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My name is Alec Steele and I am a 20 year old blacksmith from Norfolk in the United Kingdom. I upload a vlog from my day at the workshop almost every single day. Lots of sparks, lots of making, lots of fantastic-ness. Great to have you here following along!
What do I make? LOTS of Damascus steel, knives, swords, axes and more and of course, I always love hearing your suggestions for future projects in the comments below!
So if you want to see lots of forging fun, blacksmithing badassery, cinematic hammering and more in my Daily Vlog (#Daily_Steele) - please subscribe here by hitting that red button!
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Alec Steele Blacksmith 2018
Leaves? Nah... Everybody knows the best way is to craft 100+ Iron Daggers to increase your smithing skill.
Addy plates are best training tbh
Why hasn’t Alec Steele made Dragonbone swords yet? Because he is only at Blacksmithing 99
and of course enchant them all with small soul gems and sell them so you can increase enchanting speech and make some gold too!
@@stevencraig9492 did you mean dwarven plate because I've found that orcish plate is the fastist but dwarven seems to be more plentiful
dwarven bows, or golden jewled rings though my dude
I once heard a saying about this type of thing: The difference between a master and a beginner is that the master has failed more than the beginner has tried.
Adam S I was thinking more of the Bruce Lee quote “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times”
I don't want to like this comment because I'll ruin the 69 likes
Now it has 96 likes, hmm
I’m 14 and this is deep
brilliant saying
I just told my wife I bought a forge, she is not happy. I can’t be any more excited.
She'll get over it ;)
EricVsGaming she has finally and we started looking at anvils
What kind of forge? Like gas, coal etc
Talon Juel single burner gas forge
@@MrBurns0922 cool, I recently got into forging and I see alot of people claiming it costs alot of money so I'm trying to do it without spending any money at all which surprisingly is going really well, haven't spent a penny yet and I made a forge hot enough to melt steel, have tons of stock for forging homemade bench multiple pliers and hammers. The only thing I'm not happy with so far is my anvil
Me: The steel is burning and melting my leg Alec: DONT WORRY ABOUT WHAT THE STEEL IS DOING, KEEP THE BAR STRAIGHT
Wolf Clan Nation no because I’m pretty sure metal isn’t homosexual but bisexual because it will go for anyone man or women
Wolf Clan Nation not meant to be homophobic, I’m gay
@@wreams2964 lol me too 🏳️🌈
@@thunderusnight ...
@@wreams2964 ...
Alec from 3 years ago: "Steel is inexpensive." Blacksmiths in 2021: "Well, maybe it'll be cheaper to mine my own iron."
June 2022- definitely cheaper to mine your own iron, build a bessemer converter and make your own steel today- IT'S Stupidly expensive now just for hot rolled ms bar!
@@mickeyfilmer5551 October 2022, Germany- Mine the iron and the coal too, forget about gas. Jokes aside I just look for locals wanting to get rid off their rusted pickaxes, files, springs and hatchets. The Danes sell coke for less than an Euro pr. kg. for some reason. Good deal.
@@Neeverseen I'm gonna move to denmark then
If they get too expensive for me, I might start scrounging around railroads to find taconite to refine myself. Then I'll just have to figure out how to turn it into steel, lol.
i wish i was as lucky with high carbon steel but i was lucky enough to have found a good deal of mild steel like rebar and railroad spikes for either nothing or bare minimum
"I don't fear the man that has practised 10'000 different leaves once. I fear the man that has practised one leaf 10'000 times". - Bruce Steele
Brilliant! If they know, they know!!
You mean Bruce Leaf :D
And I fear the man who has made 2000 different leaves 5 times each.
The first thing I tried to forge was a sword... I mean it does sort of look like a sword, but you're better off using the bar I forged it from
I imagine that this kind of thing will help you down the line. From what I've seen in sword making videos, control is vitally important when beveling the edges and getting the taper of the tip and so forth.
Yea my third project was a sword. It resembled the sword if you think a sword liiks broken glass. It should be easier once you get the good hammer control tho.
aaaannnnnddd as did i
It cant hurt to try, right? How many times on Forged in Fire has the smith gone home to make a sword, and grabbed a 3ft long piece of bar stock, forged a tip into it, and then ground out a sword?
"Sometimes you don't have the luxury of having the best tool for the job, but you gotta get it done anyway"
Ey mate!
*bakes steel in the oven *holds steel with bare hands *hits the steel using a flashlight
@@afish2281 slaps the steel with your bare hand
On these leaves he is making if you take a copper brush while it is above 400 degrees you will melt the copper and when you quench the metal it will have a copper sheen.
These look easy as hell. Ha, "look" easy. I'm currently on the third one and the first 2 were an exercise in not throwing my hammer through a window. Slowly getting there!
I really want to get started , will be starting a job next year that would give me the funds and time to do so . Im glad to hear its hard Just makes ot more rewarding
I reckon that just means he has a point, right? You have to learn this before you can ever learn, say, forge welding Damascus or hammering out an intricate katana.
I will also start exercising not throwing my hammer through the window!
@@kevinmencer3782 I do my learning a lot like Alec does. Brute forcing my way through the hard stuff, instead of taking it slow like a smart person would do, and I can confirm that Alec has a point. There's a bloody good reason why everyone advices a slow and steady progression. You will get experience through brute force and you will get a lot of it in a very short timeframe, but you won't get the detailed experience you get when you do the same thing over and over again and that detailed experience allows you to understand why certain things should be done in certain ways, once you get to those things. Brute force doesn't teach that. Hence why brute force people like Alec and myself, often do some pretty stupid stuff. We simply do not have the detailed experience to not do that. So do make 100 leaves. I'm no blacksmith (I do woodworking), but that's beside the point. Make 100 leaves and get that detailed experience. It gives you far more insight than brute force can ever give you
@21 failure had loads of 12mm mild steel round bar that I pinched off building sites. Used for temporary earth rods, love free steel!
This is a tutorial on greatness. The average man would pat himself on the back after forging a great leaf while a craftsman will study every flaw never satisfied. If you ever learn anything from Alec learn this. Watch this video twenty times if you have to. Most men live a lifetime without this knowledge. Leave your ego at the threshold of every door you walk through and strive to be better. Alec, you are truly an old soul... Thank you.
great comment - if you realize and then practice this in your lifetime then you will have made your mark!
Just came here from your channel. I was thinking about how similar you two are.. Incredibly humble, wholesome guys to watch work.
...and it's true for every aspect of life.
Well said
i still think its ok to pat yourself on the back for a job well done and then go and get better. it sucks to just sit there and practice and only focus on your flaws.
Me: watching quilting videos. Alec Steele: Suggested Videos. Well, I don’t know how a forge will help me quilt, but let’s binge this for a few days. Thank you Quarantine.
If you get good enough you can make your own needles and thimbles?
I came here long ago from woodworking videos. I think crafting crosses over a lot in the algorithms.
Ha! Well, the principles he discusses here should carry over to any creative endeavor.
Aaahh!!! You made that look so flipping easy. Tried my second one today. Failed again. My daughter thought my first one was a spoon.
Dude that's either a terrible leafnor a super badass spoon you can use for self defense. Anyone asks go with the latter.
@@wanderingspider8988 haha, thanks! Solid answer!
I forged a spoon for flux. I might have set out to make a leaf but it works great as a spoon!
Cost per unit: Material - basically nothing Propane - a lot
Nick Bernhoft In this situation, yes, since he's using that huge forge. You could do this with a MAPP/Propane gas torch very easily, and very cheaply.
Most people starting will use a homemade cheap coal forge, much cheaper to make and fuel. Just need like 24 bricks to make the pot and a desk fan to add air plus a couple 50 pound bags of coal for a few weeks of forging. Make a 2 layer ring of bricks like a campfire pit on the ground in your backyard with the top layer missing one brick pour some coal into it and light it on one side where the missing brick directs your stock to rest in the center of the heat, and point the fan at it. When you want more heat turn the fan on high and move closer, low heat move it back and low speed or just off. As the coal gets used up drag from the other side of the pit to the burning coal. ~$30 for the "forge" including fan and market price for the coal. Not an ideal forge but for someone starting out and not sure if they will continue it is optimal like their railroad track "anvil" is. They could use the bricks to surround a bush or tree in the yard and use the fan in the house if they decide blacksmithing isn't for them.
I like this detailed reply. Makes me want to put the back half of my raised yard to use... lots of plans, now they include a cheap forge. thanks man
+Kor Jay, Think about also burying a pipe in the dirt and have a hole in the dirt where the burning coal will be that aligns with the pipe and have a hair drier available to blow into the pipe and deliver air into your pot if you want more heat. Ideally you want the air to come from below the pot rather than above. Heat rises and all that. You could also get a cheap shop vac and jury rig a rheostat to control the motor speed and regulate airflow that way, but I suggest that as being cheap forge 2.0 using a BBQ grill for the pot.
JETWTF, Thanks man. That was very informative. Good of you to share some wisdom. Eric
Dude you're like the Gordon Ramsey of blacksmith forging. Well done mate
Imagine Alec with a foul mouth like Gordon Ramsey. Also "where's the 1040 steel?!?! WHERE'S THE 1040 STEEEEL?!?!"
Are you on fukin fire .... no, then your not finished. I want to see you flaming, fukin flaming .... get out of my sight - that's Gordon.... Gordon fukin ramsey.
Started making nails, and than made those nails into arrowheads. The man that taught me told me that you should lean on nails first. You can always turn one into a hook, arrowhead, or several into a knife. Made 8 dozen in a day, and than we used them to repair his fence the following weekend.
Good advice! We all need to practice more :)
i just finished watching your diy forge video 10/10
uwu
.... says the Master himself....
Man, I wish I'd had my act half as together as you do when I was your age. I only barely understood motivation and personal accountability by the time I was 30. You have such a huge head start.
So true... I Rite there with u brother
Public schools groom people for the top.
hey, i've been wanting to blacksmith ever since I was a little kid and I finally decided to go for it and make my own forge. Your videos are super informational and I know you probably don't read comments from a two year old video. Learning the basics and fundamentals is something that I have really been trying to focus on so videos like this are super helpful
I am right there with you. I love everything about a blacksmith shop, particularly the smell, the sound, the heat and roar from the forge... at 54 years ole, I finally built a forge and feel like a little kid again. And Alec’s enthusiasm is SO contagious.
Yeah same
Alec... You are my son's age. I have been "playing" with this craft since I was about tn years old, and sold my first knife before I was 15( before you were born), I started following your channel a few years ago in your irst little cave of a shop, through the new country shop, and then I moved last fall where I had to build my new house from the ground up basicallyand only realized a couple months ago when I was moved in that you had made the big leap to my old neighborhood in Montana! I watch and follow you because I love seeing everything you do and have learned so much ecause of everything you show, share, and do. From one steel-beater to another, my hat is off to everything you have done and will continue to do. Thank you for everything you have contributed to inject so much new life into the craft. You truly are remarkable and one of a kind.
Forged in Fire: The Keychain Leaf episode looks thrilling.
you should totally bring back the "Alec Steele Show" to really show off the simpler projects!
I had no clue what this video was by title. I was curious... What did I need to make 100 of!? Then, holy crap! A smithing training video!? Fantastic mate, thank you!
Steal might be cheap, but that gas bill aint👀
Thats why i dont use gas
The Chad charcoal forge vs the Virgin gas forge
I just use the fires of hell
Atomicwinter 31 me too.
Which is cheaper and which is better? Natural gas? Propane? Charcoal? Coal?
I know this is an older video, but literally just made my first leaf attempt thought this demo. The critique was super informative and I really did learn a bunch from the exercise. Tomorrow, after work, I'll be making attempt 2 based on my critique and a rewatch of the video for things I didn't grasp in transition. Thanks so much Alec! Love everything you do and your teaching method!
I love your beginner blacksmithing tutorials online! Takes me a while to pound out a J hook, but its so addictive🤘🏼 This vid should be bonus content for your current students
Man iv been enjoying the filler episodes more than iv been enjoying the big project/ knife videos. Can you do more hammers??????
I agree, because I really want one of his hammers haha
Me too!
i totally agree
Fillings for the win! Wait what?
I couldn't agree more, this small filler type videos are more why I started watching his channel. I enjoy them so much more than the big projects.
Hats Off to the first British KZheadr for not spending 30 minutes explaining everything we didn't need to know before getting to it. Video was to the point, informative, and the provided a level of excitement for the topic. Well done.
that moment u take pics from you as a 13 year old and you aren't changed at all xD only a bit older and facial hair growth
Yeah, when I 1st started making knives, I couldn't do bevels to save my life. I grabbed every piece of mild steel and just practiced, then flipped it over and did it again(10" piece, all 8 sides). I went to Home Depot & bought piece after piece.... I actually went to WAR on bevels, til I finally started getting better, little by little. Any time i wanted to learn a new bevel grind, I would do it over & over, after a few years, I am finally getting control. I still have a lot to learn though.... Love these tutorial videos, the builds are great too, but this reminds me of when i 1st started watching....Take it easy
i put my kid to bed watching your new vids every day and today i couldn't.....and then your vid dropped and for no reason what so ever she woke up.....its like she knew!
I too put my son to bed every night watching his videos. After months of this he now asks for Alec Steele at bed time
I watch with my 5yo daughter at night. Today we talked about what she can do to practice hammer control and what is a ‘heat’. Glad I’m not the only one watching with kids. On another note, I’m glad that Alec did a beginner project today. I’ve been trying to think of simple project to take on for my wife’s birthday. Looks like she will be getting something with 25-100 leaves on it! Aspen tree candle holder maybe? Or some coat hooks?
Prairie Sun it might be a smidge complicated, but depending on your tools, you could make a 3D decorative tree, or as a bounce back idea of the candle holder, make it somewhat of a fully detailed mini tree that has spots hanging off the branches/leaves to hold tea light candles
I also watch this with my kids ages 3 and 5. They just call Alec “metal guy” tho
Yea my kid is only 6 months old lol
Learn the feel of your steel as quickly as possible, makes work much easier. It's really all in the muscles and their memory. Im glad you mentioned that; too many don't hardly realize that and it makes things so much harder.
That hammer makes a beautiful sound my dude.
Alec, thanks to your inspirational videos, I took my first blacksmithing/bladesmithing class this past weekend and absolutely loved it. You make this craft look fun and that is freakin fantastic.
Collaboration between theguncollective and alec would be amazing. Btw love the legal brief segments
I love the sence of community I get from both of your channels! Alec is the definition of awesomeness and Jon is a voice of reason amidst the chaos right now. I think a collaboration would be absolutely fantastic!
I would love to do something with Alec! No doubt in my mind that it would be a blast.
Jon, bring Alec stateside for a video!! You can do the firearms and Alec can do the forging. I know Alec is into firearms as well.
brooklynemtp589 I would freakin love that! I think it would be cool to break out the high speed camera to watch him forge something too
I'm looking around for a local blacksmith, but I've been inspired by you and Liam Hoffman, so now I have a forge and will be building a belt grinder this summer! Thanks for all you do here on KZhead!
I'm not a blacksmith nor am I learning it, I just like watching these cool videos you do. It feels like a high quality production and it's enjoyable to watch the passion and knowledge you demonstrate us. Many things you said here in this video are wise thoughts and are applicable to many aspects in life in general. For me it's amazing having the possibility to look at someones story of becoming their ultimate best. It inspires me to try harder to never stop trying to be my best and also to enjoy the process. Thanks man!
I will never be able to forge anything because I am afraid of fire but I like to watch forge in Fire and tried to look up something on FIF and somehow end up here and now I am on a Alex steel marathon
@@Landi103 why are you scared of fire? I'm sure if you started doing it you would get used to it and like it alot
I think these are cool, so I’m here.
So same.
Jos Cram Unless of course the reason he’s afraid of fire is due to being in a fire and suffering 2nd or 3rd degree burns over his entire body. That would make anyone afraid of fire.
I think this is the single most useful video I've seen on where to start out. Thank you so much for taking the time to basically sit us all down and say "I know you want to do what I am doing, and you can. Here is how you get there..." The balance of modesty, pride, and self awareness you have is beyond inspiring. This is easily become my favourite channel, thank you again for taking us on your journey.
I've come back to reference this video many times. Ive made only 5 so far.
Thank for this one Alec. I'm a carpenter and can see how these points translate to any craft. I have a craft fair coming up and I will be making 100 tiny mushrooms with this video in mind.
My gradpa gave me a box of 100 3" nails and told me to to drive them all in to a old barn beam.. that was my start before i did any projects. I was 11 at the time.
It's like MMO grinding all over again. "I can't make 100, I don't have enough pelts or ore. I'll check the Auction House instead" :)
Lmao. Factz
Alec, I appreciate your willingness to rigorously critique your leaf and find several faults to learn from even though you are a blacksmithing legend this day in age! Thank you for being humble.
My daughter wants you to know how much she enjoyed your video. She says it’s amazing. I am currently putting together the equipment to start blacksmithing in my yard. Your videos are entertaining and informative. Thank a bunch. I’m a fan.
Ive watched all the old videos and still love the instructional aspects
This was one of my favorite videos of yours in a while. Reminds me of the early days at Barker Street.
I was thinking the same thing!
What do you mean? Did he start at Barker street or something?
you being so energetic and excited about this craft is correcting my own lack of motive.
Beauty of making them is that they can be gifted for the hols. Nothing better than a hand-crafted gift.
Thank you for this, Alec! When I first found your channel, after hearing an interview with you on the radio, I found a craft that really speaks to me. I've truly enjoyed watching you make more and more exciting things. But seeing your love for blacksmithing basics brought back those feelings of wanting to pick up the hammer again! I hope we get to see more blacksmithing projects mixed in with the weapons you've been making. I'm going out to light the forge and start making some leaves!
Time to make the tomato soup can forge and make 100 of these. You should do a few "Dozen" of these small project videos :D
Alec: forge 100 leaves Me: soooo what your saying is i have to make tongs
"Steel. Alec Steel."
steele*
Steele**
Steele***
Steele******
I took your advice and found Eveleigh Works in Sydney. Thanks for the push!
Hey awesome! I am doing work experience there soon! What are you going to do there?
or... do just one project without blacksmiths tongs... that project should be making blacksmiths tongs.
James Hewitt this is brilliant. He has (had?) a shirt that said "need a tool make a tool"... I think this would make a great video
The day I find myself hammering out leaves will be the day my wife and I are building our off-grid farm. One of my first projects will be crafting the hardware: knobs, latches, drawer handles and the like. I shall endeavor to craft 100 leafs and staples to mount them on our front door. A nice way to display progress and learning I think.
I've watched this about a half dozen times. There is so much to recommend it. I have two friends coming to stay this weekend that I have not seen in a while - and this is what we are going to be doing!
The first thing I ever made was a plant hanger that you mount to a wall. Really simple project that taught me how to make a taper, how to make a clean 90 degree corner, host to make a curl. I learned hammer control, how to use every part of the anvil. It was basically my leaf.
please make armour Alec i think it would be soo cool and the leather working oportunity is sooo goood!
OS190 190 a nice steel armour.....light and very practical 😉
lmao leave it thick and grind it thin
So far, I've spent ZERO DOLLARS on blacksmithing and I have been able to source a block of steel for a striking plate/anvil, some old hammers, a set of old tongs, and I built a coal/wood burning forge from an old propaine tank. And now (FINALLY) I was able to get my hands on some free steel to build a stand for my striking plate. Point being - if you're patient and not afraid to ask around, you can start blacksmithing for literally no money at all. This is gonna be my first project! 100 of these! Keep up the killer work Alec. I love your channel!
This has to be one of the best videos I’ve ever seen. It’s funny, educational, fast-paced, inspirational... the best!
I'd love to buy some random leaf keychain you made 5 years ago and is now just sitting in a box. You should throw some of that stuff up for sale.
Adam Laub that would be sick i’d buy them all
Agreed
God it's inspiring and disheartening at the same time that this dude is less than a year older than I am and has accomplished more in the first few years of adulthood than I'm likely to in my life! What a guy
Elijah Johnston Well, it's great to hear you've got great goals, ambition, and confidence. You're screwed, all by your own doing. You already think that you've failed at life, so you'll never expect better from yourself. You'll never amount to anything if you have already labelled yourself a failure or are ok with mediocre achievements.
Some people simply don't realise how much it is possible to get done so quickly, some might not even have the means or support to do so. I'm a fair bit older than this guy and I consider myself to have lived a fairly average life content wise and am impressed by how much Alec Steele has been able to accomplish, but I guarantee you looking back, I would never have had the opportunity in the first place to do the things he's done.
My 20 year old grandson got a forge for Christmas and is learning this. I sent him your video, thanks for sharing.
I’ve not seen your videos before. This was a treat! Your unbounded energy is like a tangible force! I’ve made myself a forge of a rescued, perfectly fine, outdoor charcoal cooking grill complete with wheels and tabbed air vents which I picked up off the side of the road amidst someone’s trash. Then I built a JABOD (just a box of dirt) forge using pipe elbows ans straights and a small marine fan I purchased for a pittance from Amazon (or ebay). Then I was incredibly blessed to find a wonderful post vice in an antique store and I have my dad’s massive anvil (“who wouldn’t want to be be”). This video project training inspiration is exactly what I’m going to do right after I finish the 600 nails I’m making right now .... Thank you. Now I’m going to marathon your other videos. Cheers!
Its great to see you doing some videos aimed at the novice smith again. 👍
"Control your hammer" t-shirt for Father's day coming soon ;-)
My son gave me one last year that says “Control your Tool” lol
Just finished building my first forge and made my first leaf, Thanks for the tutorial Alec, having heaps of fun.
Thank you for the suggestion on how to start leveling up one’s skills as a blacksmith
Would love to see a few more episodes like this.
Hey man, great channel. You are like the blacksmithing version of a young Gordon Ramsey.
This video is dangerous when you have adhd because its past 4 am and i'm fully convinced I should change my life and become a blacksmith
I just started my Blacksmith journey and this exercise has been immensely helpful! Thank you for doing this tutorial!
I 100% agree that you need to start with something simple and repetitive when you first start. I struggled for 6 months before I did something like this. The improvement in my skills was tremendous. In exchange for some steel and time, My skills improved quite possibly 10 fold.
Ha I was taught smithing and never knew it because they just called it "We didn't buy enough nails. Go make us another 50." or "We need some hangers. Take that metal and make us some will ya?" Because my forge was a wood furnace and my anvil a hard wood block with a piece of metal nailed to it. Well I was to silly to notice what I was doing until recently. People would ask me while banging on metal "Are you a blacksmith?" My answer "Nope I just know how to make, nails, hangers, hooks, horse shoes if ya really need one, hammers, axes, wrenches etc." and for some reason never heard myself.
Yeah, my learning went downhill for a while as I was a bit scattered trying to try all sorts of different things... as soon as I went back to basics and just focused on one thing / one skill at a time, for a sustained time, I improved a lot more.
Started a blacksmith course outside edinburgh last week.. due to your inspiring videos! Flipping love it. Made two simple hooks.. can’t wait for next week.. to make 25 more 😜
Craig Hall I’m Edinburgh based and looking for tuition, where did you go?
Where was it, I currently live near Edinburgh and have been searching for courses.
Our worst/best critic is ourselves. I have always found bettering my craft tends to better me, when I'm better, people around me get better😘
Of all the trades that I've either dabbled in or pursued rigorously this is by far the best advice I've seen someone give on youtube.
You'll never be admitted to Sovngard with these kind of jokes.
Almost got my forge put together and have been looking for a first project. Looks like i found it! thanks for the great content!
This is probably one of my favorite videos that I’ve seen you do lately. It’s because the advice is spot on and as a beginner blacksmith it really tells you that the fundamentals are so important. It may be nice to create a huge ornate piece, but unless you know the basics you’ll never be able to create the more advanced pieces. Keep up the great videos and thank you!
I've only done blacksmithing myself in boy scouts, but boy I love the look and smell of the glowing metal, as well as the sound of a hammer against an anvil.
KZhead: watch this blacksmithing thing Me who's never seen an anvil in person: how do you know what I want.
Great advise once again! There are so many techniques you learn in just making a little leaf! To git gud at forging make a thing till you’ve memorized every single hammer blow it takes to make it, then make 50 more.
Incredibly clear and powerful. Extreme skill tied with the experience of toil. Please keep it up you play an excellent instructor
Such a great attitude to try and pass on to your viewers, really inspiring to see how much you value improving the skills you have and taking the time for reflective practice. Best of luck to you Alec.
have you ever thought of making one of those every time you light the forge in the morning as a kind of warmup?
Have you ever thought that giving blacksmith advice in a comment to a blacksmith KZheadr who has almost 1 million subscribers is a very stupid thing to comment about?
Doxxius I think this is the exact kind of question he'd answer with enthusiasm and delight. A "blacksmith KZheadr with almost a million subscribers" doesn't need you to gatekeep for him.
did he not ask for our thoughts on it in the video?
I think that's great advice. I'm no blacksmith (but hope to someday try my hand at it), so I have no idea how long it really takes to make one of these little leaf key chains, but it sounds feasible.
Doxxius idk but that sounds like a question to me more then advice.👍
I wonder if Diresta is going to make a leaf keychain on video. I'd be interested in seeing his technique. Also, for Halloween this year, how about a grim reaper scythe? Great as always. Thanks for sharing.
Oooo. OOOOO. That's a pretty good idea.
I am 49 years old and have always wanted to make knives but never had the time being an electrician for 30 years. Now I have lots of time in my life and I'm in the process of making space to do so and will be building my own forge, power hammer and press. After watching this I will be doing the key chain leaf and other small things and maybe try them in Damascus also. Wish I could spend a couple days in your shop I would learn a lot more. I already watch your videos over and over.
I don't have the money to pay for blacksmithing school but watching you and man at arms ive learned so much .
Y'all know: Lewis. from: Meet The Robinsons? 😂
This is a great one, I really like seeing a simple project I can do to "level up" the basic skills.
You have to tread water before you go deep sea diving.
I love how passionate he is about teaching the information and reassuring he is as well. Thanks Alec for the good introduction!
Ive been trying to forge knives for a few years (since I was like 15) with my home made forge. Now I’m 18 and I’m less ignorant. I’m going to learn the basics. I’m excited for what the future holds. Thankyou for this beginner project.
I was waiting alll day!!!! It finally came!!! You are doing a great job alec
So, I have three things to ask you and one statement to make. 1. Your rapier you made. Could you not have forge welded the tips together on the swept hilt? Using you horn on the anvil? 2. (Statement) the reason for the question, looking at the old rapiers from the museum video looked like points were forge welded or somehow forged out. 3. Thoughts on this? 4. How old are you? Or how long have you been blacksmithing? I realise you said since you were eleven. Thanks for your time man. From Australia with love for your craft and skill my friend!
He actually has a video from a while back that answers all your questions! Go watch them all, they are marvelous!
your enthusiasm gets me so hyped
I'm 58 with cancer. I really enjoy passing the time watching you, especially during the 5 hour treatments. Where were you and the Internet when I was 20 and could ghave put all this knowledge to practice? Oh, ah, neither of you had been born then. Sigh. I'll have to live vicariously through you guys.
Great idea for a series.
10:57 it become evident to me he has steady hand, with his manic manner. Steady hand still true.
I would love to have Alec as a blacksmithing instructor!
The efficiency that alec works with is just beautiful to watch. I would love to be half as proficient as he is.
Alec it's funny how all of the hands on trades have basically the same functions to learn them. as an apprentice goldsmith I sat at a bench for over a year doing nothing but making simple half round wedding bands for the shop I was In. similar to your leaves. BASIC functions, They are what we build on to make everything in our worlds worth having. all this injection molded crap is definitely FUN, but not really worth much and certainly won't stand the test of time
I was thinking the same thing (though I haven’t been able to find an apprenticeship yet) I am just starting out in goldsmithing myself and haven been making primarily simple bands and a couple basic pendants.
The best thing I did was those damned Bands at the time I hated them, But I sure as hell perfected my soldering skills and my polishing as well as my joinery techniques for a clean tight joint.
Learning construction same thing. drive nails, pull nails, drive nails, pull nails all learning to control the hammer and gain accuracy. Cut lumber (the easy straight cuts), stack lumber over and over again to learn grain and how to draw a straight line. repetition is the best teacher.
This sounds like some Skyrim tutorial "Get Smithing 100 at Level 1 by just making Leaf Keyrings" Still a very nice video
I’ve apprenticed with two blacksmiths went to trades school for metal work and welding and your the best at teaching in this video I guess it’s your humble non aggressive approach makes it feel achievable and simple
This is exactly what I try to tell new students and beginner smiths all the time. What is important is not that you can put together a large/ complex project right away, but that you can learn good technique and figure out how to embrace and learn from mistakes. Thanks for reinforcing the concept and keep up the good work! Hammer On!