Basic Blacksmithing Hot Punching Steel

[MetalArtHowTo]

nice...thank you for sharing!

[colt4667]

I'm gonna learn smithing if it takes me all week !

[MrJsowa]

@colt4667 LOL!

[clemenaugh]

Is the punch pointed or blunt, also what kind of steel is used for the punch, 4130, 4340?

[modernblacksmith]

@clemenaugh the punch can be made from just about anything as long as it's tough (a sway bar from a big truck is best) temper well so it won't break in your face

[modernblacksmith]

@clemenaugh also it's a flat face sharp edged

[Kalkaekie]

Enjoyed it, thanks !!

[kelly806]

Safety glasses and a John Deere hat....nice touch.



[modernblacksmith]

@kelly806 planned it that way!

[modernblacksmith]

@HIPPIE1255 self taught other than watching the world around me and lots of youtube videos....best school there is (also been a professional fabricator for twenty years) college trained welder

[TonkDaddy71]

OK so starting today I am going to take up blacksmithing! Gonna take step 1 today and go from there. Brake drum, pipes and elbows, vent fan/blowdryer, coal/charcoal, hammers, anvil(of some sort), stock steel, and inspiration(you gave me that already). Anything else you can suggest. Maybe I'll throw in some sugar and yeast and a water distiller for good measure.

[modernblacksmith]

@TonkDaddy71 giver buddy good luck! make sure you have a drink

[TonkDaddy71]

@modernblacksmith Thanks man! Can I just line refracting fire bricks inside an old grill for my first forge? Just have the airflow coming in the center like yours. Broke as a joke but ready to get going. Cheers.

[swedishhunter21]

Would it work with charcoal?

[modernblacksmith]

@swedishhunter21 yes

[MrJsowa]

@modernblacksmith hey dan i scored some good steel and have a piece of 1in solid bar 4-5in long and want to make it into a hammer.my question is should i slit/drift punch a hole to attach a store bought handle or ding a"waisted section" like on this hot punch and wrap 3/8 round for a handle?either way awesome vid

[modernblacksmith]

@MrJsowa definitely slit and drift a hammer needs to be solid, make sure the material you're using is worthwhile, don't want to do all that work for nothing....theres a good blacksmith video on youtube of a couple guys making a hammer they know what they're doing

[modernblacksmith]

@MrJsowa search for youtuber "ausfarrier"

[MrJsowa]

@modernblacksmith thanks dan your the best.i woulda welded it up if i did the 3/8 deal.but ya i want a good long term hammer for my new 25lb block of steel(dont really wanna take my big hammers to it.and you feel better, i hate being sick!

[modernblacksmith]

@MrJsowa making a hammer is a relatively advanced job but if you feel ambitious go for it, if you're an amateur I would recommend you purchase a good small hammer

[MrJsowa]

@modernblacksmith very ambitious,i am an amateur but have made quite a few projects that surprised myself.ive been testing my forges limitations(there are many)but the other day i heated 5/8 bar no prob.if ya could check my vids they show all my equipment and my new "anvil".Im hoping this is a"if theres a will theres a way" type deals.

[ozarknick]

That's great. Just starting to teach myself blacksmithing, have been wondering about making holes in material. But my thought is, what if you don't have a second pair of hands to hold the punch? Thanks!

[modernblacksmith]

@ozarknick it's a lot harder, sometimes you need to find a helper

[ozarknick]

@modernblacksmith I figured it'd be something like that! ;-)

Thanks for the reply and the great vids!

[deesterdee123]

thanks Dan!!! how is your safety class going

[modernblacksmith]

@deesterdee123 I'm doing good, I'll be doing a video about my progress soon I finish up in march, but I'm about 80% done

[RebelBreed888]

Just wanted to tell you i love your videos and i hope they keep coming. I do have one question though. Do you have a video about the heat treating process for strengthening steel? Ive been looking for one on your page but i cant find it. Maybe im overlooking it though.

[modernblacksmith]

@RebelBreed888 not specifically but I did some heat treating in excavator repair video and the knife contest video (not the spark test one)

[RebelBreed888]

@modernblacksmith Preciate it. I've pretty well grasped the concept of it all just unsure on the claying technique and what type of clay, or even if it matters what type of clay. Hopefully just regular Alabama clay out of the ground will work. there is an abundance of that here. haha.

[TheConcretesurfer101]

Thank you Dan and Patrick;-)

[modernblacksmith]

@TheConcretesurfer101 no problem buddy

[NoahDangerMuyskens]

Sounds like your cold got better.

[modernblacksmith]

@NoahDangerMuyskens not really it comes and goes feel like crap as we speak

[lazybear83]

thanks, looking forward to more videos

[modernblacksmith]

@lazybear83 they're on the way

[nitrojetta]

Damn, that's cool and it looks pretty chilly out there

[modernblacksmith]

@nitrojetta it was about -10

[ByNatureFarms]

that's so cool

[modernblacksmith]

@ByNatureFarms simple thing really

[CCSinventions]

That's sweet! it looked better then what a drill press could do!

[modernblacksmith]

@CCSinventions not better but if you only had a fire and a hammer it could be done