Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

I Forge Iron

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Forging billets with a sledge

Featured Replies

Does anyone have any good saved youtube videos or google videos that could show me excellent technique for using a 8lb or heavier sledge to draw out a billet. I've seen people use the back of an axe on youtube and I could tell that was very off. So i'm wondering if there is somewhere I can see someone who knows how to do this well, doing it well in a video. B)

Try the anchor making and chain making videos on you tube 1920's there were links posted on this site not so long ago, but a search should find them

I'm not aware of a video, but if I were doing it all by hand, I would use the horn on my anvil.

Sledge + anvil horn can equal hornless anvil! I'd get good striking before I used it on the horn and then only on a LARGE anvil!

There is a video that was posted with a fellow making tongs. His wife and adult son were striking for him, and they were drawing across the fattest part of the horn of the anvil. I can't find the video now though.
Phil

  • Author

Drat, no one seems to have a video of this? I think i'm doing it with correct form but an instructional video of this would be worth it's weight in gold. Shoot, maybe I'll have to improve my technique to the point I can make my own video. ;)

here's one video, but its not the one I was looking for.
http://www.nokomisforge.com/videos_bs1b.asp
Phil

  • Author

here's one video, but its not the one I was looking for.
http://www.nokomisforge.com/videos_bs1b.asp
Phil


As per my op.. i'm talking about an 8lb or heavier sledge.. (two handed) working with a striker while someone turns the billet to help you draw it out. This is what i'm trying to find a video or even some instruction on.

I have spent the last hour looking at youtube and have found two bad examples of strikers but the one I want to find was here on IFI of the husband/wife team making tongs. I looked for the silent film of three strikes working on an anvil with a master smith but couldn't find that one either so my suggestion is to look at some of Brian Brazeal's photos of his work with a striker or that of Japanese smiths with their strikers.
I did find this short youtube on the 25# Little Giant and how fast it forges down 3/4" stock but first they do a shutter dog:


Here is another one(watch her long hair): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3h45ULYcjQ



search farrier tongs on you tube

Phil


It is not forging billets but that is a really great video. I wish I could afford to purchase it.
  • Author



search farrier tongs on you tube

Phil



wow.. now that's one impressive family. That wife was going to town on that thing. I need to get me a wife like that lol

Why did he contour that spot on the back of the tong? Seems to me that to leave more meat on that part wouldn't hurt it any and only improve strength. Maybe it's just his style of tong?

I've seen a video of Vlad Durov forge welding billets and making very (!) nice axes using two strikers with heavy, short handled sledges. I couldn't find anything on him on the net except this link - http://photo-bushov.com/history/?id=58&start=2&text - only pictures though. Maybe dancho could help you, he's from Ukraine so the language won't be a problem.

Avadon, Maybe what you need is an Oliver hammer something like this one Then you don't need a striker, it's just you and your good right leg or left. No, it's not a full fledged treadle hammer but it is easy enough to build and takes up less space, is portable and doesn't drink your last glass of iced tea.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.