Forging a Billhook
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- Опубліковано 8 сер 2020
- Forging a Billhook or brush hook from leaf spring with a handle made from Gambel Oak. These tools are common in some areas for laying hedge rows. But here in the US they are more likely to see use for clearing brushy weeds.
#billhook #brushknife #blackbearforge
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Below you will find useful links that will help you in your journey as a blacksmith.
My blacksmiths apron
www.Forge-Aprons.com use code BBF
RZmask 99.5% dust mask
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To find more information in blacksmithing in the US or to search for your local ABANA affiliate group visit.
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Blacksmithing tools and supplies
Self contained air hammers - www.saymakhammers.com/
General blacksmithing supplies - www.oleoacresfarriersupply.com/
General blacksmithing supplies - www.piehtoolco.com/
General blacksmithing supplies - www.centaurforge.com/
General blacksmithing supplies - www.blacksmithsdepot.com/
General blacksmithing supplies - www.blacksmithsupply.com/
Square head bolts and lags - www.blacksmithbolt.com/
New anvils - www.oldworldanvils.com/
New anvils - www.nimbaanvils.com/
New anvils -
Industrial supplier - www.mcmaster.com
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Fire brick and refractory - refwest.com
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Blacksmithing and related activities can be hazardous. These videos are not a substitute for competent professional instruction. Your safety is your sole responsibility. Always use appropriate safety equipment including eye and ear protection when working in the shop. Follow manufactures safety guidelines for the use of all equipment. In the event something shown in one of these videos seems unsafe, it is up to you to make the appropriate changes to protect yourself.
I really like that you show “failure” when something cracks or breaks. It happens to the best of us. 👏
“That’s what I get for having a positive attitude I guess” 🤣
I love this guy. He is so wholesome lol
John, I have so much admiration for your hammer control. Those bevels, on a difficult shape, just from the hammer and anvil are impressive. I hope to get to that stage myself after some more practice! I frequently try one or other of the techniques you show in your videos and not one has been a failure yet. (a few rough attempts, but nothing that can't be rescued so far!) I'm only a rank amateur, but your channel has helped me progress far faster than I ever could on my own. Thank you very much for the instruction that you pass on to all of us. I hope everyone out there appreciates it as much as I do. Best wishes sir!
John's talent as a blacksmith is amazing. Thank your for your inspiration.
That will teach you for being optimistic.... 😂 That's exactly how I felt when I forged with found steel. No more😂
Watching from Sweden. I usually watch Torbjörn Åhman but I now have a new favourite. Love your videos!
I must admit that Torbjorn is my personal favorite. Welcome to the family.
For what it's worth, I joined the premier part way through, enjoyed the chat, then came back to watch the beginning. I think the premier format works WAY better than live stream; it allows live chat with the maker without distracting during the actual forging. Please do more like this! Thanks, as always, for sharing.
I tend to agree. I just wish there was a way to extend the premier for a bit longer to catch the last minute questions before it closes the chat.
I agree!
Black Bear Forge maybe just put a black screen for like 20 seconds than you could reply to the comments!
He has done his work with complete honesty. Excellent billhook.
You make the best close up shots. Thanks for that John. Sweet tool.
I was thinking the same thingy.. those were Great close ups!
Good to see you using that wood shop of yours too
Nice to see some Little Giant action.
Beautiful work john! Sharpening on the curve is no fun and you did a great job sir!!!
Thanks 👍
I like it. I may try this project as well. Great job.
Thanks for making this, a billhook is the next project on my list for blacksmithing. While I don't have a power hammer I do have two nice anvils so I'll be doing the old fashioned way.
Glad to help
You are the best youtuber on UA-cam in my opinion.
Thanks
I thoroughly enjoyed this installment. You know I've been 'hooked' on your channel from your start. Keep it up.
Glad you enjoy it!
For a short moment, at 23:10, i had a phantasy of you, running after the deer, screaming and waving your new billhook...
YES! THANK YOU!!! This is perfect for a concave blade, plus I've been looking for a good billhook tutorial! I can't wait to try making one! Thank you for taking the time to do a video like this! ... No way!!! I didn't see the break coming! And you kept going! Like a boss! Extra kudos for you!
Glad I could help!
Some folks call it a sling blade, I call it a kaiser blade, mmm hum... Karl Childers from movie Sling Blade. First words that came to my head when I saw it. Nice job!
“Unbelievable” was hilarious. It’s unbelievable that I didn’t spit my pizza 🍕 across the room when that happened. 😅.
steve farley Actually, it’s very believable because that’s exactly what would happen to me. Just my luck. It was hilarious the way he said it. Kind of morosely.
John Smith it’s certainly happened to me as well but john’s got no small amount of talent. I’ve seen John in person and he’s even good actor. Wouldn’t shock me if this was partially staged, not that he would ever admit to it! Either way it made a fantastic video!
We used to use those Billhooks for harvesting Sugar Cane by hand. They make one with a 4 or 5 foot long handle for brush clearing, (helps keep you away from snakes). As always another great video, thanks John.
4:00 I like the enthusiasm you put into shaping your piece of metal. I have seen many blacksmiths rest their hammers after two strikes.
Thanks for sharing your failures and explaining the salvage spring issue 👍👍👍
The Billhook is probably the most sexiest blade design I’ve ever seen, wonderful work!
You’re voice sounds like Ron Swanson, which is awesome lol.
🤣🤣👍
Except when he had the mask on while grinding. Then it was more Darth Vader running a marathon.
Your*
@@melanisticmandalorian8909 👍, I don’t know how I did that lol but I’m not gonna edit it!
I really like your version of the billhook, it's a good looking tool that will do it's job for a long time i'm sure!
Beautiful creation, similar to the English billhook type. In Italy the handle is made with leather sheets, held together by a steel washer, often in the shape of a hook to secure it to the belt.
It amazes me that you have never had a billhook in your hands: it is a very widespread tool in Europe and India, and even dates back to the Roman Empire (some have also been found in the excavations of Pompeii). I wish you to appreciate its excellent qualities.
I wasn't sure what the premier thing was when I saw the announcement this morning, but I was in my shop working so didn't take time until now to watch. This likes a handy tool, it would be real handy reaching under my spruce trees where weeds think they can safely hide.
It was a spur of the moment thing when I got the video done this morning. Just an opportunity for some live chat during the first viewing of the video
I have been watching a well known hammer maker on youtube that must not have watched your power hammer safety video. I wish he would. Love your channel Sir.
Good looking tool you made John 👍👍 !! That would get a lot of brush cut for sure. Thanks for sharing with us.
another great vid, i hope someday i'll be lucky enough to watch you do that in person
I love this. Finally a great vid on how to make one. My favorite blade pattern
Glad you like it!
Nice job as always, loved the fact that you used some of the other tools that you made a while ago. A thru craftsman.
I like watching your videos, my father is a blacksmith. I'm proud of him
Your production value has increased so much from the first videos to now. Keep up the great work!
Thanks a ton!
Love the new camera angles on the anvil. Still learning lots. Been far to long since I’ve watched.
Agreed on camera angles
I watched some of your videos when you first started and I have to say your video filming and editing skills have grown tremendously in this time. Really well put together video! Next you can make a billhook- the medieval weaponized version of the bill!
I've used one before. The one I used was awesome. I think it was older than me 😂
I made one from a large rasp, mounted mine on a reversed double blade handle and it swings great.
Thanks for your teaching and I miss catching your live stream, I was checking for you earlier but didn't pick your broadcast.
Hi John i hope one day that I have 1/2 the hammer control that you have.
Just watching you shape that curve and then the bevels wow.
Also making and fitting the handle you make it look so easy.
Always very much enjoy your videos I always take something new great video thank you for the inspiration
Very nice! I can see one in my future.
Great work! Now the work starts
That's the plan!
Swing that hammer!!! John was "Getten with it" right there at the beginning drawing the tang out!
Amazing KK just made one just like it the other day. Looks great John 👍 , thinking of making one for myself....
Awesome job John, I have heard other smiths talk about starting with a normalisation cycle right away on recycled spring steel to realise years of work stress, very nice billhook 👍
That would be a good habit to be in
I've got a fiskars one I use for camping. Works great for just about everything from kindling to splitting about 5 inch rounds. I've never sharpened it since I got it probably bout 7 years ago things still sharp as hell. And man I abuse the piss outta that thing lol. Love it so much
Enjoy your writing notes to show for me to learn,Yes a good tool for the suburban or the wilder.country.
Thanks Mr Switzer, thanks for teaching
Not far from the look of the one I have, which belonged to my great grandfather. Love it!
This is where an induction tool would work wonders on tempering options.. No-limit smithing. I'd epoxy that handle crack too, like you'd need to hear that. :-)
Kind of adds new meaning to the phrase: "Get to the chopper!"
Finally some grinder video! You knife maker, you. 😉
Great job. You always make it look so easy
That looks like a great tool, John! Good video.
Thanks 👍
There is a video on forging a mini axe necklace. Thought it was a great beginner idea as the material is small but still punching holes and shaping the eye, etc. Would love to see some small projects on here. I'm new to smithing but this is my favorite channel.
Hey John, that looks an awful lot like a kaiser blade. Some folks call it a sling blade, I call it a kaiser blade... mmmm-hmmm.
Billhook or short handle kaiser blade, it made short work out of that tree. Great job!
Awesome video my friend just awesome
Great video! Thank you for the continued inspiration and education!
Sure like when you are making tools. That first style of hand grip was a good idea till the snafu. But the finished project does make a handy tool and will last longer than the stamped metal tools in the box stores. Thanks.
I think he got it blue on one side. The magic of editing and camera angles.
Another great video John!
Love this. Your knife making skills really shine here too. Nicely done
Came out good John. Nice bill hook
Finally a anvil that doesn't ring like a bell. Also ditch the springs and use truck axles
Thanks, John. Perfect size
Usefull project! I have been using the knitted gloves for about 1 year now and I like them a lot. Better grip/fit and even beter heat protection than the hot mill ones. BTW Gargoyle spotted!! 😀
That's a worker! Reminds me of stuff in those drug cartel fight scenes in movies. Or a pineapple plantation. 👍
Could you do a video on moving material? Perhaps not do a new project but take existing footage and explain which hammer you use, where you strike, (and why) which order you choose for different parts, etc. I think that would be really interesting!
Certainly different to your usual "hooks", nice job. Thanks John.
I love it you did a sweet job
Looks great John
Funny, I just made a purchase at Pieh tool for some odds and ends myself. Even though I live in Alaska I consider them a local business I support because my folks live in Camp Verde just down the street from them. Cheers.
Thanks for sharing
I use Pieh Tool to order supplies for my school metal shop!
I own a bill hook machete, made by Fiskers.
My report : A very powerful tool, but also hazardous. If you strike straight down... after the blade passes through the work object, it will be pointed at your shin. ALWAYS use the bill at an angle, never straight down. Unless you are striking dirt.
That was a very enjoyable episode. Thanks 😀
Glad you enjoyed it
Amazing job congratutlations!!
I’ve always loved these tools, so very usefull for lots of different jobs ! Thanks teacher , I’m always learning , sometimes it’s something really simple I justNever thought of befor , like heat brick on anvil to protect anvil from hot metal when softening the spine with a Chunk of hot steel at the end ! :)
I was reading about billhook blades and how they're the European route on work blades and likely even s precessor of the kukri once it met with the falcatta, before it started making it's way to SE Asia. Just some fun history
Down here we use them as the palm tree leave remover, for that I make them a bit larger
congratulations, this is beautiful work.
Great timing for this project. We just bought some property that needs some clearing and I just happen to have some old springs to work with. Thanks
Nice man
John loved that project.also nice timber in the back ground for my sawmill to bad I live in nova Scotia Canada just started blacksmithing last year .learned a lot from your channel keep up the good work.
Thanks for sharing. Always learn something...
Thanks for watching!
Hey, I have that same 2x72!
Another great video mate love it keep um coming thanks John 🔥⚒️🔥👌
Thanks, will do!
I really like your work and your videos sir nice job!!!!
Thank you very much!
Very nice! I love using Billhooks as they just feel so natural in the hand. I have a machete as well but it just doesn't have the same feel to it..... probably due to weight distribution or something. 👍
I have used to many of these to remember my Pap made one on a axe handle for cutting heavy brush but we had plenty of this kind for misc work trimming pine limbs and what not. Takecare and keep safe
Nice
Missed ya. Was forging. I still want to make your scythe
A billhook was often used in old England for "laying hedge", a process of cutting half way through saplings, laying them horizontal, and weaving them through each other. This produced a fairly tightly woven live fence that would hold even sheep, after several years of growth. It required no metal.
There are several local designs. One even has a straight cutting edge on part of the outside edge of the curve.
PS Where do you get that steel that goes just where you want it to? The kind I have goes all over the anvil.
PBS should air your show like they used ro air carpentry and painting shows in the past.
While it would be an honor, it sounds to much like a real job
@@BlackBearForge haha 😋
Great video. I actually just made something similar for a buddy of mine, except it was sharpened on both sides and mounted on an axe handle as it was a reproduction of an antique knife used to harvest tobacco leaves
Good call on the hardening, I use billhooks a lot and people are forever hitting stones and wire when hedge laying.
I couldn't see if you put a washer on the end of the tang (usually the case with that pattern) but overall looks like a really nice job and certainly did the business.
I like it
For a year of my life, while I was in college, I did boundary survey work. There is no guess to the number of miles of line I chopped with a bush hook and bank blade. The easiest way to get those knives to an effective sharpness was to draw file them. Not to disparage your sharpening in any way, just what I had to learn to keep me swinging a blade with the rest of the crew. Unfortunately, your knuckles may pay the price in that curve until you learn to hold the file correctly.
Draw-filing is a much overlooked technique these days.
Use a fine canoe stone or an old combination stone in a circular motion with your hand holding the stone over the steel of the blade. That way you won't hazard your knuckles and can get the edge as fine as you like.
Great work John, used here in the UK mainly for hedge laying
I don't know if anyone in the US lays hedge or not. Mostly they seem to see use for light brush work and limbing low branches. I have even seen a reference to using them for the construction of military palisades several hundred years ago.
They were laid for livestock control so should imagine humans wouldn’t be too much of a problem🤣. You nearly had a good pleacher on that oak coppice when you demonstrated it in use at the end. Great work John. Your a very inspiring gent. Keep up the fantastic work
I have a large version of this that I use to clear trails on my property. It has about a 4' handle and is used 2 handed.
Would love to see you make a African style machete the ones with the larger top for chopping I have a old one that I restored for my father but it’s getting pretty done and I been thinking about making him a brand new one
Swab a little Evaporust or some gun blue to the shiny ground metal in the handle to match it up with the blade.
They work very well as a draw blade on a 8 inch round or smaller log