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

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 .

Love this, it's like being taught to forge by Ron Swanson!

@jackofalltradesprepping9611

2 жыл бұрын

Man that's accurate

@ferencvaderna6268

2 жыл бұрын

@@jackofalltradesprepping9611 mu8

@nicholassmith7359

2 жыл бұрын

I can hear it and now can't unhear it.

@aceriverpirate9795

2 жыл бұрын

My God . . . Man's gotta point!

@Elmojomo

2 жыл бұрын

I knew his voice reminded me of someone!

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.

@bjellison905

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you and those you teach. Your sacrifices are appreciated

@trentfox6436

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you sir for your service and sacrifice

@TheKrisg50

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your sacrifice for our nation and for your service.

@Reno-of7gj

3 жыл бұрын

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.

@brandontorres4499

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for your service

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.

@TastyChevelle

Ай бұрын

*Forge, forging

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.

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.

@BlackBearForge

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you

@adamkamarul

5 жыл бұрын

i agree with that , most of the other videos never with explaination on the basic of forging

@hunterhostler1345

5 жыл бұрын

It's long but well worth it

@mikemph7779

2 жыл бұрын

@@hunterhostler1345 that’s what SHE said

I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of the “big” blacksmiths on KZread 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!

@BlackBearForge

5 жыл бұрын

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.

This is, to date, the most informative forge welding video I have seen. Very good information and I will share.

@BlackBearForge

6 жыл бұрын

thank you

@thomasmckelvey8961

5 жыл бұрын

Yeah it is!

@roberthercules2486

3 жыл бұрын

I agree 👍. Great video.

@colinriley5384

3 жыл бұрын

Taught me most of what I know

@BlackMithrandir13

2 жыл бұрын

It still is

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.

@BlackBearForge

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing the memory

@gdaruda

6 жыл бұрын

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.

@bjellison905

4 жыл бұрын

I'd love to hear some of your stories. You make me miss my grampa

@carlosrobles2048

3 жыл бұрын

What a great story!

@ianutube22

3 жыл бұрын

Awesome story. Appreciate it

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! 😎

You are by far the only smithing instructor on KZread 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!

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.

This is one of the better videos i have seen especially on fluxing .

Many Forged In Fire contestants need to watch this video!

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!

I've seen several blacksmithing videos but most have no monolog explaining the steps. This has been beyond helpful. Thank you.

@BlackBearForge

Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Sir, you look like you came straight out of the 1800's and I love it. Great content. Thank you.

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!

kind of failed at tong making time to move onto failing at forge welding :) really enjoy these videos. Thank you.

@BlackBearForge

3 жыл бұрын

You can do 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.

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 👌

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)

Top job man you remind me of my college glass tutor and that is praise.

From South Africa, thanks so much for demystifying this topic. That's a very fine shirt, glad you took care of it!

It would be awesome to spend a day learning from this guy.

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 KZread 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.

My grandfather was Amish, was as he is now dead not as left . Saw a tool like one that had belonged to him hanging on the wall . Mom said said he used it to measure the wheels radius. She said he used it to make rims for buggy and wagon wheels . His smithing was basic to them(Amish) back then, back in the 40's. Now most don't shoe their own horses . They are still resourceful just not to the extent they once were .

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.

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.

@samiamm5764

4 жыл бұрын

Carol Johnson I thought he was saying coal forge

That was great. Thanks for putting it together. I learned a lot.

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.....

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.

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!

Came back to review -- now that i have a forge to use in attempting to do a forge weld.

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've learnde a lof thanks to you, dear Sire. Thank you!!

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.

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

Thanks a lot, it was a pleasure to see (or watch my English has to be improved) and listen your video

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

Probably the best basic forge welding video I have ever seen!

You are a great teacher!

I learned to forge weld at age twelve as an apprentice. I’ve only ever worked in a coal forge. The master smith I studied under rarely explained why we were doing things or why it worked. “This is how we do it. This is what it looks like. Now you do it.” I must have made a couple thousand S hooks and nails that first year. I’ll never forget the thrill of getting to first hold the tongs, and then take turns with the hammer welding big things. I was terrified I’d get the timing off and either not clear my hammer in time or swing too soon before the other hammer was clear. I burned my first solo attempt at welding so bad I almost had to scrap it. Then I got the lecture, “Ok, tell me what you did wrong?” A wrist injury effectively ended my career awhile ago but I miss the work. Keep thinking there must be a way around it. Maybe I’ll learn to swing a hammer with my left hand!

@buffordevans6942

3 жыл бұрын

Dude Get off your ass and get back to swinging !! Get that left arm up to speed .He'll you never know you may actually be MORE artistic oreve smoother with that left arm

It's an honour to see a master at work🙏

So well put . Forge welding or Pattern welding is not a HARRY Potter HOGWERTS or the magic Hammer crowd . So pleased someone else has my view point .

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.

@retiredamericanpatriot5571

2 жыл бұрын

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.

thank you man feels like youre my grandpa

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.🙏🏻

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!

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!!

"20 Mule Team Borax" Have binge watched Dave Engles build the replacement wagon and water wagon over on his KZread channel. Lots of all trades there including forge welding.

Best blacksmithing video on KZread!

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.

@BlackBearForge

2 жыл бұрын

Good luck!

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.

Your videos are absolutely top notch! You’re a great teacher. Thanks again!

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.

Great video with a lot of information. Thanks for sharing

I’ve been looking for a video like this for years. Thank you.

Thanks mate. I'm doing my first ever forge weld in a day or 2, so I feel a lot more confident now.

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.

I would pump the overhead bellows for my grandad when he was at the fire. I was small enough he built a ramp for me so I could run up and grab the rope and let me down and then do a loop away from the fire and do it over and over. It was about 5 feet long by 3 ft wide. He used 20 mules as I still do today 55 yrs later.He made his own birch charcoal too that he would let me help with. He made all his chains and was a ferrier too. I soooo miss those days and have rarely found anyone to teach the craft to. He would have been in seventh heaven to have forges like ours. I have always wondered what became of his big clay forge.

@BlackBearForge

6 жыл бұрын

Great memories

@fishsoft92

4 жыл бұрын

Tomoko's Enterprize I’d love to learn, but it isn’t practical for my area. I am working on getting my own forge going, but unfortunately it is only practical as a hobby/craft sale/garage sale item type thing here in north central Illinois.

@TomokosEnterprize

4 жыл бұрын

​@@fishsoft92 "Kevin Robinson made a great forge" from a Truck brake drum with a clinker breaker and a real simple way yo get a nice forge made for very little $ involved. Check him out bud. He has a great channel.

@fishsoft92

4 жыл бұрын

Tomoko's Enterprize thanks, man. I have the forge built, it’s a Tim Lively design adapted to an old charcoal grill. It’s actually the anvil mount that is the hang up. That plus I just got married and bought a house.

@TomokosEnterprize

4 жыл бұрын

@@fishsoft92 I look foreward to seeing it one fine day my friend.

Very helpful thank you John

Liked your comment about the hats. Remember like I tell people"GOD only made a few perfect heads-The rest HE covered with hair"!

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.

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

Nice ! Knowledge only experience and time can give you.

Thank you for taking the time to fully explain everything.

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!

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.

@isaac2990

5 жыл бұрын

How did it go?

@mityeltu3204

5 жыл бұрын

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.

This is by far one of the best videos on forge welding I've seen. Thanks you so much for sharing your knowledge!

@BlackBearForge

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

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

Absolutely fantastic and very informative. This video has given me the confidence to try my first forge weld!! 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.

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.

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.

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

@BlackBearForge

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you so very much

Thank you enlighten me about forging😊

Thank you. Very inspiring 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

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.

Exactly 4 Years later 12/28/21...... "Merry Christmas"

Great video! Thank you

@paul-wade-hampton6766

3 жыл бұрын

My friend, long time no see, I hope that all is well ! Good tidings & blessings, btw thank you for your amazing channel, you had taught me alot about craft & Bushcraft ! Thank you sincerely for that !...

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 .

@BlackBearForge

6 жыл бұрын

Very true, it's part of what makes smithing fun

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

Fantastic video!

Thank you I'm new to this and want to learn how. Thanks again

After watching this I went home and did a successful forge weld right first try

I've never done blacksmithing of any sort before. I HAVE watched many videos, and read books. This video has taught me far more practical techniques than any of them. Thank you. You put the concepts into very understandable formats. I have learned a lot and will continue to watch for more videos and go back to watch older ones.

Competent nice and clear explanation and no music..a dream come true.

Great video as usual. Always makes me want to start forging by the end. Unfortunately I will have to stick with watching the videos for now. Can't forge in my apartment. Lol

I've just stumbled upon your channel and I really like the content you're producing! Thank you for making videos

I can’t thank you enough for posting and taking your time on this video. I appreciate you

Really glad I found this channel. You are a good teacher, because you explain things clearly and simply.

@BlackBearForge

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you

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

@83gt17

5 жыл бұрын

Likewise. A rivet forge is a great way to learn how to screw up by the numbers, I've found!

Your videos are incredibley educational no nonsense thankyou

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.

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

@bobbabcock2360

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Bob

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.