A very good design James ,and to have John use it as hook of the week must be a great honor for you.And as always John thank you for the time and effort that you put into videos for your followers. So I wish you and Jenett a very marry christmas .cheers.
I spent 40+ years in and around the trades and i was clueless as to depth and breadth of the blacksmithing art. Now, i have found your channel and am getting an education. I also have to say, I don't think the trade could ask for a better spokesperson than you. Thank you for all the effort you put into these videos.
Everything used to be forged, cast, or machined/cold worked; even in ancient times. The ancient techniques for soldering, brazing, fusing, alloying, and cladding are particularly interesting to me. Industrialization made a lot of this mythical in developed countries. There's still plenty of lost methods left to rediscover. If you haven't seen it, you might also enjoy the channel Clickspring where the creator tries to replicate period possible tools, materials, and processes to recreate the Antikythera mechanism, the bronze age astrological calculator. Machine Thinking also has great documentary quality episodes about the history of machines and precision.
@@kelleysimonds5945 your welcome! I got really into it through blacksmithing when I found out about how true Damascus, crucible steel, and forge welding were done. I got into other metal fab and trades after that
..Thank You John. It's like handing DaVinci his brush. Maybe my head will quit aching from beating it agin the wall trying to figure that out. In your Honor i'm naming it- The Bear Hook i really liked the shoulder on the nail end. Thank You again. Yall feel free to make these and have fun doing it! Merry Christmas to one and all...!!!
That is a good looking hook. The only change I would make is to have the spike taller than it is wide so it is more like a cut nail so it will be less likely to split the wood it is driven into.
That is an awesome hook!! A big thank you to the viewer for sending the idea, and of course a big thanks to John for putting the instruction video on making it. Wayne
Good Afternoon , John First , Merry CHRISTMAS to you and your Wife ! That was a very Nice Gift and inspiration for the time ! You handled the cold shunt Problem quite well ! It was a very Nice how this Smith presented the Idea ! Take Care and Be Safe ! Keep Hammering !
That's awesome to help a viewer with an issue and that is a great hook. This is why I send people to your page when they ask how I started to learn to blacksmith.
My wife and I have made it a ritual to watch hook of the week together every week. She isn’t a blacksmith at all, but really loves your presentation of the material. I’d love to surprise her with the hook! 🤫
This is actually a good use of a railroad spike for blacksmithing. It also provided a good discussion point, a good hook of the week, and a good project (oh, not to mention a great video).
Another great video John. My son and I have learned a lot from your channel. Thanks so much for putting them together and sharing your shop time with us.
I hope Black Bear Forge videos are available for many many years to come. Johns videos are an inspiration and an education. Blacksmithing isn’t a lost trade thanks to people like John.
John and James, thanks for posting this, we really enjoyed watching. I have a big bucket of spikes and I need to make one of these soon. Thanks to James for the idea!
Very kind of you to help a viewer figure out a problem and share with all of us. I love your videos as I drink the morning coffee, and apparently so does my 9 month old as he drinks his bottle. Thank you John, love from Texas.
I really like that hook. Thank you. See so many grab a spike and make a knife but the hook has so much more basics in it to practice and hone ones skills.
Good morning, just wanted to thank you for all the help you have provided for me and my 10 year old grandson. He enjoys blacksmithing. We watch your videos together and then go to the shop challenged to be better than before. That is a neat hook. looking forward to seeing more videos next year.
Hey John, that was a great way to help a smith out with his dilemma. I really liked his design for the hook too. You did a great job with your hook design also and you gave us a good lesson. Thanks for sharing with us. Looking forward to the drawing on Christmas Eve. You all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Thanks John and James👍 Another awesome hook idea! I love the fact this was an interaction between you and a viewer. Again great looking Hook, and if I win it, it will go in my cabin to hang my insulated coveralls🥶
Hi John. As a relatively inexperienced blacksmith, (only 3 years experience), I very much appreciate your content, and the tips and advice for making life easier; and in the last 3 or 4 months I've been watching your content, it's been wonderfully helpful.
I love fruitcake also. Just watching the hook of the week until my son wakes up so we can head out to the smithy. He is on Christmas break until the 6th of January. His birthday is on the 4th. He will be 15. I am really excited to spend the next almost 3 weeks with him. We have lots of material to work with and I have been busy the last few weeks making him tool. Punches chisels tongs you name it. When I am long gone he will still be making things with tools I made and hopefully be able to pass yhem to his son or daughter. His little sister wants to learn now too. How lucky am I?
Man, when they 'want' to learn, teach them. No better time. Even if you think they can only lift the hammer (welding lead, small grinder, torch, etc.) with both hands. Just stand close, and keep them safe.
Really enjoy your post. Thank you for sharing many ideas and helpful steps. I look forward to every Sunday now for as I call it, continuing education in my blacksmithing ! Thanks again !! and have a Merry Christmas !!
Excellent start to a Sunday! I love having these hook videos to get the day started. That is a great looking hook for sure! I will have to make some tongs to hold that material and will give it a shot. Can't wait!
Again John your consideration and demonstrations are heart warming that you give of yourself so freely. We can never show you enough love and care for you and your family. Happy Holidays to you , yours, and all of those who visit you through the magic of the internet daily. ps I love using the hammer you made for us and was generous to sell a piece of your hammer'd art. --STeve
Great Hook John. I was upset because I didn't see Hook of the Week yesterday, until I realized, since I'm presently in S. Korea, I'm a day ahead. I was extremely pleased to watch the Hook of the Week this morning as it's Monday here. Another great project and video. Thanks. Charlie
What a great take on a RR spike hook! It is always amazing to me how a small change in layout can make all the difference in the final project. Very well done. Merry Christmas!
thankyou for sharing that with us James, it is a really cool take on a railroad spike! Thank you for showing us how to make it John, it is definitely on my "going to" list.
John, Greetings from your neighbor in Pueblo. I'm not a blacksmith, but love watching your creativity and thought processes. You could be a Prof at PCC with your teaching skills
Glad James sent you his attempt at this unique Hook. It made yet again another "Hook Of The Week" very interesting and as usual with your great teaching skills how to avoid Cold Shut's. Thanks to both of you John & James
Congratulations, You have won the drawing for the Railroad Spike hook. Send your shipping address to me at switz@mindspring.com and I will get that shipped out to you
VERY COOL that you featured someone else's hook and helped figure out the cold shut. I really like the fact that yours was a little different too, you just kind of went with the basic idea and did it your way. Thanks for sharing
Your videos are a bright spot in my week. I like the wider hook you made--I have an old (1970s vintage) sheepskin coat that has kept me warm in Iowa blizzards for nearly half a century. The only thing 'wrong' with it is that the back of the collar is pretty thick and tends to pop off smaller hooks. I put wrong in quote marks because that thick collar is mightily appreciated when the wind is screaming by (my house is the highest point in at least 10 miles to the west).
Lots of skill building you are a great teacher Sir, I did several of the hooks love the one like a fish and twisted and many. Been to busy to forge with wife having several surgery on both her left knee and 3 on right foot, Seems to be improved so this October or November I really like to get back out and I do try safety practice. Thanks again and you better believe I to loved your hooks every Sunday morning
Interesting idea for hook. Railroad spike is such a friendly material to work with. So many things to make. Joined Black Bear Community group a time now. A great way to learn .Merry Christmas everyone
Once again John another great hook of the week program. Shout out to James for the idea and the great question on how to fix the issues with making this interesting hook. Merry Christmas!
Great demonstration. I really appreciate how you really point out the trouble details that help us novice be more productive at the anvil. Many thanks, and happy holidays!
Great hook love the design keep videos coming out of commission for a couple of weeks ,got me a new knee love the blacksmith community for all their help and knowledge merry Christmas to all
Very interesting hook. I especially like the way you answered the questions. For me a visual information is better than something written. Happy holidays to you and all your subscribers. Jon
A shout out to James on a great hook idea! And again, a big thanks to you John for sharing you skills and knowledge to help the rest of us with projects! Have a safe and happy holiday season!
I'm a beginning woodworker, and can't remember how I started watching this channel, but I've grown fascinated with blacksmithing and have started looking around for an anvil and ideas on building forges.... uh oh!
A very good design James ,and to have John use it as hook of the week must be a great honor for you.And as always John thank you for the time and effort that you put into videos for your followers. So I wish you and Jenett a very marry christmas .cheers.
Merry Christmas.
I spent 40+ years in and around the trades and i was clueless as to depth and breadth of the blacksmithing art. Now, i have found your channel and am getting an education. I also have to say, I don't think the trade could ask for a better spokesperson than you. Thank you for all the effort you put into these videos.
Kelley Simonds to I am a retired welder that spent most his life working on cross country pipelines and I find this channel fascinating!
Everything used to be forged, cast, or machined/cold worked; even in ancient times. The ancient techniques for soldering, brazing, fusing, alloying, and cladding are particularly interesting to me. Industrialization made a lot of this mythical in developed countries. There's still plenty of lost methods left to rediscover.
If you haven't seen it, you might also enjoy the channel Clickspring where the creator tries to replicate period possible tools, materials, and processes to recreate the Antikythera mechanism, the bronze age astrological calculator. Machine Thinking also has great documentary quality episodes about the history of machines and precision.
Bob Madeup - Yes i am a subscriber to Clickspring and, i agree completely with all you've said. Thanks for commenting.
@@kelleysimonds5945 your welcome! I got really into it through blacksmithing when I found out about how true Damascus, crucible steel, and forge welding were done. I got into other metal fab and trades after that
..Thank You John. It's like handing DaVinci his brush. Maybe my head will quit aching from beating it agin the wall trying to figure that out. In your Honor i'm naming it- The Bear Hook i really liked the shoulder on the nail end. Thank You again. Yall feel free to make these and have fun doing it! Merry Christmas to one and all...!!!
I am glad I could help. Merry Christmas.
Great idea James. Thanks for the idea. Thank you john for teaching us this process
Great looking hook Ol James! Very unique. I'm definately going to try and make a couple.
What a great idea. I kinda upset you are setting the bar so high for the rest of us though!! LOL
Great Idea Ol James , gonna have to steal this one!😁
That's a super cool hook idea. Also nice to get some of the detailed classroom stuff. 👍
Love your videos. 30 years on the job teaches us a lot.
Ol James, and Mr. John, that is a great collaboration, and project.
I really like both of them, thank you both, and Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas
My favorite hook of the week so far. Thanks for a great video John and to James a for a great idea.
That is a good looking hook. The only change I would make is to have the spike taller than it is wide so it is more like a cut nail so it will be less likely to split the wood it is driven into.
Cool Bear Hook. Thanks for sharing!
That is an awesome hook!! A big thank you to the viewer for sending the idea, and of course a big thanks to John for putting the instruction video on making it. Wayne
Sipping a cup of tea while watching "Hook of the Week" is how I start the perfect Sunday. I really enjoyed watching you provide great feedback.
I love that idea. 👍👍 Thanks for sharing
James, Great Hook.
I dont do any black smithing, but really enjoy your videos. Merry Christmas......
Good Afternoon , John
First , Merry CHRISTMAS to you and your Wife ! That was a very Nice Gift and inspiration for the time ! You handled the cold shunt
Problem quite well ! It was a very Nice how this Smith presented the
Idea ! Take Care and Be Safe !
Keep Hammering !
Merry Christmas.
I'm not normally a fan of railroad spike hooks but this one is really neat. As always John great video and I look forward to the next.
I really enjoy your videos. The hook of the week is now how I start my Sunday mornings.
That's awesome to help a viewer with an issue and that is a great hook. This is why I send people to your page when they ask how I started to learn to blacksmith.
My wife and I have made it a ritual to watch hook of the week together every week. She isn’t a blacksmith at all, but really loves your presentation of the material. I’d love to surprise her with the hook! 🤫
Merry Christmas John and Black Bear Forge Fans.
Merry Christmas.
This is actually a good use of a railroad spike for blacksmithing. It also provided a good discussion point, a good hook of the week, and a good project (oh, not to mention a great video).
Thats a cool design from a spike. James sending his samples defining the problem made for a great problem solving video. Merry christmas to all.
Merry Christmas.
I've been watching your channel for about a year it has inspired me to work real hard at blacksmithing
That is a neat hook. Nice 2 couple takes on it
Thanks for the idea James. Thank you John for detailed explanation as you forged it.
Another great video John. My son and I have learned a lot from your channel. Thanks so much for putting them together and sharing your shop time with us.
I hope Black Bear Forge videos are available for many many years to come. Johns videos are an inspiration and an education. Blacksmithing isn’t a lost trade thanks to people like John.
Cool that's a nice quick project
A good look on RR spike hook thanks James. Merry Christmas to you and your family God bless,
Merry Christmas.
Nice design, that would work really well for mounting cross pole between trees
I'll definitely try this--thanks BBF and James
John and James, thanks for posting this, we really enjoyed watching. I have a big bucket of spikes and I need to make one of these soon. Thanks to James for the idea!
Very kind of you to help a viewer figure out a problem and share with all of us. I love your videos as I drink the morning coffee, and apparently so does my 9 month old as he drinks his bottle. Thank you John, love from Texas.
These videos are a great help to those of us just starting out. Thank you for making them.
The community you've helped gather through these videos is awesome. Been very helpful in developing my skills. Happy holidays all and forge on!
Happy Holidays
Sunday morning coffee and hook of the week is a great new tradition here. Thanks John. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas.
After bending the cut part grinding off the corner will also help not to get the cold shut. If you can’t cut the angle
I really like that hook. Thank you. See so many grab a spike and make a knife but the hook has so much more basics in it to practice and hone ones skills.
Good morning, just wanted to thank you for all the help you have provided for me and my 10 year old grandson. He enjoys blacksmithing. We watch your videos together and then go to the shop challenged to be better than before. That is a neat hook. looking forward to seeing more videos next year.
great use for a railroad spike.
Always enjoy the HoW. Even if we don’t get to see that 5 gallon bucket!
i never get tired of seeing all the things people make with railroad spikes.
I really like that spin and newer idea using a RR Spike. Thanx for sharing this with us!
Hey John, that was a great way to help a smith out with his dilemma. I really liked his design for the hook too. You did a great job with your hook design also and you gave us a good lesson. Thanks for sharing with us. Looking forward to the drawing on Christmas Eve. You all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Merry Christmas.
Thanks John and James👍
Another awesome hook idea! I love the fact this was an interaction between you and a viewer.
Again great looking Hook, and if I win it, it will go in my cabin to hang my insulated coveralls🥶
Love the way you did this video. You are always helping us blacksmiths.
Unique design for an old staple, Very Cool!
Hi John. As a relatively inexperienced blacksmith, (only 3 years experience), I very much appreciate your content, and the tips and advice for making life easier; and in the last 3 or 4 months I've been watching your content, it's been wonderfully helpful.
I love fruitcake also. Just watching the hook of the week until my son wakes up so we can head out to the smithy. He is on Christmas break until the 6th of January. His birthday is on the 4th. He will be 15. I am really excited to spend the next almost 3 weeks with him. We have lots of material to work with and I have been busy the last few weeks making him tool. Punches chisels tongs you name it. When I am long gone he will still be making things with tools I made and hopefully be able to pass yhem to his son or daughter. His little sister wants to learn now too. How lucky am I?
Man, when they 'want' to learn, teach them. No better time. Even if you think they can only lift the hammer (welding lead, small grinder, torch, etc.) with both hands. Just stand close, and keep them safe.
Hey have a wonderfull Christmas everybody.
Merry Christmas.
Sweet nice hook for garage coat and hat! Very nice.
Really enjoy your post. Thank you for sharing many ideas and helpful steps. I look forward to every Sunday now for as I call it, continuing education in my blacksmithing ! Thanks again !! and have a Merry Christmas !!
Merry Christmas.
My dad loves your stuff and I think he would like this for Christmas even if it’s a late Christmas presents and happy holidays
Happy Holidays
Thank you Mr James and Mr John!!!
I love this book idea..And your remedy for the cold shut, I think was spot on. I can't wait to try this one.
Excellent start to a Sunday! I love having these hook videos to get the day started. That is a great looking hook for sure! I will have to make some tongs to hold that material and will give it a shot. Can't wait!
Again John your consideration and demonstrations are heart warming that you give of yourself so freely. We can never show you enough love and care for you and your family. Happy Holidays to you , yours, and all of those who visit you through the magic of the internet daily. ps I love using the hammer you made for us and was generous to sell a piece of your hammer'd art. --STeve
Again, another valuable lesson from the black bear forge school of blacksmithing.
Thank you John! Thoroughly enjoy all your videos. 🌲
I like the way you walk people through the whole process. Very cool, thanks
Thanks for your time, and I would love the spike hook.
Great Hook John. I was upset because I didn't see Hook of the Week yesterday, until I realized, since I'm presently in S. Korea, I'm a day ahead. I was extremely pleased to watch the Hook of the Week this morning as it's Monday here. Another great project and video. Thanks. Charlie
Thank you James for the idea, and thank you John for the tutelage on how to avoid the common problem of cold shuts!
What a great take on a RR spike hook! It is always amazing to me how a small change in layout can make all the difference in the final project. Very well done. Merry Christmas!
thankyou for sharing that with us James, it is a really cool take on a railroad spike! Thank you for showing us how to make it John, it is definitely on my "going to" list.
John,
Greetings from your neighbor in Pueblo. I'm not a blacksmith, but love watching your creativity and thought processes. You could be a Prof at PCC with your teaching skills
Nice hook, love your show.
Great content as usual! I particularly like that you explain your mistakes and know why they happen and how to avoid/fix them.
We have about a dozen new RR spikes and this is unique idea for a hook.
Glad James sent you his attempt at this unique Hook. It made yet again another "Hook Of The Week" very interesting and as usual with your great teaching skills how to avoid Cold Shut's. Thanks to both of you John & James
I love watching your hook of the week every sunday morning. Thanks for all you do.
What a fabulous gift. Thank you for all you do.
Congratulations, You have won the drawing for the Railroad Spike hook. Send your shipping address to me at switz@mindspring.com and I will get that shipped out to you
Neat hook idea, really like the way it looks. Thanks for the video.
Thank you for the inspiration and the knowledge you share with every video.
VERY COOL that you featured someone else's hook and helped figure out the cold shut. I really like the fact that yours was a little different too, you just kind of went with the basic idea and did it your way.
Thanks for sharing
Great idea nice hook James and John.
Your videos are a bright spot in my week.
I like the wider hook you made--I have an old (1970s vintage) sheepskin coat that has kept me warm in Iowa blizzards for nearly half a century. The only thing 'wrong' with it is that the back of the collar is pretty thick and tends to pop off smaller hooks. I put wrong in quote marks because that thick collar is mightily appreciated when the wind is screaming by (my house is the highest point in at least 10 miles to the west).
Lots of skill building you are a great teacher Sir, I did several of the hooks love the one like a fish and twisted and many.
Been to busy to forge with wife having several surgery on both her left knee and 3 on right foot, Seems to be improved so this October or November I really like to get back out and I do try safety practice.
Thanks again and you better believe I to loved your hooks every Sunday morning
Interesting idea for hook. Railroad spike is such a friendly material to work with. So many things to make. Joined Black Bear Community group a time now. A great way to learn .Merry Christmas everyone
Merry Christmas.
Once again John another great hook of the week program. Shout out to James for the idea and the great question on how to fix the issues with making this interesting hook. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas.
Great video John I’ve never wanted to make a railroad spike hook before until now I like that hook
That is a really cool hook. Nicely done sir!
Pretty neat take on a spike hook. Definitely more elegant than the normal, blocky, 2 bends and 2 holes that is seen all too often.
Great demonstration. I really appreciate how you really point out the trouble details that help us novice be more productive at the anvil. Many thanks, and happy holidays!
Happy Holidays
Love the style of the hook! Props to James!
Great hook love the design keep videos coming out of commission for a couple of weeks ,got me a new knee love the blacksmith community for all their help and knowledge merry Christmas to all
Merry Christmas.
really neat idea for a hook, it looks great. I wouldn't mind doing that with the spikes I've got.
That was indeed a great topic idea for a video, and shows just what a great teaacher you are.
I’m new to blacksmithing and me and my dad love watching your videos and then going out to the garage and working on something
Thank you John and James for the combined hookups have a very merry Christmas everyone :-)
Merry Christmas.
Love this drive hook John. Great way to open the mind to a railroad spike. Awsome job as always.
Neat hook idea! Definately gonna try to make some for the shop!
Cool Hook ! Merry Christmas to all of you at Black bear Forge !
Merry Christmas.
Very interesting hook.
I especially like the way you answered the questions.
For me a visual information is better than something written.
Happy holidays to you and all your subscribers.
Jon
Happy Holidays
Spending my life trying to get my blacksmith shop going so I can make hooks like these. Thanks for helping the week really enjoy them.
A shout out to James on a great hook idea! And again, a big thanks to you John for sharing you skills and knowledge to help the rest of us with projects! Have a safe and happy holiday season!
What a great little hook. Love this series, John. Hope you keep it going even after you run out of pieces from your bucket.
I'm a beginning woodworker, and can't remember how I started watching this channel, but I've grown fascinated with blacksmithing and have started looking around for an anvil and ideas on building forges.... uh oh!
Welcome to the club.
One of the first spikes I like. So many people make knives out of them. Good to see something useful.
Thank's
I think the twist looks awsome.