Your Shop should reflect who you are as a Blacksmith
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- Опубліковано 13 кві 2024
- You should set up your shop up the way you feel is best for your work. In my shop removing the coal forge last year may have been the best decision I have made concerning my shop layout.
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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.t yourself.
Blacksmithing is when you heat metal until it plasticizes, place it on something heavy, and smack it with a hammer. It does NOT matter how you heat the metal. It is all “real blacksmithing”.
Good job!
My shop reflects me. A big mess with a bunch of half done projects. But I still like it.
Thats something I can relate to
I hear ya. Just goes to show we all are works in progress, and sometimes that process leaves us in a hot mess. XD
Good morning, John!!!! My shop has to accommodate all aspects of the things I enjoy. From Blacksmithing to working on cars, welding, wood working, and most recently the addition of a series1 Bridgeport mill. I think the idea of "You do You" goes for most of the hobbies we enjoy. Lots of people don't get that. Nice Video!!!!
Good morning, John. I appreciate all your information so much - I am just beginning my forging journey and need all the inspiration I can get - but what I couldn't stop looking at was all the snow coming down in the window behind you! I love your new table, too. Thank you for all you do for us!
Amen . All shops are a work in progress,
I agree !! thanks..
..Black Art Forge..
Excellent thoughts John! Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it
I’m so glad you shared this. I’m setting up my little shop. I got out to my shop today and made a spoke shave.
Another great video! Thanks for taking the time to show us your thought process and experience!
Thanks so much for your video John! You do what's best for you and your business. I wonder how many blacksmiths 200 years ago were told "you're not a real blacksmith" because you are using coal and not charcoal. 🤔
This is a great explanation of induction forge shop production, and evolution of how John's shop has changed lately. Thanks ol' boy.
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for taking the time to walk us through your thought process. Adam Savage is a fan of dating that a so itself is a process, and it changes and evolves as the maker does.
Thanks for bringing us along on your journey!
Cheers 🍻 John, always a pleasure to listen to your thought process 👍🏻 wishing you and Janet warm thoughts as winter starts to show signs here in NZ
Thank you for sharing. No need to justify any of your decisions to me. It's your shop and it has to fit your needs.🙂🙂
John you are the master blacksmith it is your shop we are just watching and learning charcoal is good but I like the way you have it now as a shop of it's own a shop evolves as a person grows in experience if it doesn't it is not there long
I love your channel. And I will keep watching regardless if I can see the coal forge or not. You are putting out great content.
I appreciate that!
Great information in this video as usual with your videos, a person's shop should be setup for the person and the work they are doing. I am glad you will still be using the coal forge, I also like the variety of using the propane and the induction forges. Looking forward to seeing your next video.
Good discussion, enjoy listening to your thoughts! Good post!
Thanks John. Being new to blacksmithing I’m trying to make my shop work for me. Seeing how your shop is still evolving is helpful. Thanks for another great video.
It is great that you have 3 ways to heat the material depending on the volume and need. Well laid out for efficiency!
Good talk, everyone should feel good doing what they do in a shop
That induction forge is a game changer - I'd have one if the funds were there.
I'm using a charcoal forge right now and I might switch to a propane forge eventually but I'll always love charcoal, I have access to a lot of wood that I can convert, but I've always felt like an amateur because of my forge, this video makes me feel better about it. Thank you.
Its definitely about working the way that suits your situation. I have various health problems that are dictating how I have to actually do things compared to how I want to do things.
Great little video John thanks for sharing this insight, its a more useful video than you may realise.
Good video John.
Here in Australia, coal or coke are not generally used domestically, about the only businesses that use it are power stations and steel mills. So it is quite hard to source in small enough quantities to supply even a full-time blacksmith shop. Local Smiths who use it are constantly struggling to get supplies.
Whilst I use coke exclusively at the heritage village where i volunteer 2 days a week as a blacksmith, in my shop at home i only ever use gas. My personal coke forge is sitting out in the yard, in case I ever have something i cant fit in the gas forge. In the last 3 years it has only been run once a year for maintenance, when i check everything is still functional in case I need it.
Thank You ...
Good stuff. I am in the process of planning/setting up my shop. I am out of town for a few days but when I get home I will finish building and testing my forge and I bought a 2nd hand rusty old anvil that was delivered yesterday so I will have some fun cleaning that up too. I plan to set the blacksmithing area up outdoors next to the charcoal kiln nestled among the bamboo that will used for the fuel. Lots of challenges and probably not the wisest shop location, but I am not known for making good decisions.
My “shop” is a space underneath a tin carport. It has a dirt box forge powered by a hairdryer, a leg vise and anvil. The space is shared by a wood rack and two mowers. Some day I’ll get a Chili gas forge. I would love to have a Little Giant hammer or small hydraulic press, but that’s will probably never happen. Yes, I would love a more dedicated shop, but I can’t justify.
Thank you as always for your videos.
Great job John. I tend to use the gas more because of time constraints. However the induction forge has me intrigued. Thanks for sharing!
There is no right or wrong way. There is just your way and others have their way.
Goes with most things in life.
To my experience, workspaces tend to be on constant evolution anyways.
At least mine are. Not doing blacksmithing, yet, though. Been on the to do list for
over 25 years. Maybe this summer...
I absolutely love my induction forge - same one you got. Just did a couple videos myself on it, a short showing going from cold to welding heat on a RR Spike in 30 sec and a full length video on forge welding 5/16" round to 5/8" round. The induction forge is extraordinary!
Totally agree on the hand-crank vs electic blower. I rarely use my hand-crank these days, handy to have, but the electric is so much more convenient.
Im planning to start soon. I dont like fiddling with gas at all. Plus using and doing traditional things makes me feel connected to the past in a small way. But I would never dictate that another choose what I feel is best. The gas is cheaper. I alread have my coal forge and im looking forward to breaking it in. Thanks for the vids!
As a programmer I choose to not waste time on the mindless debates people usually have about tools/tech. At the end of the day, it's about using what ever helps you be the most productive. And we shouldn't use one thing over the other, because a certain "fan boy" said it's the only way. Thanks for the video, your shops look great!
Diplomatically well said! When some try to impose their own preferences on others, no one benefits. I took a weekend blacksmithing class. One of the students asked if we would be using the gas forges. The instructor said, "I wouldn't even know how to light one." No one was impressed by his "superiority."
Great message.
There's a lot of characters online whose #1 hobby is apparently telling people that they are doing X wrong.
Every shop is different, every blacksmith is different, has different focuses/ideas, work flow, varying availability and budgets for tooling, etc. etc. As long as you can get the metal hot with at least reasonable efficiency, it's ultimately up to the individual blacksmith to decide what is or is not the right forge(s) for them.
you have to do what works for you!
100% agree, I'm working with the coal forge and it suits my style of work, but for certain projects I wish I had a gas forge. One of the bigger issues ive got is the need for an armorer's torch forge. Seeing as making bucklers with my current setup is more difficult than it need be. I think whatever gets you swinging the hammer and making something from iron and steel with fire is blacksmithing.
I have two anvils, one is my working anvil the other is the anvil my late grandfather gave me to get started on. Its bowed and broken in parts but every now and then I work on it to remember him and how I got started. Plus the horn on it is brilliant for making hooks!
I do appreciate your insights in shop planning if find it very insightful
I work with extremes I most of my projects. There is a modern, well appointed cabinet shop, and an area with only hand tools. There is a propane forge and modern equipment in one area, and a coal/charcoal forge in another. Sometimes I throw a log on the brand new bandsaw mill, and sometimes I saw on the 1922 Farquhar circle mill. Weather, mood, and efficiency dictates where I'm working.
I agree John. My induction forge has taken over about 80% of what do. Coal and gas share the other 20% now. Quite an efficient setup, no downtime and I can shut off and walk away with minimal precautions, vs the other two.
I’m glad to see you using other heating methods. We can learn about induction heating and gas! Nice to have options
I take the points you make so well John , my shop is basically a double garage with a "lean" to at the side which contains my home made power & 72 " grinder etc with a coal forge out back for use in good weather ( I live in uk so this is a rare ! ) I added induction furnace couple yrs ago to supplement my ( Us bought ! ) open design propane forge ( which has served me well for last 10 yrs) and has it taken a couple of years to reach the same conclusion as you regarded the efficiency of using these both together as required , if you need super hot or awkward size coal forge will always be a consideration but for day to day using both in tandem is a a good set up
I'd really enjoy watching you do full projects with just the induction forge this summer
I appreciate the fact that you have been sharing the modern tools that perform the tasks. Efficiency is a big deal in many areas of life. We are not living in the 1800's , where fuel options were limited. We have progressed past the old ways, not many Model T's on the road either. Thanks again!
My "shop" is currently a propane forge on a tool cart, a 60 lbs anvil on a 4x4 monstrosity base I made for it, all under a canopy tent in my drive way.
Good morning John, looking good around there and working just like you expected things to do. Really enjoy your videos and all the things you share with us. Stay safe and keep having fun with what all you bring us. Fred.
My first forge area was an old apple packing shed (8-10 car garage in size I used about 10sq feet of it)I had an old TK bedford truck brake drum as a forge pot and a clothes dryer for a blower I’d burn sticks at the back of the brake drum to make charcoal on the go as I didn’t know where to buy it from and couldn’t get coal/coke from anywhere.
You do you with what makes you happy and enjoying your work. I have two coal forges that I don't use, only on very rare occasions. Not that I don't know how or that it is inconvenient, it just I have had my fill of working with coal. I worked in heating plants firing coal fired boilers and have seen on cold winter days burning a semi truck load of coal in eight hours. I do almost all my work in a small propane forge that has a small door in the back of it so I can get long stock through it.
John, sometimes I get the impression that your videos are more about what tools and equipment you can obtain, then about actual blacksmithing.
Blacksmithing can definitely be a tool intensive activity and I get lots of questions regarding tools and shop setup. So I do try to answer those when I can. It also allows me to take a more relaxed approach to the forging videos so that I'm not rushing to try and get the project done in time for the next video. My current project, which should be next weeks video, has been in the works for about 3 weeks so far.
I don't use my coal forge but it gets tricky sometimes to get the work to fit in propane forge. I am seriously considering getting an induction forge. Keep up the great videos.
You are a great reference for me and your work is very inspiring. When I started setting up the workshop, I made several bad decisions and learned from them.
A couple of years ago when I got my first forge, a coal one, I had to house it in my shop where I also work on my cars, old tractors and other things. The lack of a chimney meant that I had to drag my forge outside, move my anvil and other stuff out of their storage positions each time I wanted to use them. So, I made the decision that I was going to curtail my blacksmithing and dedicate that spare time to making a shop just for blacksmithing. Not only would this make it easier to go out and do some blacksmithing and thus resulting in going into the shop more often, but I could set up a pattern for workflow and outfit it with equipment the way I want. Fortunately, I had a structure on the property that fit the bill for this shop without having to build one. It is a three stall detached garage that had become a catchall for junk and stuff that I would "get to one day". Unfortunately, a worsening heart condition and subsequent pacemaker install sidelined that a bit, but today I had planned to begin clearing one stall of the garage out in order have space to move my now several forges and other things I've collected up to there from my shop. So John, it was fitting that the first thing I viewed after getting up was this video, for it underscored for me that I had made the right decision. It will take some time to get things totally set up the way I want, but I am moving forward now to my goal of having my shop represent what Kind of blacksmith I want to be.
I'm glad the video was helpful
I started with a coal forge, switched to gas about a year later. I still have it, but rarely use it anymore.
Mr John I have to say that I honestly don't know if anyone could have said it better than that
Great job. Thank you 😊
All a forge is is a means to heat iron, all a hammer is is something to hit with, all an anvil is is something to hit on . . .
I agree, a person's shop should be personal to that individual only. Thanks for the explanation. That snow blowing around in the background 😳 please keep it away from me
My backyard is my shop, wish I had a real one lol
I totally agree. I almost never use my coal forge. I really want an induction forge but it's a little outside my budget.
They are a big splurge, but so far I am glad to have it and suspect i will use it a lot during the heat of the summer
Likewise, the induction forges available in Australia seem to be very expensive, so I've not gone down that path either.
Fantastic explanations on how to optimize time and efficiency to reflect what work you do
Glad it was helpful!
Amen... It's one idea to want a tool you see in someone else's shop, but your shop is your shop... There's a hiker saying that fits... Hike your own hike...
John I'm really glad you made the "small shop" and kept using the coal forge for some videos. I mostly use my coal forge myself, despite the mounting cost, the dust and smoke and everything else. I do see an induction forge in my future though...
I followed your lead a year ago and swapped my shop over to a propane forge. I miss the romance of the coal forge, but the time I've saved not maintaining a fire has let me concentrate on my forging skills.
With the increased awareness of the air quality issues resulting from even gas stoves, I think it makes sense to see what you can get done with induction. Of course, we all die from something, so I’ll not quit living or working. But I do try to be safe where I can.
Your small shop is probably still about twice the space that I currently have, but for what I do it's plenty big if I'm a bit clever about how I organize it. There's something to be said for literally every single tool being within arm's reach of the anvil. Fortunately though my building permit is just about approved so I'll be able to start construction on a much larger shop in the next month or two. Here's to hoping that shop will be done by the end of the summer.
Building a new shop is an exciting time
Nigel Barnett in the UK has been promoting induction forges which he argues greatly increase his productivity & with renewable generation the cost of electricity is falling leading to lower costs, more output & less pollution and seems great to me, but others like traditional methods. My Father always wanted things to improve, but nothing to change, a complete impossibility but that never bothered him! I like to see how others do things & adopt or not as suits me. There can never be one thing that suits everyone, it is the thought, planning, budgeting & ergonomics that are the drivers of getting what one wants & modifying as experience guides which add so much to the what ever craft is one’s passion. Thank you for sharing!
I always enjoy watching Nigel's videos.
Great video, John. I think what people need to realize is that you're a blacksmith who makes UA-cam videos. In the end, it's your shop, run the way that works best for you. Sure, a coal forge makes for great nostalgia, and it's also nice that there are those who want to make sure that traditional blacksmithing doesn't become a lost art, but if you're trying to make money from the items you produce, you need to do it in the quickest, most cost-effective manner you can. If that means a gas or induction furnace then, by all means, do that. As one of the other commenters stated, "a forge is a place to heat the metal". The work is done by the monkey behind the hammer.
Loved your explanation of why your shop is set up the way it is. Truth be told, I rarely notice which forge you're using because I'm interested in what hammer techniques you're using, and what additonal tooling you need to get a certain task done. Glad you didn't get rid of the coal forge and I like the idea of it having its own dedicated shop. Keep up the good work.
Thanks
I would *like* a coal forge setup, for the same reason, sometimes you just can’t fit a weird piece in the gas forge. I was recently making a hay knife (essentially a 3’ saw with two tang handles, which are at unusual angles to the blade ) out of a leaf spring, and it rapidly became a game of convenience bends and playing ‘what angle can I set this at to get the area I need to work into the forge’.
The entire time, I was thinking ‘this would be simple in a coal forge.’
But like you said, one off special projects here and there, not a ‘need it every day’ situation.
I find a torch to be a handy supplement for the gas forge for some of those odd heats
It makes sense to me to have the gas and induction forges. For me the coal is harder to get. For you, you have to do what works best for you. I think the most important part of your demos are the hammer and tong work.
Ah, a good excuse for my mess! :P
I use my coal forge for longer projects, the gas forge is good for short production projects imo...
I got condemned for telling another You Tuber about wearing safety glasses. Most important.
When you stand at the platen table now we get a beautiful wide shot of the shop, great set up mate!
I keep thinking about how to add a coal forge.. just because.. I know an induction forge is more what i actually need
Sometimes we need to satisfy the want along with the needs.
John. Lots of great info, If you ever saw the pictures of the smartest man of our time, Einsteins office was a mess, stuff all over the place nothing in a special place.,,, just a mess. If you know where your stuff is ... Have enough self esteem to just do stuff your own way.. not for others...
oh yeah!!! like Elvis said,,, A lot less Talk and a lot more Pounding .....
After some use, I've found the conditions in my outdoor shop mean I just can't forge weld or work on large projects in my vevor double burner gas forge
I'd definitely love to have an induction forge, but the initial cost and electricity use also isn't viable where I live, so I'm gonna need to make a solid fuel forge to tide me over
While the initial investment for an induction forge is pretty high, I find it to be the lowest cost forge in terms of energy use. Coal is the most expensive for me since i don't have a nearby source and have to have it shipped.
@@BlackBearForge Unfortunately, it's a shaky electrical supply and bad wiring rather than the actual cost of electricity.
The value, along with environmental friendliness and convenience, is exactly what drew me to induction forges long before I took serious steps to smithing.
John, can you briefly talk about your exhaust/venting setup for your CO?
I'll plan that fora future video and see if I can get a gas detector that shows what the air quality really is
Well….. that explains the quality of my work 😢
Curious about how you keep your ceiling from damage due to heat from the gas forge?
My shop screams, retired electrician.
👌🏼⚒️
I love my coal forge, if I could I would use it exclusively. However the price of fuel makes that impossible on the business side of things. I havent got an induction forge yet but that is next on the big purchase list.
Faced with a similar problem, I converted to a charcoal forge and fuel is nearly free, aside from a few days a year harvesting firewood and making charcoal. I find gas is very expensive in comparison, but I love the convenience of it.
I have found gas to be much cheaper in my area than coal and charcoal take too long to produce on a small scale. I do hope to build a large charcoal retort at some point, but there never seems to be enough time.
@@BlackBearForge It's just a hobby for me, so making the charcoal feels like part of the process, and I have access to free forest timber. It certainly wouldn't be sustainable for production work. I make my charcoal very simply using a large steel barrel (44 gallon drum) tipped on a roughly 60 degree angle and just feed it slowly over a day of forging. Once I have an indoor forge I feel like an induction forge will be the way to go.
Hey guys. For anyone that has an induction forge, I'm looking for a water pump to use for it. Amy good suggestions for an inexpensive pump? Thanks in advance
How do you handle the carbon monoxide and dioxide generated by the gas forge during the winter when the doors and windows are closed? Do you have some kind of ventilation system I might have missed in previous videos?
A well burning forge shouldn't produce CO. But my shop is intentionally well ventilated and I usually work with the door open even when its bitter cold in the winter.
Since im seeing the single burner vevor forge. I bought it when you first got it in blacksmithing on a budget. I have a question about it. Have you figured out if it is able to be used for forge welding?. I tried 1 time and it didnt work. Just wondering if you have any pointers
I haven't done any welding in that forge. But blocking most of the rear door would help quite a bit. Then its just a matter of getting the right adjustments with the gas pressure and choke opening. Assuming it will reach welding temps, not every gas forge will
I have a dual burner Mr Volcano forge, which isn't too different from the Vevor one and I'm able to forge weld with it just fine. For mild steel though I really have to crank up the gas pressure a lot, and I block off both ends with fire bricks except for a very narrow opening in the front.
@fredfchopin thanks for the info. I was using spring steel. I was just practicing so it wasn't for a project. I just started as a hobby about 8 months ago and still have a long way to go. I did block the back off with a brick but didn't block the front. I will try that next time I have extra time while forging.
What dose induction forge run on 110/220
220 40 amp. They make them in 110 but you need a 70 amp circuit.
Do you still use the chili Forge ? i remember one was overused and seeing you buying a new one
Yes I do and I still think they are a great forge. I just wanted to experience the ribbon burner. Both are good
@@BlackBearForge that nice to hear
You need a coal forge John!! Period!! Lol
When you started blacksmithing, was it a thing you did full time every day? Or was it a thing you did a couple times a week?
I started as a hobby when I had time to spare. Slowly it became a part time business while I still had a full time job. After i retired I started smithing full time.
@@BlackBearForge that's reassuring for me. Right now, it's something I try to do when I can, but it would be nice to have something that brings in a little extra income. I don't know if it will ever be a full time deal or not, but it's fun, and I enjoy the challenges.
Oh, that's something I had wanted to mention at some point. Like your other series on hook of the week, I was wondering if to build community involvement, if you might do a monthly, or more often, community challenge/project/thing. Something like a 100 days of drawing maybe? I don't know. Was thinking it would be fun and encourage us to get out in our shop and make something. 🙂
What impact did the induction forge have on your electric bill? I work in an iron foundry. Our "holding" furnaces are induction. My melting furnace says electro-magnetic (?). We pay about $300,000 for electric. Whoof!
I haven't seen any change in the electric bill. The induction forge uses power in a similar way to a welder.
So, a bit rusty? Haha
It is too bad you got rid of the coal Forge it seems somewhat of a betrayal to the long respected lineage of the blacksmith the reason I still do blacksmithing is the memories of my grandfather and great-grandfather and to keep the memory and the tradition going I believe that it's respecting and honoring the tradition by at least maintaining a coal Forge are they use it very much or not too many things in this world go modern and forget their roots without a coal Forge it just cheapens the phrase BLACKSMITH" I appreciate and understand what you're doing but I for one will continue to honor the trade and my ancestors by continuing to use at least maintain the coal Forge it will always be a part of my shop I will not let it slip into the past to be obscured and forgotten the reason why I do it mostly is to never let the tradition die
Nah it’s called forging not coke management for a reason.
He didn't get rid of it, he moved it to its own shop...
Robert, honoring the past is understandable. However life evolves. Most of us no longer live in a hand built log home or travel by horse and buggy. Blacksmithing has evolved too. From wood to charcoal to soft coal to hard coal and to more modern fuels or heating sources. Today we have choices. We can honor the past at any phase of evolution or use what is cost efficient in order to make things at a cost they can be sold at profit. Enjoy coal forging for it’s historical value to you.
Every last one of those blacksmith ancestors you want to honor by keeping a coal forge would have jumped at the chance to have a gas forge, they are simply more efficient for most tasks.
That would be like expecting them to continue smithing with a stone anvil to keep the tradition alive.
@@DH-xw6jp triggered much..lol fod