I love the older generations type of instruction videos. These old school lads give all the important info without the absolute bullshit that comes with modern media recording. God bless man. We used to have a show on tv when i was young in ireland in the 90' and it basically was showing all these skills that people done and were daily lives for people. Alot of the footage was the 60's and often would be building carts for horses. Youd miss the old ways
It's the difference between a video that's designed for entertainment/ASMR and one that's genuinely a "how to" I've seen a number of younger blacksmiths providing great how to videos, but I've also seen "watch me make a thing" videos that aren't so helpful for learning and are more to entertain
100% with You on that one Buddy - I'm originally from Czech but living here in Ireland last 20years, saw them few in the past in Telly as well... Whole World is sliding on the shite!
Most want a right away approach and this isn't for them. Unfortunately it's a lot of of the younger generation minus the handful that have the right mind frame. Started when I was young some time ago and I'm in a bustering city Chicago but we are well known for metal work, I dont have a gas forge for time being I'm straight coal forge, that can be difficult for some because they leave material in too long, burn when at bottom... I'd say it would be good idea to make blacksmiths, blade smiths, etc start on coal and work up. Would make for another Gen that would so it right instead of producing something with warpage, cold shuts, burnt, brittle etc product
Very well put….. skip the bullshit….. Just nails it …!!! In this video, he clearly dispels the myths, confidently makes it very clear forge Welding works when the temperature is correct. Then proves it.., Flux can be beneficial, but is definitely not the determining factor. Love your comment !!
I am a first time viewer. I am a disabled veteran and teach a weekly class of welding to other disabled veterans at my home. I will adopt this into our welding technology. Thank you so much. Very interesting and we thank you.
Thanks for what you're doing. I was waking up today just thinking about reaching out to my community to inquire if anyone such as yourself would be willing to spend an hour or two a week sharing knowledge about building or creating things. I'm a disabled veteran and struggle within myself. It a goal of mine to fix my home but I'm sorely lacking metal and wood skill. Learn as I go and one piece at a time. I wish you and those veterans much success.
Been watching blacksmithing videos for years. Just wanted to encourage you that this is one of the best Forge welding and videos that I have ever seen.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of the “big” blacksmiths on RUclips ever explain the why, how and when as thoroughly as you sir. It’s almost as if some information is closely guarded secret material. You freely and readily shared a wealth of knowledge. I feel 100 times more instructed than I do by watching those other guys. Thank you kindly!
Good morning, I’m a welder from Macon ga, been welding for 26 years, I just built me a forage and started foraging 3 weeks ago. Thank you so much for your time and for teaching a lost art.
Put together a 20 Mule Team wagon train model when I was a kid, twenty mules, two high box, fat tire wheeled borax wagons and a water wagon. Wish I still had it!
I crafted an anvil from an old chunk or train track, I haven`t built a forge yet, I live on the west coast of Canada where it`s been super dry, but this rainy season I`d sure love to try making a knife for my first project. Thanks for all your hard work and advise.
Good Gawd this brings back a ton of memories When I was a little kid my dad had a concrete built forge and it was my job to supply the oxygen to it by turning an old cream separator that he built an enclosed fan on. It had a little bell on it that indicated how the speed was for separating cream from raw milk when the bell was just starting to stop ringing was the right speed by turning the crank handle. Strange as it was that seemed to be the rite speed for most of the forging too'. We sharpened plow shares till the cows came home after the crops were in and the shares needed drawing out and tempering. He forge welded just about everything that broke and it always amazed me that it held, He used borax for all them welds. He made every thing from wagon wheel tires to harrow teeth and everything in between. This was 65/70 yrs ago when things were tuff out in the country and one made do with your talent and hard work and very little else. Thanks for the refresher and info.
If I were a bit younger I would take up a bit of what you're doing but at 79yrs+10 months I'm pretty busy turning wood with 4 different wood lathes and fighting off pple that keep bugging me saying "you should enjoy your retirenent" I can't seem to convince them that's exactly what I'm doing so just get out of my face.
You are by far the only smithing instructor on RUclips that knows what hes talking about. The one guy says to throw the large odd shaped pieces of coke away because they're tar. Thank you for making useful videos for beginners while others give bad advice and set beginners up for failure!
That "practice weld" you did there is exactly what I'm going to use once I get my forge dialed in. Really try and work creatively with some thinner pieces of material I can get cheap!
I'm glad this popped up I'm 30 and I'm wanting to get into this so bad. I'm done with my move from Illinois to Georgia and I have a huge shop and starting to buy everything i need! Leaving this here so I can watch later 👌
I've been very, very fortunate to get a nice old anvil from a friend recently, and equally fortunate to be able to find resources online like this to learn how to apply this new tool. Thanks!
Your videos are very educational, ivr seen others who attempt to teach this process and fail or rant and use a crap load of borax, but you do thing in a very understandable process. Thank you for your videos. I have learnes so much from your channel.
Your instructions are well planned and the critiques of your work are very valuable in learning the welding process. Your calmness indicates to the viewer that you have experience and that it's not magic getting 2 pieces of metal to glue together. You also reiterate that it's practice that gains proficiency. Thank you for a great presentation.
im in glass art 22+ years now. we have funny names for things too. and yeah im over 40 and still laugh at it haha. hoping to teach my self how to forge as a new hobby. thanks for this info
I want to thank you, for sharing your knowledge! I am becoming a 3rd generation blacksmith. My grandpa, was J. Nolan Davis...my dad was Larry Nolan Davis. I am Daniel Nolan Davis. My youngest brother and I, are getting our own Smith's shop. You have made forge welding very easy to understand...I hope to share your video with my brothers, so we 3, can learn this fundamental skill! Bang on, brother! 😎
I always enjoy going back and watching these videos again and again. Sometimes I pick up a bit of information that I missed before. One of the things I like about RUclips channels like yours is having a library of information that I can go back to anytime I need to. Thank you John for the work you do and the effort you put into making these great videos.
This was a great video. Back in college I was part of a blacksmiths club and we struggled with forge welding. I think our biggest problem was that our fires were not reducing and that we were hitting the welds WAY too hard. I'll send this video off to them and hopefully they can improve. Thanks for teaching me (and them as well)
Really enjoyed this video. I worked in a production shop MIG and TIG welding and can attest to hot metal ending up in places it shouldn't. I had spatter balls while MIG welding find its way inside my leather boot, and not burn me until it came to rest between my toes. A mystery I will never be able to solve.
I can attest to that....stick welding verticals and have Slag roll off, burn through my jeans and sock....a critical weld so I just let it burn...a nice quarter size piece of shin skin came off that night when I got home.
Thanks John for your invaluable information. Now I completely understand what a good weld looks like and what a scarf and a fagot means. Also your drawing of the fire bed and explanation of where the sweet spot is in a cold forge. Now I understand what a cold forge really is. So many new terms and it is very energizing to learn new things. You’re a great teacher.
Some people have a lot of information but aren't very good teachers, others are very good teachers but don't have the depth of information you sir are both
Thank you for your content....I am a welding shop "blacksmith" of sorts making do with what I have....my forge is a rosebud with some refactory bricks and a steel slab table. My wife bought me a small gas forge for Christmas at home and my anvil is a piece of railroad track. I hope my neighbors won't mind my banging.
I’m making axes. The welding of the wrapped eye and then the welding of the bit have been so frustrating. Thank you for helping me figure this stuff out. I wish I was an apprentice and not figuring this all out on my own.
The pursuit of knowledge is one thing. Passing on many years of knowledge and experience to someone who wants to learn is another thing. Using technology to achieve this an other thing again. I’m not very good, but I’m getting better, my skills and knowledge are improving over time, actually I have some blacksmithing skills now, I have some knowledge and I have some experience. I will get better, I will grow and I will learn. Thankyou John. Unfortunately my little gas forge just can’t get hot enough to forge weld. No matter, when I get to forge welding, I have an understanding of how to go about it and how to learn from my mistakes
I have been working with coal, lp and iron for 15 years. I have to say your content is excellent! You are a natural teacher, and I commend you for sharing so fully and completely! I wish I had seen some of this years ago before I went to the school of trial and error! Thank you for your time! I am now a subscriber! Thanks again!
I made a flipped heart (don't know if that's the proper name but that's how it's made) at the pioneer village last year. It was a piece of 3/8 rod I found leaning up in the corner. Anyway when I got done making the heart then I had to figure out what to turn it into. And I thought there was enough to turn into a paper towel holder. I finished it and it came out nice. I took a lunch break and carried it down to the store for them to sell. A lady saw me carry it in, ran in and bought it. It was a good feeling.
Thank you very much for what you are doing. There is not many blacksmith where i come from, and in this lot of not many, there is alot of them that just want to see the trade die with them rather than having a potential competitor, especially in Quebec. This is super motivating to watch and learn. I will practice that.
Oh my! This is so awesome! Okay. I am a girl welding jewelry in my kitchen, but my great grandpa was a big man (tall and strong) that was a blacksmith. My Dad used to talk about watching him work. This reminds me of that. Thanks!
I have been using a charcoal forge for a while and finally broke down and bought a propane forge. I have never tried to forge weld as I really didn't understand how. Your video has inspired me to give it a whirl. It "looks" simple enough. Thank you for your video. It was very instructive. Keep up the good work.
So, here's the update. All I have to work with is 1/2" rebar. Not the best stock for anything, but it's all I have, so I used that. Hammered it out square. Drew it out a bit and folded it over. Squared it up the best I could, put in the borax and heated it up as hot as I could. I took my time to get the weld set before I really started hitting it hard. Repeated the whole thing and made 4 layers. The last weld delaminated a bit, but overall it looks like it worked. I'm going to cut it in half later and see what's really in there. I didn't get it as hot as I wanted. I need a brick to block the front of my forge. Still just getting started. Again, many thanks for the video.
As a complete novice with zero experience your information and the way it is delivered is excellent . The explanation of how and why is spot on for anyone to understand . Thank you
I like the point that you made about seeing colors differently. I’ve had many instances of seeing colors differently than other people. Green is my favorite color, but ironically I seem to misinterpret the shade of green a lot. I even mistook a green car for white once, haha.
Thanks for a very informative video. I’m keen to get started having been in the metal trade for decades, my career was weld testing by x ray which I sentenced as well so have a good insight. Being very competent at oxy welding thin steel I’ve been able to watch the colours right up to melting and burning if you have an oxidising flame. Your vid has given me a lot to work with and I’ll most likely build a gas forge it would be great to have someone like yourself watching and guiding, alas I gunna hook in and give it a go
blacksmithing is a craft you can only learn from real masters.. books can tell a lot also, but learning this craft takes practice with the hands, but i love the way this channel is providing more theory about the way materials work practical
I use a forge outside and had to figure out a way to recognize the welding heat in different color environments, I have found that if your forge welding at night as soon you see the first spark or two in a clean fire, pull it out and set the weld. I have also found that letting the piece cool well below orange before you try and work the material. I will generally Flux it two or three times and set it between Flux in hitting a bit harder subsequently.
New subscriber -- wonderful presentation! In my latter 60's and grew up on a farm with a huge " bone pile" as that was the "go-to" place to build or repair things. Always wanted to learn to forge and I stumbled onto your site -- my good luck!! Am a retired radio engineer and it was said to me long ago: "any craft is 10% theory and 90% sweat". Your explanations of "theory" along with your craft experience makes all the difference to begin to walk the talk!! Many thanks!!
Interesting. Very informative. I have too many hobbies and they all cost money, so I will not be taking up smithing, but it is good to know a bit about forge welding none the less.
Another great informative video. Just got the second burner on my Forge this weekend and this was the first place I came for information on learning how to forge weld
Very informative. A real eye opener in particular was that iron/steel can burn before reaching melting temperature, and therefore must be kept in the reducing portion of the fire.
This is the best forge welding video I've seen, and I I've watch alot of them. It's the main thing I like to be able to get right, I wish this was uploaded when I first tried it, I probably would've gone in with more confidence
I've tried my first forge welds in a rivet forge. Your explanation of the depth of the fire pot was eye opening. My success was marginal now I see why. Thanks
Great information and educational i am an old oilfield worker that has spent alot of years forge hammering steel and other things. On old cable tool rigs a gas forge was a way of life.
Hi, the 20 mule team borax box was a bit of a gift, i have been watching Engels Coach Shop and he has replicated 2 Borax wagons and the water tank wagon for the 50th Mule days anniversary which is pulled by a team of 20 mules. Amazing to watch. Great video content from yourself, keep up the good work.
Great tips. Arc Welded for years but little forge. Got a life long dream Peter Wright anvil and want to restore and begin trying many things. So many tools I would love to make. Thanks again.
Rewatched your video again and attempted a forge weld again yesterday. Followed your proceedures carefully and am happy to say that I finally achieved a forge weld. As a quick shout out to your latest video on flux, I of course slathered the piece with flux. Typical of rookies, I guess. Awesome videos, John.
Black Bear Forge Thank you for taking the time to respond to my questions and comments, John. I imagine that with 20,000 plus subscribers you must get just inundated at times. I think it shows just how passionate you are about the craft to be willing to share so much of your time. Just don't burn out. Cheers.
Thanks for explaining this! I've been trying to figure out why I couldn't get a good weld even though I was using borax (which everyone was telling me was a kind of "universal flux") it makes sense that I was likely using the wrong flux for the wrong job. Glad to find a guy who also thoroughly explains the how to in the process
Very informative, thank you. My father recetly handed over his 20years unused blacksmith tooling since I expressed some interest in knife making. I'll be coming back to this video when I want to start practicing forge welding.
Thank you for such a fine video. Your explanation of forge welding is the best I have ever heard. I am a retired member of the Boilermaker Blacksmiths and Forgers Union and really appreciate your detailed explanation of the processes involved in forge welding different materials. I wish you all the best and hope that you continue to educate all of us.
I’m just getting started with blacksmithing. I have made my own forge and look forward to using it. Your videos are very very good! I feel I have a fairly good idea once I start my first fire and start hammering.
..Thanks for pointing out the different parts of the Fire Pot!! Now i know why i keep burning the ends off of some pieces. I reckon i'll have to put a sign up reminding me to stay out of the Oxidizing part...!!
"20 Mule Team Borax" Have binge watched Dave Engles build the replacement wagon and water wagon over on his RUclips channel. Lots of all trades there including forge welding.
I've read so many books on forging but none of them ever talked about the oxidizing or carborising parts of the fire. I've always put my material in the bottom of the heart and always burn my steel. Maybe I'll get back into smithing now! It's only been 15 years.....
IMHO i would say this is the best and most informative video i have seen to date on forge welding,i have had several successful forge welds but im certainly not profficient at it,this video makes me want to want to practice at it alot more often and in fact will now be at the very top of my news resoloution list. Thanks for sharing
Great video. I like your teaching style. It helps to get a different perspective. Not everybody touches on the same points in their videos, and for that I subscribe. Glad this video popped up.
I love the older generations type of instruction videos. These old school lads give all the important info without the absolute bullshit that comes with modern media recording. God bless man. We used to have a show on tv when i was young in ireland in the 90' and it basically was showing all these skills that people done and were daily lives for people. Alot of the footage was the 60's and often would be building carts for horses. Youd miss the old ways
It's the difference between a video that's designed for entertainment/ASMR and one that's genuinely a "how to"
I've seen a number of younger blacksmiths providing great how to videos, but I've also seen "watch me make a thing" videos that aren't so helpful for learning and are more to entertain
100% with You on that one Buddy - I'm originally from Czech but living here in Ireland last 20years, saw them few in the past in Telly as well...
Whole World is sliding on the shite!
Most want a right away approach and this isn't for them. Unfortunately it's a lot of of the younger generation minus the handful that have the right mind frame. Started when I was young some time ago and I'm in a bustering city Chicago but we are well known for metal work, I dont have a gas forge for time being I'm straight coal forge, that can be difficult for some because they leave material in too long, burn when at bottom... I'd say it would be good idea to make blacksmiths, blade smiths, etc start on coal and work up. Would make for another Gen that would so it right instead of producing something with warpage, cold shuts, burnt, brittle etc product
Very well put….. skip the bullshit…..
Just nails it …!!!
In this video, he clearly dispels the myths, confidently makes it very clear forge Welding works when the temperature is correct. Then proves it..,
Flux can be beneficial, but is definitely not the determining factor.
Love your comment !!
Love this, it's like being taught to forge by Ron Swanson!
Man that's accurate
@@jackofalltradesprepping9611 mu8
I can hear it and now can't unhear it.
My God . . . Man's gotta point!
I knew his voice reminded me of someone!
You are probably the best person to teach blacksmithing you make it understandable and not overly complicated
Thank you brother. My Dad was a blacksmith but I was young when I lost him. You brought back good memories for me Sir .
I am a first time viewer. I am a disabled veteran and teach a weekly class of welding to other disabled veterans at my home. I will adopt this into our welding technology. Thank you so much. Very interesting and we thank you.
Thank you and those you teach. Your sacrifices are appreciated
Thank you sir for your service and sacrifice
Thank you for your sacrifice for our nation and for your service.
Thanks for what you're doing. I was waking up today just thinking about reaching out to my community to inquire if anyone such as yourself would be willing to spend an hour or two a week sharing knowledge about building or creating things.
I'm a disabled veteran and struggle within myself. It a goal of mine to fix my home but I'm sorely lacking metal and wood skill. Learn as I go and one piece at a time.
I wish you and those veterans much success.
Thank you for your service
Been watching blacksmithing videos for years. Just wanted to encourage you that this is one of the best Forge welding and videos that I have ever seen.
Thank you
i agree with that , most of the other videos never with explaination on the basic of forging
It's long but well worth it
@@hunterhostler1345 that’s what SHE said
I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of the “big” blacksmiths on RUclips ever explain the why, how and when as thoroughly as you sir. It’s almost as if some information is closely guarded secret material. You freely and readily shared a wealth of knowledge. I feel 100 times more instructed than I do by watching those other guys. Thank you kindly!
I think for the most part they skip the monor details because they just don't think about it or feel its being to basic.
Good morning, I’m a welder from Macon ga, been welding for 26 years, I just built me a forage and started foraging 3 weeks ago. Thank you so much for your time and for teaching a lost art.
*Forge, forging
This is, to date, the most informative forge welding video I have seen. Very good information and I will share.
thank you
Yeah it is!
I agree 👍. Great video.
Taught me most of what I know
It still is
Put together a 20 Mule Team wagon train model when I was a kid, twenty mules, two high box, fat tire wheeled borax wagons and a water wagon. Wish I still had it!
I crafted an anvil from an old chunk or train track, I haven`t built a forge yet, I live on the west coast of Canada where it`s been super dry, but this rainy season I`d sure love to try making a knife for my first project. Thanks for all your hard work and advise.
Good Gawd this brings back a ton of memories When I was a little kid my dad had a concrete built forge and it was my job to supply the oxygen to it by turning an old cream separator that he built an enclosed fan on. It had a little bell on it that indicated how the speed was for separating cream from raw milk when the bell was just starting to stop ringing was the right speed by turning the crank handle. Strange as it was that seemed to be the rite speed for most of the forging too'. We sharpened plow shares till the cows came home after the crops were in and the shares needed drawing out and tempering. He forge welded just about everything that broke and it always amazed me that it held, He used borax for all them welds. He made every thing from wagon wheel tires to harrow teeth and everything in between. This was 65/70 yrs ago when things were tuff out in the country and one made do with your talent and hard work and very little else. Thanks for the refresher and info.
Thanks for sharing the memory
If I were a bit younger I would take up a bit of what you're doing but at 79yrs+10 months I'm pretty busy turning wood with 4 different wood lathes and fighting off pple that keep bugging me saying "you should enjoy your retirenent" I can't seem to convince them that's exactly what I'm doing so just get out of my face.
I'd love to hear some of your stories. You make me miss my grampa
What a great story!
Awesome story. Appreciate it
You are by far the only smithing instructor on RUclips that knows what hes talking about. The one guy says to throw the large odd shaped pieces of coke away because they're tar. Thank you for making useful videos for beginners while others give bad advice and set beginners up for failure!
That "practice weld" you did there is exactly what I'm going to use once I get my forge dialed in. Really try and work creatively with some thinner pieces of material I can get cheap!
the roar of the forge in the mountains, the clinking of the hammer. I feel it in my bones. As a drummer it is an entracing ambiance.
I've seen several blacksmithing videos but most have no monolog explaining the steps. This has been beyond helpful. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
This is one of the better videos i have seen especially on fluxing .
I'm glad this popped up I'm 30 and I'm wanting to get into this so bad. I'm done with my move from Illinois to Georgia and I have a huge shop and starting to buy everything i need! Leaving this here so I can watch later 👌
I've been very, very fortunate to get a nice old anvil from a friend recently, and equally fortunate to be able to find resources online like this to learn how to apply this new tool. Thanks!
Sir, you look like you came straight out of the 1800's and I love it. Great content. Thank you.
Your videos are very educational, ivr seen others who attempt to teach this process and fail or rant and use a crap load of borax, but you do thing in a very understandable process. Thank you for your videos. I have learnes so much from your channel.
I am a guy who learns mostly by making mistakes ONCE, but you explain things so well that I actually understand the 1st time.
thank you.
Your instructions are well planned and the critiques of your work are very valuable in learning the welding process. Your calmness indicates to the viewer that you have experience and that it's not magic getting 2 pieces of metal to glue together. You also reiterate that it's practice that gains proficiency. Thank you for a great presentation.
im in glass art 22+ years now. we have funny names for things too. and yeah im over 40 and still laugh at it haha. hoping to teach my self how to forge as a new hobby. thanks for this info
I want to thank you, for sharing your knowledge! I am becoming a 3rd generation blacksmith. My grandpa, was J. Nolan Davis...my dad was Larry Nolan Davis. I am Daniel Nolan Davis. My youngest brother and I, are getting our own Smith's shop.
You have made forge welding very easy to understand...I hope to share your video with my brothers, so we 3, can learn this fundamental skill! Bang on, brother! 😎
Ty so much i am 64 and my son 16 we are gearing up to try blacksmith for fun not profit. I think it will be good learning for both of us.
I always enjoy going back and watching these videos again and again. Sometimes I pick up a bit of information that I missed before. One of the things I like about RUclips channels like yours is having a library of information that I can go back to anytime I need to. Thank you John for the work you do and the effort you put into making these great videos.
This was a great video. Back in college I was part of a blacksmiths club and we struggled with forge welding. I think our biggest problem was that our fires were not reducing and that we were hitting the welds WAY too hard. I'll send this video off to them and hopefully they can improve. Thanks for teaching me (and them as well)
Really enjoyed this video. I worked in a production shop MIG and TIG welding and can attest to hot metal ending up in places it shouldn't. I had spatter balls while MIG welding find its way inside my leather boot, and not burn me until it came to rest between my toes. A mystery I will never be able to solve.
I can attest to that....stick welding verticals and have Slag roll off, burn through my jeans and sock....a critical weld so I just let it burn...a nice quarter size piece of shin skin came off that night when I got home.
From South Africa, thanks so much for demystifying this topic. That's a very fine shirt, glad you took care of it!
Thanks John for your invaluable information. Now I completely understand what a good weld looks like and what a scarf and a fagot means.
Also your drawing of the fire bed and explanation of where the sweet spot is in a cold forge. Now I understand what a cold forge really is.
So many new terms and it is very energizing to learn new things. You’re a great teacher.
Carol Johnson I thought he was saying coal forge
You are the best. I just love listening to you. Thanks. Hope all is well.
Some people have a lot of information but aren't very good teachers, others are very good teachers but don't have the depth of information you sir are both
Thank you for your content....I am a welding shop "blacksmith" of sorts making do with what I have....my forge is a rosebud with some refactory bricks and a steel slab table. My wife bought me a small gas forge for Christmas at home and my anvil is a piece of railroad track. I hope my neighbors won't mind my banging.
Good luck!
I’m making axes. The welding of the wrapped eye and then the welding of the bit have been so frustrating. Thank you for helping me figure this stuff out. I wish I was an apprentice and not figuring this all out on my own.
So glad I found you Sir. I'm about a month away from building my own coal forge. This is something I've wanted to do for years.
The pursuit of knowledge is one thing. Passing on many years of knowledge and experience to someone who wants to learn is another thing.
Using technology to achieve this an other thing again.
I’m not very good, but I’m getting better, my skills and knowledge are improving over time, actually I have some blacksmithing skills now, I have some knowledge and I have some experience. I will get better, I will grow and I will learn.
Thankyou John.
Unfortunately my little gas forge just can’t get hot enough to forge weld.
No matter, when I get to forge welding, I have an understanding of how to go about it and how to learn from my mistakes
I have been working with coal, lp and iron for 15 years. I have to say your content is excellent! You are a natural teacher, and I commend you for sharing so fully and completely! I wish I had seen some of this years ago before I went to the school of trial and error! Thank you for your time! I am now a subscriber! Thanks again!
I made a flipped heart (don't know if that's the proper name but that's how it's made) at the pioneer village last year. It was a piece of 3/8 rod I found leaning up in the corner. Anyway when I got done making the heart then I had to figure out what to turn it into. And I thought there was enough to turn into a paper towel holder. I finished it and it came out nice. I took a lunch break and carried it down to the store for them to sell. A lady saw me carry it in, ran in and bought it. It was a good feeling.
Thank you very much for what you are doing. There is not many blacksmith where i come from, and in this lot of not many, there is alot of them that just want to see the trade die with them rather than having a potential competitor, especially in Quebec.
This is super motivating to watch and learn. I will practice that.
It's an honour to see a master at work🙏
Thanks mate. I'm doing my first ever forge weld in a day or 2, so I feel a lot more confident now.
Oh my! This is so awesome! Okay. I am a girl welding jewelry in my kitchen, but my great grandpa was a big man (tall and strong) that was a blacksmith. My Dad used to talk about watching him work. This reminds me of that. Thanks!
Competent nice and clear explanation and no music..a dream come true.
I have been using a charcoal forge for a while and finally broke down and bought a propane forge. I have never tried to forge weld as I really didn't understand how. Your video has inspired me to give it a whirl. It "looks" simple enough. Thank you for your video. It was very instructive. Keep up the good work.
How did it go?
So, here's the update. All I have to work with is 1/2" rebar. Not the best stock for anything, but it's all I have, so I used that. Hammered it out square. Drew it out a bit and folded it over. Squared it up the best I could, put in the borax and heated it up as hot as I could. I took my time to get the weld set before I really started hitting it hard. Repeated the whole thing and made 4 layers. The last weld delaminated a bit, but overall it looks like it worked. I'm going to cut it in half later and see what's really in there. I didn't get it as hot as I wanted. I need a brick to block the front of my forge. Still just getting started. Again, many thanks for the video.
As a complete novice with zero experience your information and the way it is delivered is excellent . The explanation of how and why is spot on for anyone to understand . Thank you
I've learnde a lof thanks to you, dear Sire. Thank you!!
Your videos are absolutely top notch! You’re a great teacher. Thanks again!
Absolutely fantastic and very informative. This video has given me the confidence to try my first forge weld!! Thank you!!
Came back to review -- now that i have a forge to use in attempting to do a forge weld.
I like the point that you made about seeing colors differently. I’ve had many instances of seeing colors differently than other people. Green is my favorite color, but ironically I seem to misinterpret the shade of green a lot. I even mistook a green car for white once, haha.
This is by far one of the best videos on forge welding I've seen. Thanks you so much for sharing your knowledge!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Really glad I found this channel. You are a good teacher, because you explain things clearly and simply.
Thank you
kind of failed at tong making time to move onto failing at forge welding :)
really enjoy these videos. Thank you.
You can do it!
Thanks for a very informative video. I’m keen to get started having been in the metal trade for decades, my career was weld testing by x ray which I sentenced as well so have a good insight. Being very competent at oxy welding thin steel I’ve been able to watch the colours right up to melting and burning if you have an oxidising flame. Your vid has given me a lot to work with and I’ll most likely build a gas forge it would be great to have someone like yourself watching and guiding, alas I gunna hook in and give it a go
Thanks a lot, it was a pleasure to see (or watch my English has to be improved) and listen your video
blacksmithing is a craft you can only learn from real masters.. books can tell a lot also, but learning this craft takes practice with the hands, but i love the way this channel is providing more theory about the way materials work practical
Today I have tryed to weld two iron pieces by heating them with acetylene, it didnt work.
Thas why I ' m watching this.
Super well teaching.
I use a forge outside and had to figure out a way to recognize the welding heat in different color environments, I have found that if your forge welding at night as soon you see the first spark or two in a clean fire, pull it out and set the weld. I have also found that letting the piece cool well below orange before you try and work the material. I will generally Flux it two or three times and set it between Flux in hitting a bit harder subsequently.
Thank you. I've seen other "forge welding" videos and yours was the easiest to follow and understand. Look forward to watching more of your videos!
Thank you for taking the time to fully explain everything.
Nice anvil bounce. Have been looking for a good anvil for 15 years or so. I am very particular ! This is a good video, fyi
New subscriber -- wonderful presentation! In my latter 60's and grew up on a farm with a huge " bone pile" as that was the "go-to" place to build or repair things. Always wanted to learn to forge and I stumbled onto your site -- my good luck!! Am a retired radio engineer and it was said to me long ago: "any craft is 10% theory and 90% sweat". Your explanations of "theory" along with your craft experience makes all the difference to begin to walk the talk!!
Many thanks!!
Interesting. Very informative. I have too many hobbies and they all cost money, so I will not be taking up smithing, but it is good to know a bit about forge welding none the less.
Another great informative video. Just got the second burner on my Forge this weekend and this was the first place I came for information on learning how to forge weld
Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Bob
just started at an industrial forge and you have a new subscriber in me, I love how informative you are.
Welcome to the family
Probably the best basic forge welding video I have ever seen!
Top job man you remind me of my college glass tutor and that is praise.
Very informative. A real eye opener in particular was that iron/steel can burn before reaching melting temperature, and therefore must be kept in the reducing portion of the fire.
@Primedragoon that would make sense, given how little iron he ended up with
Many Forged In Fire contestants need to watch this video!
This is the best forge welding video I've seen, and I I've watch alot of them. It's the main thing I like to be able to get right, I wish this was uploaded when I first tried it, I probably would've gone in with more confidence
Thank you so very much
I've tried my first forge welds in a rivet forge. Your explanation of the depth of the fire pot was eye opening. My success was marginal now I see why. Thanks
Likewise. A rivet forge is a great way to learn how to screw up by the numbers, I've found!
Great video thanks for sharing your knowledge you are so right about the leather apron
im a student in calais maine and the pro welding you explan is what im looking for for watching to student thinking of the online thinking student
G'day I love your handy hint on working on the centre welds first it makes sense. I love the motivational photo in the background.🙏🏻
Great information and educational i am an old oilfield worker that has spent alot of years forge hammering steel and other things. On old cable tool rigs a gas forge was a way of life.
Hi, the 20 mule team borax box was a bit of a gift, i have been watching Engels Coach Shop and he has replicated 2 Borax wagons and the water tank wagon for the 50th Mule days anniversary which is pulled by a team of 20 mules. Amazing to watch. Great video content from yourself, keep up the good work.
Thank you for taking the time to show your knowledge of blacksmithing. I appreciate your videos.
You're certainly welcome
It would be awesome to spend a day learning from this guy.
Great tips. Arc Welded for years but little forge. Got a life long dream Peter Wright anvil and want to restore and begin trying many things. So many tools I would love to make.
Thanks again.
Excellent teaching techniques mate, thank you for the information and demonstration.
Rewatched your video again and attempted a forge weld again yesterday. Followed your proceedures carefully and am happy to say that I finally achieved a forge weld. As a quick shout out to your latest video on flux, I of course slathered the piece with flux. Typical of rookies, I guess. Awesome videos, John.
Great, I am glad it helped
Black Bear Forge Thank you for taking the time to respond to my questions and comments, John. I imagine that with 20,000 plus subscribers you must get just inundated at times. I think it shows just how passionate you are about the craft to be willing to share so much of your time. Just don't burn out. Cheers.
I do make Damascus ,but I find it good to watch an expert to fine tune my welding skills . It seems to me you never quit learning .
Very true, it's part of what makes smithing fun
Thanks for explaining this! I've been trying to figure out why I couldn't get a good weld even though I was using borax (which everyone was telling me was a kind of "universal flux") it makes sense that I was likely using the wrong flux for the wrong job.
Glad to find a guy who also thoroughly explains the how to in the process
Very informative, thank you. My father recetly handed over his 20years unused blacksmith tooling since I expressed some interest in knife making. I'll be coming back to this video when I want to start practicing forge welding.
Enjoy the journey
Excellent video, thanks for sharing. It really helped with young scouts working on blacksmithing badge and reinforcing PPE! God bless
Thank you for such a fine video. Your explanation of forge welding is the best I have ever heard. I am a retired member of the Boilermaker Blacksmiths and Forgers Union and really appreciate your detailed explanation of the processes involved in forge welding different materials. I wish you all the best and hope that you continue to educate all of us.
Glad you liked it and thanks for the comment
I’m just getting started with blacksmithing. I have made my own forge and look forward to using it. Your videos are very very good! I feel I have a fairly good idea once I start my first fire and start hammering.
Glad to help
..Thanks for pointing out the different parts of the Fire Pot!! Now i know why i keep burning the ends off of some pieces. I reckon i'll have to put a sign up reminding me to stay out of the Oxidizing part...!!
"20 Mule Team Borax"
Have binge watched Dave Engles build the replacement wagon and water wagon over on his RUclips channel.
Lots of all trades there including forge welding.
Thanks for forge welding idea and safety suggestions
I hope it helps
I like the cutting torch analogy. Well put.
John, thanks so much for your vids I learn something every time I watch one. I’m a rookie blacksmith and I really appreciate your experience.
I am glad they help
I've read so many books on forging but none of them ever talked about the oxidizing or carborising parts of the fire. I've always put my material in the bottom of the heart and always burn my steel. Maybe I'll get back into smithing now! It's only been 15 years.....
Thanks for the great info on the forge welding and the look at the paper towel holder
Good on you I am a panel beater and love metal I found you interesting and grate to understand very technical
IMHO i would say this is the best and most informative video i have seen to date on forge welding,i have had several successful forge welds but im certainly not profficient at it,this video makes me want to want to practice at it alot more often and in fact will now be at the very top of my news resoloution list. Thanks for sharing
Thank you, practice makes perfect
Great video. I like your teaching style. It helps to get a different perspective. Not everybody touches on the same points in their videos, and for that I subscribe. Glad this video popped up.
Your videos are incredibley educational no nonsense thankyou
I've just stumbled upon your channel and I really like the content you're producing! Thank you for making videos