Let me know what tools we should test next! Also, knock out all of your holiday gifting needs today with MeUndies. To get exclusive holiday deals and savings all month long, go to MeUndies.com/forge and use promo code "forge".
maybe things that you could find at a scrapyard/salvage yard. stuff that would take little to no effort or a good bit of effort to convert to being usable for a smith. besides stock for making projects out of. or include stuff you could make stock out of.
Roughly 8 years ago i got into doing blacksmithing. And thankfully i had found this scrappy kid on TH-cam from England who did blacksmithing videos teaching all he has learnt for free!! It's been an awesome ride Alec- and Jamie! Legends 🔥 The value of these videos goes beyond mere content. You are a great Teacher mate.
@@darthsilversith667 I'm matric-native and I can convert to Hamburgers per Bald Eagles on the fly for length, area, weight and volume. It's only converting between Fahrenheit and Celsius that causes me trouble because multiplying by 5/9ths or 9/5ths doesn't really have an easy "cheat code" variant. Fortunately everyone has a pocket calculator in their pocket these days (despite what out school teachers told us).
I got into blacksmithing during covid, and if I remember correctly, tools like these had just barely hit the market and were still quite expensive. I ended up building my own forge and modifying a harbor freight hammer with Alec's instructions. Now I've made several of my own square circle rounding hammers that I use almost daily. All of that is thanks to Alec. Good information is one of the most important tools you can have.
@etiennebordes4008 wow, that's pretty low... I suspected something along those lines, but didn't wanna be too harsh with someone who was innocently enough trying to make the best of a bad situation. I assumed the best, and didn't wanna be like "yo this ain't the place for that" I saw like 18 subs and didn't look any farther 😭
Cmon, this little channel had waaaay more influence than the years of international broadcasting of Forged in Fire ever did… Oh wait, that’s completely impossible. FIF FTW!
Just for reference VEVOR is a mega warehousing/logistics firm for all sorts of Chinese manufacturing businesses. They originally just started about 20 years before handling tools, they just looked at western purchasing demand data and then find manufacturers that make those products. They then handle all the import, translation, labeling regulations needed. They then just expanded that general way beyond the tool market. The one side effect of that is they don’t have any specific quality benchmark across their products. So sometimes it’s great amazing products, pretty much identical to the ones sold under other brands (because they are from the same factories), but other times they are just ultra cheap and poorly designed versions.
In my experience thus far, their average quality tool is cheap-but-functional, a step up from other no-name alphabet soup brands. It's not a huge difference, but I have yet to be outright disappointed by anything of theirs. I feel like if they keep it up for a decade or so, they're going to be a well-known brand with some well-earned reputation here in the West. I mean, assuming tariffs don't wreck all international trade first...
The video is very relieving, my parents just bought me the double burner forge and îm obvioulsy very happy but the thumbnail of the video was kinda alarming but in the end everything’s fine thank you for the video ;)
@LogicalNiko This is something I didn't know! I've seen their name all over amazon. Is Wen the same or do they make their own tools? I have a couple Wen tools
@@thefrub Wen is actually a fairly old company. From the 50s and theyre headquartered in America. I've bought a couple of their tools and I've quite liked them. All the features of the big brands but a fraction of the cost.
Buying things from China helps China raise their military and steal/occupy territory. They steal tech, flood the market with cheap and fake products killing off your own industry. All Chinese companies work for the CCP.
My sister bought me a blacksmithing class for my birthday and I loved it. Now for Christmas she bought me a anvil, hammers, tongs, and a single burner forge. I can't wait to get started.
First time I did any blacksmithing I used a hole in the ground, some bricks, charcoal, leafblower, a piece of railroad track for an anvil and needlenosed pliers and a big ole claw hammer. I made an iron sword out of a barn door hinge and I still have it 20 years later.
Totally agree. I have used enough cheap tools to know the luck of the draw... Sometimes they're garbage, sometimes they're great. Seeing honest usage reviews like this help take a little bit of the gamble out of the cheap options. 😎👍
I remember when i was young hearing others say “A craftsman does not blame his tools.”, then when i was in my 20’s a real craftsman telling and showing me yes that is true but a craftsman also has the the right tool and the best quality tools for the job. There is a time and place for a cheap tool but a well designed and made tool takes you so much farther.
I feel like modified Amazon blacksmithing equipment is honestly pretty damn decent, I started with an Amazon propane forge and it was good enough for me to build a very solid blacksmithing foundation :D I will say though that the tools available on Amazon changes so frequently that one year you would see a certain set of tools, and the next an entirely different set being offered.
Even in this video you can see a lot of the things Alec bought were already marked as unavailable by the time the editor got screenshots to show in the video.
My rule for buying equipment that I also see mentioned a lot is to buy as cheap as you can find, and if you have to replace it, get something that will last you forever. Your speech about great gear being less important as you gain experience is extremely true imo. Someone who's been there a thousand times and has all the knowledge can find ways to work around sketchy equipment.
Completely agree. Harbor Freight drills and angle grinders are just fine for 95% of jobs. And for most people there's no advantage to buying better quality drill bits - just replace them if they get blunt (most people can't get the sharpening angle right). On the other hand buy a good set of taps and dies. Paintbrushes are another place to spend real money (well, $15-$20 instead of $5).
Genuinely super stoked for this video. Not just black smithing tools but any sort of specialized trade tools now seem to be sold on amazon and have always made me wonder….
11:49 I used this logic when I used to sell bicycles, if you buy a cheap bike which is rubbish to ride, you aren't going to enjoy the experience and are less likely to carry on, this applies to alot of hobbies.
@@dannynaylor5485 I think the better approach along the lines of you comment than what is commonly voiced is to do the research to know what the minimum standard is to actually get decent results and not just have a terrible experience and where it is decent enough that it will not need to be replaced right away. I think it is also good to know what things are more crucial to spend more money on to actually get decent quality tools or items. Thoughts? Sincerely, JS
The irony of cheap tools being more damaging to novices is not lost on me at all. I remember being given tons of those crappy "artist" kits as a kid and always being frustrated by the quality of the oil pastels and pencils inside. I remember one set had 5 different pencils marked from hard to soft and they were all THE SAME PENCIL. My parents didn't believe me until that, and they started asking well meaning friends and family to give gift cards to art retailers instead because I was so damned frustrated because I knew enough to know I was getting screwed. I also tried and failed repeatedly to draw as nicely as people with digital setups in the early 2000s. Obviously that was freaking impossible. And now I can use a $60 tablet to draw digitally. It's wonderful that younger people have access to tools, but I worry the demand for authentically crafted items may be sputtering atm. Walk into any craft fair and I'll bet you don't make it 30 steps before finding some AI generated POS for sale marked as "hand crafted."
Adam Savage talked about tools, Im paraphrasing here, but he said something along the line that for a beginner it's okay to start out with cheap tools. Just to figure out if it is something you need or like, then buy a quality version of that said tool later on.
I was thinking about the exact same thing, the way I remember it (or maybe he said this in multiple videos): When you start at something get the cheap tools, use them as much as possible until they break down. At that point you have enough experience to get decent stuff.
I agree with both adam and alex on that point so i guess my opinion would be to get the best tools you can afford. I think adams point is good because the cheap tools get you into a hobby that you otherwise might not have tried at all. But Alex has a good point about usability as well. A cheap tool can make life dificult and a beginner might not realize that they are struggeling because of the tool and give up. When i started photography i bought some old gear second hand and i almost quit because it was so difficult to get good shots. After getting better gear a lot of my problems vanished. Did the new gear make me a better photographer or give me shots my old gear couldnt? Definitely not, but it made it so much easier to get the same shots as before, which also made learning the skills a lot easier.
@@DerekSmit Also if you do start with cheap things you can replace them with better quality as they break. Then you don't end up spending a lot on something that the cheap option works just as good. You just really have to know yourself when you start. Knowing that it will be more challenging/discouraging using equipment that might be working against you if you do start on the cheaper end. A very delicate balance with spending money on tools.
Some things all you need is cheap tools. I started reloading ammunition. I have used a $200 starter kit and still use 90% of the kit. I splurged on a scale for precision reloading for competition. It was $400.
A lower barrier to entry causes two things: First, more people get to try, and therefore by sheer numbers more people will be able do something good with it. And Second, more people get to try, so a larger percentage of the end result is shite.
Hey Steele, I absolutey adore that you've made a video like this. I've loved blacksmithing for a looong time and I've always wanted to give it a try and make my own swords and knives. By making this video I assume that you've learned a lot about the various cost-effective tools, what's necessary and etc.. I'd be forever grateful if you made a "How to" in regards to what's necessary to start your blacksmithing progress. It would also be if you gave different possible budgets and essentially go from the MOST important to the LEAST important or even to the unnecessary or "bonus extras". I think this is something that a lot of people would really really appreciate and would an amazing thing to do for your community. I ask for other viewers to please like this comment so there is a chance of Steele seeing it and thinking it through. (Like only if it seems like a good idea and if you'd also want a video like that) Many thanks again Steele, it's not necessary to make this exact precise video, even something along these lines is fine or honestly don't even bother if you don't like it. Have a wonderful day Alec, lovely videos as always. :)
I find it funny what big role vevor plays in this video. For those who don‘t know, Vevor is a chinese company whose stock includes, as Linus Tech Tips says it:“whatever the hell they felt like making“
I have been watching you since way back when you were "the youngest blacksmith in Britain" and I got to say, the part you spoke about tool selection vs experience is one of the deepest things I've heard you say. That applies to pretty much everything. Wise words Alec!
I started woodworking maybe 2-3 years back, and even though i'm working in a garage with cars in it, just buying nicer tools has made everything easier. Recently, I bought a hybrid grizzly table saw, and even though it was a huge investment, it's been a crazy improvement from the ryobi.
i have absolutely zero knowledge and not much interest in blacksmithing, but your videos are something else man. love your energy and videos . been watching you for a little while now and everytime I enjoy it more than before.
Something you said at the start was really important. You used the tools you had to make the tools you needed. When I was younger I got into woodworking and many of my first projects were tools and jigs. I am much older then this fine man and we did not have the internet, so while there were ways to connect with others that was very limited in comparison. I figured most things out from shows like Yankee workshop and a few magazines on the market. I think in the crafts that is something that is not stated enough now days vs in the past on making solutions to that fit your needs vs buying mass produced things. It hones your skill and understanding of the craft and why things work.
Alec talking about tools in the way that buying the best thing could be an easier way to learn is so ture. I am a photographer covering things like professional sports and I tell all the people that I mentor that if you are serious about photography and have the cash to spend, to buy a intermediate/higher level camera to learn on. It is so much easier than trying to learn complex photography practices when you're limited by your equipment. Great insight Alec, definally applicable to other disciplines as well!!
This is actually a really heartening video. I've wanted to get into blacksmithing for well over a decade now, and knowing I can get started for such a reasonable amount is reassuring.
Your comment at the end about living in an amazing time is spot on!! I didn't have a CNC at home when I was a kid... My 12 year old daughter started high school in a special science oriented curriculum. She wanted to get in there because of the robots!! This year for Christmas, she's getting a desktop CNC mill she can tinker around. I'm in mechanical engineering so I'll show her some CAD and I reckon she'll add some bling to her school projects!! It is indeed a fantastic time to live in!!
the problem with saying the newer people should have the better tools is the newer people might not know what makes a specific tool worth the money and just buy a more expensive tool and assume its a good tool instead of possibly being an over priced tool.
I got into blacksmithing last year, and you were a large part of why I started, I still haven’t got a forge but I currently use a oxy acetylene gas welder to heat the metal so I can’t do any thing large, but I still get to hit metal so I’m happy!
Your take on tools is spot on. Different tools but similar thing, I see a lot of people tell beginner guitarists they don't need a decent guitar since the pros can do great things on junk. But they don't consider how much better it is to learn with good tools, instead of fighting the tool you can focus on what you're actually doing with it.
I think another perspective is that you need to learn to do something the right way wrong before you can do it the wrong way right. Good tools help to eliminate frustration to an experienced user but they can't make up for a lack of skill.
17:28 Taking the paint off the horn is an essential step. It with burn and probably with cancerous fumes if you try to work hot on it. My biggest regret in my first anvil was I got Cast Iron and not a cast steel anvil
You might want to try the Harbour freight Doyle 65 lbs. anvil. I have found that the Doyle tools that I have gotten are actually pretty darn good, very little play in their vices, no play in their pliers which have hardened teeth by the way, very little play in the adjustable wrench, etc. The anvil from all the accounts I have found seems to have good rebound and is hardened properly. Just a thought. Also, from my experience and researching, I think the better approach to it is doing the research to know what level of quality of tools you would actually need to start and get decent results, that also won't just ruin the experience for you of trying to learn a new hobby. An example would be for workholding, although you could get the bottom of the barrel drill press vice from the Central Machinery brand, it is not garunteed to be absolutely flat and has a pretty decent amount of play on the slide. In this case, since I know from doing maching how important it is to have flat parallel surfaces, as well that any play in the vice will shift my part off from being square, my option automatically went to the Doyle vice, which is more expensive, but also has very little play especially in the Z axis, is flat, and locks tight this would be my minimum standard of quality as anything less is far more likely make things crooked and cause much unnecessary pain frustration. This will suffice until I am in a position where I could upgrade to a Kurt vice, though the Doyle is good enough that it does not rank very high on the list for getting an upgrade. Sincerely, JS
When I was looking to get my first forge, I couldn't afford to spend $600. I bought all the plumbing, refractory, rigidizer, kaowool and fire brick for about $200. I built 2 forges and still have enough materials left over to build another forge and eventually reline them all twice. I learned so much in the process, it was well worth it. Of course, nowadays, you can buy any number of forges for relatively cheap. The $100 forge simply did not exist back then. I recommend doing your research and buying the safest forge in your price range. Down the road, you'll likely want something better, at which point you should absolutely build your own forge. Designing, building and fine tuning a custom forge will give you a level of knowledge and understanding that is so valuable.
It's so good to see people not gatekeeping their hobbies. I'm a big fan of 3d printing and I dont like Bambulab BUT the important thing is its getting lots of people into the hobby and thats a GREAT thing
Thank you so much for this video! As someone with not a lot of money but who desperately wants to learn this craft, knowing what is good and what sucks at the lower prices is extremely helpful!!!
Your theory is spot on. I have been working on electronics for over a decade now. I can produce perfectly fine solder joints with an unregulated iron running from a hobby drone battery that if left too long will literally get red hot. But I now have a couple of very nice soldering stations for all of my projects because they’re way nicer to use even though I could do perfectly fine work without them.
For the castable refactory, I suggest just mixing it inside a plastic sandwich bag... then cut out one of the corners and squeeze it out on the wool... saves on containers, and it's really easy to spread and apply, keeping everything clean.
There's never been a better time to try a new craft. Amazon and other web stores opening up the cheap Chinese market to us has given us the ability to try all kinds of new things and have tools cheap enough to buy just in case one day you foresee yourself needing them in a pinch. Heating steel can be important how many times have I stood around waiting for a torch to heat something up when I could have popped it in a forge. I need to get the blacksmith side of the farm going again. I bought a lathe and a Bridgeport but getting a propane forge and new block for the anvil could open up so many more creative fixes for me. I enjoy the challenge and creative ideas. Farming has pushed me to open my mind and think so far out the box. I love it!
As someone who recently has thought "I could give this a go and learn blacksmithing" (and I haven't yet) this does help me in the sense that if I needed to get something at a pinch I could use Amazon. But I know its better to look at gear from a better and specalised shop
*I 100% AGREE* the more skill you have the more you can accommodate for crap tools - also you KNOW what makes a good and a bad tool. Im a tailor of men's historical suits. The one tool, you need for this trade is a 50 year old all metal straight stitch sewing machine. Most people go out and buy a modern plastic machine with 200 different fancy stitches and then argue with it all day every day cos its total crap and you literally NEVER use the fancy stitches.
New comers and cheap tools is absolutely true for all things. Making art, cooking steak on grill, playing guitar etc. Its all so much harder when learning with shitty equipment. But experienced people can make beauty with the worst of the worst.
I think, the best way of trying a new craft is to ask the professionals if they can show you a bit of what they are doing for a living. They can also very easily see if you have the abilities to do it for more than just a one-try. And you haven't spent a good amount of money for tools that lay in your shed - if your shed hasn't burnt down because of them!
as a non blacksmith and in general it's amazing how reasonable this review is perfect! Wished every review gave such global scope and reasonable insights
When I started my journey into the coal-powered forge world, I was using improvised tools and a sizable cut-off of rail steel for my anvil. Tools have gotten better, some bought, most built, but by George, I still use that cut-off rail steel anvil. 😁 Work hardening and what you get used to can overcome a lot of gaps, but I much agree on cheap starter tools. You won't know how crappy they are until you get some that are made-for-purpose.
I completely agree with you regarding the tool quality. You see that in shooting too. An amateur can do good with a great firearm, but a professional can do great with a cheap one. Thanks for that thought
Thanks Alec! I've been watching your stuff for a while now (along with some other metal crafters) and have been considering jumping into the hobby, It's good to hear your accumulated wisdom on the importance of good tools.
I when I see this as one big starter pack complete with the how to be a "Blacksmith "book .it reminds me of my Neighbours lovely couple. With a huge purpose built studio in the garden complete with solar panels.and I predict in two months time it will be sitting next to the complete potters wheel kit with kiln "" plus the every thing that you need to know book on how to be a successful "potter" and allso the complete oil painting kit with his and hers professional easel. As I said lovely couple but hang on what are they now geting out of the back of there all electric 4x4 now lol .Great video
I don't know how well my advice translates to smithing, but over the years I've learned a, I think, reasonable approach to getting into new things: Buy cheap to see if you like it, then save up for good; that applies to tools, paints, instruments, etc. The good thing about the first, cheap set is that you can then build up your good tool stock slowly and don't have to, y'know, get a good saw AND a good workbench AND a good set of clamps AND good wood finish all at the same time. Get the good saw and use the cheap clamps on your cheap sawhorse, or get the good linseed oil and use the second-hand spokeshave to make a better handle for your home depot axe. "Good tools last a lifetime" and "I can't afford to buy cheap tools" are good rules of thumb, but you've got to start somewhere, right? So don't rush it, you'll want to get used to your tools anyway without having a mound of unopened masterwork chisels and expensive tig welding cups on your desk. Again, that's just my system that I've learned myself through lots of bad decisions (soo many good miniature paints dried up because I never used them, but buying the set seemed like a good value... T_T) and if you've already got things sorted, I don't mean to convert anybody. I just want to share something I wish somebody had told me when I first had to make these choices. Worst case, this is a comment you'll forget having read by tomorrow; best case, I could help. So, no harm in trying ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
As a woodworker, I get what you are saying. I started with a cheap table saw and a cheap miter saw. I did have enough experience that i could dial them in to a "good enough" calibration. But they did the job for the time
I tell you what, I have considered starting to blacksmith for years after watching videos like yours and other on youtube and Forged in Fire, but always convinced myself it was going to cost too much to get started. I think my wife will not be too happy with you for this video... but you have my thanks!!!
I have the 30kg acciao anvil and it is perfectly hard, and has about a 50-60% rebound. You might have gotten a bad casting as the acciao ones can sometimes have large pockets of filler that really deadens it. Also you’re the inspiration that got me into blacksmithing. Now I am a machinist by trade and a smith by hobby.
What you said about quality tools is so true. Beginners tend to get cheap crap to see if they like doing something. Then the tools turn them off so they quit. I bought a good quality wood lathe and bought good tools. I was then given crap where people decided they didn't like turning. Well after trying the crap tools I see why they quit. Trying to turn without good sharp tools will make anyone quit.
12:30 another important consideration is that the experienced individuals will know what adaptations to add to improve the lower quality products, like using fire bricks as forge doors for example. Love the stuff alec
On the “better tool for beginners” topic, i think one other thing that isn’t considered a lot is that learning a skill like blacksmithing can be extremely hard due to information overload, by having near the best tool you remove so many little variables that makes you able to focus on learning what YOU are doing good or bad, having a layer on top of faulty tools, materials, etc can just make things that you are doing right feel like they are wrong. So i’m 100% on you with this point, good tools really are disproportionately better for beginners than veterans craftsmen
2nd hand tools, its how i started my craft of cabinet making so i could have quality tools at low cost. Just takes some effort to repair/restore tools, at same time you learn about the tool in turn helping you use it better as you understand them more fully. Great video alex, is utterly amazing what you can buy for so little and so quick now, but agree that these cheap tools can compromise a beginners learning, is a bit of a double edge sword
Earlier this week i began my first blacksmithing project, just some copper craft. My setup was a old hammer i had, a piece of 6x4, an antique clothes Iron that i smacked the handle off giving me a triangleish iron lump, and my forge was the Fireplace in my cabin ^-^ The project was a success! :D
I probably spend $1000 CAD building all my own forge staples. A built a ribbon burner (with internal mixing chamber) natural gas, forced air forge forge, a 2x72 belt grinder, 2 anvils (from railway track), a treadle hammer from an old tractor frame, 20lb sledge and a front end loader fork and a stow-away bench/tool station that folds up against a wall that i have a small anvil and my forge affixed too, for easy storage. As much as i love my set up, i never use it cuz its just as Alec said, begginers need the quality tools to start. Im sure a pro could forge with it, but i tried to make a chisel slick and to get it hot enough i haf to leave it in the forge for quiet a while and it oxidized the steel so bad. Lol Guess thats what happens with .25 lbs of natural gas pressure
Hilarious video, Alec! I started knife-making (largely due to you and Will Stelter) about eight months ago with some of the exact same kit, and have encountered the exact same issues! Vevor V-jaw tongs okay but the rest useless. Forge small and light (I bought a two-burner model), needs refractory coating, that thin brick broke within a month, etc., etc. Fortunately between your videos and a father-in-law who trained as a smith in Denmark in the 60s, I've been able to make progress and am having a blast. Consider your videos a gateway drug! P.S. My burner hoses sagged and melted in the exact same way, so I replaced them with hoses covered in braided steel, and I suspended them to prevent sag. Live and learn. My motto is "try not to make the same mistake twice".
I definitely agree about good tools making it easier for beginners. Which is one of the reasons I think maker spaces need much more funding. Access to cheap starter tools is great though. I have done a little leatherwork, and started with a kit for £20. It makes hobbies very accessible.
I do think that forcing yourself to use lesser quality tools is what makes you more skilled at a job over time. I’m a mechanic, and using cheaper tools to start forced me to get more creative and be more carful as you could potentially wreck something with a slipper socket. Now after being a mechanic for more than a decade I true appreciate the finer tools, but I would absolutely start out like I did just for the skill and knowledge that I gained having to use what I could afford.
Sees title of video, knows a bunch of tools in my shop are about to get roasted 🤣 In all seriousness, I'm genuinely appreciative there are entry-level accessible options for blacksmithing tools available now. After years of wanting to try blacksmithing, I bought a basic assortment of tools (including the 4-pack of tongs seen here and the 66lb London-pattern anvil from Vevor) about 3 months ago. Under $1000 all-in, and now I'm hooked and spend at least a few hours a week in the garage making things and improving day by day. I honestly really like the London-pattern anvil as well, based on a few other videos I suspect that particular design is one of the better ones compared to the various smaller Vevor anvils. With that said, I'm glad credible smiths are reviewing them on YT to separate the outright junk and/or fire hazards from the "it's not great, but it'll do to start" stuff. Definitely affirms my decision to spend more on my forge rather than go for the cheaper options, especially after seeing that hose melt in this video. Great video - happy holidays!
My experience in learning woodworking is that better tools just help make better products easier. You can make a decent thing with a garbage table saw and bad fence and inaccurate miter saw, you just have to spend more time futzing with, cleaning it up, correcting the slop in the tools. It just takes more work. Better quality tools make the work go faster.
It is amazing how accessible this trade is these days. I'm sure your channel is helping to inspire a new generation of smiths, kudos to you sir. Keep it up.
I bought the EXACT same 10kg anvil. I do not forge. But I am a part time clockmaker, and I occasionally need a small anvil to rivet or flatten small things. And as the cheapest smallish anvil (10kg is ideal) I found, this is one that serves my needs quite nicely. But I cannot imagine this anvil being very useful in a blacksmith shop, other than your use as a doorstop! 😊
I have always been the person to buy the best I can afford when approaching something new, and spending the majority of the budget on the 2-3 things that tend to be the most used things for the trade, skill, or hobby. It absolutely makes a difference, and it most certainly is the reason that I have all of the skills I have.
Have you ever tried the Mr Volcano forges? Similar, but come with refractory cement and a stabilizer for the wool. I’d also be interested in your thoughts on the shape and burner layout.
I just bought one of those tiny anvils to get myself started, so I'm pleased to see it coming out ahead out of the three. I just posted a time lapse video of myself setting up a wind break for the forge outside.
This was a very very very good video for us amateur smiths! I’ve always wondered about certain quirks and safety concerns and you’ve made those points clear and known now. Ty
I completely agree that many times having the best tools tremendously helps someone who is just starting to learn something. An experienced person can use a crap tool because they have the experience and know how to still get the job done they know what they are looking for. Take mig welding for example, a nice machine and a quality auto darkening mask will completely transform the experience. I learned how to weld with a regular old welding mask with the flip up shade and i hated it, I would have had such an easier time if i had the miller auto darkening setup i have now. Ive also used trash welding machines and ive had to adjust to make up for the crap machine but if you have a high quality machine it usually has settings you can look up according to your material and those settings work pretty darn good to get you started. Ive found with many things having higher quality more expensive tools makes the job much easier and ive also relied on my experience to complete a task using garbage tools.
That's so cool you did this. I just made a list like a week ago with most of these products in it for me to possible buy/ research and this just Jump started this process for me thank-you alec!!
I was put off 3D printing as a hobbyist because I burdened myself with a crappy V1 Ender 3. Previously, when I was still in high school, I had access to an Ultimaker 2 and a Stratasys Mojo, both much better quality printers that were also much more reliable. Part of the reason I gave up the hobby, at least temporarily, is because I don't really have somewhere in my apartment to keep a 3D printer without it creating heat and noise and disturbing my partner, but a good part of the reason is because I got to the point where every time I touched the printer I'd have to tweak it in some way, and I wasn't getting reliable prints out of it. It wasn't enjoyable for me to mess with. If that isn't a more perfect example of "The quality of your tools is much more important the more inexperienced you are" I don't know what is.
The only reason we're living in a wonderful time where you can buy into a craft so inexpensively, is because creators like you are making instructional content that makes those crafts so much more approachable, which creates a consumer market for the products in the first place. So, thank you. 👍
Thankfully both my grandpas had forging equipment that was passed down to me so Ive never had to go to Amazon for anything lol. My grandpa on my dads side had a coal forge and some tongs, my grandpa on my moms side had a 64kg Brooks anvil. Major upgrades from the little portable coal forge and 50lb Peter Wright anvil I started out with.
Something I heard: beginners get budget tools to see if they like something before investing, but the budget tools could give them a bad experience. Meanwhile a master is able to bring the best out of those budget tools, but a master doesn't want to be limited or hindered by their tools. My view is we need to cultivate and support space where beginners and those curious can go and access the best tools to give them the best start.
Quality of tools conversation - reminds me of what my dad used to say "I've been doing so much with so little for so long, I can practically do anything with nothing". The skill you learn is solid no matter what you used. Completely agree though, you really don't do yourself any favors by buying the cheapest tools possible right out of the gate. I often suggest, when possible, to buy used quality tools instead of new cheap tools when getting started at something because it lessens the learning curve. The other bonus is that they might have better resell value since the cheap tool that is used will have little to no value, while the used quality one will likely have some residual value. Just my opinion of course!
Forged in fire really made bladesmithing/blacksmitthing popular and thus caused a flooding of Chinese tools as well of driving up the price of the well made old time tools and anvils.
As an amateur blacksmith myself, what you mentioned about catapulting your work piece is very true, I once sent a 1000 degree railroad spike flying across the room. There was nobody watching.
Let me know what tools we should test next! Also, knock out all of your holiday gifting needs today with MeUndies. To get exclusive holiday deals and savings all month long, go to MeUndies.com/forge and use promo code "forge".
Jolly smashing good fella
Flux core welders would be a great one, some of the cheaper ones today are underrated for the price in my opinion 👌
I really want to see how the cheap blow torches and jewellers torches do
Try the devil-forge
maybe things that you could find at a scrapyard/salvage yard. stuff that would take little to no effort or a good bit of effort to convert to being usable for a smith. besides stock for making projects out of. or include stuff you could make stock out of.
Roughly 8 years ago i got into doing blacksmithing. And thankfully i had found this scrappy kid on TH-cam from England who did blacksmithing videos teaching all he has learnt for free!! It's been an awesome ride Alec- and Jamie! Legends 🔥 The value of these videos goes beyond mere content. You are a great Teacher mate.
Thank you so much,!
Yeah but.. how’d you manage to convert metric to freedom units..!?
@@darthsilversith667 I'm matric-native and I can convert to Hamburgers per Bald Eagles on the fly for length, area, weight and volume. It's only converting between Fahrenheit and Celsius that causes me trouble because multiplying by 5/9ths or 9/5ths doesn't really have an easy "cheat code" variant. Fortunately everyone has a pocket calculator in their pocket these days (despite what out school teachers told us).
@@darthsilversith667 One inch is 2.54 centimeters
God now I wonder how long I’ve been watching
I got into blacksmithing during covid, and if I remember correctly, tools like these had just barely hit the market and were still quite expensive. I ended up building my own forge and modifying a harbor freight hammer with Alec's instructions. Now I've made several of my own square circle rounding hammers that I use almost daily. All of that is thanks to Alec. Good information is one of the most important tools you can have.
@@maruiacancerng does your comment have ANYTHING at all to do with the person you responded to, or am I missing something?
@@SillySpaceMonkey it's a bot with a fundraising link in its channel description
@etiennebordes4008 wow, that's pretty low... I suspected something along those lines, but didn't wanna be too harsh with someone who was innocently enough trying to make the best of a bad situation. I assumed the best, and didn't wanna be like "yo this ain't the place for that"
I saw like 18 subs and didn't look any farther 😭
Alec you a huge reason why people can now buy these tools on amazon. You have introduced so many people to the art.
Forged in Fire introduced wayyy more people to it, imo.
@@J.C... I hope you're smart enough to realise that both of these things can be true at the same time...
Cmon, this little channel had waaaay more influence than the years of international broadcasting of Forged in Fire ever did… Oh wait, that’s completely impossible. FIF FTW!
Just for reference VEVOR is a mega warehousing/logistics firm for all sorts of Chinese manufacturing businesses. They originally just started about 20 years before handling tools, they just looked at western purchasing demand data and then find manufacturers that make those products. They then handle all the import, translation, labeling regulations needed. They then just expanded that general way beyond the tool market.
The one side effect of that is they don’t have any specific quality benchmark across their products. So sometimes it’s great amazing products, pretty much identical to the ones sold under other brands (because they are from the same factories), but other times they are just ultra cheap and poorly designed versions.
In my experience thus far, their average quality tool is cheap-but-functional, a step up from other no-name alphabet soup brands. It's not a huge difference, but I have yet to be outright disappointed by anything of theirs.
I feel like if they keep it up for a decade or so, they're going to be a well-known brand with some well-earned reputation here in the West. I mean, assuming tariffs don't wreck all international trade first...
The video is very relieving, my parents just bought me the double burner forge and îm obvioulsy very happy but the thumbnail of the video was kinda alarming but in the end everything’s fine thank you for the video ;)
@LogicalNiko This is something I didn't know! I've seen their name all over amazon. Is Wen the same or do they make their own tools? I have a couple Wen tools
@@thefrub Wen is actually a fairly old company. From the 50s and theyre headquartered in America. I've bought a couple of their tools and I've quite liked them. All the features of the big brands but a fraction of the cost.
Buying things from China helps China raise their military and steal/occupy territory. They steal tech, flood the market with cheap and fake products killing off your own industry.
All Chinese companies work for the CCP.
My sister bought me a blacksmithing class for my birthday and I loved it. Now for Christmas she bought me a anvil, hammers, tongs, and a single burner forge. I can't wait to get started.
Is your sister seeing anyone?😂
@@scarpadog155Bwahahaha hahaha. That's prime 😂
COOL sister - mine bought me socks
Champion
First time I did any blacksmithing I used a hole in the ground, some bricks, charcoal, leafblower, a piece of railroad track for an anvil and needlenosed pliers and a big ole claw hammer.
I made an iron sword out of a barn door hinge and I still have it 20 years later.
I absolutely appreciate honest reviews. Just because something is cheap doesn't make it unusable.
Totally agree. I have used enough cheap tools to know the luck of the draw... Sometimes they're garbage, sometimes they're great. Seeing honest usage reviews like this help take a little bit of the gamble out of the cheap options. 😎👍
12:09 Alec just rediscovered why apprenticeships and workshops for the public are important
I remember when i was young hearing others say “A craftsman does not blame his tools.”, then when i was in my 20’s a real craftsman telling and showing me yes that is true but a craftsman also has the the right tool and the best quality tools for the job. There is a time and place for a cheap tool but a well designed and made tool takes you so much farther.
People who throw that saying around nowadays have never had to use a screwdriver made from the finest Mystery Metal(tm).
It's his fault for having shitty tools
There is also a point where you're just paying for prestige with tools though. 2/3rds the way up the price bracket is usually the sweet spot
@@Kerbtree You can call it chinesium without offending anyone (who has observed the real world for any length of time).
If a craftsman talks smack about craftsman vs tool quality they work in a field where poor quality tools wont kill or mame you.
I feel like modified Amazon blacksmithing equipment is honestly pretty damn decent, I started with an Amazon propane forge and it was good enough for me to build a very solid blacksmithing foundation :D
I will say though that the tools available on Amazon changes so frequently that one year you would see a certain set of tools, and the next an entirely different set being offered.
Love your channel Jesse! you really inspire me to pursue my dreams of one day being half as good as you are. thank you for being a role model for me.
Even in this video you can see a lot of the things Alec bought were already marked as unavailable by the time the editor got screenshots to show in the video.
My rule for buying equipment that I also see mentioned a lot is to buy as cheap as you can find, and if you have to replace it, get something that will last you forever.
Your speech about great gear being less important as you gain experience is extremely true imo. Someone who's been there a thousand times and has all the knowledge can find ways to work around sketchy equipment.
Completely agree. Harbor Freight drills and angle grinders are just fine for 95% of jobs. And for most people there's no advantage to buying better quality drill bits - just replace them if they get blunt (most people can't get the sharpening angle right). On the other hand buy a good set of taps and dies. Paintbrushes are another place to spend real money (well, $15-$20 instead of $5).
Genuinely super stoked for this video. Not just black smithing tools but any sort of specialized trade tools now seem to be sold on amazon and have always made me wonder….
11:49 I used this logic when I used to sell bicycles, if you buy a cheap bike which is rubbish to ride, you aren't going to enjoy the experience and are less likely to carry on, this applies to alot of hobbies.
@@dannynaylor5485 I think the better approach along the lines of you comment than what is commonly voiced is to do the research to know what the minimum standard is to actually get decent results and not just have a terrible experience and where it is decent enough that it will not need to be replaced right away. I think it is also good to know what things are more crucial to spend more money on to actually get decent quality tools or items.
Thoughts?
Sincerely,
JS
@TrustinChrist-truthseeker yeah that's fair, I don't mean just go for top spec straight away, more like go mid range, skip the entry level stuff.
The irony of cheap tools being more damaging to novices is not lost on me at all. I remember being given tons of those crappy "artist" kits as a kid and always being frustrated by the quality of the oil pastels and pencils inside. I remember one set had 5 different pencils marked from hard to soft and they were all THE SAME PENCIL. My parents didn't believe me until that, and they started asking well meaning friends and family to give gift cards to art retailers instead because I was so damned frustrated because I knew enough to know I was getting screwed. I also tried and failed repeatedly to draw as nicely as people with digital setups in the early 2000s. Obviously that was freaking impossible.
And now I can use a $60 tablet to draw digitally. It's wonderful that younger people have access to tools, but I worry the demand for authentically crafted items may be sputtering atm. Walk into any craft fair and I'll bet you don't make it 30 steps before finding some AI generated POS for sale marked as "hand crafted."
They may only be cheap tools but as you become more experienced, you can use those tools to make your own, better tools. The beauty of blacksmithing
Adam Savage talked about tools, Im paraphrasing here, but he said something along the line that for a beginner it's okay to start out with cheap tools. Just to figure out if it is something you need or like, then buy a quality version of that said tool later on.
I was thinking about the exact same thing, the way I remember it (or maybe he said this in multiple videos): When you start at something get the cheap tools, use them as much as possible until they break down. At that point you have enough experience to get decent stuff.
I agree with both adam and alex on that point so i guess my opinion would be to get the best tools you can afford. I think adams point is good because the cheap tools get you into a hobby that you otherwise might not have tried at all. But Alex has a good point about usability as well. A cheap tool can make life dificult and a beginner might not realize that they are struggeling because of the tool and give up. When i started photography i bought some old gear second hand and i almost quit because it was so difficult to get good shots. After getting better gear a lot of my problems vanished. Did the new gear make me a better photographer or give me shots my old gear couldnt? Definitely not, but it made it so much easier to get the same shots as before, which also made learning the skills a lot easier.
@@DerekSmit Also if you do start with cheap things you can replace them with better quality as they break. Then you don't end up spending a lot on something that the cheap option works just as good. You just really have to know yourself when you start. Knowing that it will be more challenging/discouraging using equipment that might be working against you if you do start on the cheaper end. A very delicate balance with spending money on tools.
Experiment cheaply once you find something you like invest in quality.
Some things all you need is cheap tools. I started reloading ammunition. I have used a $200 starter kit and still use 90% of the kit. I splurged on a scale for precision reloading for competition. It was $400.
A lower barrier to entry causes two things: First, more people get to try, and therefore by sheer numbers more people will be able do something good with it. And Second, more people get to try, so a larger percentage of the end result is shite.
Hey Steele, I absolutey adore that you've made a video like this. I've loved blacksmithing for a looong time and I've always wanted to give it a try and make my own swords and knives.
By making this video I assume that you've learned a lot about the various cost-effective tools, what's necessary and etc..
I'd be forever grateful if you made a "How to" in regards to what's necessary to start your blacksmithing progress. It would also be if you gave different possible budgets and essentially go from the MOST important to the LEAST important or even to the unnecessary or "bonus extras".
I think this is something that a lot of people would really really appreciate and would an amazing thing to do for your community.
I ask for other viewers to please like this comment so there is a chance of Steele seeing it and thinking it through. (Like only if it seems like a good idea and if you'd also want a video like that)
Many thanks again Steele, it's not necessary to make this exact precise video, even something along these lines is fine or honestly don't even bother if you don't like it.
Have a wonderful day Alec, lovely videos as always. :)
Oh no, now I have expectations lol
I find it funny what big role vevor plays in this video. For those who don‘t know, Vevor is a chinese company whose stock includes, as Linus Tech Tips says it:“whatever the hell they felt like making“
I have been watching you since way back when you were "the youngest blacksmith in Britain" and I got to say, the part you spoke about tool selection vs experience is one of the deepest things I've heard you say. That applies to pretty much everything. Wise words Alec!
I started woodworking maybe 2-3 years back, and even though i'm working in a garage with cars in it, just buying nicer tools has made everything easier. Recently, I bought a hybrid grizzly table saw, and even though it was a huge investment, it's been a crazy improvement from the ryobi.
Great idea video for us arm chair black smiths who are a six pack away from ordering a bunch of useless garbage.
please , my friend, dont drink and prime.. it never ends well....haha
06:46
look at the camera and goes "I just burned my hand" got me laughing like no tomorrow😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
i have absolutely zero knowledge and not much interest in blacksmithing, but your videos are something else man. love your energy and videos . been watching you for a little while now and everytime I enjoy it more than before.
Something you said at the start was really important. You used the tools you had to make the tools you needed. When I was younger I got into woodworking and many of my first projects were tools and jigs. I am much older then this fine man and we did not have the internet, so while there were ways to connect with others that was very limited in comparison. I figured most things out from shows like Yankee workshop and a few magazines on the market. I think in the crafts that is something that is not stated enough now days vs in the past on making solutions to that fit your needs vs buying mass produced things. It hones your skill and understanding of the craft and why things work.
Two videos so close together! Happy holidays, thanks for such a gift to the community
Cheap hamers always seem to work great with a bit of grinding on the faces and either a new or re-Finnished handle!
Yeah, I've never seen a bad hammer; just one unfinished from the factory.
those little anvils are a remarkably helpful addition to a leather worker's studio as well, specifically for riveting.
Alec talking about tools in the way that buying the best thing could be an easier way to learn is so ture. I am a photographer covering things like professional sports and I tell all the people that I mentor that if you are serious about photography and have the cash to spend, to buy a intermediate/higher level camera to learn on. It is so much easier than trying to learn complex photography practices when you're limited by your equipment. Great insight Alec, definally applicable to other disciplines as well!!
0:24 its a spanner!!
This is actually a really heartening video. I've wanted to get into blacksmithing for well over a decade now, and knowing I can get started for such a reasonable amount is reassuring.
You can usually find anvils at farm machinery sales for ~300 quid, usually complete with their own 100 year old lump of oak for a base.
Your comment at the end about living in an amazing time is spot on!! I didn't have a CNC at home when I was a kid... My 12 year old daughter started high school in a special science oriented curriculum. She wanted to get in there because of the robots!! This year for Christmas, she's getting a desktop CNC mill she can tinker around. I'm in mechanical engineering so I'll show her some CAD and I reckon she'll add some bling to her school projects!! It is indeed a fantastic time to live in!!
the problem with saying the newer people should have the better tools is the newer people might not know what makes a specific tool worth the money and just buy a more expensive tool and assume its a good tool instead of possibly being an over priced tool.
I got into blacksmithing last year, and you were a large part of why I started, I still haven’t got a forge but I currently use a oxy acetylene gas welder to heat the metal so I can’t do any thing large, but I still get to hit metal so I’m happy!
0:43 some people's peens bend that's ok it's natural
16:56 so what I've learned is, if you buy an anvil off of amazon, make sure to get several grinder discs as well. 😂
Donate them to me
Donate the Amazon cancer to this guy. Lol
Buy your own undies mate that’s gross
Bestow thy finest implements upon Rizzler.
😂😂😂😂
Donate them to this random guy
Your take on tools is spot on. Different tools but similar thing, I see a lot of people tell beginner guitarists they don't need a decent guitar since the pros can do great things on junk. But they don't consider how much better it is to learn with good tools, instead of fighting the tool you can focus on what you're actually doing with it.
I think another perspective is that you need to learn to do something the right way wrong before you can do it the wrong way right. Good tools help to eliminate frustration to an experienced user but they can't make up for a lack of skill.
17:28 Taking the paint off the horn is an essential step. It with burn and probably with cancerous fumes if you try to work hot on it.
My biggest regret in my first anvil was I got Cast Iron and not a cast steel anvil
You might want to try the Harbour freight Doyle 65 lbs. anvil. I have found that the Doyle tools that I have gotten are actually pretty darn good, very little play in their vices, no play in their pliers which have hardened teeth by the way, very little play in the adjustable wrench, etc. The anvil from all the accounts I have found seems to have good rebound and is hardened properly.
Just a thought. Also, from my experience and researching, I think the better approach to it is doing the research to know what level of quality of tools you would actually need to start and get decent results, that also won't just ruin the experience for you of trying to learn a new hobby. An example would be for workholding, although you could get the bottom of the barrel drill press vice from the Central Machinery brand, it is not garunteed to be absolutely flat and has a pretty decent amount of play on the slide. In this case, since I know from doing maching how important it is to have flat parallel surfaces, as well that any play in the vice will shift my part off from being square, my option automatically went to the Doyle vice, which is more expensive, but also has very little play especially in the Z axis, is flat, and locks tight this would be my minimum standard of quality as anything less is far more likely make things crooked and cause much unnecessary pain frustration. This will suffice until I am in a position where I could upgrade to a Kurt vice, though the Doyle is good enough that it does not rank very high on the list for getting an upgrade.
Sincerely,
JS
When I was looking to get my first forge, I couldn't afford to spend $600. I bought all the plumbing, refractory, rigidizer, kaowool and fire brick for about $200. I built 2 forges and still have enough materials left over to build another forge and eventually reline them all twice. I learned so much in the process, it was well worth it. Of course, nowadays, you can buy any number of forges for relatively cheap. The $100 forge simply did not exist back then. I recommend doing your research and buying the safest forge in your price range. Down the road, you'll likely want something better, at which point you should absolutely build your own forge. Designing, building and fine tuning a custom forge will give you a level of knowledge and understanding that is so valuable.
It's so good to see people not gatekeeping their hobbies. I'm a big fan of 3d printing and I dont like Bambulab BUT the important thing is its getting lots of people into the hobby and thats a GREAT thing
Thank you so much for this video! As someone with not a lot of money but who desperately wants to learn this craft, knowing what is good and what sucks at the lower prices is extremely helpful!!!
Your theory is spot on. I have been working on electronics for over a decade now. I can produce perfectly fine solder joints with an unregulated iron running from a hobby drone battery that if left too long will literally get red hot.
But I now have a couple of very nice soldering stations for all of my projects because they’re way nicer to use even though I could do perfectly fine work without them.
For the castable refactory, I suggest just mixing it inside a plastic sandwich bag... then cut out one of the corners and squeeze it out on the wool... saves on containers, and it's really easy to spread and apply, keeping everything clean.
There's never been a better time to try a new craft. Amazon and other web stores opening up the cheap Chinese market to us has given us the ability to try all kinds of new things and have tools cheap enough to buy just in case one day you foresee yourself needing them in a pinch. Heating steel can be important how many times have I stood around waiting for a torch to heat something up when I could have popped it in a forge. I need to get the blacksmith side of the farm going again. I bought a lathe and a Bridgeport but getting a propane forge and new block for the anvil could open up so many more creative fixes for me. I enjoy the challenge and creative ideas. Farming has pushed me to open my mind and think so far out the box. I love it!
As someone who recently has thought "I could give this a go and learn blacksmithing" (and I haven't yet) this does help me in the sense that if I needed to get something at a pinch I could use Amazon. But I know its better to look at gear from a better and specalised shop
*I 100% AGREE* the more skill you have the more you can accommodate for crap tools - also you KNOW what makes a good and a bad tool.
Im a tailor of men's historical suits. The one tool, you need for this trade is a 50 year old all metal straight stitch sewing machine. Most people go out and buy a modern plastic machine with 200 different fancy stitches and then argue with it all day every day cos its total crap and you literally NEVER use the fancy stitches.
New comers and cheap tools is absolutely true for all things. Making art, cooking steak on grill, playing guitar etc. Its all so much harder when learning with shitty equipment. But experienced people can make beauty with the worst of the worst.
I think, the best way of trying a new craft is to ask the professionals if they can show you a bit of what they are doing for a living.
They can also very easily see if you have the abilities to do it for more than just a one-try.
And you haven't spent a good amount of money for tools that lay in your shed - if your shed hasn't burnt down because of them!
Genuinely thank you for making this video
as a non blacksmith and in general it's amazing how reasonable this review is perfect! Wished every review gave such global scope and reasonable insights
When I started my journey into the coal-powered forge world, I was using improvised tools and a sizable cut-off of rail steel for my anvil.
Tools have gotten better, some bought, most built, but by George, I still use that cut-off rail steel anvil. 😁 Work hardening and what you get used to can overcome a lot of gaps, but I much agree on cheap starter tools. You won't know how crappy they are until you get some that are made-for-purpose.
I completely agree with you regarding the tool quality. You see that in shooting too. An amateur can do good with a great firearm, but a professional can do great with a cheap one. Thanks for that thought
Thanks Alec! I've been watching your stuff for a while now (along with some other metal crafters) and have been considering jumping into the hobby, It's good to hear your accumulated wisdom on the importance of good tools.
I when I see this as one big starter pack complete with the how to be a "Blacksmith "book .it reminds me of my Neighbours lovely couple. With a huge purpose built studio in the garden complete with solar panels.and I predict in two months time it will be sitting next to the complete potters wheel kit with kiln "" plus the every thing that you need to know book on how to be a successful "potter" and allso the complete oil painting kit with his and hers professional easel. As I said lovely couple but hang on what are they now geting out of the back of there all electric 4x4 now lol .Great video
I don't know how well my advice translates to smithing, but over the years I've learned a, I think, reasonable approach to getting into new things: Buy cheap to see if you like it, then save up for good; that applies to tools, paints, instruments, etc.
The good thing about the first, cheap set is that you can then build up your good tool stock slowly and don't have to, y'know, get a good saw AND a good workbench AND a good set of clamps AND good wood finish all at the same time. Get the good saw and use the cheap clamps on your cheap sawhorse, or get the good linseed oil and use the second-hand spokeshave to make a better handle for your home depot axe.
"Good tools last a lifetime" and "I can't afford to buy cheap tools" are good rules of thumb, but you've got to start somewhere, right? So don't rush it, you'll want to get used to your tools anyway without having a mound of unopened masterwork chisels and expensive tig welding cups on your desk.
Again, that's just my system that I've learned myself through lots of bad decisions (soo many good miniature paints dried up because I never used them, but buying the set seemed like a good value... T_T) and if you've already got things sorted, I don't mean to convert anybody. I just want to share something I wish somebody had told me when I first had to make these choices. Worst case, this is a comment you'll forget having read by tomorrow; best case, I could help. So, no harm in trying ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
As a woodworker, I get what you are saying. I started with a cheap table saw and a cheap miter saw. I did have enough experience that i could dial them in to a "good enough" calibration. But they did the job for the time
I tell you what, I have considered starting to blacksmith for years after watching videos like yours and other on youtube and Forged in Fire, but always convinced myself it was going to cost too much to get started. I think my wife will not be too happy with you for this video... but you have my thanks!!!
I have the 30kg acciao anvil and it is perfectly hard, and has about a 50-60% rebound. You might have gotten a bad casting as the acciao ones can sometimes have large pockets of filler that really deadens it. Also you’re the inspiration that got me into blacksmithing. Now I am a machinist by trade and a smith by hobby.
What you said about quality tools is so true. Beginners tend to get cheap crap to see if they like doing something. Then the tools turn them off so they quit. I bought a good quality wood lathe and bought good tools. I was then given crap where people decided they didn't like turning. Well after trying the crap tools I see why they quit. Trying to turn without good sharp tools will make anyone quit.
12:30 another important consideration is that the experienced individuals will know what adaptations to add to improve the lower quality products, like using fire bricks as forge doors for example.
Love the stuff alec
On the “better tool for beginners” topic, i think one other thing that isn’t considered a lot is that learning a skill like blacksmithing can be extremely hard due to information overload, by having near the best tool you remove so many little variables that makes you able to focus on learning what YOU are doing good or bad, having a layer on top of faulty tools, materials, etc can just make things that you are doing right feel like they are wrong. So i’m 100% on you with this point, good tools really are disproportionately better for beginners than veterans craftsmen
2nd hand tools, its how i started my craft of cabinet making so i could have quality tools at low cost. Just takes some effort to repair/restore tools, at same time you learn about the tool in turn helping you use it better as you understand them more fully.
Great video alex, is utterly amazing what you can buy for so little and so quick now, but agree that these cheap tools can compromise a beginners learning, is a bit of a double edge sword
Unbiased honest funny entertaining informative. Alex is a goat of TH-cam
Earlier this week i began my first blacksmithing project, just some copper craft. My setup was a old hammer i had, a piece of 6x4, an antique clothes Iron that i smacked the handle off giving me a triangleish iron lump, and my forge was the Fireplace in my cabin ^-^
The project was a success! :D
I probably spend $1000 CAD building all my own forge staples. A built a ribbon burner (with internal mixing chamber) natural gas, forced air forge forge, a 2x72 belt grinder, 2 anvils (from railway track), a treadle hammer from an old tractor frame, 20lb sledge and a front end loader fork and a stow-away bench/tool station that folds up against a wall that i have a small anvil and my forge affixed too, for easy storage.
As much as i love my set up, i never use it cuz its just as Alec said, begginers need the quality tools to start.
Im sure a pro could forge with it, but i tried to make a chisel slick and to get it hot enough i haf to leave it in the forge for quiet a while and it oxidized the steel so bad. Lol
Guess thats what happens with .25 lbs of natural gas pressure
Hilarious video, Alec! I started knife-making (largely due to you and Will Stelter) about eight months ago with some of the exact same kit, and have encountered the exact same issues! Vevor V-jaw tongs okay but the rest useless. Forge small and light (I bought a two-burner model), needs refractory coating, that thin brick broke within a month, etc., etc. Fortunately between your videos and a father-in-law who trained as a smith in Denmark in the 60s, I've been able to make progress and am having a blast. Consider your videos a gateway drug! P.S. My burner hoses sagged and melted in the exact same way, so I replaced them with hoses covered in braided steel, and I suspended them to prevent sag. Live and learn. My motto is "try not to make the same mistake twice".
I definitely agree about good tools making it easier for beginners. Which is one of the reasons I think maker spaces need much more funding. Access to cheap starter tools is great though. I have done a little leatherwork, and started with a kit for £20. It makes hobbies very accessible.
I appreciate how you criticize the items without immediately writing them off as useless and had suggestions for upgrades.
I do think that forcing yourself to use lesser quality tools is what makes you more skilled at a job over time. I’m a mechanic, and using cheaper tools to start forced me to get more creative and be more carful as you could potentially wreck something with a slipper socket.
Now after being a mechanic for more than a decade I true appreciate the finer tools, but I would absolutely start out like I did just for the skill and knowledge that I gained having to use what I could afford.
Sees title of video, knows a bunch of tools in my shop are about to get roasted 🤣
In all seriousness, I'm genuinely appreciative there are entry-level accessible options for blacksmithing tools available now. After years of wanting to try blacksmithing, I bought a basic assortment of tools (including the 4-pack of tongs seen here and the 66lb London-pattern anvil from Vevor) about 3 months ago. Under $1000 all-in, and now I'm hooked and spend at least a few hours a week in the garage making things and improving day by day. I honestly really like the London-pattern anvil as well, based on a few other videos I suspect that particular design is one of the better ones compared to the various smaller Vevor anvils. With that said, I'm glad credible smiths are reviewing them on YT to separate the outright junk and/or fire hazards from the "it's not great, but it'll do to start" stuff. Definitely affirms my decision to spend more on my forge rather than go for the cheaper options, especially after seeing that hose melt in this video. Great video - happy holidays!
Your theory about good tools for beginners is excellent. Very wise, my friend. It is the same with reptile breeding, lol.
My experience in learning woodworking is that better tools just help make better products easier. You can make a decent thing with a garbage table saw and bad fence and inaccurate miter saw, you just have to spend more time futzing with, cleaning it up, correcting the slop in the tools. It just takes more work. Better quality tools make the work go faster.
It is amazing how accessible this trade is these days. I'm sure your channel is helping to inspire a new generation of smiths, kudos to you sir. Keep it up.
I bought the EXACT same 10kg anvil. I do not forge. But I am a part time clockmaker, and I occasionally need a small anvil to rivet or flatten small things. And as the cheapest smallish anvil (10kg is ideal) I found, this is one that serves my needs quite nicely. But I cannot imagine this anvil being very useful in a blacksmith shop, other than your use as a doorstop! 😊
Anything to get you started. Modifying a less than adequate tool into something you can use is excellent experience.
I have always been the person to buy the best I can afford when approaching something new, and spending the majority of the budget on the 2-3 things that tend to be the most used things for the trade, skill, or hobby. It absolutely makes a difference, and it most certainly is the reason that I have all of the skills I have.
Have you ever tried the Mr Volcano forges? Similar, but come with refractory cement and a stabilizer for the wool. I’d also be interested in your thoughts on the shape and burner layout.
I just bought one of those tiny anvils to get myself started, so I'm pleased to see it coming out ahead out of the three. I just posted a time lapse video of myself setting up a wind break for the forge outside.
2:01 If you listen closely, I think you can hear Jamie's stomach growling. XD
This was a very very very good video for us amateur smiths! I’ve always wondered about certain quirks and safety concerns and you’ve made those points clear and known now. Ty
I completely agree that many times having the best tools tremendously helps someone who is just starting to learn something. An experienced person can use a crap tool because they have the experience and know how to still get the job done they know what they are looking for. Take mig welding for example, a nice machine and a quality auto darkening mask will completely transform the experience. I learned how to weld with a regular old welding mask with the flip up shade and i hated it, I would have had such an easier time if i had the miller auto darkening setup i have now. Ive also used trash welding machines and ive had to adjust to make up for the crap machine but if you have a high quality machine it usually has settings you can look up according to your material and those settings work pretty darn good to get you started. Ive found with many things having higher quality more expensive tools makes the job much easier and ive also relied on my experience to complete a task using garbage tools.
That's so cool you did this. I just made a list like a week ago with most of these products in it for me to possible buy/ research and this just Jump started this process for me thank-you alec!!
This feels like an old school steele video... love it
I was put off 3D printing as a hobbyist because I burdened myself with a crappy V1 Ender 3. Previously, when I was still in high school, I had access to an Ultimaker 2 and a Stratasys Mojo, both much better quality printers that were also much more reliable. Part of the reason I gave up the hobby, at least temporarily, is because I don't really have somewhere in my apartment to keep a 3D printer without it creating heat and noise and disturbing my partner, but a good part of the reason is because I got to the point where every time I touched the printer I'd have to tweak it in some way, and I wasn't getting reliable prints out of it. It wasn't enjoyable for me to mess with.
If that isn't a more perfect example of "The quality of your tools is much more important the more inexperienced you are" I don't know what is.
The only reason we're living in a wonderful time where you can buy into a craft so inexpensively, is because creators like you are making instructional content that makes those crafts so much more approachable, which creates a consumer market for the products in the first place. So, thank you. 👍
Thankfully both my grandpas had forging equipment that was passed down to me so Ive never had to go to Amazon for anything lol. My grandpa on my dads side had a coal forge and some tongs, my grandpa on my moms side had a 64kg Brooks anvil. Major upgrades from the little portable coal forge and 50lb Peter Wright anvil I started out with.
Something I heard: beginners get budget tools to see if they like something before investing, but the budget tools could give them a bad experience. Meanwhile a master is able to bring the best out of those budget tools, but a master doesn't want to be limited or hindered by their tools.
My view is we need to cultivate and support space where beginners and those curious can go and access the best tools to give them the best start.
Quality of tools conversation - reminds me of what my dad used to say "I've been doing so much with so little for so long, I can practically do anything with nothing". The skill you learn is solid no matter what you used. Completely agree though, you really don't do yourself any favors by buying the cheapest tools possible right out of the gate. I often suggest, when possible, to buy used quality tools instead of new cheap tools when getting started at something because it lessens the learning curve. The other bonus is that they might have better resell value since the cheap tool that is used will have little to no value, while the used quality one will likely have some residual value. Just my opinion of course!
I like how you’re not holding back on the commentary. You’re brutally honest about the bad and the good even if you won’t want to admit it.
I was legitimately looking at all of these for the new year, thanks for all the info and testing!! Now I know what to look for
Quick tip for any blacksmiths (Alex will be aware of this) "sticky" tongs can be fixed by heating them in the forge and exercising the tongs.
Forged in fire really made bladesmithing/blacksmitthing popular and thus caused a flooding of Chinese tools as well of driving up the price of the well made old time tools and anvils.
You are absolutely right about higher skills meaning you can use lower quality tools effectively.
I appreciate you going through this effort, I Was actually looking into a few of these options, so it's good to get an experts actual opinion on them!
As an amateur blacksmith myself, what you mentioned about catapulting your work piece is very true, I once sent a 1000 degree railroad spike flying across the room. There was nobody watching.