Forging Wrought iron - preparing and sizing stock for the Dragon door knocker

Lets look at some of the issues involved in forging wrought iron down to size for the dragon door knocker project. Roy from Christ centered Ironworks sent a piece of 1" x 2" x 8" wrought iron that needs to be forged down to a more appropriate size for the project.

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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.

[oljames]

..Thanks John for showing not only doing it by hand, but using different pieces of equipment to accomplish the desired dimensions. It is a pleasure watching you work....!!

[loul]

And here I am fantasizing about owning any one of those tools! Take it from someone who live by hammer and anvil alone: no one will hold it against you for using the tools you have. Most of us have struggled with large stock by hand and know how nice it would be to have powered assistance. We can all get strikers though. Seeing your beautiful shop and all its tools in use is nice. Thanks for all you do.

[ChristCenteredIronworks]

Glad you enjoyed working this billet of wrought down John...looks like you were having a lot of fun! That chilli forge seems to be a awesome forge :-) maybe next time I buy a gas forge I'll buy one like yours... God bless you John and be safe out there!

[johngalt]

Thank you for the great videos! I just want you to know, because of you, my son wants to work in my shop. We are looking for another anvil, now. I get to rewatch your tool making videos and get my son to watch your safety videos.

Keep up the good work.

[mikemichelizzi]

Thanks for showing all the options for working that iron, but most of all thank you for making a point of showing consideration for others. Although I will probably never get to work with wrought iron I appreciate the tips!

[DrumSmithRich]

Been forging about 5 years. First time working wrought and it is definitely a different animal from steel.

[brettsayers]

Good use of your tools and explanation of each. I think I'm going to enjoy this series.

[lsubslimed]

It's always gratifying watching large stock get beaten (or squished) down to small stock, especially wrought iron, but demonstrating it on all your different equipment was the cherry on top lol. I really looking forward to seeing this door knocker come to shape, I'm really interested in seeing how you go about it. Thanks for sharing :)

[michaelhayes]

I'd bet your induction forge would have been really nice to have had for this project. :D Thanks for all your videos!

[johndilsaver]

I really enjoyed watching this. You showed so many ways to work the wrought iron, really nice! I check your channel for new videos every day, and look forward to seeing what you are doing!

[ianturpin]

Thanks john can't wait to see the dragon

[shortfuse]

John, first off I want to commend you for expressing your concerns for you, your property, and your neighbors' properties and lives regarding using a solid fuel forge during extreme fire danger times. If more people would exercise your thoughts during those times (or anytime, for that matter) you would have far fewer forest and brush fires. Your firefighting background is good experience to reflect back on.

Moving onward, your explanations and demonstrations of the properties, advantages and disadvantages of wrought iron compared to modern mild steel are exceptional. They should help many smiths in their endeavors to work with WI. I have forged wrought iron and it is indeed a different animal.

I don't know how you managed to hammer that long with each heat using that 4# hammer. My arm started to wither after about 30 seconds!!

[OuroborosArmory]

Nice to see the individual tools all do the same thing, and see how well they work

[bogomir]

Very nice John! Definitely a project I am looking forward to see more episodes off.

[IvyCreek-]

I was just starting to get a little bored with this video and right when I was about to turn it off you come out with the big guns and I mean all of them!!
Thanks a bunch John!

[TomokosEnterprize]

Great to see this project get underway. You make a fine teacher my friend.

[kathyskaggs]

Finding videos forging wrought iron are few and far between. I have old wagon wheel tires that i scored and have been looking for videos on how to work the wrought iron. Thank you!

[mcarroll]

Hey John, thanks for the anvil advice earlier. This afternoon i picked up an 1889 fisher #5. Can't wait to get it all cleaned up and put it to work.

[tomcarlson]

I really enjoyed watching you use the different power equipment. Also explanation of wrought iron charactics. Side note, could you show and explain sometime how to change the angle of hammer blows to get metal to move.

[x]

Another really great video John. I knew that working wrought iron was different but I had no idea how. The different examples that you gave were fascinating. The bottle opener comment was especially interesting. I am looking forward to the rest of the series.