Ethan the blacksmith

hello every one! I have been busy the last couple of days making some hammers. these are both 2.5lbs, and I think one might be heading to Sweden! rounding hammer, and straight peen. forged from 1.75" 1045, 14" hickory handle..... I want to keep them!

Heres one more pic

ok, thanks! the brakes I looked at looked pretty simple.

thankyou very much frosty!

if you are wondering, the oil I was using was special, babit bearing oil,(its what we use on the steamer bearings)

here is a video I made of me doing some work with our 25lbs little giant. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1ZOJBaBn5E

 this hammer was built I Minnesota , in 1916 and is considered an old style. it came to us from the original blacksmith shop in one of our local towns. other than a new spring, and a couple of miscellaneous small parts, it is completely original.  works wonderfully!

I am very excited for you! when I got my alec steele rounding hammer, I loved it! be carful, you may never go back to another hammer...

and some other info: alec steele now forges all of his hammers under his power hammer, he showed me when I went to take a class with him in November, and he has also recently started charring handles! when I got mine, it was not charred, so eventually, I charred it. after a wile, a charred handle starts to feel rubbery.(mine does anyway)

hope you get many hits out of that hammer!

Ethan

man, I just spent a lot of time typing a reply, then decided to press the wrong button.... URGGGG......so I'll do it again, and simplify.

in order to get power out of a 2lbs hammer, you will have to hold it at the end of the handle to get power. however, on a 4lbs hammer, you can hold it closer to its head, because the power is in the weight. most of the people who have studied  Mr.Brazeal's techniques,(including me) have found it easier to lift and drop a heavier hammer and get the same, or more force out of each blow, instead of forcing around a 2lbs hammer. but it all depends on how you swing your hammer, and your personal preference. just my 2 cense.

Ethan

that would make one heck of a striking anvil!

thank you guys very much for the replies!

ok, so now checklist incudes: mandatory safety lecture, and a possible waver signing?... 

my folks say that our insurance dose not cover such instances, so I must be very carful.

Ethan

heres a good vid on making a slot punch by alec steele.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8MxfOCYzC0

Hello! I hope this topic fits in this category...

some people have contacted me about, and I have also done, some private forging classes. and I guess in simple terms, I would really not like someone to file a lawsuit because they hit there hand while they were punching a piece of steel. should I not be worried about something like that happening, or is it worth wile to have them sign something? is there a law about this that I should probably know about? any words of wisdom are welcome.

if there is another thread addressing this topic, please point me in the right direction.

Ethan

10 hours ago, yesteryearforge said:

This is mine

that is a very nice shop! what are the anvil stands made off?

here's a video of my shop tour!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQuqOcb7py0

On ‎2015‎-‎12‎-‎31 at 2:40 AM, basher said:

That is a nice looking little anvil you have made there.

I find it strange that these striking anvils are so small, I can see that from a north American point of view buying a big anvil and low mounting it could be an unrealistic expense.

In the Uk big anvils designed for striking come with double hardy holed anvils are plentiful (soho pattern comes to mind) and they are often 500lb and up, would you not be better off with a much, much bigger block.

 By my calculations that block only weighs just under 50lb, which for me would be too light as a normal anvil let alone one made for use with  a sledge hammer.

 anyhow I am sure you will make the most of it and make some nice stuff with it.

the anvil's stand is bolted to the concrete. it will not move! therefore, its the same as using a very large anvil.

23 hours ago, Forging Carver said:

Nice work! Did you make that hardy hole or did it come with it? If so, where do I take the thing to get water jetted? Also, very nice stand! Did you weld that yourself? If so what kind of welder? I think I have seen a video on you making a rounding hammer but I am not sure if thats you. Good work!

 

my dad welded that for me! as you can see he is very good at it!

all the welding was done with a MIG welder.

as for the hardy hole, it was water jetted in Edmonton, at metal supermarkets.

My personal opinion is that there is nothing wrong with doing that.i used to upset stuff in my petter wright all the time!

however, in the long run,if you want to be upsetting lots, it is worth building a striking anvil.

there is a thread I started recently called striking anvil, it will answer most of your questions.

Ethan

I have always used a flap disk. Make quick, light, passes

You need a striking anvil! That's just what there designed for!

I do have a bit of 2.5" but I think it's mild steel.

Now, why dose the idea of forging a 8 lbs rounding hammer make me excited....

i think i may need one some time.......

thank you vey much for the offer!

Were do you get such big ball bearings?

Welcome to the forum!

in my opinion that anvil is in exceptional shape!

Thanks for the reply!

from what I know, not Many  people even know what a 3" fuller is! They come in very handy for, like you saw in the video, smoothing out the cheeks. They are mostly used for drawing out, like making the business end on a hammer eye punch.

Well, I must be fancy, mine is made from half of a old wooden wine barrel. It works really well, and holds lots of water.

Hello everyone! 

I made a video for all the people that are wanting to forge a rounding hammer, like what Brian brazeal makes.

The info in this video is gathered from my own experience, and my tools to make tools class in England with Alec steel.

this quiet a long video, so I would recommend you watch the video at 1.25 times normall speed.

hope you all enjoy the video!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ISUsgcxEtZM

Sorry for my ignorance, but why what is broaching and EDM?