Why Use a Rounding Hammer When Blacksmithing
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 ส.ค. 2012
- Brian Brazeal demonstrates and explains why a rounding hammer is the most versatile hammer to forge with.
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Good to see that Alec is staying true to your teaching, and refers to his time with you a lot... Good teacher is what that means, and a lot of impact in a young mans life... Gratz
Oh it's Copper...I was wondering how you were able to Hammer it cold so long ...DUH ;)
Thanks Travis. I made that hammer, and I do have classes where people make their own hammers, but there are also some former students that are now making hammers for sale like Arron Cergol and dave Custer. If you live in Europe, Alec Steele, Julien Puy, or Daniel Lea could also make you one.
Alec Steele 'recording' at the start :-)
Oscar Duck thought so!
I think it is
Doesn't sound like him.
Wow is that Alec? Indeed sounds like him, but serious? XD
are you sure? It didn't sound like him to me. there are other videos where the cameraman talks and it is definitely not Alec.
That was very informative. Thankyou for sharing your knowledge.
I've been showing people how to make them for a few years now, so you can get one from several people around the world. just do a search on hammers.
Great informative video Brian. I just got back from my machinest friends house. I had forged my first 4# rounding hammer from 2" od 4140. We Rockwell tested it then did the actual hardening and temper in his heat treat oven. It finished up at 50c hardness.
I live in Central Alabama about a 2 hour drive from you. Hopefully I can manage to scrape together the dollars for a 5 day class late summer 2016.Those hammer tongs are tricky to forge but I managed a set that work ok for the lighter stuff. Now it's time to do a beefier pair for the larger hammers. Thanks so much for posting the videos as they have been a great asset for a newbie to the art. I'm 55 and have been a metal fabricator for over 30 of those years. When my dad asked what got me into 'smithing I told him it was a natural "progression back to the old ways". He's 86 and got a real laugh from that statement.Looking forward to learning from a master..... Hopefully.
Superb video as always. Probably your best demo of the two sided taper. Great explanation of the rounding hammer dies.
great tutorial! I love my squashed ball the Mrs got me for Christmas, this definitely helps understand the parameters of its full potential. thank you
Master at work. So inspiring
THANK YOU! I was lost in a rabbit hole of writing research about forging hammers ... you just made my evening, sir! I wasn't wrong with my first approach, YES! 💪🏻🤩
Even though you explained to me in person, I loved the video. Looking forward to seeing you soon. Thanks Brian.
that is just simple just amazing to watch
Pretty amazing hammer work!
Brian makes hammers for those who ask but prefers you take a class with him to learn to forge tools for yourself. Class is $250. a day (including room and board), a hammer 3 1/2 and under is also $250 and can be finished in class along with a hot cut, in less than a day. It is a better value to get tools and forging info with Brian.
i just got back from a hammer in and one of the guys had one of your rounding hammers and i got to use it and i loved it moved metal so fast and smooth looked like i was using a power hammer :-) i want one!!!!
Learned lots thanks
Love that, and thanks Brian for a great informative video on the rounding hammer.
Lenblacksmith you're welcome.
Brian, are you still making these and selling them?
As a novice, all these hammers look so similar until you see them in action. With my favorite cross-peen, I wouldn’t have been able to hit that metal once it stopped glowing. Also the rounded face is perfect for putting a real dent in what your trying to taper.
i love the fact that alec steele is the cameraman here
Thank you for the video instruction. I just bought a rounding hammer and I am trying to get the most out of it. This video will help... Thanks ...
Glad to hear that.
The magic of hammer direction. Mind blown.
Hey Brian
Great job on explaining the benefits of a rounding hammer. I enjoyed watching you and the Young Smiths in Rapid City SD. I posted a short clip of them striking.
Brian you rock
You're welcome, Sam. I've got some copper, too, that I'll give you to play with. I've learned more about forging with copper and silver doing small things than all the other bigger stuff I've ever done.
thank you for the learn'en, I will certainly get me a hammer like this one.
That hammer is 5 pounds!
Love that you did a remake of this video.
Golly that’s a big one. I usually swing a 3lb maybe 3.5 if I’m feeling good. But man that’s insane to me. What about you Alec, what size do you usually swing at your workshop(s)?
@@swankscabinet1625 I once tried a 10 pound hammer once in college, it slowed my swings enough that I was better off with a lighter hammer.
Love this video
Thanks Joe
That is a Henry Wright anvil forged of wrought iron with a steel face plate forge welded on top.
Thank you. I am forging copper in this video.
I use different lengths and widths for different weights of hammers. For most of my smaller hand work I'd use my 3 2/3 pound hammer, and I make that from 2 inch round by 4 1/2 inches long. I will end up with a 3 3/4 pound hammer when I direct a billet of that size. I'd've seen some end up with less than 3 1/2 pounds. If you forge to finish and don't take too many heats you'll lose less than 1/4 pound in the end.
awesome stuff
you are a God! Thank you much for the vid
My anvil is mounted to its stand and the stand is mounted to a concrete slab. It rings like a bell if it was just sitting there. Just like a tuning fork, if you grab onto it, it will stop ringing.
that makes too much since. thank you, I'm just starting, with a railroad track and a ballpein. my neighbors havent said anything yet ...
I love my hammers. Really glad i made them with Brian Brazeal
Hey, ummm, i know this is stupid, but where do you get a real anvil?
Nadeem Kablawi I got lucky and talked to a few people and one person had one hanging around their garage and they said I could have it. I am now the proud owner of a rather quite wrought iron anvil that is about 100 or so years old. I also live in a rural area so that helps if you don't live in a place like that you can get a real anvil online made to order they are crazy money. You can also try antique stores many have them but they tend to not be around very long they are getting rare as blacksmiths buy them up.
Nadeem Kablawi
Its funny that you should ask.... the thing is: you spend a lot of time and mony to get your first anvil and sas soon as you dont need any more they just keep coming to you.... look in old workshops, on scrapyards and in your neighbors front yard (used as decoration)
that was a great video,you just saved me so much experimenting!so far ive re-dressed my 2 crosspeins with very rounded faces and man my heats last nearly twice as long,or at least i get twice the forging done.but i never wouldve thought of that in your rounding hammer you have hearly every die(useful dies anyway).its like a rack full of hammers in one. HMMM i just got a small flat bar of copper,looks like im gonna make some copper flowers and leaves! :o)
Professional explanation! by the way,may I know the weight of that lovely hammer sir? thanks and appreciate it.
Thanks !
Mr Brazeal, I am amazed how you continue to work the metal cold. It seems to move so easily. it seems to planish nicely to. I assume it is soft iron?
Paul Shiflet it’s copper man
Great informative video and even better hammer control!
Now I want one of those hammers, but I dont think it would be right owning one and not learning how to use it correctly from the man who makes them!
Anyway, thanks for putting this video up!
Hola. Le hago una consulta, ¿es hierro el material de la varilla? Parece ser demasiado dúctil. Saludos
Keep teaching please! I'll be coming out on a scholarship next year :D
Nice!!! very nice!
I just noticed that the hammer strikes are making a rose pattern on the leaf
What length and diameter of 1045 do you start with in making the rounding hammer. I have two bits of 1045 both are 2 1/8" diameter. One is 5" long the other is 12" long.
wish i had such a sturdy and well mounted anvil ... looks like you get almost no shock absorption from it
Brian where can I get one of yours hammer at
Yes It is Alec
Where can I get one of those hammers?
This is a really cool video! Thank you so much!! Where could I get hands on learning?
Brian's class schedule is full through July 2015 and I do not want to book too far into the future.
I will know more about future classes and scheduling hopefully in May 2015 and ask that you re-contact us then.
Thanks,
Karen
I teach classes and so does Lyle Wynn here in the states. Alec Steele teaches in the UK.
Brian Brazeal want to purchase one of those beautiful rounding hammers if I can afford it.please send price and how to get one..
@@usaisalwaysnumber1 buy a sledge go at it with an angle grinder slowly as to not get it wrong
Where can I get one?
Is a 3.5 pound a good size as an all around for someone just getting into blacksmithing? Great video by the way!
that's what I'd recommend.
+Brian Brazeal thanks! Any chance you have one available for sale?
+FlyingJJD no but I can make one. I charge $300 for hammers, but several of my former students make them and charge considerably less.
What is your anvil made of
I was ery concerned that he was forging it that cold until he said it was copper
Randomly came across this video, will check out your others so excuse me if you have already remedied this, but have your cameraman manual focus.
Super!
most blacksmiths forging rounding hammers use some kind of dishing/ cupping tool to forge the round side of the rounding hammer. is there any other way to forge the round face consitantly without a cupping tool designed to do so?
angle grinder, and a couple high grit flapper wheels
Holy cold hammering
This is copper.
I like this video and the leaf you made. Could you have possibly turned that into a Clover Leaf? At least a 3 or 4 Leaf Clover leaf??
I'd do a clover leaf a bit differently, but I'd isolate the stem similarly.
+Brian Brazeal
I'd like to see how you do one of those. Watching this video I got the idea of making 4-Leaf Clovers in Copper, clean them up a bit then let them naturally tarnish green, seal them in a clear coat lacquer. And sell them on St Patrick's Day.
I need help on purchasing a rounding hammer. Where? Weight? Good brand?
Hi Eric,
Brian hand forged his rounding hammer. He prefers to teach others how to forge their own tools but will forge hammers and tools for those who ask. You can however get one faster and less expensive from Brian's student, Dave Custer. Dave could also help you decide on size.
facebook.com/dave.custer.169?fref=ts
This is great. I have to get a rounding hammer now. Thanks for posting this video.
Any time!
Hello. I have 1 1/4 stainless steel rod. Is it possible to use this for hammers? And are they any good?
Kent Gordner what kind of steel is it?
Kent Gordner ( assuming you have all the other blacksmithing tools) you can buy 1045 steel rods off of ebay for a decent price
Where are you located?
Brian, any rounding flat hammers for sale? Just starting out.
Edward Barron check with Alex Steele. One of Brian's students that has them for sale sometimes. He has an awesome channel as well.
TheSatyrblue I've been following Alex for awhile now, none for sale. I'll keep looking.
what is the dimensions of the rounded side i am trying to get my hammer rounded enough but i dont know what degree of a dome a normal rounding hammer has can you give me a ball park figure if possible
It is more like a squashed ball. the ball fuller that made the ball swage that makes the round side of the hammers was made with the shallow dish on a swage block I got from Centaur a long time ago.
Great teacher! I really enjoy how you explain the steps! Ask your camera man to try and keep your videos focused !! Haha!
His cameraman is alec Steele whom has his own blacksmithing channel, he is not part of this channel anymore
why dose your hammer and anvil make a "thunk" sound?
What is the radius of the squashed ball? Perhaps 2"
B Stevermer There are many different radii. The center is way bigger than a basketball, and the edge is alot smaller than a dime.
Hello Brian is that steel extremely soft or am i mistaken but how do you move so much of it when its cold?
a lot of people have made the same comment. watch it again all the way to the very end, and pay better attention. you'll see how and why it is possible. you may want to give it a try some day.
+Brian Brazeal Thank you for the response I see so copper can be forged even at a black heat?
+William Laidlaww yes, and for a very long time if you don't bear on to large of surfaces, and you can slow down and actually see the results of each hit because it is not glowing. just don't overheat it, don't go past bright red or it will be melted and end up in the bottom of your fire pot.
Okay thank you for this response where would i get copper bar?
+William Laidlaww at metal supply places that carry copper or order it from Ryerson's.
Is there a formula or measurement to go by
Doug Watson I'm sure there is, but I don't use formulas and I rarely take measurements. It's funny when people in a class ask for measurements and I tell them that I don't usually take measurements but they can, they never take that measurement. My own brother actually blames me for not taking measurements for him, and I've given him plenty of opportunities to take those measurements he asks for.
I'm getting a rounding hammer.
Do you make and sell rounding hammers?
If so I would love to buy one!
Thanks
I will if anyone asks. I used to teach others to make them, so there are several people out there that make and sell them as part of their business.
I will if anyone asks. I used to teach others to make them, so there are several people out there that make and sell them as part of their business.
I will if anyone asks. I used to teach others to make them, so there are several people out there that make and sell them as part of their business.
I will if anyone asks. I used to teach others to make them, so there are several people out there that make and sell them as part of their business.
+Brian Brazeal How much would it cost for you to mkae a 2.5 pound one?
Thanks
So glad you are trying and therefore teaching yourself good techniques! It is the point of posting the videos and sharing.
Shoot us an email if you have questions.. brianbrazealblacksmith@gmail.com
did you make your hammer? where can i buy a starter set?
come take a tool class :)
Brian Brazeal
I got three questions for you..
When?
Where?
And how expensive are your classes?
Nikolai Marquardt
Tools to make tools: learning to make, use and maintain your own tools
The goal of this class is to enable other to go away with the basic tools to do this course and share it with others. Anyone that wants to forge would benefit from this class. The results of this class can be seen in the world with those that have been here and shared what they learned, especially with the Young Smiths and the farriers.
This class can be completed in 5 days, so that is the minimum time that it is offered. The longer the stay, though, the more one can get out of it.
The first day begins with forging a hot cut hardy with me directing and the student striking, and then a rounding hammer. This has always been completed before lunch. While the hammer is cooling, we will go through the forging of hand punches, fullers, and chisels. Once the hammer is cooled I will go through the basics of grinding the hammer and hardy. The student can continue forging the hand tools while I finish
the grinding. We harden and temper the hammer next, then we handle it. Now you can use your hammer and hot cut. After some punches, fullers, and or chisel are forged and ground we will harden, temper and go through the use of them.
Next we go on to make the tools that made the hammer and hot cut. We start with the hammer eye punch. I do this step by step. I cut off an appropriate piece of round stock and we forge an oval billet and punch the hole, then you do the same. I direct the next step, then you do the same. We alternate step by step until the punches are finished with the forging. Then we grind and handle them to use them for the next tools which will be the top fullers that made the hammer. I direct the first fuller all the way through, then you direct the next one. We grind and handle them. Now we forge the bottom tools that made the hammer. I show the first fuller, then you do the other. Next we forge the cupping tool with two strikers. Next we forge the hump tools that act as bolsters for forging the hammer and top tools when needed. These tools get ground when cooled. The tongs that were used to forge the hammer and top tools are next, and finally the drift. These are the basic tool used to make the tools that can be made in the course of five days. Other tools can also be made that were used to make the tools like a set hammer, flatter, large ball fuller, bottom swages, top hot cut, and top side cut. More hammers and top and bottom tools can be made with these tools, and it is up to the individual what to choose next. This course is one on one and shows how to "forge to finish", use and maintain your tools, and it is up to the individual to avail themselves to it. Room and board are included. You should be able to go home with more value in tools than it cost for the class and knowledge to share this with others.
Private (1 person) Class - “Tools to make Tools"
This is one on one instruction with Brian Brazeal at our place in Brandon Mississippi, for 5 or 7 days ( or more). It is designed to improve your forging skills whether you are a blacksmith, farrier or knife maker.
The class concentrates on forging techniques that move metal and the "elements of forging" while you forge the tools you need.
Longer classes provide more time to work on more techniques like forge welding, jewelry, collaring etc.
Class cost per person is: 5 day 1250., 7 days 1750. Including all meals and a place to lay your head at night. (there are motels nearby if you prefer)
You bring your safety gear and know the size of your hardy hole. It is helpful if you watch Brian's videos before you arrive. th-cam.com/users/brianbrazealblacksmi?feature=guide
No experience required for classes, email Karen for scheduling at brianbrazealblacksmith@gmail.com
The price is all inclusive with the exception of specialty foods or drinks- sodas, beer/wine etc.. We have a modest home and students stay in our spare room, I make 3 meals a day and you work with Brian in the shop all day. I pick up and deliver to the airport and do laundry so you can pack light. You just forge and we take care of the rest.
Where do you get your coal?
looks like your forging that cold, now that's some real strength.
Levi Blackwood that is copper.
Brian Brazeal good size piece of copper! Do you teach a lot with copper since you can keep forging it at much lower temperatures! Awesome video
Phillip Taylor I've learned a lot about forging by forging copper, silver, and aluminum. You can easily see every hit while you are forging. I do incourage others to try it and see for themselves. Ask Alec Steele and Lyle Wynn if it helped them.
Brian Brazeal I know its helped them! Your series of clay demonstrations was amazing. I wish I could give it a go but can't.
Brian Brazeal I do have a question about the rebound of an anvil. The entire ball bearing bounce back test and what does it really mean? A blacksmith/TH-camr did a video about the subject and went on about why the rebound doesn't really make a difference.
I was really curious about what your take on this is! I believe the channel is purgatoryironworks , if you want to hear what he says. He makes a lot of videos that are against the grain of age old blacksmith beliefs. They're basically a bunch of videos that are him liking to hear himself talk and tell everyone how "smart" he is. He may be a great blacksmith that knows a bunch but in the words of a student of yours, *Alec Steele* needs less "Yack Yack and more Wack Wack"!!!
Back to watching your videos again :)
Hi there, how heavy is this rounding hammer you forged?
3.66 pounds
+Brian Brazeal thanks a bunch!!
+TheIlliniviking you're welcome.
What type of copper is this?
PEN7367 they call it pure copper at the metal distributors. I went ahead and did a Google search on types of copper and there are different types of pure copper it says. I never asked exactly what type they carried because I was not aware there were different types of pure copper till now.
google, LBrand coke.
I am not allowed to post the link
yes it is copper
Is that alec manning the camera?!
THATS WHAT I WAS THINKING!!!!!
how did you silence your anvil so well
Gunslinger .S. it is mounted to its stand which is anchored to the cement slab. if you take it off its stand it rings like a bell
Brian Brazeal I figured it would it's a wrought iron base with a hard face i believe if I'm correct
Gunslinger .S. yes, it is a Henry Wright made in 1897.
Can i have you make me one? I am working on making one but yours are way better.
Do you sell rounding hammers? Or are the ones sold by FFF on ebay OK. Which weight?
松田もしくろす I don't sell any hammers unless someone asks me to make the one. I show people how to make them. I was the one that showed FFF. He was one of my first students to start making them. There are a lot of people all over the world making and selling them now. Some were my students, some were my students students, and some learned by the information my students and I put out there. It's pretty amazing how far this has gone since I started showing others how to do this.
What is the convex for good rounding hammer
Doug Watson it is like a squashed ball not at all like a half ball.
Brian Brazeal thanks man
Doug Watson you're welcome.
The benefit does not make sense to me.
If the face of a german-styled hammer is grinded/shaped correct, you can do the same typ of forming metal.
Holding the hammer in different angles you have several fullers to "push" the material into the desired shape.
Additional you have a cross-peen, which is even more useful to "push" the material.
Steel
Now that I have been watching some of Alec Steele's videos and this video over and over again, is that Alec who was helping you record this? I thought that was his voice when he said "recording". Also, what size stock are you using? Thanks and I really admire your work!
yep, that's Alec filming. I'm using 1/2 inch square copper.
I thought that was Alec. Are you using copper because it's easier to forge or does it make a better leaf? Do you get your copper from the steel distributor? Thanks so much
+Matt Behnke I'm using copper for the video so you can see what happens to the metal better without the glow you get from steel. yes I get copper from a distributor.
Did he say 'like rolling a pie dough ' ?
Like rolling out pie dough
What brand is that hammer?
It's just a hammer that I forged myself with someone striking with a sledge hammer.
Ok! Thanks! I found your hammers on ebay I REALLY like them but way out of my price range.
You did not find my hammers on eBay. You found some of my former students hammers on eBay. I give classes that enable others to make their own tools and go home with the tools to make them with others. Before lunch, on the first day of class, everyone has forged a hot cut hardy and a hammer. I've been doing this for the past four years and it has spread all over the world especially with the International Young Smiths and the farriers that have come. We are going to the International Blacksmithing Festival in Devon, England in August with a IYS team to share what we've been doing.
My bad. it was Dave's hammers that I found.
I was wanting to know why blacksmiths all ways hit the anvil before ,after and during hitting the steel?
clyde` melton not all do. i think it is to keep rhythm.
+clyde` melton It is just a habit most of us develop to keep in the swing while thinking about what we want to drop a hammer on next or to give a little extra time while turning.
LOL, apparently my daughter left her TH-cam account logged in back in July and I just got around to posting...
+clyde` melton They don't. I used to do it just because... Frank Turley broke me of the habit. Called them "dinky blows". Just remember "no dinky blows".
You hit the anvil to get a different grip on the hammer or rest your arm. That split second can really make a difference. Joey Van Der Seeg has a video on this topic I believe
what type of metal is used to forge a rounding hammer?
Joseph Penton the same as most any other hammer, usually 1045 or 4140, medium carbon steels. You don't want hammers too hard. They are for hammering. They should be tough, not brittle.
yes, email us, brianbrazealblacksmith@gmail.com
How heavy is this hammer?
that hammer weighs 3 2/3 pounds.
N
brandon Mississippi near Jackson our email is brianbrazealblacksmith@gmail.com
Brian Brazeal lol I'd been watching your videos for years and literally just found out we live in the same town....small world
No, it is copper.
What?
What what?
Can hardly hear you. Lol.
@@itsawonderfulknife7031 you don't have to hear me, just watch what the metal does.:)
Brian Brazeal Why are you talking then?
@@itsawonderfulknife7031 because I explain everything I do.
Camera man needs practice!
Scott Salgren That is Alec Steele filming. I think he has the practice now.
I find that to be funny as it is Alec Steele that I had watched first. He was singing praises about having learned much from you. Brian, you explain things well. Thank you for sharing.
Pounding cold metal. :-(
Interesting, I've seen and heard a lot of different people imply the same thing, but you may want to take another look. You may see that it is copper and is quite forgeable. I use it a lot to explain forging and encourage others to try it. You can see it better because it is not glowing and it does allow you to forge it longer. It will work harden like other metals, but you can plainly see that it is not occurring in this video. Give it a try.
@@BrianBrazealBlacksmith I was wondering how it was moving so much. So it's not super human strength.
@@BrandXsps let the hammer do it and use the best surfaces and it will practically make itself.
Thank you. I am forging copper in this video.