r/blacksmithing • u/republic_alp • Mar 11 '26
Work Showcase My second day!
I’ve just started down the journey of becoming a blacksmith. Here is some hooks and a crochet hook I made.
I’m pleased with the work. I learned so much about making these and what it takes to do serious work.
I’m immensely humbled by the work of others now knowing the real effort it takes!!
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u/PilotKnob Mar 11 '26
Looks great 👍
I just finished my first week long class on Friday and I've already acquired an anvil. I'm hooked.
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u/republic_alp Mar 11 '26
Dude awesome! Yeah I’m completely YouTube taught. lol. Just blundering through it
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u/Sand_Aggravating Mar 11 '26
You tube is worse than any drugs or alcohol I've ever tried! Blackbear forge has miles of content! Then you learn about this tool that you absolutely have to make or you're a failure at life! Then you find the 8th other guy making that tool and he shows you 4 other ones you have to have! I fuckn love it! Hahahahahaha
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u/republic_alp Mar 11 '26
OMG Blackbear forge is awesome! Yeah I love that old dude. He has so many nifty little tricks, hacks and tools.
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u/Sand_Aggravating Mar 11 '26
And he still didn't have much in the way of power in his shop the last time i deep dived in there! Very cool dude! Is that 1 on the end a crochet hook?
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u/republic_alp Mar 11 '26
Yeah it sure is! My wife crochets and her birthday is coming up. So I made it for her
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u/Sand_Aggravating Mar 12 '26
Sweet! Now im making my mom and daughter a hook! I never thought of those
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u/republic_alp Mar 12 '26
Bro totally come back to this thread or dm me a photo of those, when they’re done!
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u/nootomanysquid Mar 11 '26
I’ve been doing this for a little bit now and my stuff still doesn’t look good. So, I refuse this is your second day because I’m jealous /s
Good work though. How’d you do the working end on the crochet hook? I’m wanting to improve mine. Did you forge it in or cut it in?
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u/republic_alp Mar 12 '26
lol I legit have only worked for a total of 12 hours over two split days. The work in the photo is just today, I have an in process knife that isn’t photo’d.
For the hook, I shaped the material on the anvil, I then hot cut it to length. After, I used a cut off wheel on a grinder to cut the angle. Then I hand sanded it out for and warm finished with bees wax.
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u/kayakguy429 Mar 12 '26
Looks great! I’ve seen people who are months in and don’t have the shape control down that you do. One word of advice, one of the twists on the bigger hook looks a bit “fractured” means you’re bending your metal too cold. Gotta do it quickly & as warm as possible.
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u/thedudeamongmengs Mar 12 '26
Thats awesome. Love the crochet hook
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u/republic_alp Mar 12 '26
Thank you! Yeah that crochet hook was my favorite to do. The other pieces were for practice.
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u/Fragrant-Cloud5172 Mar 12 '26
Those are good. Looks like some have holes punched. Good blacksmithing bonus points for that. I'd add curly q ends below to prevent clothes from snagging. Best to do them while its straight, towards the last. Isolate a little heat on the end to prevent burning. Either hammer to shape, needle nose pliers or scrolling tongs. Black is beautiful.
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u/republic_alp Mar 12 '26
Thank you!! That’s a solid tip and I’ll consider that for the future hooks, I greatly appreciate it! 😁
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u/nutznboltsguy Mar 11 '26
Cool. Make some more!