Dealing with cold weather in the blacksmith shop
Рет қаралды 24,739
6 жыл бұрынIt was down around 3 degrees early this morning and about 20 degrees in the shop. So I thought this might be good opportunity to discuss a few simple strategies for dealing with the cold weather in the shop.
Thank you for watching. Black Bear Forge is a small one person shop located in Southern Colorado.
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The following list provides just a few resources to help you find supplies and equipment for blacksmithing.
www.piehtoolco.com/
www.centaurforge.com/
www.blacksmithsdepot.com/
www.blacksmithbolt.com/
www.oldworldanvils.com/
www.abana.org/
www.mcmaster.com
Blacksmithing and related activities can be hazardous. These videos are not a substitute for competent professional instruction. Your safety is your sole responsibility. Always use appropriate safety equipment including eye and ear protection when working in the shop. Follow manufactures safety guidelines for the use of all equipment. In the event something shown in one of these videos seems unsafe, it is up to you to make the appropriate changes to protect yourself.
@waynemitchell8254 2 жыл бұрын
“Keep the internal furnace stoked!” Love it
@Aco747lyte Жыл бұрын
In our forge is a Swedish cast iron flat top, multifuel stove that makes a good fryup on a cast iron 12 in. frying pan / skillet that I made recently, and there is room for a coffee pot. Outside is 80 cord of logs, and several tons coal. The stove is double-sided, keeps us snug throughout our harsh winters. Molly and I wear merino vests, Norwegian jumpers. If my daughter or I need additional warmth, my biker's leather jacket. John, your video is much appreciated. Best wishes - Wendi UK. 🌻
@CreachterZ 3 жыл бұрын
Geez! Just move down South! Tennessee is awesome!
@bobrees4363 6 жыл бұрын
I don't know about breaking an anvil, but I saw my boss break about two inches off a Ken tool tire spoon one cold winter day. The cross section was probably 1¼" x 5/16", not something a man could normally snap by hand. After that we leaned the prying tools against the wood stove to drive the frost out in the morning.
@Charles-qo2wt 2 жыл бұрын
First winter in Colorado with an outdoor shop, I assumed most people with indoor shops had central heating. These tips help a lot and nice to know I'm not the only one struggling with the cold
@BlackBearForge 2 жыл бұрын
Heat would be nice, but the budget seems more likely to go for other things.
@craigljardine 5 жыл бұрын
Watching this on one of the hottest days we have had this summer
@BlackBearForge 5 жыл бұрын
Sounds perfect
@MrPINKFL0YD 5 жыл бұрын
I used to work as a mechanic in a convented large commercial chicken shed. God that was bitter! Banging knuckles in the engine bay was the worst!
@stewartboggs1089 Жыл бұрын
My shop is relatively small, in the wintertime when i fire up my charcoal forge, after about 5 to 10 minutes, there is a 40 to 50 degree difference than it is outside. Just this passed winter, it got down to about 10 degrees. I kid you not i had it up to 60 to 65 in the shop. I built it out of pallets, about 15X20
@simpleforging3339 6 жыл бұрын
practical tips and techniques. Through all of the blacksmithing subscriptions I think you have risen to be my favorite. Thanks
@BlackBearForge 6 жыл бұрын
You are very welcome.
@bobgrizzly9856 6 жыл бұрын
Thank you for referring me to this video John! I also live in Colorado and all too often i have forged on my cold anvil and it is miserable. Fear of risking my favorite tool kept me from trying to preheat it but your logic is sound and i will try it next time I work in the cold. Your videos are the best i've seen for blacksmithing on youtube, both educational and entertaining.
@BlackBearForge 6 жыл бұрын
hanks, i am glad the video helps out some. Probably no more cold weather for us this year.
@andrewhutchinson5490 4 жыл бұрын
Sounds like perfect weather to strike the iron, great vid.
@megadwood18 5 жыл бұрын
my shop is 16'x 7' my 3 burner forge heats it up Quite fast
@robertcutburth3745 4 жыл бұрын
If the anvil broke it might have been a cast iron anvil love the videos keep them coming.
@bluestarindustrialarts7712 6 жыл бұрын
I'm spoiled. My shop is a detached 2 car garage, well insulated heated with a nat gas heater and cooled in the summer with a Sanyo ductless. However, I keep the winter thermostat at 40-45f. More than that it becomes expensive. I have a small 1 burner propane forge. That little sucker heats up the building in about 45 minutes. A friend has a similar but larger 3 burner forge. He does swords and long blades. I've been in his insulated barn shop when that beast has been choochin for over an hour. Its almost 90f in there with 30 or less outside. Those gas forges throw some heat.
@BlackBearForge 6 жыл бұрын
Gas forges for heat are great in the winter but miserable in the summer
@indianatone218 3 жыл бұрын
Ive got a tip john ,shut that door behind you lol .
@canlite Жыл бұрын
My dad and i just keep the shop at about 55.
@TheCowboy1943 5 жыл бұрын
In south Georiga we don't have a problem with cold weather we have a real problem with hot weather. I still enjoyed the video.
@shadowcastre 6 жыл бұрын
All good tips! 2 other things I do; 1) Put a magnetic engine block heater, one on each side of your anvil. You can leave them plugged in and they don't get in the way while you work. 2) I replaced my regular bulbs with heat bulbs. You can put up to 8 - 240 watt bulbs on a 20 amp circuit. They really do make a difference. Thanks for the video...
@BlackBearForge 6 жыл бұрын
Pretty good ideas, although my power is a bit minimal so I'm not sure if I would add to much more electrical heat sources. But if you can run them thats great.
@paulorchard7960 4 жыл бұрын
Don’t have that issue here in QLD, but I watched your 15 min video just because I enjoy your videos! Keep warm John, and think of Florida!
@sasssquatch1467 3 жыл бұрын
I cracked my first anvil on a -5° day. Had to have it welded along the cracks and ground flat. A good gauge for caution is when the snow has a high pitched crunch and feels like stepping on glass dust. I've also snapped axe heads in half while splitting wood in below zero temps.
@jalanham1 6 жыл бұрын
Great video. Just last week I moved my blacksmith shop from my two bay run in shed to my detached garage. I'm really glad I did because it has been pretty cold here in Virginia this week. The garage has a wood stove and insulated walls so much more pleasent than forging outside in the teens!
@amgironworks9091 5 жыл бұрын
The cracking of an anvil makes total sense to me. I work in the ND -20 cold in the oil industry. If the ambient air temp (not wind chill) is around -25 we are not supposed to hit our iron with hammers. There's a good chance the we will crack the hammer union.
@xxxxxponchin 6 жыл бұрын
Thank you, very good advice and Happy New Year.
@colinrobertson843 6 жыл бұрын
thank you mate and a happy new year to you mate from Colin from Down Under
@sammanno3303 6 жыл бұрын
John,I really enjoy your Videos they are very interesting and easy to watch.Keep them coming.Happy New Year
@robphone4895 6 жыл бұрын
Happy new year to you too!
@user-rh4qc5dp6p 6 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video you gave me a-lot to think about and you have a happy new year.
@johnwood361 6 жыл бұрын
Happy New Year
@fryscountrylifechannel4437 4 жыл бұрын
Great video, I live in NW Ontario near Lake Superior, I have seen broken anvils, thanks for the tips
@andresmedina9967 6 жыл бұрын
Nice ideas. Very true information. But its always more pleasant to work in the cold for forging at least. Happy new year as well
@camelcitytattooshopp 6 жыл бұрын
happy new year sir
@kassiman5307 6 жыл бұрын
Happy new year .. NICE VIDEO
@roliver7773 6 жыл бұрын
Thanks for another great video loaded with useful tips. It's 0 degrees in KY this fine sunny morning and one thing I've tried this winter is bought one of those stand up patio heaters (the kind that look like a big mushroom) for my shop. Gives me about a twelve foot circle of comfortable work area. Works so well, went back and got another. Happy hammering.
@tropifiori 6 жыл бұрын
That is helpful.Thanks. In the summer , please do a show on staying cool as I cook my brains out in the Summer in the Forge. FB
@BlackBearForge 6 жыл бұрын
Maybe standing in a tub of ice water while forging😜 . It really is easier to deal with cold. But I will try to think of some ideas for dealing with heat.
@terryravey6147 6 жыл бұрын
I use two pair of gloves one pr next to the woodstove and rotate them use woodheater and my forge , live at 9000 ft in the rockies sometimes -20 f really enjoy your videos thanks
@oljames1687 6 жыл бұрын
Happy New Year as well John. Great Tips!! The therm-o-meter on the porch reads 10 F above and it's supposed to be 26 today. Guess i'll get the torpedo and kerosene heaters fired up before doing anything. So much for the Sunny South,haha.! At least here in East Ala-BAMA...!!
@GeorgiaWoodsmen 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the idea was wondering how things would work this winter, most the winter i am on the trap line. But i go to the shop to skin the fur. But this year plan on some heaters, getting older now, and the joints in these old bones hurt more than they use to lol.
@WildBoreWoodWind 6 жыл бұрын
Its not the cold that worries me, I live in Australia, its the heat that's the killer here - five minutes of forging here and you've sweated out 20% of your bodily fluids. I love forging in our winters. :0)
@BlackBearForge 6 жыл бұрын
I suspect your summers are hotter than ours. But it is hard to deal with the heat. I drink lots of water and try to do the forge work in the early morning and either stay out of the shop in the heat of the day or do bench work.
@WildBoreWoodWind 6 жыл бұрын
Sounds good but at the height of Summer, it can be somewhere between 35C to 40C by 7am. Night forging ⚒️, thats the solution. :0)
@larryking606 5 жыл бұрын
Thanks John , Even down here ib NC , we don't have a lot of problems with the cold , kinda wish we did sometimes , but every once in a while , the cold does get us ! STILL A VERY GOOD VIDEO ! Take Care and Be Safe !
@petergrassel3973 6 жыл бұрын
Happy New Year and thank you. My shop is just 10x10 I use one of those red eye heaters. And now I will be preheating the anvil and hammer. My slack bucket is frozen solid. I usually heat stock and hang it in bucket on top of ice.
@BlackBearForge 6 жыл бұрын
I have spent hours trying to melt through the ice to get enough of a hole to use. Of course be=ringing fresh water in from the house every day in a bucket would also be an option. I have also just gone outside and cooled work in the show, but we have had almost no snow this year.
@RickRabjohn 6 жыл бұрын
Timely video John - it's been about zero to 15 degrees F here in my forge area. I've been thinking of building a small rocket stove - those stoves drive a lot of heat with minimal wood....I tried propane heaters, but as you say they gave off too much carbon monoxide and always tripped the alarm....Stay warm my friend; Booyah!
@strongsadventures 6 жыл бұрын
I’ve never heard of the magnetic block heaters. I’m only familiar with the ones that are installed in a freeze plug. Thanks for the information and Happy New Year.
@carlmanx1680 6 жыл бұрын
Billy Strong It's actually an oil pan heater.
@thomashodge4287 5 жыл бұрын
ive seen the shaft on a 1cwt massey with slides break in the cold weather because an apprentice didnt warm it up first
@VindicatorsPledge 2 жыл бұрын
Celcius is the superior unit of measurement
@trollforge 6 жыл бұрын
I have seen probably more than a dozen anvils with the heel or the horn snapped off, they're generally in the 90 to 150 pound range and always well more than a hundred years old, made it the time when they were forge welded from five pieces of metal.
@BlackBearForge 6 жыл бұрын
I have seen those as well. I wonder if they were broken in sever cold or just from severe abuse.
@thijs199 3 жыл бұрын
I use cobalt drill bitts. I think it's a nice price/quality compared to for instance, carbide
@bc65925 6 жыл бұрын
-12 F here in Central Indiana today. Since my forge sets outside I think I'll skip forging today. Besides I need to pick up some bearings for my Champion 400 and get it back together yet. (Not really excited about doing that either.)
@MrFuckthegravity 6 жыл бұрын
Hi, I'm a beginner in this art. All is New for me and I Learn à Lot watching your video. I've noticed that the Heat of métal decrease rapidly now, and I don't know really why. I supposed it was lincked to the weather and m'y frozen Anvil.... Now I know it's correct and I know how to do... Thank you 👍 From France
@BlackBearForge 6 жыл бұрын
I am glad the video was helpful
@bruceprosser8332 6 жыл бұрын
I wish that I had an ambient temp of 20 in my shop LOL
@trminer 6 жыл бұрын
It's zero here in NW Colo this morning, and probably below that down by the river. The old blacksmith shop at the Wyman museum is not heated and has some tools driven on a line shaft or jack shaft if you will. It's tricky to run any of those tools in the cold weather, and the Little Giant hammer won't work at all. I worry about the strain on the electric motor that drives all of that equipment, so I run one thing at a time by taking all of the other belts loose. I run the motor to spin the shaft for a while, then attempt to use one of the tools, but not the trip hammer. Yes, the anvils get cold too. I've been thinking about using a propane torch to gently heat the one I'm using, and I emphasize the word "gently". Thanks for another excellent video and Happy New Year to you as well!
@BlackBearForge 6 жыл бұрын
That does sound cold. I can't imagine how rough it must of been for those early smiths this time of year with less adequate clothing and no supplemental heat.
@scottwood6769 5 жыл бұрын
My dad was a teenager during the depression hammering out railcar axles with a 14lb sledge for his grandfather. He always warmed his anvil, claimed the hard faced portion of an anvil would crack or pop off if struck cold or without something between hammer and face of anvil. I've never witnessed, but never tried. Anvils are to expensive
@Pseud0rand0m 6 жыл бұрын
Colorado Western Slope here. It's cold for the better part of the day. I wish I had a Wood Stove. The gas forge helps a lot.
@BlackBearForge 6 жыл бұрын
A gas forge is almost as good as a heater, except it use more gas. The wood stove is nice, but getting the shop fully enclosed and insulated would be a big help.
@Pseud0rand0m 6 жыл бұрын
Black Bear Forge I'm working on insulating now. Lots of work on an existing, non insulated shop. Hopefully by next winter!
@Uncle_Bucks_Forge 6 жыл бұрын
I have a furnace inside my shop. I keep it set a 40 degrees. But my blacksmithing area is outside the shop in a open air covered area. Burr it didn't get above 5 degrees this weekend. I didn't do any playing on the forge.
@BlackBearForge 6 жыл бұрын
Some days its just better to stay inside and read a food book by the fire.
@mervwright2611 6 жыл бұрын
i forge in the cariboo area of BC .... Quesnel and i know what its like. looks like your shop has a lot of open rafters and doors. i feel for you
@BlackBearForge 6 жыл бұрын
All on the gonna get around to it one of these days plan. If I ever get it all sealed up and insulated I'll have to open the doors just to let fresh air in.
@petergrassel3973 6 жыл бұрын
I was thinking about heat tape for the anvil.
@BlackBearForge 6 жыл бұрын
It would probaby work, but would need to be removed while you work so you don't burn through it.
@williambaityweldingblacksm7474 6 жыл бұрын
Great tips all around! My uncle smacked my dads anvil with a maul at -30 F just for fun, and cracked off the tail. After that I got in trouble any time I hit the anvil just to make noise. I think hot steel works as a shock absorber, and I certainly agree that cold anvils are inefficient. It’s been hanging around -20 here in MN this week.
@BlackBearForge 6 жыл бұрын
So it is possible. I can't even imagine trying to forge at 30 below, or do anything else outside for that matter.
@williambaityweldingblacksm7474 6 жыл бұрын
I just got back from welding an aluminum grain truck at a local truck stop out in the wind, luckily it's warmed up to 9 degrees. I really enjoy your videos, and am glad to see that hand on the mend!
@BlackBearForge 6 жыл бұрын
Sounds pretty cold still. I guess I should count myself as lucky to be inside out of the wind.
@ReignForever Жыл бұрын
I'm currently living in a rental property with a tiny tiny backyard. Garage is full of vehicles and other belongings and my anvil is just set up under a tree in the backyard. I don't have room to forge in my garage, and am thinking it will just be hell to work outdoors... do any of you fellow blacksmithers have any insight to help me figure this out? I can't go all winter without forging.... I am in a shitty place and need something to look forward to for the dark cold winter months. Keep in mind I live in Saskatchewan, Canada.... just so you understand what I mean when saying "cold" 🥶)
@nedkelly6801 6 жыл бұрын
Old Mate, an excellent video. We live in Brisbane, Australia and I agree with Phil Millar and his comments. It was 35C (95F) here today with 88% humidity. Your 20F = approx. -7C. We all seem to be victims of our environment be it either extreme of the temperature scale. Your video was very interesting to me seeing what you have to deal with. I just try and keep the sweat out of my eyes so I can see where to hit the steel. Ha!
@BlackBearForge 6 жыл бұрын
Spring and fall are my favorite times of the year in the shop. We can have days that hot mid summer, but we are lucky not to have that kind of humidity.
@DavoShed 6 жыл бұрын
How do you guys do cold like that😀 I guess we do hot like you do cold. I have thought about air conditioning my shed!
@BlackBearForge 6 жыл бұрын
In many ways it is easier to deal with the cold than it is the heat. But I would prefer the middle ground.
@getoverit4887 5 жыл бұрын
Cold is better because you can always put on my clothes. You can only take off so many in the heat before it becomes illegal.
@whiskeygordon2452 6 жыл бұрын
I bet you know better than anybody there are few things that draw the heat out of your hands than ice cold metal.
@michaelrichards2310 5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the videos.Would a heat tape like used for water lines work for in helping warm up anvil?
@BlackBearForge 5 жыл бұрын
It might keep the anvil from getting cold but would probably take a long time to heat up if you started with a cold anvil. Personally I try not to have to many things that continue to use power while I'm not in the shop. But I do use a submersible heater in the slack tub
@jd9119 Жыл бұрын
Why not just get an electric heater set to a timer during the winter and point that at your anvil? That way it doesn't ever get that cold.
@kaptenrobert 6 жыл бұрын
I greatly appreciate the effort you put in to your videos! This one is good, because just like you, it's ice cold in my shop right now. As a beginner I would never had thought about pre-heating the anvil to conserve the heat of my work longer. I was looking forward to trying out some forge welding soon as I had just finally got hold on some borax (not legal to sell in Sweden). Perhaps I'll hold of to spring if I don't make any progress. A lot of other channels cover the making of tongs. Is this something you plan on doing? I find myself very limited with vise-grips and pipewrenches I use but I have not yet managed to make a proper pair of tongs. The work that goes in to drawing out the reins is daunting as well. Another thing that would be nice to see would be the making of a hardie hot-cut without the use of a powerhammer. Does hot-cut tools need a tool steel edge? Another video of yours I liked a lot was the one about modifying screws and fasteners. I made a lot of hooks the last few months and as you say - drywall screws aren't the prettiest thing to look at! Happy holidays and thank you for your great efforts in preserving an old craft!
@BlackBearForge 6 жыл бұрын
I do plan on doing a series on tong making as well as making a hardy tool. Once you learn forge welding it is fairly easy to weld on the reins as I am doing at the start of my video on forge welding instead of drawing them out. The hot cut does need to be from hardenable steel, but nothing fancy. If Borax isn't legal, can you buy some of the other fluxes that are for sale? The old timers also used very fine clean sand as a flux, but I have never tried it.
@binkykingsbury2000 6 ай бұрын
How about putting a magnetic block heater on your anvil??
@BlackBearForge 6 ай бұрын
I haven't tried it.
@megadwood18 5 жыл бұрын
close the door lol
@nickashcraft7131 6 жыл бұрын
Is that a php anvil next to your wood stove? What size and time frame? I have a 187lb original PFP from about 1910. I love your videos keep up the great work
@BlackBearForge 6 жыл бұрын
That is an Old World Anvils anvil. Only about 15 years old.
@Blazer02LS 6 жыл бұрын
I know that it's easier to break off bolts and such in the extreme cold than when they are warm. I would bet the anvil story is true when you consider that there were quite a few anvils made with cast iron and tool steel faces made in the past.
@johndilsaver8409 6 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the timely information and happy 2018. I'm in s.w. MO, single digit temps here this morning. Do you have any particular brand of tank top propane heater you recommend? I have not tried that yet, seems like a good idea, my shop is also not insulated
@BlackBearForge 6 жыл бұрын
The heater I have is an older model from Colman. I don't think they offer that same style anymore due to a lack of safety devices. But I am sure a trip to the local home center will produce some form of an option. The little torpedo style heaters work well but use a lot of gas.
@charlesmay8251 6 жыл бұрын
5 degrees in Virginia this a,m,
@BlackBearForge 6 жыл бұрын
Brrrr
@leftymalonewertyu 6 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the videos. I have been in the shop when it was close to 0, someone hit the horn on a cold anvil and about an inch of the horn snapped off and flew across the room. On real cold days I put a propane torch under the horn to help keep the anvil worm.
@BlackBearForge 6 жыл бұрын
More than just blacksmithing legend then. Its good to hear from other smiths with different experiences and techniques, thanks for sharing.
@Seanfrtd 5 жыл бұрын
The air compressor powered power hammer, did you make it? If yes how?
@BlackBearForge 5 жыл бұрын
No, but it is no longer being made
@kevind7617 2 жыл бұрын
Does your wood stove not have a chimney?
@benjaminwillett3041 2 жыл бұрын
Is it possible to shut the door to the shop to keep heat in?
@benchrysler3940 4 жыл бұрын
Would the magnetic block heater work to a degree on the anvil?
@BlackBearForge 4 жыл бұрын
It might but I haven’t tried one for that
@Soldatsmoonsong 6 жыл бұрын
Running the captions is funny. Half the time is shows "animal" and not anvil.
@BlackBearForge 6 жыл бұрын
I am impressed it gets it right the other half
@Soldatsmoonsong 6 жыл бұрын
Voice recognition programs are still wonky. I am watching a live stream and it gets like every tenth word wrong. Even more so if the speaker has any accent.
@charlieyeager3645 5 жыл бұрын
What brand of hot mill gloves do you use?
@BlackBearForge 5 жыл бұрын
They are a Carolina Gloves Kevlar hot mill glove. www.piehtoolco.com/contents/en-us/p6640.html
@joemajor6066 6 жыл бұрын
What about the forge press John? Mine lives outside under cover and it screams and is very slow now thats its 10 degrees out. I did get a mag block heater but its not doing any good. Do you think im damaging the press by using it when its this cold? Thanks for any insight, i do hold your opinion in high regard.
@BlackBearForge 6 жыл бұрын
I haven't had any trouble, but thats a real good question. If the oil slows down it would have to work harder to pump. Might be a good question for a hydraulics place.
@getoverit4887 5 жыл бұрын
I know you can mix kerosene with hydraulic oil to thin them down so the cold doesn't have as much of an effect on the viscosity of the oils.
@MrDukaman 5 жыл бұрын
Is this something you have to do every morning when it is cold out. Seems like a lot of work to do before you go to work.
@BlackBearForge 5 жыл бұрын
Only if it is extremely cold. Yes it does get to be a pain, but its better than being cold or damaging equipment. Some day I will get the roof insulated and maybe it won't get so cold
@KK-tk8sk 3 жыл бұрын
I'm so spoiled. My shop has a heated floor so it stays at 65° no matter what. Feet stay warm obviously and my tools never get cold. No better way to heat the shop and it's cheap heat.
Oscar's Funny World
Рет қаралды 10 МЛН