the point that if I get stuck now with something I automatically look to see if you have made a video on it or something similar. (So far you have not let me down.) I will continue to watch and learn from you as long as you make videos and if you do get this message I would love to send you a picture of that blade when I finish it. Sincerely. Jason Boros.
I Ifound a piece of half inch metal found in my junk I plan on using it for an anvil and I have an old wore out toaster oven I'm going to try to make a forge out of the toaster oven an old hair dryer for a blower wish me luck please.. thank you for your golden videos sir...
A really good manager I had said "If you want to know what you're committed to, check your results." It's what you said--the things that matter the most are what you end up doing.
I can relate to the start of this story % 100. I have just sold my air soft collection to buy a 2+72 grinder custom built 3hp motor with tilt fiction. yet to decide on anvil and forge ect. I am all in! I haven't felt this passionate about life in a long time.
Hello from Canada Jason. Thank you for your constant inspiration and general outlook on life. You inspired me to build my own forge and get into the hobby. Hit steel for the first time today, made a little rebar butter knife unintentionally! Thank you for your constant inspiration and these amazing videos!
Thank you for helping me see that blacksmithing isn't the right thing for me at this point in my life. I need to put my energy elsewhere. I found your directions equally important and transferring to my main passion. I will come back to this when the time is right. ❤⚒️
I've been reading books and slowly buying equipment to start out doing things. My now fiance is 100% backing me to start making knives. I do it as a hobby on my days off from working on mining equipment. I can't wait to look into the association to start my journey. Thank you for this video I look forward to watching more.
I have been moving hot steel for a lil over a year now. I built my own gas forge and went to the highly accredited school of RUclips. I think i'm a natural @ blacksmithing because all my stuff comes out prefect! Just kiddn my shits just as fuked or good as the next newb.... Just wanted to say thank you for all your help here on this topic!
i’m only fifteen and i welded random pieces of metal to make an anvil and made a forge out of firebricks and two tanks of butane from walmart, thanks for the tips man!
When I first watched this video, I thought it was cheesy as can be. Then I realized I am taking all of these steps as I start the process of becoming a hobby blacksmith. I enjoy your videos Jason. I find them to be both informative and entertaining. Keep up the good work brother.
I built a workshop from scrap this winter scrap metal, pallets etc and saved up for a few basic power tools. I just found a massive clay deposit near my home so I'm making my first forge very soon from cob. Very excited to start. I don't own a lot to sell but I am an expert in sourcing cheap or free resources. Theres more than one way to the sun, just get there
As a guy who made his first couple knives by filing them out of stock and using sandpaper to polish 'em - Jason Knight is 100% correct! Grab what you have, and get started! Improve your tools one piece at a time, but use what you have. Make a knife. Buy some more tools. Make another one. Doesn't matter if your first few suck - just keep at it. (And by the way, I highly recommend a belt grinder! Filing a knife out is a god-awful amount of work!)
Great suggestions....You’re correct when you said there was a difference between Great Bladesmiths and Great Bladesmiths who are also Great Teachers. As to cost Don Fogg taught us to make and use a Sen or metal drawknife in his class I took at the ABS school in Old Washington in 2003. It was really enjoyable tool to use, and probably faster than a file. Fairly easy to make and really good at making blades flat. He also insisted on the safe use of a heavy hammer (5-7lb) when you had heavy forging to do and switch to a lighter one for general work. He said to keep our elbows close to our side and don’t raise it above shoulder level. Keep it coming.
This was great. I’m thinking of starting a home forge for blade smithing and there is a lot of information out there plus a huge cost for tools if you don’t understand where to look or what you need. I’m grateful for what you shared here and explaining what it takes.
Because of the Coronavirus, my employer fired me. As i became a big fan of bladesmithing i bought an angle grinder, some discs to cut and sand, a hammer, a welder. I will build a forge, a belt grinder and other tools, even the anvil, to start making blades. My desire is more stronger than the difficult time we are going through. I've made my first 3 knives from scrap and I gave to some people close to me, without judgment, of course. After that, I sold two knives before building. It is not the a great deal, i know, but it is a very good thing this happen when you're starting something. i'll go further. Thank you for the counsels.
I just started, used a chunk of railway track spiked onto an old stump for my anvil, had an old hot water tank, cut a hole in the side and built a wood fire in it, put my steel into the base of the wood fire and used my compressor to blast air into the fire making it hot enough to get the leaf spring bright red/orange to forge! Not perfect but for almost 0 start cost it works great!
Blacksmithing is definitely something I want to get into, lucky for me we have Jo Smith giving classes here in town. So until I have any space that would be the next best thing.
Thank you very much for your great inspiring video I just found it, in the last 6 months I have been selling what ever I don't need or use and started buying tools and equipment to get into knife making, I have started a folder on youtube videos for making knives, tonight I found you, I just need shop space that will come soon I live in snow country in BC Canada we still have 2 feet in the yard right now, this is a late spring this year.
Man I have learned so many skills in my life and bladesmithing has always been one of the things I wanted to do. I recently decided I wanted to build a forge and while I was waiting on some stuff to get delivered I couldn't wait, so I grabbed a steel 1.5" T fitting from plumbing stuff I have laying around(I am a handyman and do alot of different repairs so I always have random stuff in my truck) and the plug that fit it and capped off one end left the other open and positioned it with a little bench vise hanging off of a piece of wood I clamped to my desk. Then I laid my propane torch I use for soldering plumbing on it side and clamped it in place so it would shoot down into the opening of the T fitting downwards from the top like a forge would be and had the other side as the opening for some metal.
I ended up making some little tiny stuff put of the shanks of some broken precision files I had laying around with it while I was waiting for materials and bricks to come. I have some teenage mutant ninja turtles toys from the 90s when I was a kid hanging on my wall so I went at it with mini tools that I have from making jewelery at one point like a little ball peen hammer and a block of metal used to dome out blanks but used the flat backside as an anvil. I started off by making a glaive type blade and took a piece of oak slat leftover from the underside of a handrail(the stuff that's used as trim in between the balusters on freestanding handrailing)and carved out a little "Bō staff" about 4 inches long and burned the blade into the staff for the Donatello figure and have him holding a glance instead of a standard Bō staff. Then I went to start making a Katana for Leonardo. I watched a video from discovery or history channel or something when I was a kid about a traditional Japanese swordsmith and remember him picking out the steel or tamahogane by sound for the core and idk what it would be called but the shell or envelope surrounding the core, I would imagine lower carbon softer steel probably has a duller sound where higher carbon harder steel has a ring or ting when tapped at least that's what it seems from all the metal I have hammered on removing rusty car parts and just from what I have experienced, and watching him make the sword which is a deadly piece of art made me want to do the same one day. Anyways I made a little katana with a blade around 2.5" long .25" tall and about 1mm thick on the back of the blade with a little half inch tang to burn into a little 1" handle I carved from the same oak slat as the boa staff. I remember that when he made the katana it was not curved until he quenched it and from how I understand or remember it the curve happens because the back of the blade is thicker and is coated in clay so it would cool slower than the hard edge that is left bare so I think but don't know for sure the edge quenches and hardens right away making it really hard but also more brittle and probably wants to hold that shape(not sure) and the thermal mass of the thicker steel and clay cools slower on the back of the blade so it probably spends more time contracting instead of freezing in shape instantly like the edge and I'm sure everyone knows that things contract or shrink as they get cooler due to less excited molecules or whatever so it has more tike to put a warp or curve to the blade. Not sure if that's actually truly the reason this happens but it makes sense in my head lol and I watched that video almost 30 years ago when I was like 9 or 10 when I saw the video. I used the sludge from flattening my sharpening stones with a leveling stone and mixed a paste from that for the clay on the mini Katana heated it till it looked like the right temp(it was yellowish orange and looked like when your eyes are closed laying on a bright sunny day that bright orange that bleeds through) and quenched it in water because that's what he did if I recall correctly versus oil like I saw when I watched some other people bladesmithing on RUclips a couple years back when I binged blacksmithing videos for a week or so, and it looked like a little straight tattoo blade before quenched and noticeable but not extreme curve post quench and it looked really nice and straight no sideways warping considering how small and thin it was I couldn't have asked for a better result so I grabbed a sanding block and went through the steps to get a good shiny blade up to using my dremel with a felt pad and the red dremel polishing compound, I even noticed a light line separating where the bare edge and clay covered back was in the little wavy design I put the clay in looking like little surf waves and being an anime fan and fan of a real katana(never owned one or bought a cheap one lol I only ever wanted to make one for myself)I know that is called the hamon and started noticing that when I was doing the wet sandpaper from 400 grit up to 2000 grit that I had from cutting and welding rusty body panels out of vehicles. I actually live in an area that has massive amounts of iron ore in minnesota known as "The Iron Range" and you can just walk with a magnet on a rope and pick up stones or an iron dust or sand/little pebbles all over the place so when I make my katana I may collect a bunch of that around my families old homestead land and try to make steel from it like I saw in either that video or another one where it's made in a single use mud or clay type furnace over time to make the tamahagone they used to use for authentic Japanese katanas and make the sword I have always wanted from materials from the land I grew up on. Sorry I have terrible Adhd and my brain is always on some tangent I never mean to write and ramble as much as I sometimes do but my meds take almost 2 hours to kick in and before then my brain is like a robot chicken episode. I am sure that whatever I make should turn out decent after hammering out such a small delicate item the length of my pinky and keeping it uniform from the tip to the tang in thickness angle and height with a lightweight jewlers ball peen hammer and a little hyper tough stubby mini hammer being able to use full size tools like a little 3lb sledge that I will modify into a more proper blacksmithing hammer and an actual anvil in my shop room vs a metal block on a shelf insert sitting on my lap that it will only get easier although slower because it will probably take alot more heating the metal to the proper temp to shape so it doesn't get stressed and have fractures or whatever(3 years of metal shop and welding in highschool taught me a little about the properties of iron/steel or metals and the microcrystaline structures of metal) and also have room to have consistent swings of the hammer and not making something about a 10th of the size and dimensions I would make an actual sword. Who knows it may be another hobby I pick up that makes money instead of hemorrhaging it lol. I never worry about getting a tool or something because my first big purchase when I went to business for myself was a 16" dewalt compound sliding miter saw plus the rolling stand that collapses down for it which was somewhere around 900$ after taxes was paid for on the first job I did with it and bought it when I built a deck in a few days over a weekend for my aunts neighbors cabin on the lake she lived on chat remember if I charged 25 - 30 - or 35$ per hour back then but 2 13ish hour days and a shorter 7 or 8 hour day later I had it built waiting to dry/weather a little bit for a good proper stain job and the couple wrote me a check for 1000$(I told them 800 would be perfect when they asked what my hours worked out to so they did that and tipped which they always do and I appreciate that so I always give a decent deal for them and if they feel my work was worth more I wouldn't refuse extra money) I actually do that alot for people and when a new client is wondering why it ended up being cheaper than they expected I always tell them that's how much I feel I should charge because I normally knock some time off of the job due to my adhd and ocd tendacies either making me want everything to join up perfectly or on the opposite spectrum the adhd causing me to misplace tools having to search for them that I only charge for when I am actually working so If I spend half an hour looking for the chisel or plane that I set down 5min previously that time doesn't get charged for or if I get overly ocd and specific making something fit seamlesslyand it takes me 2x as long I charge half the time.
“....I’m gonna sell my motorcycle, or what ever.” Me- *sitting in the garage, looking over to my bike* “don’t worry baby, he didn’t mean that”
straight up, he lost me at sell your motorcycle haha
i dont mean to be off topic but does any of you know a way to log back into an Instagram account??
I was stupid forgot the password. I appreciate any tricks you can offer me
@Nathanael Casen I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff now.
Takes a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Nathanael Casen It worked and I actually got access to my account again. I'm so happy!
Thanks so much you saved my ass !
@Rogelio Anakin happy to help =)
About 6 years ago, I came across a blacksmith RUclips video. That was it for me. Watched more and more. Damascus is a passion I have. I still haven't forged, yet. Living in urban jungle limits were I can. But I changed my career. Took up metal fabrication. Made a forge out of plate steel in foundations coarse. My desire is still as strong as when I discovered that RUclips video
NICE.
Hell yeah brotha!! What have been your biggest mistakes/ learning curves… and what are your biggest insights
Follow your passions man!
I related to your comment pretty weld I was studying to be a vet but 5 years ago I found a video on RUclips with a guy making a forge outta gardening materials and it changed what I wanted to do I tried to get into it and found my self being a welder the desire to create with fire and metal is still there strong as ever
hope you've finally had that chance to make it real man 👍
“Gravity condenser and quantum navigator.....”
I KNEW IT!!! Jason knows how to make lightsabers. 😂
he forgot to mention the flux-capacitor and stable atom interferometry.
@@dfking3803 lmfao 🤪
Well everybody knows you're spinning your wheels without an atomic interferometer: that's first day of kindergarten.
@@christopherneelyakagoattmo6078 Yeah, but without the Flux Capacitor, your atomic inferferometer wont have the power it needs to function.
Don't be so daft you don't no nothing
I sold 2 old shotguns and a generator to get started bladesmithing. I don’t regret it at all.
Well not until the power goes out and I need that generator 😂
I hope you have another shotgun, cause if you need food... ???
@@hadmatter9240 Shotguns aren't edible
@@alexlymberopoulos6254 no, but he can go get food with it.
@@tmac2744 Sticking up your local supermarket is not the way to go, bro. Just pay like the other people.
@@kaizoebara prob means hunting. Slugs and 3'O buck are good for larger game while birdshot is good for smaller game.
I just wanted to say THANK YOU for being realistic, honest, and grounded in your explanation of what it takes to "start" a new adventure. Please keep up the amazing content and I look forward to scooping up all of the knowledge that is being passed along on your channel!
Hey thanks. I really appreciate you following my work.
When I first started having an interest in bladesmithing my biggest hobby was airsoft (I was 17). Once I decided I wanted to make knives seriously I sold everything I had for airsoft and bought myself a forge and built myself a belt grinder. Three years later and it was the best decision I have made so far
How did you make a belt grinder? That sounds like really useful info
@@3-dogs its not too hard, to make life easier for myself I got a wheel kit on ebay and a 2.2kw (3hp) motor online. The rest was old bolts salvaged from an engine, some box section steel and some heavy plate steel. 6mm or 1/4 inch is heavy enough really. I also salvaged an old gas strut from a broken car as a tensioner. It basically uses the box iron for a frame, the plate as a base, table and platen and the bolts to hold some stuff together. If you are on Facebook there is a group called 'home made belt grinders' which is a VERY helpful group, there's loads of plans for grinders there and lots of people who can show you photos of what to do and give some helpful tips and tricks 😊 my page is brugman knife works if you want to check me out! I can send some photos of mine as an example then!
@@3-dogs loads of videos on RUclips of making belt-grinders.
@@dylanbrugman3799 I checked out your knives and they look awesome
@@cpnorthernoutdoors3554 glad you like them man!
I’ve been driving for an hour once a week to use his forge. He’s now helping build my own. I’ve learned a lot. Still gonna go up once a week. But now I’m gonna get more hammer time at home. Super stoked. Great advice
@slayo 66 yep. Worth the time for sure lol.
@slayo 66 Can't touch this.
Curious: are you doing this for fun, or profit? How’s it going?
@@richlabombard6780 mostly for fun. I do make a bit of profit but it’s more for creativity. I’m a aircraft fabricator by trade and need to stick to blueprints. So it’s fun just to be able to play and if I make a mistake oh well. 🤷🏼♂️. I do knives for family and friends that ask. I’ve done a lot of iron gates and railings for people. My latest project was a mediaeval kettle helm a buddy wanted. I’m willing to try most stuff if it looks fun.
I paused it at 3-ish mins... And I already love this. Dude is on point. No matter what it is, you gotta love what you do. Like the old saying " if you truly love what you do for a living, then you never work." Because it's a love, not a chore.
Alternative title: *Top things you need to start anything*
yup
Hammer, anvil and fire xD
Yo. You ain’t lying. This literally wasted my time
@@ysljavale3274 yup. this feels more like a video in response to people who cant afford a hobby/budget
You’re 100% right Jason. In the blade smith realm you’re my idol man. I’ve basically followed all of these principles and it has served me well. Next year I’ll be applying for LLC and pushing for my dream.
One thing I forgot to add. I’m hoping to be prepared enough to make a go at Forged in Fire in 6 months to a year from now.
Jason knight is a bladesmith sage! Be the Knight, listen to the Knight. He is wise and true!
Thanks for this, I had a similar discussion with my dear old Dad of 78 today,. He’s all on about not having enough money or time to do what he wants, I respond with sell something you don’t use and get what you will use. Money buys experiences, in my opinion, and time is of the essence, especially in my Dad’s case.
"Money buys experiences" I love that quote its so true!
Learn from some is the best thing you said. I am a welder with 15 years experience. When I started I talk and listened to old guys . They may seem grumpy and gruff but they love teaching their craft. I learned more from them than school.
Thanks for this friend. Building my forge right now. Bought an anvil a week ago... Been dreaming about this for years, now's the time for me.
“Uncommon sense”. Hell yeah! Am a high school teacher with a hobby in knife making. Have been using this phrase for a while - nice to hear it’s a common sentiment.
The first part about wanting to bladesmith or blacksmith is true. My forge is a campfire with a hair dryer, my anvil is a 1" thick 6" x 4" chunk of scrap steel from a welding shop, a cross ping hammer, and pair of welding gloves. I have been watching blacksmithing videos and want to do this! I have only been at this for 2 weeks now have made several tent stakes and currently working on making tongs out of rebar. Not there yet for blades but I am working on it.
As a craftsman in other fields I love the emphasis on always learning from someone better and be a maker rather than a collector
I’m a mechanical engineer and keen on getting into knife making. Watching this video has been fantastic in making me realise passion for the art of it is more important than starting off with all the big tools. Thank you
As a current ME major with a specialization in Biomedical Engineering, I keep hearing people talking about how we moved on too quickly from hand forging to drop forging and it cost us quality. Lots of people in my classes are looking back at history and trying to correct course.
The sage speaks true, slowly but surely I turned part of my woodshed into my shop. Run power to, got my forge set up, got the tools in. Saving up for the anvil, it's a process that requires love and devotion. And, the learning never stops.
Awesome advise. And the best part about it is: It goes for pretty much everything. If you wanna make music or you wanna be a sculptor or bladesmith or whatever. Without the desire and without learning from people who know what they do, you'Re getting nowhere.
And I love all your videos. You seem like such a cool chill guy to hang out with. Much respect from germany.
Never a truer word said I absolutely agree with everything said. I am a wood machinist I make furniture for a living. I have 20 years experience and still love what I do and am now getting in to blade smithing and am loving just making something new and just learning at every stage.
So much universal truth in your message. Hope it reaches the people who need to hear it.
I hope I look like this dude when im his age, dude is a stud
I wish I lived near you so I could visit your shop and watch you do your magic. I'm just starting out in the trade. Thanks for all great advice.
Hey Jason you know nothing!!! If I have learned anything from Disney movies... all you need to make a legendary weapon is a special metal ingot, the power of a star and a casting mold!
I mean you could take brass and cast it using a really big solar cooker
@@jchoneandonly smh - newbies.
You forgot the catchy inspirational song for the forging montage.
You forgot the teenage tree-person willing to sacrifice an arm to make the handle.
@@tmac2744 this is starting to sound a bit like the plot of an SNL video
Over the past 2 yrs bladesmithing has become an obsession of mine. I work as a welder so i went to work and built a forge. I finally got a setup built. got my burner tuned perfect, but i am struggling a bit. I feel like i just cant get anything right. Cant get my bevels nice and straight. Cant seem to get my shoulders even. Anyhow for some reason the way u break shit down makes it easier for me to understand. And when i hear people like you talk about starting out and how little you had, it inspires me to get out there and get smithing. Ive noticed a lot of smiths have totally different views and some are straight contradicting to each other so im gonna stick with your techniques and info so keep em coming my friend!
I literally asked what I would need to get started in the comment section of another video. I’m glad Jason Knight decided to pass on his knowledge and trade. I will be making use of this and your other videos. It’s rare that people put this much into passing on knowledge please absorb as much as you can.
I'm not in a hurry to get old but a beard like yours is something to look forward to
I am watching this to help my fifteen year old son get started in forging but I really understand what you are saying about giving other things up. If I had to choose between buying more clothes or buy gardening items, I am buying the gardening items every time.
100% correct on the first point. I started watching fif and learned that people still forge knives and I was instantly obsessed and in love. I wanted it!! There wasn’t a force on this planet that could have kept me from it! Started with a jerry rigged coal forge and a thick piece of plate for an anvil in my back yard. Made my first knife and the obsession took off to whole new levels. I’m not a rich guy by any means but because I wanted it I now have a shop, nice anvil, good grinder, good forge, and just acquired a power hammer. My hobby has turned in to a self sustaining craft. Nowadays Every penny spent on blade making has been made from blade making. And also, Jason, your content is absolutely addictive! Keep that shit up.
It's good advice. Crappy tools and lack of time isn't what will stop you from being a competent knife maker. You have to make it your hobby, it needs to be something you look forward to doing when you come home after your real job, and have the desire to pick up knowledge from others. We live in great times with access to so much info on almost any subject. Doesn't matter what you want to try just go for it, life is short have fun!
I started with the desire and a fire pit in the back yard with a pipe in it with a hairdryer for air flow, a rock was my anvil. Bought a cheap harbour freight 1x30. I’ve come a long way since then.
You started out better off than I did, I didn't have a hair dryer so I started by blowing into an iron pipe and then switched to structuring my fires to funnel the wind, and then finally got a cheap blower.
That sounds like Ryu from season one of Forged in Fire, when he made the Viking Battle Axe. Jason was a judge for a little bit.
What a pleasure to watch your video. You have a lot to say about knife-making, but a lot to say about life as well. Knowledge and wisdom!
Thanks for being there for us. Although youre a master bladesmith, you dont put yourself i a towering position above beginners. Your eagerness to teach is admirable. Thanks again. Paul "wannabe bladesmith" Sauvé.😊
I appreciate your no bs video, raw and information filled. I have been debating for years, yet have held back. I am coming to the end of my time in the military, and I realize that I am going to need something to invest in for the long run, that helps to get me out of bed in the morning. I enjoyed your forged in fire time, but this video was honestly my tipping point. I look forward to diving into this skillset with a passion, and I appreciate people like you that have kept it going. Thank you sir.
Loved this video. Bladesmithing is already in my heart as an art form even though I've never struck hot iron. Can't wait to get started.
I really enjoyed this video. The information is great but what I really enjoyed is Jason Knight being himself and his light hearted and genuine spirit. Thank you for making this video 👍
I really appreciate folks like you sharing your knowledge with us newbies. Really appreciate it!
Thank you for watching. I really appreciate you following my work.
I started from nothing, found old plymouth drumbrake and made forge out of it and I still use it after 22 years lol. Gathered tools where I could and I have had fun, made quite a few puukos to this day. Now I want and need a Shop and big anvil, maybe desent grinder, which are hard to find here in Finland
Hi Jason....Well put brother....you have to respect anyone that can basically take nothing & make it a master piece sometimes...Those are the type of people that made America the great country that it is today!....May God bless them all!
Took a blacksmithing class and 2 bladesmithing classes. Have that itch to keep forging, but for now I live in an apartment complex. Once the shop starts its open forge again I'm gonna be there constantly, and when I move to the house I'm setting up my own forge. Can't wait to get there.
This was amazing. Simple and applies to anyone that wants to get into a craft.
Thanks for the inspiration. Going to start this with my son. Always wanted to learn blade smithing. To do it with my son would be the best. Thanks again.
He exchanged a collection that had a value set by man, for a skill that’s value is set by demand.
@Andrew Young phone companies need gold tho
@@simonzakeyh6515 So do rappers.
@@adamnichols476 Lol, they'll settle for gold leaf covered items. Only has to 'look' the part.
I love that the first thing you list is "WANT", and show that it is the most important thing.
I'm in the process of my first kife! Making a chef's knife from a leaf spring. So far, so good, I'm in the grinding and sanding process right now. Knifemaking is very different than blacksmithing, but I love learning new processes.
20 seconds in, I was about to leave this video in a huff since it's been a long night during a stressful time and I just wanted to learn something since I got a small blade forge for Christmas when I wasn't expecting one. I'm glad I caught myself and kept going a few seconds and read the comments.
I’m looking to get into blade crafting, been doing a lot of research and taking my time before I start buying tools, this video has been saved
I'm in my early 60's & have been making things, doing my own fabricating & making custom tools & jigs for many decades but haven't made my fist knife, machete, or axe yet. Now I'm ready & thank Jason for making these videos & being an inspiration. As soon as the weather turns I'll be building my own forge, power hammer, and forge press. The 2 main things I need to buy is a decent anvil & a better belt grinder. Thanks to the bladesmiths on RUclips like Jason Knight & few other favorites I can start applying their tips & techniques later this year. I figure that 2020 is a good year to be known as the year I started making my own knives & edged weapons, so I'm anxious to get started.
How did it go
@@timasuarthegreat2383 Slower than anticipated. Fixing my truck went way over budget so getting everything I needed had to be put on hold due to money being tight. I managed to get an Accaciao 66lb anvil on ebay, got my refractory materials for the forge and acquired a used 3hp motor for when I start building the hammer. My primary shop heater finally broke for good so it's been too cold to do much of anything this winter. Last year was an extended clusterfuck so hopefully this spring I can get a lot more done.
Nice to see a well groomed Man with life wisdom teaching others his priceless experience. Unlike the kids who barely hit puberty claiming to be experts in the field.
Thank you Sensai! 😀
Lotta this stuff is just good things to know for LIFE. You can apply this to any passion you've got.
I knew i liked you from the first ad on youtube i saw with you i am very much so a novice in an area where this is pretty much non existant due to my job and my family i cant go travel to take a class so i am doing this the hard and less efficient way: Trial and error. Your knowledge is of great value and thank you for sharing.
I’ve always loved working with my hands. Models, bows, to name a couple…now starting to create knives. I love your style, straight up and honest, informative. Love your videos. It’s like looking in the mirror. We’ll, my kids say you could be my brother. Lol. Anyhow, best wishes, and thanks for all your help!
Adam
Excellent, realistic breakdown of getting started in smithing... Or really starting ANYTHING. U could apply this to allot. Ty man. Ty very much.
I got a half ass railroad track anvil from a antique dealer in NC for $20.00 last year. Right now I am planning reworking it for what I need. I am learning how to use my cutting torches. I get free garbage rusty tools and bring them back when I am watching videos to add to my experience, hammers, axes and screwdrivers, Saw blades I am holding for the first knife cut out. I came across a tapered to an edge metal file it just might be my first blade. Yesterday I picked up a cast Iron fire pit to be converted into a forge! My day Job is HVAC I save the small scrap brass, copper, aluminium, to melt down my own ingots this is an adventure! it will evolve. Watch the free stuff on CL in your area for things you can use! I got the old tools and fire pit that way. Drive around for scrap steel, talk to the scrap guys picking up the scrap they rather sell to you than the scrap yard anyway for super cheap! Must haves after desire, a grinder, a vice, and fire to start.That's all!
Yes sir! I built my first forge out of an old portable air tank with black iron pipe and mig welding tips for burners. And I rescued my great-grandad's old anvil from a flower bed. Made my first pair of tongs out of a salvaged piece of rebar and used a 4lb shop hammer. My most expensive piece of equipment was a cheap 4x36 belt sander but before that I just used a walmart angle grinder. Where there's a will, there's a way.
As always thank you!!! And you as well have a great day
I had nothing but scraps laying around and I managed to build a coal/wood forge from some angle iron, steel roofing, a cast iron skillet and a mattress pump. It's ugly as sin, but I simply love it. It fires up fast and gets hotter than hell. Making your own forge is a great way to get that solid information you're talking about, as my next one will be more refined and larger. With the exception of hammers I have opted to make my own tools, for the main reason that doing so will help me develop solid hammer skills, refine my ability to measure temperature by color, understand the fundamentals of engineering the items I've traditionally just bought. I'm in no rush for big grinders as hand finishing is gearing me up for foundations of the grind. I admit the fantasy of someday earning my supper with smithing, but for now I'm completely saturated in the joys of learning.
Solid video as always, sir. To all the other amateur smiths out there, our only true limit to what we can do is ourselves.
Kepp it hot, and hit it hard!
Those tips you mentioned are good, I will take them and put in use. Thanks, thumps up
Lots of great points man. More people need to learn how to work with their hands.
Lots of wisdom offered here.
I've been on two paths towards mastery in my life; as a photoengraver/stripper in the printing industry and as a tea man. I've taken lots of classes and spent decades studying each, and one thing I've noticed about the best Teachers; they view Mastery not as a goal but as an ever-improving journey. Thanks for this inspiring reminder.
Thank you for sharing your time, experience and knowledge with those of us who weren’t sure where to start. Until you know SOMETHING, you don’t know what to ask.
I got into knife making to spend time with my son and started using it to test myself I have been making my tools, tongs ,forge,foundry and now I’m building a power hammer I don’t want to sell my knives because I don’t want it to become a tedious job I do it to push my skills and to relax. I appreciate your information
Funny thing, liking stuff is what got me into making knives. The stuff I like tends to have blades, so now learning to make better stuff so I like it more.
I'll start off by saying thank you for making this video. I watched this video when it originally came out and it was enough to finally inspire me to try for myself.
I've always been interested in forging. Even as a little kid my grandfather had an old anvil and anytime I would go to visit I would want to see what he was working on. When I saw this video originally my grandfather had just passed away so I guess to honor him I finally said f*** it and decided I was going to try for myself.
I live in a northren part of Canada and despite what people may think there is not a huge amount of people that do any blacksmithing. Some of my biggest challenges have been finding materials and finding mentorship. Over the past year I sold a few tings and bought a mig welder, taught myself how to mig weld, built a steel welding table, a forge and forced air propane forge burner, an anvil base, an extension on my workshop for forging and just recently the last piece to my puzzle I built what I use as my anvil ( a whole crapload of 1/2 thick plate steel all beveled and welded together to 8" thick and then an extra inch of A500 target steel for the face. I know it's not perfect and I spent a week drilling and hand filing a 3/4" hardy into it but I'm pretty proud of it. )
Anyways I digress, I've made 5 blades so far. My very first had a stress fracture on the tang but taught me that I don't have to "kill" the metal with my swings and to let the hammer do the work.
My second turned out nothing like I wanted when I started but taught me to better plan out and setup for my projects.
My 3rd blade turned out like I expected when forging but I got pretty aggressive with my grinder and well I'm still kind of upset about that one but it taught me to take my time and also improved my shop by encouraging me to make some basic grinding guides and jigs.
My 4th blade was an made from mild steel simply to practice forging. It looks like I wanted it to though and my bevels and plunge line turned out almost perfect.
Finally my 5th blade is the one I was working on tonight while while listening to RUclips autoplay thru forging tutorials when this video came back on. So far this blade has turned out exactly how I've wanted it. I plan on heat treating it tomorrow. If all goes well with that it will be the first one that I will put a handle on and give a good edge to.
I know I have MANY more lessons that I need to learn along the way and I'm honestly really excited for them.
Again I thank you for making this video in the first place and giving me the confidence to do something that I probably wouldn't have done otherwise. It has ignited a passion in me for the art and given me the drive to not only follow thru but to learn and adapt. Your videos have helped me out so much along the way to the point that if I get stuck now with something I automatically look to see if you have made a video on it or something similar. (So far you have not let me down.) I will continue to watch and learn from you as long as you make videos and if you do get this message I would love to send you a picture of that blade when I finish it.
Sincerely.
Jason Boros.
For the amount of knowledge & labor that go into some of your blades I value them at priceless.
I Ifound a piece of half inch metal found in my junk I plan on using it for an anvil and I have an old wore out toaster oven I'm going to try to make a forge out of the toaster oven an old hair dryer for a blower wish me luck please.. thank you for your golden videos sir...
I'ma trade my knife collection, so I can make some knives.
hahaha
Underrated comment 😂
I’m actually considering this lol
I traded the kitchen knives, now my wife is P O, trade her next 😂
Trade the knife collection to build a new knife collection exactly how you want it...
A really good manager I had said "If you want to know what you're committed to, check your results." It's what you said--the things that matter the most are what you end up doing.
I knew I was going to like this guy the moment I saw him a few minutes in such a real inspirational person
I just subscribed. My boyfriend and I are in our sixties and we have been watching you on Forged In Fire. Thank you for posting videos.
I can relate to the start of this story % 100. I have just sold my air soft collection to buy a 2+72 grinder custom built 3hp motor with tilt fiction. yet to decide on anvil and forge ect.
I am all in! I haven't felt this passionate about life in a long time.
Hello from Canada Jason.
Thank you for your constant inspiration and general outlook on life. You inspired me to build my own forge and get into the hobby. Hit steel for the first time today, made a little rebar butter knife unintentionally! Thank you for your constant inspiration and these amazing videos!
im new to forgeing but the best thing i hear you say so far is this side for moving this side for smothing, makes so much sense
Thank you for helping me see that blacksmithing isn't the right thing for me at this point in my life. I need to put my energy elsewhere. I found your directions equally important and transferring to my main passion. I will come back to this when the time is right. ❤⚒️
I've been reading books and slowly buying equipment to start out doing things. My now fiance is 100% backing me to start making knives. I do it as a hobby on my days off from working on mining equipment. I can't wait to look into the association to start my journey. Thank you for this video I look forward to watching more.
I have been moving hot steel for a lil over a year now. I built my own gas forge and went to the highly accredited school of RUclips. I think i'm a natural @ blacksmithing because all my stuff comes out prefect! Just kiddn my shits just as fuked or good as the next newb.... Just wanted to say thank you for all your help here on this topic!
Haha...cool. Thank you for following my work.
i’m only fifteen and i welded random pieces of metal to make an anvil and made a forge out of firebricks and two tanks of butane from walmart, thanks for the tips man!
When I first watched this video, I thought it was cheesy as can be. Then I realized I am taking all of these steps as I start the process of becoming a hobby blacksmith. I enjoy your videos Jason. I find them to be both informative and entertaining. Keep up the good work brother.
I built a workshop from scrap this winter scrap metal, pallets etc and saved up for a few basic power tools.
I just found a massive clay deposit near my home so I'm making my first forge very soon from cob.
Very excited to start.
I don't own a lot to sell but I am an expert in sourcing cheap or free resources.
Theres more than one way to the sun, just get there
As a guy who made his first couple knives by filing them out of stock and using sandpaper to polish 'em - Jason Knight is 100% correct! Grab what you have, and get started! Improve your tools one piece at a time, but use what you have. Make a knife. Buy some more tools. Make another one. Doesn't matter if your first few suck - just keep at it. (And by the way, I highly recommend a belt grinder! Filing a knife out is a god-awful amount of work!)
Great suggestions....You’re correct when you said there was a difference between Great Bladesmiths and Great Bladesmiths who are also Great Teachers. As to cost Don Fogg taught us to make and use a Sen or metal drawknife in his class I took at the ABS school in Old Washington in 2003. It was really enjoyable tool to use, and probably faster than a file. Fairly easy to make and really good at making blades flat. He also insisted on the safe use of a heavy hammer (5-7lb) when you had heavy forging to do and switch to a lighter one for general work. He said to keep our elbows close to our side and don’t raise it above shoulder level. Keep it coming.
This was great. I’m thinking of starting a home forge for blade smithing and there is a lot of information out there plus a huge cost for tools if you don’t understand where to look or what you need. I’m grateful for what you shared here and explaining what it takes.
Thanks for following and letting me know this helps answer some questions.
Because of the Coronavirus, my employer fired me. As i became a big fan of bladesmithing i bought an angle grinder, some discs to cut and sand, a hammer, a welder. I will build a forge, a belt grinder and other tools, even the anvil, to start making blades. My desire is more stronger than the difficult time we are going through. I've made my first 3 knives from scrap and I gave to some people close to me, without judgment, of course. After that, I sold two knives before building. It is not the a great deal, i know, but it is a very good thing this happen when you're starting something. i'll go further. Thank you for the counsels.
Your words have really huge impact on people. Thank you for sharing 👍🏼
A lot of this wisdom is transferable to all skills. Thank you.
Just purchased an anvil and going down the rabbit hole now…. Definitely getting in to learn and have fun
I just started, used a chunk of railway track spiked onto an old stump for my anvil, had an old hot water tank, cut a hole in the side and built a wood fire in it, put my steel into the base of the wood fire and used my compressor to blast air into the fire making it hot enough to get the leaf spring bright red/orange to forge! Not perfect but for almost 0 start cost it works great!
Been debating between going to graduate school for my profession and enrolling in metalsmithing classes... Metalsmithing begins on Saturday.☺️
'Sold his Gold coin collection'.........That must have been one hell of a grinder! (okay 2)
Contents:
1) determination
find a place 4:00
learn from others 4:40
2) need information 5:50
3) hammer, anvil, fire 9:20
4) materials 11:40
I’ve been collecting steel for a little while now, and I’m going to be getting my equipment within the next few months!
Thank you for your time teaching us scrubs the art of being a maker. Skäl
Blacksmithing is definitely something I want to get into, lucky for me we have Jo Smith giving classes here in town. So until I have any space that would be the next best thing.
Thank you very much for your great inspiring video I just found it, in the last 6 months I have been selling what ever I don't need or use and started buying tools and equipment to get into knife making, I have started a folder on youtube videos for making knives, tonight I found you, I just need shop space that will come soon I live in snow country in BC Canada we still have 2 feet in the yard right now, this is a late spring this year.
You are making makers
Mr. Knight good job i loved the Damascus chef's knife video
Thanks Jason, this clip really helped me to get over the dissapoinment of stuffing up👍🏻
Man I have learned so many skills in my life and bladesmithing has always been one of the things I wanted to do. I recently decided I wanted to build a forge and while I was waiting on some stuff to get delivered I couldn't wait, so I grabbed a steel 1.5" T fitting from plumbing stuff I have laying around(I am a handyman and do alot of different repairs so I always have random stuff in my truck) and the plug that fit it and capped off one end left the other open and positioned it with a little bench vise hanging off of a piece of wood I clamped to my desk. Then I laid my propane torch I use for soldering plumbing on it side and clamped it in place so it would shoot down into the opening of the T fitting downwards from the top like a forge would be and had the other side as the opening for some metal.
I ended up making some little tiny stuff put of the shanks of some broken precision files I had laying around with it while I was waiting for materials and bricks to come. I have some teenage mutant ninja turtles toys from the 90s when I was a kid hanging on my wall so I went at it with mini tools that I have from making jewelery at one point like a little ball peen hammer and a block of metal used to dome out blanks but used the flat backside as an anvil. I started off by making a glaive type blade and took a piece of oak slat leftover from the underside of a handrail(the stuff that's used as trim in between the balusters on freestanding handrailing)and carved out a little "Bō staff" about 4 inches long and burned the blade into the staff for the Donatello figure and have him holding a glance instead of a standard Bō staff. Then I went to start making a Katana for Leonardo. I watched a video from discovery or history channel or something when I was a kid about a traditional Japanese swordsmith and remember him picking out the steel or tamahogane by sound for the core and idk what it would be called but the shell or envelope surrounding the core, I would imagine lower carbon softer steel probably has a duller sound where higher carbon harder steel has a ring or ting when tapped at least that's what it seems from all the metal I have hammered on removing rusty car parts and just from what I have experienced, and watching him make the sword which is a deadly piece of art made me want to do the same one day. Anyways I made a little katana with a blade around 2.5" long .25" tall and about 1mm thick on the back of the blade with a little half inch tang to burn into a little 1" handle I carved from the same oak slat as the boa staff. I remember that when he made the katana it was not curved until he quenched it and from how I understand or remember it the curve happens because the back of the blade is thicker and is coated in clay so it would cool slower than the hard edge that is left bare so I think but don't know for sure the edge quenches and hardens right away making it really hard but also more brittle and probably wants to hold that shape(not sure) and the thermal mass of the thicker steel and clay cools slower on the back of the blade so it probably spends more time contracting instead of freezing in shape instantly like the edge and I'm sure everyone knows that things contract or shrink as they get cooler due to less excited molecules or whatever so it has more tike to put a warp or curve to the blade. Not sure if that's actually truly the reason this happens but it makes sense in my head lol and I watched that video almost 30 years ago when I was like 9 or 10 when I saw the video. I used the sludge from flattening my sharpening stones with a leveling stone and mixed a paste from that for the clay on the mini Katana heated it till it looked like the right temp(it was yellowish orange and looked like when your eyes are closed laying on a bright sunny day that bright orange that bleeds through) and quenched it in water because that's what he did if I recall correctly versus oil like I saw when I watched some other people bladesmithing on RUclips a couple years back when I binged blacksmithing videos for a week or so, and it looked like a little straight tattoo blade before quenched and noticeable but not extreme curve post quench and it looked really nice and straight no sideways warping considering how small and thin it was I couldn't have asked for a better result so I grabbed a sanding block and went through the steps to get a good shiny blade up to using my dremel with a felt pad and the red dremel polishing compound, I even noticed a light line separating where the bare edge and clay covered back was in the little wavy design I put the clay in looking like little surf waves and being an anime fan and fan of a real katana(never owned one or bought a cheap one lol I only ever wanted to make one for myself)I know that is called the hamon and started noticing that when I was doing the wet sandpaper from 400 grit up to 2000 grit that I had from cutting and welding rusty body panels out of vehicles. I actually live in an area that has massive amounts of iron ore in minnesota known as "The Iron Range" and you can just walk with a magnet on a rope and pick up stones or an iron dust or sand/little pebbles all over the place so when I make my katana I may collect a bunch of that around my families old homestead land and try to make steel from it like I saw in either that video or another one where it's made in a single use mud or clay type furnace over time to make the tamahagone they used to use for authentic Japanese katanas and make the sword I have always wanted from materials from the land I grew up on. Sorry I have terrible Adhd and my brain is always on some tangent I never mean to write and ramble as much as I sometimes do but my meds take almost 2 hours to kick in and before then my brain is like a robot chicken episode. I am sure that whatever I make should turn out decent after hammering out such a small delicate item the length of my pinky and keeping it uniform from the tip to the tang in thickness angle and height with a lightweight jewlers ball peen hammer and a little hyper tough stubby mini hammer being able to use full size tools like a little 3lb sledge that I will modify into a more proper blacksmithing hammer and an actual anvil in my shop room vs a metal block on a shelf insert sitting on my lap that it will only get easier although slower because it will probably take alot more heating the metal to the proper temp to shape so it doesn't get stressed and have fractures or whatever(3 years of metal shop and welding in highschool taught me a little about the properties of iron/steel or metals and the microcrystaline structures of metal) and also have room to have consistent swings of the hammer and not making something about a 10th of the size and dimensions I would make an actual sword. Who knows it may be another hobby I pick up that makes money instead of hemorrhaging it lol. I never worry about getting a tool or something because my first big purchase when I went to business for myself was a 16" dewalt compound sliding miter saw plus the rolling stand that collapses down for it which was somewhere around 900$ after taxes was paid for on the first job I did with it and bought it when I built a deck in a few days over a weekend for my aunts neighbors cabin on the lake she lived on chat remember if I charged 25 - 30 - or 35$ per hour back then but 2 13ish hour days and a shorter 7 or 8 hour day later I had it built waiting to dry/weather a little bit for a good proper stain job and the couple wrote me a check for 1000$(I told them 800 would be perfect when they asked what my hours worked out to so they did that and tipped which they always do and I appreciate that so I always give a decent deal for them and if they feel my work was worth more I wouldn't refuse extra money) I actually do that alot for people and when a new client is wondering why it ended up being cheaper than they expected I always tell them that's how much I feel I should charge because I normally knock some time off of the job due to my adhd and ocd tendacies either making me want everything to join up perfectly or on the opposite spectrum the adhd causing me to misplace tools having to search for them that I only charge for when I am actually working so If I spend half an hour looking for the chisel or plane that I set down 5min previously that time doesn't get charged for or if I get overly ocd and specific making something fit seamlesslyand it takes me 2x as long I charge half the time.
Those are lessons for life and apply to many things! Great advice. Your videos are excellent man