Early Access Video: Get Started Blacksmithing!
Added 2024-01-27 12:00:04 +0000 UTCFriends:
Welcome back for the start of 2024! We hope everyone had a nice holiday. We did and we used our break time to set up some BIG things for the coming year.
Let's get 2024 started right with an introduction to blacksmithing. Woodwork and iron work go together like chocolate and peanut butter. If you can do some metal work, you can make your own tools or forge the hardware for your furniture. The possibilities are endless.
The best way to start smithing is to join a club and today, I go over all the things you need to know to attend a club meeting....and not look dumb. Today's video goes over all the tools, vocabulary, and even a beginner project, so you'll know what to expect.
As we begin the new year, let me thank you all for your support. Because of this community, we got a Holiday break and a couple of weeks to work on new content without the pressure of having to immediately publish more videos. These breaks are essential to everyone's mental health.
Thanks again and Happy New Year!
--Rex
Comments
Thanks. :) Yeah, I was looking at local forges, and my nearest one had a course up on sword making and I thought, I've always wanted one :D I'll make sure I post up when I get to do it. Hopefully, it'll be inspired by migration-era swords.
Thomas Paffett
2024-01-30 20:16:00 +0000 UTCWow! Sword-making? Go big indeed. I'll be looking forward to hearing about that. Please post on the forum.
Rex Krueger
2024-01-30 13:52:50 +0000 UTCThose are great ideas! I'll add them to the list of possible topics!
Rex Krueger
2024-01-30 13:51:46 +0000 UTCI've never tried it, but of course it fascinates me. It's like magic, isn't it?
Rex Krueger
2024-01-30 13:50:56 +0000 UTCA hook tool for bowls would be a good project. Those aren't easy to buy.
Rex Krueger
2024-01-30 13:49:52 +0000 UTCYou're so welcome! I'll try to fit in more of these videos!
Rex Krueger
2024-01-30 13:49:22 +0000 UTCThat's great to hear! It makes me feel flexible in my content creation.
Rex Krueger
2024-01-30 13:47:43 +0000 UTCYou're very kind to say so! It's certainly my intention to get people interested in things they might not have been interested in before!
Rex Krueger
2024-01-30 13:47:19 +0000 UTCEven a lesson or two is WAY better than going it alone. You're smart to get some instruction.
Rex Krueger
2024-01-30 13:46:25 +0000 UTCMy pleasure!
Rex Krueger
2024-01-30 13:45:07 +0000 UTCI forgot the links. My fault.
Rex Krueger
2024-01-30 13:44:50 +0000 UTCI've forged a froe before. It's...okay. I bought one from Blackbear Forge and it's SO much better. I've also handed that Lie-Nielsen froe and it's elegant. I would buy one of those if I had the option.
Rex Krueger
2024-01-30 13:44:27 +0000 UTCThe only real solution is get a separate building. It's the only thing that ended those arguments forever. My wife no longer cares one bit what I do in the shop or what money I spend on tools. As long as the mortgage is paid, she's good. Of course, this isn't so helpful for the hobbyest. I'll keep thinking!
Rex Krueger
2024-01-30 13:42:35 +0000 UTCMan, that's great to hear! If you have a local club, you should totally check it out. It can be a very rewarding experience!
Rex Krueger
2024-01-30 13:40:51 +0000 UTCI'm so glad you liked it! I know you're familiar with the struggle of getting started!
Rex Krueger
2024-01-30 13:39:12 +0000 UTCI'm going to try to do more smithing. My shop is (unfortunately) not really safe for metal work, but I'll look around.
Rex Krueger
2024-01-30 13:38:24 +0000 UTCIs the video on YouTube yet? I can't find it.
Bruce McDonald
2024-01-29 11:38:15 +0000 UTCThanks to you, I'm now booked on a 5 day sword-making course with a local forge... I thought go big or go home, I'm now slightly nervous with that decision :D
Thomas Paffett
2024-01-29 11:31:46 +0000 UTCI'm glad to see you back and in good health. I was starting to get a little worried for you. I've done a little blacksmithing years ago. I helped a friend with a medieval blacksmithing demo and made several S-hooks and pounded a cheese knife out of some low-carbon steel. We sold the hooks to recoup the cost of the charcoal (another fuel source). Chunk charcoal is easy to find for anyone who wants to teach themself, or doesn't have access to a local club. It doesn't get hot enough for welding, but that's a more advanced skill. For everyone reading this, DON'T use charcoal briquets. It produces nasty fumes in a reducing fire (the kind of fire needed for most smithing). I'd be interested in seeing videos on making the hardware for related woodworking projects, more than other projects. Strap hinges, hasps, simple locks, nails & rivets, etc... A pirate's chest with real hardware would make a good series of videos. Maybe with a coopered top?
Michael Bennett
2024-01-29 03:15:20 +0000 UTCHey! I'm curious if you've tried induction forging before. I know it's pretty popular in the knife making world because for smallish projects, cleaner, safer and less expensive than either coal or gas.
Russell Neches
2024-01-28 07:50:42 +0000 UTCI would love to see how to make a simple lathe tool that someone might use with a spring pole lathe! Really nice intro. to the new year. Agreed that although it seems obvious, the suggestion of at least checking out a local club is probably enough to get me moving toward actually trying this.
Carrie B
2024-01-28 01:48:53 +0000 UTCWhat an awesome video! Yes please more blacksmithing videos! I've been wanting to get into blacksmithing so I can make my own metal stuff for a while now and your video was very helpful and informative. I absolutely love watching your videos and watching you. Thank you, Rex.
Jennessa Lynam
2024-01-27 19:33:09 +0000 UTCGreat to see you back Rex. Hope you and the family are having a great new year. I am sort of an omnivore when it comes to woodworking and black smithing videos, so anything you put out is going to be fine for me.
Matt Evans-Koch
2024-01-27 17:38:24 +0000 UTCI’m pretty sure I’ll never forge, as fascinating as it is. But I loved this video and the hammer review from 2023. I KINDA think a lot is just the quality of your knowledge sharing and videos.
Meryl Logue
2024-01-27 16:10:05 +0000 UTCNo clubs in my area, but I was able to go to a one-on-one class a day away. It was a great start with my dirt box forge and charcoal. Getting a good foundation probably made my journey less frustrating and I still enjoy smithing when I have time.
Rick Prosser
2024-01-27 15:39:24 +0000 UTCThey're probably on the YouTube page for the video. Check there!
TwoRavens
2024-01-27 14:08:09 +0000 UTCThanks Rex
Marc Barash
2024-01-27 14:02:43 +0000 UTCRex, Love this stuff. You said you were going to leave links below, but I can't find them. I'm fairly new to Patreon, so I'm sure it is my ignorance. Can you tell me where to find the links? Thanks.
Bruce McDonald
2024-01-27 13:44:39 +0000 UTCfuture project: How to forge a the Vintage FROE; for splitting green wood… may as well make a handle for it, too…? Then, using the froe, your new friend, you can make handles for your new steel tools…??? PS - Down Under is Australia https://www.lie-nielsen.com.au/index.php?route=product/category&path=239#:~:text=About%20Froes%20Froes%20are%20L,for%20spoon%20carving%2C%20and%20more
Simon Horabin
2024-01-27 13:42:33 +0000 UTCOH man, my wife is going to be PISSED. I want more tools, more materials, more space and more time. Thank you Rex, can you recommend a good marriage counselor?
Bruce McDonald
2024-01-27 13:41:57 +0000 UTCYou’re AWESOME, Rex…! It’s been ages, I mean, a LONG time since I’d watched some of your stuff (coz… well, life) and the urge I had to get back into it was to finally bring the 2nd hand Stanley up to scratch… and there’s your December Video… just waiting for me… Been watching Forged in Fire for that long, I looked up my local Blacksmithing Assoc and was planning to go tomorrow morning and…. “What the…?!” Really…? Could you be more bang on…?! Thank You from Down Under !
Simon Horabin
2024-01-27 13:25:31 +0000 UTCI love this! Totally awesome! Good advice on finding clubs etc., so that one doesn’t need to gather the items needed. There is already a wealth of content out there on the less expensive ways to get going at home. I’d say refer to those intermittently (John Switzer of Blackbear Forge has an excellent series on setting up shop for around $500, and Roy Adams of Christ Centered Ironworks is always testing the current cheap anvil offerings). Maybe focus on techniques and projects starting from beginner and build off of those over time. Look at tool-making and heat treating as well, as many folks who woodwork become interested In blacksmithing because they’d like to try making their own tools. Thank you, great start to the new year!
Aaron Wasielewski
2024-01-27 12:49:19 +0000 UTCMore metal working content! How about your take on a JABOD forge or a fuigo (Japanese bellows)?
Robert Dennett
2024-01-27 12:27:41 +0000 UTC
