I tell you man I'm a trucker but I'm gonna live on the bare essentials for the next two years to raise plenty of capital to start smithing. Every time I think of it and watch these videos its like a fire burns bright in my heart! Ever since I was a youngin I've wanted to work metal and wood and your videos rekindles that child like desire! Much love man and keep this awesome content comin!
you really don't need massive amounts of cash to start out me & a friend started during college for about 100€ each any flat topped block of steel will work as an anvil, there's tons of cheap forge ideas out there
How's it coming man? I'm starting myself with a Terra Cotta pot for a tuyuer in a car litter box as I have no access to dirt on a tie plate with harbor freight hammers and whatever pliers I got.
I do appreciate this video. I have done some kinds of blacksmith work in my shop behind the house for years now as I am retired. Videos such as this one does help me learn valuable lessons that I do not have to learn with hard knocks. Thanks!
Many years ago I needed a 3/4" 'drill bit' just over 62" long. Yes, I grabbed a piece of rebar. I had a basic breakdrum furnace and homemade charcoal. The result was a single flute scoop. It was a rough monster, but it cut true and I hit my mark on the first try.
As a knife maker love all the video you do about forging, want to get into forging more seriously by building my coal forge for heat treating bigger pieces.Keep them coming very informative.
@@robertevans4795 Though I have access to spring steel from old beetles and I just began blacksmithing small knives I also have made tongs from mild steel. I found a stock of rebar on a parking lot and made a hook as well. You change your vision when you start smithing... Any piece of metal you see laying in the ground you immediately think about forging it
I like rebar for my weapons because of how cheap it is and rebar is pretty strong as a metal stick so why not put a point on it? rebar spear. maybe throw some sharp rebar at stuff? rebar throwing Axe. maybe stab something with a sharp metal stick? rebar knife
I’m very interested in metal working. I started in a sawmill,then a mill shop, then 30 years glazing. Actually I want to build a foundry to pour metal castings. I appreciate your time in explaining my latest passion!
DIY SODUM SILICATE ... might get yer G.O.A.T.project going. It sure got my brain fired up. Seems a great refractory media,.. mix, build a sandcastle,... fire it to harden... add dolomite, fireclay, rockdust, ++.
The two dots means that they either double or triple stranded the bar during manufacture. It means that it's the second strand and is used to measure the bar and know which one it is in case they have to adjust the rolling mill. The dimensions are monitored closely for roundness, depth of deformations etc. If it doesn't have a line running the side it's 50 or a lesser grade. A line running down the side means it's a 60 grade rebar. Different results in trying to make tools from rebar is due to the ignorance of the individual. One or two lines running down the side is the best. The stuff from Lowe's or a like market is usually secondary or scrap and is good for sidewalks or driveways, survey stakes and the like.
Thanks a ton that answered everything for me , i work commercial construction (glazier) and find rebar with lines on both sides thrown away ad scrapes lucky i saved them just been trying to figure out grade
I just bought my first forge and thought making my own tools would be a good way to start learning, gain some experience and save some money, so thanks for this video and your others about making tools! My first thought was to get some rebar to experiment on.
FYI, in Brazil and Indonesia, the masons almost exclusively use rebar for their stone chisels. I have made a few things out of rebar and consider the greatest drawback to be the deformations. If you want a smooth product, it's really tough to pound them away.
Really great video, I have a bit of rebar laying around and for today's project , I am going to do as you did and lay out a chisel As you did ! Step per step ! Thanks again ! LK
I just find this video, I'm starting to forge, and since the lockdown started I could not buy any steel, I found a similar piece of rebar at home and I'm triting to forge a pair of tongs, I found it really hard to forge and I was wondering if I was doing something wrong. So glad to know that this is a strong steel to forge, I'll keep hammering it
@@bryanduke1973 too big, you would want something smaller, an old propane tank, air compressor cylinder, something that size. or you could just use fire bricks and angle iron either welded or bolted to keep them nice and tight.
I liked the vid. i would like to see one that discussed the grading of rebar. i've used grade 60 in some cases where a higher grade or strength was specified for the job and yes it is harder than regular grade rebar. this stuff you used is impressive and if it's available it maybe much cheaper than stock 1084.
I thought this was an April fool's joke at first, then you said something about dots on the rebar signifying the steel type, then I knew it was a joke. After watching to the end, I'm in shock that you were serious and that it worked. I'm trying it.
There are at least 4 grades of rebar used in the US. 40, 60, 80, 100 - Each number standing the yield strength in 1000's of psi (so grade 40 will yield at 40,000 psi). I believe 2 dots is one particular manufacturer's way of designating Grade 60 bar.
I was making some tongs out of rebar and found I couldn't drill a hole in them. thought all my bits were junk then I remembered this video and realized I cooled them off in water. So I learned something for a second time about working with rebar. Good video. Now I just need to not make that mistake again.
I find that most rebar, will hold an edge well enough for a general use knife. It's also great for practice as you can get it pretty much anywhere. I also feel like most people who deride rebar are the same sort of person who will spend hundreds of dollars on a knife that they're only gonna use once, maybe twice a year
I found this helpful. I have been considering doing some metal work myself and this information will help me out a lot. Thanks! The more I watch your videos the more I want to give it a go. After learning welding in college, I got very interested in the possibility of making more money at it. And then seeing some forge welding made it even more interesting.
Love your channel man! I work as a garage door tech so I have access to jobsite dumpsters and plenty of rebar. Can you do a video on the hardening process for diferent tools? And maybe the quenching diferences for tongs and chisles or punches. I plan on making a forge and making my own tools and tongs from what you have shown on your videos. Thanx for the content man!!
I've been in construction 25 yrs and have lots of rebar cut offs and have done alot of research on it , there are various grades and you are correct about the 2 dots butt generally look at side of rebar it will generally say grade 40 (low grade lower carbon) grade60 high carbon (probably what you have ) and grade 75- 80 ( very high grade ) 60 - 80 i make knives out of and tools 40 i use for orher stuff
Nice to see this video. I was always under the impression that there were different types of rebar. Too many videos lump them all together. Again, knowledge is the muse of innovation. Love your videos.
Yes we want to see the how to videos of Chile making. Yessss. Had heard structural rebar was good for forging. Now you can make a nice knife. Ouch ouwee....that stare you just gave me...burns like a laser beam! Lol lol lol
Dude I would love to see it!!! I need to do more then fish when its winter here I'm not fishing as much as! but the other the other 10 months I'm not am fishing. And I'm so happy I found you and other channels YOU and Ralphie is a good guy. And so sorry for dropping names dude I'm looing forward to going through your videos thank you for giving me some new in my boring life loll. And trust me if didn't do fishing and make fishing videos I DON'T NO I WOULD BE THE JOKER LOLLL. But serious thank you for us your knowledge sir.
I have some concrete posts that were cast in 1950's, steel has rusted and posts are broken so I finished them off and got rebar out. To 'test' it was hardenable I just heated it with a propane torch to dull red/orange and did a water quench then put it in vice to break it so I could taker a look at grain structure. Came out dead hard and very fine grain structure, I'll do more tests and temper it before going further
oh we might have spare rebar from pouring cement for a shop foundation soon, I might just be able to do this and take note of how this is made. as I said been at you for months to make a cold chisel of sorts, taking notes
good video bud! Neat tool as well. In the blade smith world (i know its not something you like to do) i have always known 1084 / 1095 to be oil quenched. Specifically canola oil or a specific oil quench formula from the bladesmith shops.
I have worked with rebar over 30 yrs. I would not trust rebar for making much of anything, they way it is made is not very consistent and lower end materials. Tool or spring steel I think would be better.
Well I choose rebar as me and a others are starting out as it is a cheap material you can get in large amounts and it makes for a sweet handle that’s already attached to the knife or other rebar item.
@@yourredcomrade717 but he's not making knives. He's making cold chisels and punches. It will work for that. His inormation about it being high carbon is pretty far off, but its adequate for what he wants to do here.
@@me2bfc That doesn't mean that it is a particularly good material for other uses. I don't make tool handles for Douglas fir, and although it is passable for use in wear surfaces like floors and in table tops it isn't necessarily a good choice for that purpose despite being used to make frames for houses.
Handy guide for UK smiths looking to use rebar. The regulations for Rebar in the UK are pretty strict. There are 5 grades: A B C and Stainless A and B A is basically Mild steel, B and C are medium-high carbon Rebar less than 12mm can be any grade. If the Rebar is above 12mm(1/2") in diameter is MUST be B or C grade. B and C are both suitable for tool production, C is better. So UK guys, when buying Rebar, make sure it's above 12mm and get forging!
I'd never make tongs out of rebar as it tends to form stress fractures regularly as you heat and quench them. That being said I use the S60 rebar all the time for punches and chisels. It is cheap but effective and easy to work as long as you prep it before forging. Keep in mind this stuff cracks all the time and is real finicky, but I love it for tools. It even comes with prefabricated gripping down the shaft.
I've only begun my search on starting out with blacksmithing (don't even have a forge yet), but I imagine that if the re-bar is made of the right metal, that you could probably do a whole youtube channel just on making things out of re-bar. Starting out, due to prices on some things, making my own tools is pretty attractive, and re-bar is pretty cheap. Much like the harbor freight anvil, if a punch or chisel made of re-bar works for a couple jobs, it might be worth it (plus you get lots of practice remaking them).
Yes pls, a series on Cape Chisels! Liked this demo, was greatly surprised that it was successful. One question, the “two dots,” this is new info to me, how do I recognize them? Where are they?
I worked in pool construction, which deals a lot of work with rebar, and I can tell you rebar is quite useful. We made a lot of improvised tools with it, and most of it is easy to bend, though after 5/8 inch thick rebar, it gets very solid and you will need special tools for it. 5/8 is what I think would be the better to use for tool making since it's around a good area between still light enough to hold to, and thick enough to make good tools. In fact, I think that piece of rebar may be 5/8
LOVE YOUR VIDS! I forged a center punch from rebar. It holds its point even on un-annealed leaf spring. I have found that rebar made in Mexico tends to work better for tools than the stuff from China. After elections I harvest it for free on street corners and along fields and vacant lots.😉
I have done a fair bit of forging tools with rebar for stock. What I have found is that the carbon content can vary a lot from on piece to the next, even if you buy it at the same place and the same time. Some of it hardens nicely. Some doesn't harden at all. I've made chisels, punches, and tongs out of it and one thing I've discovered is that you have to be real careful about cooling your tongs if they get too hot because they may crack, indicating a pretty decent carbon content, but maybe not the best stuff to make tongs out of. On the other hand, I've had a couple punches that wouldn't harden at all. I'd just say spark test it before you start. If you get good sparks it will probably make good punches and chisels. If you don't, well, that might be the piece to make a set of tongs out of.
I tell you man I'm a trucker but I'm gonna live on the bare essentials for the next two years to raise plenty of capital to start smithing. Every time I think of it and watch these videos its like a fire burns bright in my heart! Ever since I was a youngin I've wanted to work metal and wood and your videos rekindles that child like desire! Much love man and keep this awesome content comin!
You go you magnificent beast
That’s awesome, you go man!
you really don't need massive amounts of cash to start out
me & a friend started during college for about 100€ each
any flat topped block of steel will work as an anvil, there's tons of cheap forge ideas out there
How's it coming man?
I'm starting myself with a Terra Cotta pot for a tuyuer in a car litter box as I have no access to dirt on a tie plate with harbor freight hammers and whatever pliers I got.
Two years later whats the progress my man?
I love the old style coal forge that's a sign of a true blacksmith
I was awestruck that you have a friend like Bob who unselfishly gave you a piece of rebar that was given to him! I wish I had a friend like Bob
As an actual toolmaker used to a2 s6 cpm10v etc., I am impressed.
I do appreciate this video. I have done some kinds of blacksmith work in my shop behind the house for years now as I am retired. Videos such as this one does help me learn valuable lessons that I do not have to learn with hard knocks. Thanks!
Interesting. I have some super thick rebar that I may try this with, perhaps a curved cutting chisel.
A Cape Chisel series would be appreciated.
Good presentations of Harding steel.
I've made some punches and chisels from rebar that ended being really great tools.
Many years ago I needed a 3/4" 'drill bit' just over 62" long. Yes, I grabbed a piece of rebar. I had a basic breakdrum furnace and homemade charcoal.
The result was a single flute scoop. It was a rough monster, but it cut true and I hit my mark on the first try.
As a knife maker love all the video you do about forging, want to get into forging more seriously by building my coal forge for heat treating bigger pieces.Keep them coming very informative.
What I like, is that you do what other people says you can't. Good job.
In my first year of forging, everything was made of rebar. Mostly hooks
insperatus Story of my life dude.
I've made a few light use knifes and a pair of tongs from rebar but I'm just getting into blacksmithing and dont have much free time to work
I’ve made almost everything from rebar lol.
@@robertevans4795 Though I have access to spring steel from old beetles and I just began blacksmithing small knives I also have made tongs from mild steel. I found a stock of rebar on a parking lot and made a hook as well. You change your vision when you start smithing... Any piece of metal you see laying in the ground you immediately think about forging it
I like rebar for my weapons because of how cheap it is and rebar is pretty strong as a metal stick so why not put a point on it? rebar spear. maybe throw some sharp rebar at stuff? rebar throwing Axe. maybe stab something with a sharp metal stick? rebar knife
I love watching the tool making vids since I am still gearing up in my shop.
Any video that you make is worth the watch. There is always plenty of room to learn.
Yes make every tool you can plz.. Praise the LORD.
I would enjoy watching you make some cape chisels. I use them often.
I’m very interested in metal working. I started in a sawmill,then a mill shop, then 30 years glazing. Actually I want to build a foundry to pour metal castings. I appreciate your time in explaining my latest passion!
DIY SODUM SILICATE ... might get yer G.O.A.T.project going.
It sure got my brain fired up.
Seems a great refractory media,.. mix, build a sandcastle,... fire it to harden...
add dolomite, fireclay, rockdust, ++.
It was very nice to find out about some rebar and coil springs for use
I used to watch my Dad force and this was interesting to me. I have seen 2 of your videos, I will be watching more. Thank You
I have a couple of forge blowers...but, the way that one coasts is very good
The two dots means that they either double or triple stranded the bar during manufacture. It means that it's the second strand and is used to measure the bar and know which one it is in case they have to adjust the rolling mill. The dimensions are monitored closely for roundness, depth of deformations etc. If it doesn't have a line running the side it's 50 or a lesser grade. A line running down the side means it's a 60 grade rebar. Different results in trying to make tools from rebar is due to the ignorance of the individual. One or two lines running down the side is the best. The stuff from Lowe's or a like market is usually secondary or scrap and is good for sidewalks or driveways, survey stakes and the like.
John Maliskey
Good info 👍
Thanks a ton that answered everything for me , i work commercial construction (glazier) and find rebar with lines on both sides thrown away ad scrapes lucky i saved them just been trying to figure out grade
I had no idea rebar comes in so many different types of metals. Very good information I can use.
Oh, I forgot, I’m impressed by the chisel and the results you achieved. I will be looking forward to more to come.
I just bought my first forge and thought making my own tools would be a good way to start learning, gain some experience and save some money, so thanks for this video and your others about making tools! My first thought was to get some rebar to experiment on.
Very Interesting Roy. Could you please show the dots you spoke of?? Thanks
Even though i had the sound off because my parents were watching tv, i still thought it was good. +1 subscriber
I will have to be keeping an eye out for this kind of rebar at the job site. Thanks for sharing
we want a chisel series
I made my 1st pair of tongs out of 1/2 " rebar, world's ugliest tool but they are working in spite of my beginner forging. Yay !
I use rebar and old bolts for making socket arrow heads like the bodkins and hunting points
FYI, in Brazil and Indonesia, the masons almost exclusively use rebar for their stone chisels. I have made a few things out of rebar and consider the greatest drawback to be the deformations. If you want a smooth product, it's really tough to pound them away.
good vidio information. you taught me a few things about rebar I did not know. I will be making a few punches and chisels
Cleaning up my homestead the tractor blade pulled about 60 feet of 3/4 rebar. Wasn't sure what I was gonna use it for. Cool
Thanks this was great I had no idea rebar would harden that well. Very informative to the beginner smith. I real enjoy your videos !!!!!
Really great video, I have a bit of rebar laying around and for today's project , I am going to do as you did and lay out a chisel
As you did ! Step per step !
Thanks again !
LK
Id love to see u forge a cape chisel including the hardening /finish
I would love to see a sires on cape chisels. And vedios on rebar also. Thank You Roy God Bless!!
Awesome! I love forging rebar!
Cape chisel away Roy, I'm watching.
I just find this video, I'm starting to forge, and since the lockdown started I could not buy any steel, I found a similar piece of rebar at home and I'm triting to forge a pair of tongs, I found it really hard to forge and I was wondering if I was doing something wrong. So glad to know that this is a strong steel to forge, I'll keep hammering it
Would like to see a series on Cape chisels. Looks like a pretty slick tool.
I'm really interested on how your forge is made. Probably trade secrets lol you rock great vids.
It's just a flat peice of like 30x30 with a hole in it with a hand air pump or electric one simple simple
I was wondering if you made a propane forge would a washing machine drum be a good idea to use
@@bryanduke1973 too big, you would want something smaller, an old propane tank, air compressor cylinder, something that size.
or you could just use fire bricks and angle iron either welded or bolted to keep them nice and tight.
Great to know about the rebar thanks for testing it out for us.
I'm glad you did this because it's been a question I've been wondering myself.
I liked the vid. i would like to see one that discussed the grading of rebar. i've used grade 60 in some cases where a higher grade or strength was specified for the job and yes it is harder than regular grade rebar. this stuff you used is impressive and if it's available it maybe much cheaper than stock 1084.
Thank you. This answered some big questions for me. Now, to find out what quality of rebar I've collected up. I'd watch more vids along these lines.
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TOOL BUILD ... AND RESOURCE LOCATOR VLOG !!
I thought this was an April fool's joke at first, then you said something about dots on the rebar signifying the steel type, then I knew it was a joke. After watching to the end, I'm in shock that you were serious and that it worked. I'm trying it.
There are at least 4 grades of rebar used in the US. 40, 60, 80, 100 - Each number standing the yield strength in 1000's of psi (so grade 40 will yield at 40,000 psi). I believe 2 dots is one particular manufacturer's way of designating Grade 60 bar.
I made my first pair of tongs out of rebar they were great but many better alternatives but for a begginer I love them
This is encouraging! Thanks for making the video and showing this is possible.
Yes that would be good to see. Video on chisels, do you already have other videos on other tools?
Good to know. Thanks for your channel.
Just getting started
I have some rebar that says s60 on it. We heated to critical and did a snap test. Suuuuuper fine grain structure.
Surprised me how good it worked! Nice video
Great video Roy. When I get back to the forge I’ll check into rebar more closely.
That chisel looks sweet! It even has a non slip handle grip 👍👍👍👍👍
I was making some tongs out of rebar and found I couldn't drill a hole in them. thought all my bits were junk then I remembered this video and realized I cooled them off in water. So I learned something for a second time about working with rebar. Good video. Now I just need to not make that mistake again.
I am new to Blacksmithing, and would love to have a series on how to make chisels.
Never thought rebar was that good. I’m going to have a go at making some tools. Thanks. Nice video mate 👍👍👍
heck yeah ,tool making videos!!! It's like coffee on hammers.
I would definitely enjoy a Cape chisel forging demo.
Great job ! I didn't know about those types of chisel to work on steel !
I find that most rebar, will hold an edge well enough for a general use knife. It's also great for practice as you can get it pretty much anywhere. I also feel like most people who deride rebar are the same sort of person who will spend hundreds of dollars on a knife that they're only gonna use once, maybe twice a year
I need to learn more about grading metals! I sure could use a tool like that!
Nice video, as usual. One point about which to quibble: 1084 is an oil quenching steel, not a water quench.
Yes interesting planning on starting hobby blacksmithing in 2019
My question about rebar is answered. I will be collecting rebar now.
I found this helpful. I have been considering doing some metal work myself and this information will help me out a lot. Thanks!
The more I watch your videos the more I want to give it a go. After learning welding in college, I got very interested in the possibility of making more money at it. And then seeing some forge welding made it even more interesting.
Love your channel man! I work as a garage door tech so I have access to jobsite dumpsters and plenty of rebar. Can you do a video on the hardening process for diferent tools? And maybe the quenching diferences for tongs and chisles or punches. I plan on making a forge and making my own tools and tongs from what you have shown on your videos. Thanx for the content man!!
I've been in construction 25 yrs and have lots of rebar cut offs and have done alot of research on it , there are various grades and you are correct about the 2 dots butt generally look at side of rebar it will generally say grade 40 (low grade lower carbon) grade60 high carbon (probably what you have ) and grade 75- 80 ( very high grade ) 60 - 80 i make knives out of and tools 40 i use for orher stuff
Btw 60-80 i believe is high tensile steal for heavy construction like bridges
Nice to see this video. I was always under the impression that there were different types of rebar. Too many videos lump them all together. Again, knowledge is the muse of innovation. Love your videos.
I would like to see videos on chisels and more just getting started into smithing
Very good thanks
Hi Roy in the uk we call it div dag bar ,it,s used to hold concrete form,s together shuch as wall,s or concrete water tank,s
Yes we want to see the how to videos of Chile making. Yessss.
Had heard structural rebar was good for forging. Now you can make a nice knife.
Ouch ouwee....that stare you just gave me...burns like a laser beam! Lol lol lol
Yes, I would like to see a video on forging a Cape chisel.
Thank you I found the video very helpful and in formative
Dude I would love to see it!!! I need to do more then fish when its winter here I'm not fishing as much as! but the other the other 10 months I'm not am fishing. And I'm so happy I found you and other channels YOU and Ralphie is a good guy. And so sorry for dropping names dude I'm looing forward to going through your videos thank you for giving me some new in my boring life loll. And trust me if didn't do fishing and make fishing videos I DON'T NO I WOULD BE THE JOKER LOLLL. But serious thank you for us your knowledge sir.
I have some concrete posts that were cast in 1950's, steel has rusted and posts are broken so I finished them off and got rebar out. To 'test' it was hardenable I just heated it with a propane torch to dull red/orange and did a water quench then put it in vice to break it so I could taker a look at grain structure. Came out dead hard and very fine grain structure, I'll do more tests and temper it before going further
loved your video on making tools from rebar I'm defiantly subscribing and watching more
Glad to have you on the channel :)
oh we might have spare rebar from pouring cement for a shop foundation soon, I might just be able to do this and take note of how this is made. as I said been at you for months to make a cold chisel of sorts, taking notes
good video bud! Neat tool as well. In the blade smith world (i know its not something you like to do) i have always known 1084 / 1095 to be oil quenched. Specifically canola oil or a specific oil quench formula from the bladesmith shops.
Thanks for the video didn't think about using rebat for tools didn't figure it would be good enough of steel to use for that
I have worked with rebar over 30 yrs. I would not trust rebar for making much of anything, they way it is made is not very consistent and lower end materials. Tool or spring steel I think would be better.
Well I choose rebar as me and a others are starting out as it is a cheap material you can get in large amounts and it makes for a sweet handle that’s already attached to the knife or other rebar item.
Just so you know, it's used to reinforce foundations in virtually every structure made in the last 60 or 70 years.
@@me2bfc steel girders make crappy knives. so does rebar. they are chosen for ductility. knives need to be hard and hold an edge. rebar does not.
@@yourredcomrade717 but he's not making knives. He's making cold chisels and punches. It will work for that. His inormation about it being high carbon is pretty far off, but its adequate for what he wants to do here.
@@me2bfc That doesn't mean that it is a particularly good material for other uses. I don't make tool handles for Douglas fir, and although it is passable for use in wear surfaces like floors and in table tops it isn't necessarily a good choice for that purpose despite being used to make frames for houses.
Handy guide for UK smiths looking to use rebar. The regulations for Rebar in the UK are pretty strict. There are 5 grades: A B C and Stainless A and B
A is basically Mild steel, B and C are medium-high carbon
Rebar less than 12mm can be any grade. If the Rebar is above 12mm(1/2") in diameter is MUST be B or C grade.
B and C are both suitable for tool production, C is better.
So UK guys, when buying Rebar, make sure it's above 12mm and get forging!
I'd never make tongs out of rebar as it tends to form stress fractures regularly as you heat and quench them. That being said I use the S60 rebar all the time for punches and chisels. It is cheap but effective and easy to work as long as you prep it before forging. Keep in mind this stuff cracks all the time and is real finicky, but I love it for tools. It even comes with prefabricated gripping down the shaft.
Very impressed. Do you have a view making a lathe parting tool? Thanks for sharing your wonderful talents and videos ❤️🇦🇺
I've only begun my search on starting out with blacksmithing (don't even have a forge yet), but I imagine that if the re-bar is made of the right metal, that you could probably do a whole youtube channel just on making things out of re-bar. Starting out, due to prices on some things, making my own tools is pretty attractive, and re-bar is pretty cheap. Much like the harbor freight anvil, if a punch or chisel made of re-bar works for a couple jobs, it might be worth it (plus you get lots of practice remaking them).
All my work hammers to clean up castings have rebar handles.
Yes pls, a series on Cape Chisels! Liked this demo, was greatly surprised that it was successful. One question, the “two dots,” this is new info to me, how do I recognize them? Where are they?
I think you done a great job
I worked in pool construction, which deals a lot of work with rebar, and I can tell you rebar is quite useful. We made a lot of improvised tools with it, and most of it is easy to bend, though after 5/8 inch thick rebar, it gets very solid and you will need special tools for it. 5/8 is what I think would be the better to use for tool making since it's around a good area between still light enough to hold to, and thick enough to make good tools. In fact, I think that piece of rebar may be 5/8
Heck yeah! Sounds like a great video!
LOVE YOUR VIDS! I forged a center punch from rebar. It holds its point even on un-annealed leaf spring. I have found that rebar made in Mexico tends to work better for tools than the stuff from China. After elections I harvest it for free on street corners and along fields and vacant lots.😉
I have done a fair bit of forging tools with rebar for stock. What I have found is that the carbon content can vary a lot from on piece to the next, even if you buy it at the same place and the same time. Some of it hardens nicely. Some doesn't harden at all. I've made chisels, punches, and tongs out of it and one thing I've discovered is that you have to be real careful about cooling your tongs if they get too hot because they may crack, indicating a pretty decent carbon content, but maybe not the best stuff to make tongs out of. On the other hand, I've had a couple punches that wouldn't harden at all. I'd just say spark test it before you start. If you get good sparks it will probably make good punches and chisels. If you don't, well, that might be the piece to make a set of tongs out of.
Eventually I'd really like to get into learning more about forgng
Yes a cape chisel video would be great. As you, I have heard rebar is made from an amalgamation of junk steel.
Heck yeah and how to Video is going to help us newbies get to the level of Roy. I have a bunch of rebar that I can forge.