How To Forge Copper and Nickel Mokume Gane With Coins

Рет қаралды 337,446

8 жыл бұрын

I just finished an updated version of the forged welded tomahawk, using some suggestions in the comments of the last video. In the meantime, I found some footage from last December and figured I'd share with you!
In this video, we'll be forging some mokume gane (wood grain metal) using some US copper-nickel clad quarters. The result is a nicely contrasting billet of mokume that would look great as a guard or bolsters on a knife or for making jewelry.
Thanks for watching and enjoy!
Here are some of my books on Amazon. Thanks for the support!
Simple Knifemaking - www.amazon.com/dp/1534897704/?...
Simple PVC Pipe Bows - www.amazon.com/dp/1478140917/?...
Take-Down Archery - www.amazon.com/dp/1479348481/?...
The Impossible Bow - www.amazon.com/dp/098324815X/?...
The Backyard Bowyer - www.amazon.com/dp/0983248109/?...
Darts on Target - www.amazon.com/dp/151165385X/?...
Adventures in Paracord - www.amazon.com/dp/0983248133/?...
All Wrapped Up In Paracord - www.amazon.com/dp/1483969169/?...
Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/BackyardBowyer
New P.O. Box!!
Nicholas Tomihama
P.O. Box 354
Camas, WA 98607
Here's some info on the legality of making coin mokume and coin jewelry in general.
U.S. Code is 18 U.S.C. §331 reads, Whoever fraudulently alters, defaces, mutilates, impairs, diminishes, falsifies, scales or lightens any of the coins coined at the mints of the United States, or any foreign coins which are by law made current or are in actual use or circulation as money within the United States; or whoever fraudulently possesses, passes, utters, publishes, or sells, or attempts to pass, utter, publish, or sell, or brings into the United States, any such coin, knowing the same to be altered, defaced, mutilated, impaired, diminished, falsified, scaled or lightened - shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
This applies to altering coins in order to use them for a higher value or for shaving coins for their metal value while still passing the shaved coins off as legal tender.
(b) The prohibition contained in § 82.1 against the treatment of 5-cent coins and one-cent coins shall not apply to the treatment of these coins for educational, amusement, novelty, jewelry, and similar purposes as long as the volumes treated and the nature of the treatment makes it clear that such treatment is not intended as a means by which to profit solely from the value of the metal content of the coins.
There is a prohibition on melting or exporting 1 and 5 US cent coins for their metal value, but this does not apply to using the metal for jewelry or novelty purposes like I am doing here.
If you are from another country, please check your local laws because in some places any alteration or modification of coins is illegal regardless of intent.

Пікірлер: 560

@cholulahotsauce6166 7 жыл бұрын

I really appreciate how Nick tackles pretty complex jobs with really basic tools. Most youtubers would only demonstrate this with a $15000 shop, and here he is using pliers for tongs, on a scrap metal anvil.

@shonaoneill5151 5 жыл бұрын

Absolute rubbish, my tools cost not 1 penny more than £14999.99p and yet I have done an instructable on this (pfffft)

@robertlombardo8437 5 жыл бұрын

Finally! A use for all my spare laundry money!

@DreadtheMadSmith 8 жыл бұрын

That would make an awesome knife guard.

@evanclue455 8 жыл бұрын

Thats what i was thinking, i might use it for a file dagger that i made a while back

@lolking3144 8 жыл бұрын

took the words right out of my comment box my friend, I think something like this would look good on a bowie knife. just my two CENTS on the matter tho....... Ehh Ehhh!!! Get It!!! I'm sorry... I will leave now...

@acries3148 8 жыл бұрын

+LOLKING LoL 😆

@kheilos 7 жыл бұрын

Yeeeessss

@Tigerbricks11 6 жыл бұрын

That's exactly why I came to watch this video. I was like woah that thumbnail looks like a knife handle or finger guard. I want to do that now.

@diggumsmack2 8 жыл бұрын

Hands down, best infomative video I've seen in a while. Fantastic job sir.

@analogplanet9675 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for showing this process in its entirety. I've successfully done this a few times now, thanks to you. Here in Canada, US quarters are fairly commonly interspersed and I didn't even need to leave the house to get a stack. Only after a few billets did I realize that certain years of Canadian dimes, still commonly circulating have even higher nickel contents, some 100% most 25%, allowing for significantly less coppery results, if desired. Cheers!

@danmoore6321 7 жыл бұрын

I was looking for Makume Gane Tutorials for Clay and found this video. Very cool!

@bentleygt3716 6 жыл бұрын

wow. this is the coolest /easiest mokume gane process i've every seen GREAT Tip. Thank you for sharing.

@tolkienfan4815 6 жыл бұрын

I've watched this video before but I used like ten bucks worth of quarters and only made two rings after a rewatch I saw you fileing the edges before you started drawing it out ! can't wait to try this thanks !

@crsmyth4428 5 жыл бұрын

I had heard of mokume gane before but I had just never realized you could just scoop up some quarters and forge them. Thanks for the heads up on this. Im going to experiment with this sometime soon.

@aaronmagus6986 6 жыл бұрын

I'm really enjoying your videos. You have this happiness in your voice unlike a lot of KZfaq.

@augustoramirezdiaz4068 8 жыл бұрын

I' ll say it again my friend. You are an artist. Thank so much for sharing. Greetings from Chile.

@amanbhowal6315 8 жыл бұрын

Stopping inflation $4 at a time

@tolkienfan4815 6 жыл бұрын

😂

@colbycalabrese8417 3 жыл бұрын

I was waiting for this comment😂😂

@hanshansen9780 8 жыл бұрын

You are the best KZfaqr, for me. I admire you, because you make the best things from old trash/other things. Especially your Knifes are really cool, because they aren't so cheap imitates, which can only be deco, they are real!And they also look really cool.👍👍👍best man

@offendaman 7 жыл бұрын

Your vids are inspiring. They give one courage to try something out themselves. Thanks

@rhazuul 8 жыл бұрын

Nice! Glad to see you really getting into forging.Should be interesting to see what you end up doing with that billet.

@spwicks1980 7 жыл бұрын

Really nice work! The pattern looks great!

@rociobermudez2515 7 жыл бұрын

i love how you videos are fast and they get to the point

@LEO1WOLF 7 жыл бұрын

Man, that is some good looking stuff there! In fact - - in certain circumstances, I can picture it as bolsters on the handle of a Damascus steel blade. Although it might look a bit "busy" to your average Joe, it would make a truly *original* piece. Thank you very kindly for sharing this!

@Traderjoe 8 жыл бұрын

This is awesome! I had no idea about the quarters! But it makes sense in hindsight because they are an amalgam.

@joeyjoejoejr.shabadu8857 5 жыл бұрын

Amazing work as usual!

@SaintGalganoArmory Жыл бұрын

Amazing video man! I really enjoyed it.

@madbearforge8550 7 жыл бұрын

Wow man, it's been really enjoyable to watch you progress with your skill level and knowledge over the course of your channel. I've been a subscriber of yours for quite some time now and it's aLeah's fun to watch what you put together. Keep up the great work!

@BackyardBowyer 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@RFAM05 7 жыл бұрын

Beautiful! Inspiring, as usual.

@Ashirlevi 8 жыл бұрын

That looks really cool, should try that once..

@stankrieger3598 2 жыл бұрын

Just found your channel I like! I will be back for more info. But now got get some quarters cleaned up

@kellydaugherty8571 6 жыл бұрын

Love the video. Great way to learn for a beginner. Cant wait to give it a try

@BackyardBowyer 6 жыл бұрын

+kelly daugherty Thank you for watching!

@boof104briana5 8 жыл бұрын

Cool vid and really like the Damascus pattern.

@archbishop8719 8 жыл бұрын

Thanks Nick! So good!

@JackRobin86 7 жыл бұрын

Dude, I LOVE this video!!!

@caitgems1 7 жыл бұрын

Subbed. Good channel and a free education.

@THEDRAGONBOOSTER8 8 жыл бұрын

What a great idea.Thanks for sharing..

@farmerboy916 8 жыл бұрын

Really cool; love the idea

@FUGYOO 7 жыл бұрын

Really cool Nick

@Arkaithius 8 жыл бұрын

It is NOT illegal. read the law. he isn't doing this to be fraudulent. Jewelry is made from coins as well. Same principle.

@MichaelClaudio13 7 жыл бұрын

Your the man Nick!

@seapalacios4333 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I have been trying to figure out how to make copper "Damascus", and now I at least know that it's possible.

@triniraper 8 жыл бұрын

thats some damn cool crafting

@AdriWL 7 жыл бұрын

fantastic idea

@jasonmackenzie2994 7 жыл бұрын

Nice video, Just in time too, as i am making a hidden tang knife, and was looking for some material for the handle guards, and just got some new propane torches today, i wil definately be making some of this 'makume gane'

@clashshorty2748 7 жыл бұрын

jason Mackenzie u stole the tanto kukri from Slavik tellys channel

@Dartagn 7 жыл бұрын

The final billet is beautiful.

@hourglasssox 5 жыл бұрын

More power to you. I have issues bonding nickel together usually.

@tubes69 7 жыл бұрын

That billet looks like it would make a great "worry stone" or just something to fidget with!

@vorkev1 7 жыл бұрын

awesome looking

@2degucitas 7 жыл бұрын

that looks easy. gotta try it.

@jellyfishjelly1941 8 жыл бұрын

this is beautiful

@MakerCuisine 3 жыл бұрын

Just what I was looking for

@krisschirmer 8 жыл бұрын

VERY COOL, NICK! ;)

@user-ri7bm8mw7i 8 жыл бұрын

great information nick i have been learning from you for years now nick thanks for every thing you got me from doing nothing outdoors to making pvc bows,knifes,arrows,etc.. so i can't thank you enough and man the new book looks great,do you sell it in digital format? all the best.

@-Honeybee 8 жыл бұрын

We would love to see you do a crossbow project with a steel arm as were found in medieval period, it would be cool to see your approach.

@jeffreyross8855 7 жыл бұрын

GREAT TUTORIAL>>>THANKS!!!!!

@andrewsmith3608 8 жыл бұрын

Soft taps actually are more effective when forge welding. when you hit the metal too hard it will actually cause the molten metal to "splatter" and leave the cooler metal kind of stuck together but not well. I am apprenticing under a 13 year journeyman smith and he let me know this. I hope it helps you like it did me! keep up the vids man I really enjoy them!

@andrewsmith3608 8 жыл бұрын

also use a flux like borax its common in most supermarkets in the US!

@Dave_Tries 7 жыл бұрын

You are awesome!

@HuggyBearz 8 жыл бұрын

Must try it soon, i have to make a ring or at least try to make it :D, thanks for this video sir !

@warpighammer3760 6 жыл бұрын

Real nice.

@sometimesletitgo8409 5 жыл бұрын

I love to see it.

@dominiquenoel939 8 жыл бұрын

Nice !

@rociobermudez2515 7 жыл бұрын

thank you i was wandering how to do that

@matthewsherriff-growingfoo3110 5 жыл бұрын

Very cool

@knivesstuff 8 жыл бұрын

Love it! I only have a coal forge making this very difficult

@knivesstuff 8 жыл бұрын

best tutorial yet on youtube

@rodrigoespecialesyagradeci5313 8 жыл бұрын

+knives&stuff hey knife and stuff I love your vids, it is a very good tutorial.

@knivesstuff 8 жыл бұрын

Rodrigo EspecialesyAgradecimientos thank you Rodrigo :)

@schmiggachad8289 7 жыл бұрын

I made it and it made one killer knife gard

@viazzi91 7 жыл бұрын

Hello, great video! I'd like to know how you heat the coins in this video. I have MAPP torch , and I don't know if I can use it, since I'm new at working with metals. Thanks for the grreat tutorial!

@eivartheewizard4639 3 жыл бұрын

I tried this but I had a hard time forge welding the coins together even with flux. I only got 2 to weld, I'm not exactly sure what u mean by "sweat". Like I see when the metal gets tacky, but when I start hammering the first hammer welds em and the second unsticks em. It's tricky, I wish there were more vids on this technique. Well done. I did use what I made to make a finger guard for a knife thou so thnx 😁

@JackSilver1410 7 жыл бұрын

Round one trying this, out of a stack of 11 quarters, only 3 and 4 stuck together. However, the tongs I was using were very short, just round stock I tapered the ends of and then folded into a long U. I couldn't get them properly into the heat before my glove started smoking.

@aaroninman7370 7 жыл бұрын

I thought it was hilarious when you bent up your tongs on the first hit.

@gawni1612 7 жыл бұрын

lmao

@Stormy2510 4 жыл бұрын

Absolutely destroyed them. Should have used wider tongs on the side and quenched them throughout the heat to keep them cool

@RPSchonherr 7 жыл бұрын

You've come a long way from making home made bows and arrows.

@clintjeppson7671 6 жыл бұрын

This is my next project! Can you teach us how you would make Damascus steel? This would be a sweet guard on a Damascus blade.

@williamgowan4138 8 жыл бұрын

I have a question about a previous video but I wasn't sure if you would reply so I'm gonna ask here. In your 80 pound longbow video what diminisions would make a 50 to 60 pound longbow?

@APollo-xv7du 7 жыл бұрын

nice vid

@colsoncustoms8994 8 жыл бұрын

Very nice. I've been wanting to do this for a while. I assume a charcoal forge will make this much more difficult?

@willybee3056 8 жыл бұрын

wow... neat....

@guytv738 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you

@fordguy8792 7 жыл бұрын

Very cool! What would you charge to make one of these billets? Aside from $4 in quarters...

@larrynewingham1494 7 жыл бұрын

Sweet

@dannydano8072 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@BackyardBowyer 6 жыл бұрын

+danny dano Thanks for watching!

@Isheian 7 жыл бұрын

Could you do a twist mokume gane?

@brendonmoore1619 7 жыл бұрын

I didn't even know you could forge weld non ferrous materials. Do you use flux at all? What would you make from it? I'm just starting to learn how to forge and cannot decide between blades or jewelry. I'm trying to learn more about the metallurgy first. Thanks :) Looks awesome btw, it's like inverted domascus. Colour wise that is.

@windchester3614 5 жыл бұрын

If it melts, it welds...

@r1234x67p 7 жыл бұрын

hey BackyardBowyer what kind of torch are you using ? propane or acetylene ? would really love to know.

@corellianacademy7348 7 жыл бұрын

did you use flux weld and just not show it or does that metal for some reason weld itself?

@justinsundaram17 6 жыл бұрын

what did you use to heat it up? was it propane if so was it larger than your everyday home depot burner? if you have a link to it that would be even better

@TungstenCarbideTempe 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you friend for sharing and making. I wish you'd go more detail into troubleshooting. Those of us who tried knows how frustrating it could get when you super cleaned the surface, you tried borax, you tried accetone, different flame types(propane, MAP, MAP+oxy, oxy+acetalyne, no gas but coal or electric furnace. Temp range from red to red orang., to org-ylw, ylw-wht, wht-melt, melt-spilled-mixed-oh-craps. Pretty much all available info. that you can google and youtube- still the top two fused the bottom three fused too but in the middle it seem holding up until you apply the pressure. Would you recomend something that you think is the main rule/ingridient?? thank you again

@PandaKnivesRo 8 жыл бұрын

Would be nice to see you make something out of that. :)

@oscarsoliz781 6 жыл бұрын

Cool I have the same 4lb hammer from harbor freight but the handle really sucks I need to replace it soon

@Gabrulo_knifemaking 7 жыл бұрын

you can use it to make a knife guard, it will be very nice

@nathanb2056 7 жыл бұрын

Great Video. Please comment on the type of torch you used. I didn't think a propane torch was hot enough for melting non-ferrous metal.

@wethreebros5895 7 жыл бұрын

Nathan Brandel copper and nickel melt at lower points than iron, so it would actually be easier.

@Iammightymeaty 7 жыл бұрын

It's only illegal if you're trying to modify it to increase the value. Like changing a 10 into a 100. I'm impressed it welded so nicely without flux.

@derekludwig9678 8 жыл бұрын

We know you have plans with that billet! Share!

@katedunno1230 7 жыл бұрын

cool thanks

@shmuckling 7 жыл бұрын

So, the thicker lines were copper and thinner nickel? I've been flirting with the idea of forging copper stuff and specially mokume gane stuff, didn't know there was this much copper in quarters. Thank you! :D

@MickeyCuervo36 7 жыл бұрын

I'm trying to make a section of copper pipe into a flat bar. Would I use similar techniques to this, or something different?

@AaronLiaxyl 7 жыл бұрын

What did you use to heat it up? Harbor freight weed burner?

@macmizer3060 7 жыл бұрын

How malleable is the finished product? Is it at all similar to the strength of bronze? If so I'd love to see that forged into the Habaki of a tanto or katana

@williambresinski6706 6 жыл бұрын

mac mizer and a suba.

@wannabewriter 3 жыл бұрын

Would it be possible to etch it in acid to bring out the pattern a little more? I really wanna try this, but I'd like to have a somewhat more defined pattern.

@justincarlisle860 7 жыл бұрын

hey what were you using to heat this because I've tried and it likes to laminate almost every time.

@paulpolito2001 3 жыл бұрын

Fyi: (U.S.) coinage from 1980 or older is, iirc, 90% silver for Quarters/Dimes/Half-Dollars, 30% silver for Nickels, and the Pennies are solid copper. They aren't super common, these days... but pretty reliable source for Cu & Ag in small quantities - like jeweling or knife fittings.

@donpettyandthespacefakers1798 5 жыл бұрын

Can you use a few 90% silver quarters mixed in?

@misterseven5525 6 жыл бұрын

Can you forge weld like 2 or 3 of those to get more mass?

@alexanderclapham6268 7 жыл бұрын

What size propane torch did you use. I was not able to get them hot enough

@Kenstubeofstuff 7 жыл бұрын

are you sanding (facing) the coins flat first or leaving the impression of the Head and tails on it and just making sure they are clean and free of oil?

@wethreebros5895 7 жыл бұрын

Kenstubeofstuff he only cleaned these