Blacksmith Beginnings: Lesson 1
Ron Payne, Blacksmith, woodworker, all-around crafter
Watch this class and thousands more
Watch this class and thousands more
Lessons in This Class
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1.
Introduction
0:33
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2.
A few words on safety
2:08
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3.
Project and goals
0:24
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4.
Bending
3:05
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5.
Tapering
3:23
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6.
Scrolls
3:03
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7.
Forging hot steel
3:29
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8.
Cleaning the forge scale
0:42
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9.
Closing thoughts
0:23
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About This Class
People look upon wrought ironwork with awe. Â They wonder just how iron gets formed into the intricate shapes that decorate a fence or gate. Â It is easier than you think. Â And while it does require some specialized tools, it is possible to start without spending a lot of money.
This class give an introduction to forging. Â A brief overview of some general safety considerations will be followed by techniques for forming hot steel and one way to make an S-hook with a tapered scroll and a fish-tail scroll.
I will demonstrate each technique using clay first as it is easier to see the details in clay compared to the white hot steel. Â Then I'll show how everything comes to gether to make a useful hook.
Meet Your Teacher
I am driven by a need to create. This has lead me down some interesting roads.
I know a bit about woodwork, metal work, leather, casting, and several other disciplines. I also enjoy passing along what I know to others.
Life is a continual path of improvement.
Hands-on Class Project
Create an S-hook with fire and steel.
Creating as a blacksmith is manipulating hot iron or steel into the desired form. Â For this project you will develop some basic skills and use them to forge an S-hook.
Skills
Bending over the horn, and over the edge and face of the anvil.
The most basic manipulation is bending a curve. Â There are many ways to do this, here I show how to use the horn of an anvil and the anvil face to curve a piece of steel.
Drawing a taper.
Another skill of the blacksmith is forging a taper, Â I demonstrate forging a square taper and round taper.
Rolling a tapered scroll and fishtail scroll.
The scroll is a common decorative element in ironwork. Â There are many different form for a scroll and I show how to make two of the more commone ones, a simple tapered scroll and a basic fish-tail scroll.
Tools and Materials
Forge. Â I'll be using a gas forge, there are other designs and some with work with charcoal. Â If you need ideas for how to do this without spending a lot of money, follow the link below to the "I forge iron" forums, there is a lot of good information on getting started on that site.
Anvil. Â I have a double-bick pattern. Â If you don't have a "proper" anvil, a heavy piece of iron will suffice. Â Again, there are suggestions on "I forge iron" for substitute anvils.Â
Hammer. Â I like something in the range of 1 to 1.5 lbs. others like heavier and some like lighter. Â A carpenter hammer will work, although other hammer styles are more useful.
Tongs. Â Something to hold the hot steel. Â Proper tongs work better than pliers but if you have pliers on hand that will suffice.
Since fire is an integral part of blacksmithing, have on hand a fire extinguisher or some way to put out a fire.
Steel. Â I'm using an 8" piece of 3/8" round stock. Â Smaller stock can be used, larger stock will result in a massive hook and should be longer to compensate for the larger diameter.
Class Project:
 Complete an S-hook.
Resources
Online:Â http://www.iforgeiron.com
Books I've found useful:
"Plain and Ornamental Forging" by Ernst Schwarzkopf
"New Edge of the Anvil" by Jack Andrews
"A Blacksmithing Primer" by Randy Mcdaniel
"Professional Smithing" by Donald Streeter
Class Ratings
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