A very good design James ,and to have John use it as hook of the week must be a great honor for you.And as always John thank you for the time and effort that you put into videos for your followers. So I wish you and Jenett a very marry christmas .cheers.
I hope Black Bear Forge videos are available for many many years to come. Johns videos are an inspiration and an education. Blacksmithing isn’t a lost trade thanks to people like John.
My wife and I have made it a ritual to watch hook of the week together every week. She isn’t a blacksmith at all, but really loves your presentation of the material. I’d love to surprise her with the hook! 🤫
That's awesome to help a viewer with an issue and that is a great hook. This is why I send people to your page when they ask how I started to learn to blacksmith.
I spent 40+ years in and around the trades and i was clueless as to depth and breadth of the blacksmithing art. Now, i have found your channel and am getting an education. I also have to say, I don't think the trade could ask for a better spokesperson than you. Thank you for all the effort you put into these videos.
Everything used to be forged, cast, or machined/cold worked; even in ancient times. The ancient techniques for soldering, brazing, fusing, alloying, and cladding are particularly interesting to me. Industrialization made a lot of this mythical in developed countries. There's still plenty of lost methods left to rediscover. If you haven't seen it, you might also enjoy the channel Clickspring where the creator tries to replicate period possible tools, materials, and processes to recreate the Antikythera mechanism, the bronze age astrological calculator. Machine Thinking also has great documentary quality episodes about the history of machines and precision.
@@kelleysimonds5945 your welcome! I got really into it through blacksmithing when I found out about how true Damascus, crucible steel, and forge welding were done. I got into other metal fab and trades after that
..Thank You John. It's like handing DaVinci his brush. Maybe my head will quit aching from beating it agin the wall trying to figure that out. In your Honor i'm naming it- The Bear Hook i really liked the shoulder on the nail end. Thank You again. Yall feel free to make these and have fun doing it! Merry Christmas to one and all...!!!
Another great video John. My son and I have learned a lot from your channel. Thanks so much for putting them together and sharing your shop time with us.
That is a good looking hook. The only change I would make is to have the spike taller than it is wide so it is more like a cut nail so it will be less likely to split the wood it is driven into.
That is an awesome hook!! A big thank you to the viewer for sending the idea, and of course a big thanks to John for putting the instruction video on making it. Wayne
Thanks John and James👍 Another awesome hook idea! I love the fact this was an interaction between you and a viewer. Again great looking Hook, and if I win it, it will go in my cabin to hang my insulated coveralls🥶
Good Afternoon , John First , Merry CHRISTMAS to you and your Wife ! That was a very Nice Gift and inspiration for the time ! You handled the cold shunt Problem quite well ! It was a very Nice how this Smith presented the Idea ! Take Care and Be Safe ! Keep Hammering !
I love fruitcake also. Just watching the hook of the week until my son wakes up so we can head out to the smithy. He is on Christmas break until the 6th of January. His birthday is on the 4th. He will be 15. I am really excited to spend the next almost 3 weeks with him. We have lots of material to work with and I have been busy the last few weeks making him tool. Punches chisels tongs you name it. When I am long gone he will still be making things with tools I made and hopefully be able to pass yhem to his son or daughter. His little sister wants to learn now too. How lucky am I?
Man, when they 'want' to learn, teach them. No better time. Even if you think they can only lift the hammer (welding lead, small grinder, torch, etc.) with both hands. Just stand close, and keep them safe.
Great Hook John. I was upset because I didn't see Hook of the Week yesterday, until I realized, since I'm presently in S. Korea, I'm a day ahead. I was extremely pleased to watch the Hook of the Week this morning as it's Monday here. Another great project and video. Thanks. Charlie
I'm a beginning woodworker, and can't remember how I started watching this channel, but I've grown fascinated with blacksmithing and have started looking around for an anvil and ideas on building forges.... uh oh!
Very kind of you to help a viewer figure out a problem and share with all of us. I love your videos as I drink the morning coffee, and apparently so does my 9 month old as he drinks his bottle. Thank you John, love from Texas.
Congratulations, You have won the drawing for the Railroad Spike hook. Send your shipping address to me at switz@mindspring.com and I will get that shipped out to you
thankyou for sharing that with us James, it is a really cool take on a railroad spike! Thank you for showing us how to make it John, it is definitely on my "going to" list.
VERY COOL that you featured someone else's hook and helped figure out the cold shut. I really like the fact that yours was a little different too, you just kind of went with the basic idea and did it your way. Thanks for sharing
John, Greetings from your neighbor in Pueblo. I'm not a blacksmith, but love watching your creativity and thought processes. You could be a Prof at PCC with your teaching skills
Excellent start to a Sunday! I love having these hook videos to get the day started. That is a great looking hook for sure! I will have to make some tongs to hold that material and will give it a shot. Can't wait!
Great job, Thanks for making the video. Great way to spend Christmas morning, watching hook of the week with my wife, dogs and coffee. Thank you for this moment of peace and tranquility in my life.
Great project for a railroad spike. And nice to see that you could help, not only James but others as well with problems like this one. Thanks for all the great videos you do. Watch them all and get something from each of them.
This is actually a good use of a railroad spike for blacksmithing. It also provided a good discussion point, a good hook of the week, and a good project (oh, not to mention a great video).
John and James, thanks for posting this, we really enjoyed watching. I have a big bucket of spikes and I need to make one of these soon. Thanks to James for the idea!
Good morning, just wanted to thank you for all the help you have provided for me and my 10 year old grandson. He enjoys blacksmithing. We watch your videos together and then go to the shop challenged to be better than before. That is a neat hook. looking forward to seeing more videos next year.
Interesting idea for hook. Railroad spike is such a friendly material to work with. So many things to make. Joined Black Bear Community group a time now. A great way to learn .Merry Christmas everyone
Really enjoy your post. Thank you for sharing many ideas and helpful steps. I look forward to every Sunday now for as I call it, continuing education in my blacksmithing ! Thanks again !! and have a Merry Christmas !!
Great demonstration. I really appreciate how you really point out the trouble details that help us novice be more productive at the anvil. Many thanks, and happy holidays!
I really like that hook. Thank you. See so many grab a spike and make a knife but the hook has so much more basics in it to practice and hone ones skills.
Lots of skill building you are a great teacher Sir, I did several of the hooks love the one like a fish and twisted and many. Been to busy to forge with wife having several surgery on both her left knee and 3 on right foot, Seems to be improved so this October or November I really like to get back out and I do try safety practice. Thanks again and you better believe I to loved your hooks every Sunday morning
Hi John. As a relatively inexperienced blacksmith, (only 3 years experience), I very much appreciate your content, and the tips and advice for making life easier; and in the last 3 or 4 months I've been watching your content, it's been wonderfully helpful.
Great hook love the design keep videos coming out of commission for a couple of weeks ,got me a new knee love the blacksmith community for all their help and knowledge merry Christmas to all
That's an interesting hook. Real neat take on one. I'd love to have something you dropped a hammer on, and I'm glad you could help the man "and everyone" out on a very common problem. Awesome video, and always love this series! 👍 👍
What a great take on a RR spike hook! It is always amazing to me how a small change in layout can make all the difference in the final project. Very well done. Merry Christmas!
Hey John, that was a great way to help a smith out with his dilemma. I really liked his design for the hook too. You did a great job with your hook design also and you gave us a good lesson. Thanks for sharing with us. Looking forward to the drawing on Christmas Eve. You all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Cool hook idea! The only thing I have ever seen made from a railroad spike is a knife and I don't care for them. This hook idea however gives me lots of ideas of things I could hang on one.
Glad James sent you his attempt at this unique Hook. It made yet again another "Hook Of The Week" very interesting and as usual with your great teaching skills how to avoid Cold Shut's. Thanks to both of you John & James
A very good design James ,and to have John use it as hook of the week must be a great honor for you.And as always John thank you for the time and effort that you put into videos for your followers. So I wish you and Jenett a very marry christmas .cheers.
Merry Christmas.
Love your videos. 30 years on the job teaches us a lot.
That's a super cool hook idea. Also nice to get some of the detailed classroom stuff. 👍
Ol James, and Mr. John, that is a great collaboration, and project.
I really like both of them, thank you both, and Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas
Cool Bear Hook. Thanks for sharing!
My favorite hook of the week so far. Thanks for a great video John and to James a for a great idea.
I really enjoy your videos. The hook of the week is now how I start my Sunday mornings.
I hope Black Bear Forge videos are available for many many years to come. Johns videos are an inspiration and an education. Blacksmithing isn’t a lost trade thanks to people like John.
My wife and I have made it a ritual to watch hook of the week together every week. She isn’t a blacksmith at all, but really loves your presentation of the material. I’d love to surprise her with the hook! 🤫
That's awesome to help a viewer with an issue and that is a great hook. This is why I send people to your page when they ask how I started to learn to blacksmith.
I love that idea. 👍👍 Thanks for sharing
Again, another valuable lesson from the black bear forge school of blacksmithing.
I spent 40+ years in and around the trades and i was clueless as to depth and breadth of the blacksmithing art. Now, i have found your channel and am getting an education. I also have to say, I don't think the trade could ask for a better spokesperson than you. Thank you for all the effort you put into these videos.
Kelley Simonds to I am a retired welder that spent most his life working on cross country pipelines and I find this channel fascinating!
Everything used to be forged, cast, or machined/cold worked; even in ancient times. The ancient techniques for soldering, brazing, fusing, alloying, and cladding are particularly interesting to me. Industrialization made a lot of this mythical in developed countries. There's still plenty of lost methods left to rediscover.
If you haven't seen it, you might also enjoy the channel Clickspring where the creator tries to replicate period possible tools, materials, and processes to recreate the Antikythera mechanism, the bronze age astrological calculator. Machine Thinking also has great documentary quality episodes about the history of machines and precision.
Bob Madeup - Yes i am a subscriber to Clickspring and, i agree completely with all you've said. Thanks for commenting.
@@kelleysimonds5945 your welcome! I got really into it through blacksmithing when I found out about how true Damascus, crucible steel, and forge welding were done. I got into other metal fab and trades after that
..Thank You John. It's like handing DaVinci his brush. Maybe my head will quit aching from beating it agin the wall trying to figure that out. In your Honor i'm naming it- The Bear Hook i really liked the shoulder on the nail end. Thank You again. Yall feel free to make these and have fun doing it! Merry Christmas to one and all...!!!
I am glad I could help. Merry Christmas.
Great idea James. Thanks for the idea. Thank you john for teaching us this process
Great looking hook Ol James! Very unique. I'm definately going to try and make a couple.
What a great idea. I kinda upset you are setting the bar so high for the rest of us though!! LOL
Great Idea Ol James , gonna have to steal this one!😁
Another great video John. My son and I have learned a lot from your channel. Thanks so much for putting them together and sharing your shop time with us.
Thanks for the idea James. Thank you John for detailed explanation as you forged it.
I've been watching your channel for about a year it has inspired me to work real hard at blacksmithing
i never get tired of seeing all the things people make with railroad spikes.
Sipping a cup of tea while watching "Hook of the Week" is how I start the perfect Sunday. I really enjoyed watching you provide great feedback.
That is a good looking hook. The only change I would make is to have the spike taller than it is wide so it is more like a cut nail so it will be less likely to split the wood it is driven into.
That is an awesome hook!! A big thank you to the viewer for sending the idea, and of course a big thanks to John for putting the instruction video on making it. Wayne
Thanks John and James👍
Another awesome hook idea! I love the fact this was an interaction between you and a viewer.
Again great looking Hook, and if I win it, it will go in my cabin to hang my insulated coveralls🥶
James, Great Hook.
I dont do any black smithing, but really enjoy your videos. Merry Christmas......
Thank you Mr James and Mr John!!!
Good Afternoon , John
First , Merry CHRISTMAS to you and your Wife ! That was a very Nice Gift and inspiration for the time ! You handled the cold shunt
Problem quite well ! It was a very Nice how this Smith presented the
Idea ! Take Care and Be Safe !
Keep Hammering !
Merry Christmas.
Sunday morning coffee and hook of the week is a great new tradition here. Thanks John. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas.
Love the way you did this video. You are always helping us blacksmiths.
That was indeed a great topic idea for a video, and shows just what a great teaacher you are.
I love fruitcake also. Just watching the hook of the week until my son wakes up so we can head out to the smithy. He is on Christmas break until the 6th of January. His birthday is on the 4th. He will be 15. I am really excited to spend the next almost 3 weeks with him. We have lots of material to work with and I have been busy the last few weeks making him tool. Punches chisels tongs you name it. When I am long gone he will still be making things with tools I made and hopefully be able to pass yhem to his son or daughter. His little sister wants to learn now too. How lucky am I?
Man, when they 'want' to learn, teach them. No better time. Even if you think they can only lift the hammer (welding lead, small grinder, torch, etc.) with both hands. Just stand close, and keep them safe.
Great Hook John. I was upset because I didn't see Hook of the Week yesterday, until I realized, since I'm presently in S. Korea, I'm a day ahead. I was extremely pleased to watch the Hook of the Week this morning as it's Monday here. Another great project and video. Thanks. Charlie
I'm a beginning woodworker, and can't remember how I started watching this channel, but I've grown fascinated with blacksmithing and have started looking around for an anvil and ideas on building forges.... uh oh!
Welcome to the club.
That is a neat hook. Nice 2 couple takes on it
A good look on RR spike hook thanks James. Merry Christmas to you and your family God bless,
Merry Christmas.
Hey have a wonderfull Christmas everybody.
Merry Christmas.
Unique design for an old staple, Very Cool!
I love watching your hook of the week every sunday morning. Thanks for all you do.
I really like that spin and newer idea using a RR Spike. Thanx for sharing this with us!
Thats a cool design from a spike. James sending his samples defining the problem made for a great problem solving video. Merry christmas to all.
Merry Christmas.
Always enjoy the HoW. Even if we don’t get to see that 5 gallon bucket!
Thank you John! Thoroughly enjoy all your videos. 🌲
After bending the cut part grinding off the corner will also help not to get the cold shut. If you can’t cut the angle
Cool that's a nice quick project
Very kind of you to help a viewer figure out a problem and share with all of us. I love your videos as I drink the morning coffee, and apparently so does my 9 month old as he drinks his bottle. Thank you John, love from Texas.
What a fabulous gift. Thank you for all you do.
Congratulations, You have won the drawing for the Railroad Spike hook. Send your shipping address to me at switz@mindspring.com and I will get that shipped out to you
I love this book idea..And your remedy for the cold shut, I think was spot on. I can't wait to try this one.
thankyou for sharing that with us James, it is a really cool take on a railroad spike! Thank you for showing us how to make it John, it is definitely on my "going to" list.
VERY COOL that you featured someone else's hook and helped figure out the cold shut. I really like the fact that yours was a little different too, you just kind of went with the basic idea and did it your way.
Thanks for sharing
John,
Greetings from your neighbor in Pueblo. I'm not a blacksmith, but love watching your creativity and thought processes. You could be a Prof at PCC with your teaching skills
The community you've helped gather through these videos is awesome. Been very helpful in developing my skills. Happy holidays all and forge on!
Happy Holidays
Love this drive hook John. Great way to open the mind to a railroad spike. Awsome job as always.
Excellent start to a Sunday! I love having these hook videos to get the day started. That is a great looking hook for sure! I will have to make some tongs to hold that material and will give it a shot. Can't wait!
Great job, Thanks for making the video. Great way to spend Christmas morning, watching hook of the week with my wife, dogs and coffee. Thank you for this moment of peace and tranquility in my life.
These videos are a great help to those of us just starting out. Thank you for making them.
I'll definitely try this--thanks BBF and James
Neat hook idea, really like the way it looks. Thanks for the video.
Nice design, that would work really well for mounting cross pole between trees
Sweet nice hook for garage coat and hat! Very nice.
Merry Christmas John and Black Bear Forge Fans.
Merry Christmas.
Thanks for your time, and I would love the spike hook.
Thank you for all the hook of the weeks. Watching your vids has really helped me.
What a great little hook. Love this series, John. Hope you keep it going even after you run out of pieces from your bucket.
I'm not normally a fan of railroad spike hooks but this one is really neat. As always John great video and I look forward to the next.
Great project for a railroad spike. And nice to see that you could help, not only James but others as well with problems like this one. Thanks for all the great videos you do. Watch them all and get something from each of them.
Spending my life trying to get my blacksmith shop going so I can make hooks like these. Thanks for helping the week really enjoy them.
This is actually a good use of a railroad spike for blacksmithing. It also provided a good discussion point, a good hook of the week, and a good project (oh, not to mention a great video).
Thank you for the inspiration and the knowledge you share with every video.
John and James, thanks for posting this, we really enjoyed watching. I have a big bucket of spikes and I need to make one of these soon. Thanks to James for the idea!
great use for a railroad spike.
Good morning, just wanted to thank you for all the help you have provided for me and my 10 year old grandson. He enjoys blacksmithing. We watch your videos together and then go to the shop challenged to be better than before. That is a neat hook. looking forward to seeing more videos next year.
One of the first spikes I like. So many people make knives out of them. Good to see something useful.
Thank's
Interesting idea for hook. Railroad spike is such a friendly material to work with. So many things to make. Joined Black Bear Community group a time now. A great way to learn .Merry Christmas everyone
Merry Christmas.
Really enjoy your post. Thank you for sharing many ideas and helpful steps. I look forward to every Sunday now for as I call it, continuing education in my blacksmithing ! Thanks again !! and have a Merry Christmas !!
Merry Christmas.
Great demonstration. I really appreciate how you really point out the trouble details that help us novice be more productive at the anvil. Many thanks, and happy holidays!
Happy Holidays
Thank you James for the idea, and thank you John for the tutelage on how to avoid the common problem of cold shuts!
Cool Hook ! Merry Christmas to all of you at Black bear Forge !
Merry Christmas.
This hook is an awesome idea. As always, great instructional video. Thank you Mr. John
That is a really cool hook. Nicely done sir!
I like the way you walk people through the whole process. Very cool, thanks
I really like that hook. Thank you. See so many grab a spike and make a knife but the hook has so much more basics in it to practice and hone ones skills.
Love the style of the hook! Props to James!
Lots of skill building you are a great teacher Sir, I did several of the hooks love the one like a fish and twisted and many.
Been to busy to forge with wife having several surgery on both her left knee and 3 on right foot, Seems to be improved so this October or November I really like to get back out and I do try safety practice.
Thanks again and you better believe I to loved your hooks every Sunday morning
Hi John. As a relatively inexperienced blacksmith, (only 3 years experience), I very much appreciate your content, and the tips and advice for making life easier; and in the last 3 or 4 months I've been watching your content, it's been wonderfully helpful.
I’m new to blacksmithing and me and my dad love watching your videos and then going out to the garage and working on something
Love your "spike" clothes hook I would greatly appreciate it.
A great looking hook, and a wonderful use of an old RR spike.
Great idea nice hook James and John.
Nice hook, love your show.
Love the hook! Thanks for the great videos!
Great hook love the design keep videos coming out of commission for a couple of weeks ,got me a new knee love the blacksmith community for all their help and knowledge merry Christmas to all
Merry Christmas.
I really love the concept of this video. It makes for a very interactive tutorial.
That's an interesting hook. Real neat take on one. I'd love to have something you dropped a hammer on, and I'm glad you could help the man "and everyone" out on a very common problem. Awesome video, and always love this series! 👍 👍
Great video. Liked how you showed an alternative to fixing the problems. thanks for the help!
What a great take on a RR spike hook! It is always amazing to me how a small change in layout can make all the difference in the final project. Very well done. Merry Christmas!
Love the hook of the week series!
Hey John, that was a great way to help a smith out with his dilemma. I really liked his design for the hook too. You did a great job with your hook design also and you gave us a good lesson. Thanks for sharing with us. Looking forward to the drawing on Christmas Eve. You all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Merry Christmas.
Really like the hook idea. Nice way to use a railroad spike.
Cool hook idea! The only thing I have ever seen made from a railroad spike is a knife and I don't care for them. This hook idea however gives me lots of ideas of things I could hang on one.
Glad James sent you his attempt at this unique Hook. It made yet again another "Hook Of The Week" very interesting and as usual with your great teaching skills how to avoid Cold Shut's. Thanks to both of you John & James
That is a great hook. Love the channel and The Hook of the Week.