Blacksmith Forging a Tall Candlestick Holder
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- The full process of how I make a Tall Candlestick Holder.
Starting stock includes 20mm Square, 25x8mm flat bar, 1.5mm sheet. You will see processes including forging under the power hammer, fly press and anvil, along with the use of the oxy-propane torch I also use the MIG welder.
This is an existing product of my own design that uses lots of visually interesting traditional processes… and a MIG welder, which I feel requires a bit of explanation.
I call myself a traditional blacksmith. I try to limit how much electrical welding goes into all my products and can count on one hand the amount of electrical welds I use across my entire range. I limit it’s use because I want to stay integral to the craft of blacksmithing, I don’t find MIG welding particularly interesting or enjoyable to do, and I want to push myself in terms of solving practical problems with traditional methods.
When I started my own blacksmithing business in 2009 I didn’t feel at all confident with fire welding. I knew the theory, or, at least, what they taught me in college, but had not had a huge amount of time dedicated to practicing it. It was only later in my career that I decided to dive in and teach myself. I have done that now (there is a video I have made on the basics of fire welding here: • Blacksmithing Tutorial... ) and feel very skilled and confident in it.
This candlestick holder has been a product of mine for years. I designed it way back in the early days before I had reached the level of confidence I have now with fire welding. It was, and remains, a very good seller and has been bought and shipped to people all over the world so I am obviously reluctant to change a winning formula. You might ask why I don’t update my process and make the same design replacing the electrical welding with fire welding. The answer, as is so often the case, comes down to cost. Making this particular design using traditional methods would take longer and I am reluctant to increase the price for my customers on such a popular item.
Maybe that is the right thing to do? Maybe staying true to the craft of traditional blacksmithing is inherently ‘right’? Maybe I haven’t got the right balance? Whatever your opinions are, I wanted to record the process that I am currently working with, warts and all, and I hope you find it interesting either way. Now go finish watching the video!
A nice piece. Nothing wrong with using appropriate technology, blacksmithing must have continued to evolve over thousands of years.
Nice. Thank you. Very true.
@TomFellBlacksmith I bet the first stone age man to make an arrowhead by forging an iron meteorite got a lot of abuse from his mates for not making one the traditional way!
@@HighWealderagain, very true!
Great Video sir. I think this following comment will get some haters...Whether you forge weld or mig weld, it's still joining two pieces of metal together. Blacksmith is a blanket term and it covers that also. You have to make money and time=money. Technology is always evolving. Take construction also...you don't call a carpenter out because he uses a nail gun. Most Blacksmiths use an oxy/propane or oxy/acetylene setup and call themselves traditional. Keep doing what you do and don't mind the haters.
Thank you, and yes I agree. You make a good comparison with the carpenter. Electrical welding definitely has its advantages, and it's place. I do wonder if the skepticism comes a lot in part from an attitude of "you weld because you can't fire weld, and therefore you're not a real blacksmith" and I think that is a bit silly. I can fire weld, and indeed do so professionally, and I would also encourage blacksmiths who can't to try and learn, but mainly because it's so much fun! I think the blacksmithing community could maybe do with being a little more inclusive over this subject. Thanks for reaching out, and I'm really glad you enjoyed the video! Check out my video on forge welding on my channel!
Nice work dude ☺☺
Thank you very much!!
Most modern blacksmith's use welders nowadays . Most people who complain don't make anything they just want things their way .
Agreed!
Just do some forge welding to counteract electrical welding.
As I said in the description, it isn't always the best solution. Running a blacksmithing business has all sorts of challenges to it and sometimes it's not the right thing to do.
@@TomFellBlacksmith Nah it's fine it's just a fun joke.
Another nice video. Watched it during lunch break. I have an AC/DC tombstone arc welder that I use for short run production work and often for making forge tooling. I'm currently forging a dozen copper bowled ladles for family Christmas gifts. No arc welding shortcuts available for this project. I notice your power hammer dies have wear marks. How often do you have to dress those dies? Happy Thanksgiving (oops, a USA holiday).
Copper sounds like a dark art! My dies are in desperate need of dressing. The bit in the middle is actually really useful for tapering but have started to wear out either side. I really need a flat spot. Something else to add to the maintenance list. Glad you liked the video.
Very nice and interesting video. I still find your production style pleasantly calm.
On the subject of whether you should work traditionally if possible, I have the opinion that for good reasons traditional forging has disappeared from most areas of metalworking and is really only present in the field of metal design. I like forging because of the creative freedom it gives me and the look of forged pieces.
Whilst it can be interesting to do everything possible traditionally, I find that you limit yourself in what you can do.
I also believe that traditional techniques only exist because there were no other options in the past. If people back then had had our current techniques, they would have done it just like we do today.
Your tripod is a perfect example of this. If you had made it using traditional techniques, it wouldn't have looked any better. But it would probably have taken much longer and there would have been a greater chance of it being crooked or something similar.
Only the plate on top of the candlestick is perhaps debatable as to whether a flush rivet would have looked better. At the end of the day, nobody will see the welding spot during operation anyway, as there is a candle on it.
Thank you. Welding is a very divisive subject in blacksmithing and I agree with what you say. For me the debate always comes down to cost as I am, unfortunately, slightly controlled by external market forces due to the products that I make. Being able to make exactly what I want to make, and exactly how I want to make it will often take second place to how much money I'm able to sell it for. I hoped by showing this process I can at least prompt the conversation.
@@TomFellBlacksmith That's actually an interesting insight.
Making what I want, how I want it, is a luxury I have as a hobbyist. But even in this area it might not always make sense to work traditionally, as I only have a limited amount of time and would like to create something nice in this time, even with limited skills.
@@janekroing842 I'd always say that you will get quicker the more you practice, and doing it as a hobby definitely gives you many advantages in this area. Ultimately I think you should pursue what you find enjoyable, and see shortcuts as exactly that: shortcuts. If you find enjoyment in traditional blacksmithing, and that is what you're focused on, there will always be a solution without electrical welding. Money, or more specifically the need to make money, will always be the thing that pulls you away from what you actually want to do. Ironically.
@@TomFellBlacksmith You could well be right about that.
@@janekroing842 I would also love to incorporate a more traditional method for attaching the sconce, but I have no idea what that would be. A rivet would involve a tenon, which increases the workload massively.
Hey Tom I saw your old video too do you use electrochemical test after getting the finished product which gives shinning and attractive look because importantly in terms of forging you set the required heat temperature for forging a metal right? because in terms of chain i have seen other RUclips channel on using flux in that unforged link which will make the end product easier and by the way your unique method of forging also has some greatness which I too appreciate and Tom the only doubt i have is why you don't use flux in forging just wanted to know buddy.
For finishing I usually heat the product up and apply a beeswax based finish. This protects from rust indoors and gets that nice shine. I don't use flux when I fire weld as I don't believe it makes mild steel welding easier, it often makes it dirtier, and because it is sticky when it's hot it can fool you into thinking it has welded when it hasn't. This may be different when you make Damascus because you are welding different types of steel together, but I don't have much experience with that. Does that make sense?
@@TomFellBlacksmith absolutely i get you because your knowledge and uniqueness of forging look great on that thing man and always I can learn your method too as well because my mind can adapt to your understanding Buddy 🤝🤝🤝
Lovely work!
What brand and ram weight is your power hammer? Would you recommend it to someone in the market for one?
Definitely recommend it. It's an Anyang 40kg power hammer.