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In this video the viewer learns the steps in creating several novelty animal heads out of square stock and a novelty horse out of a horseshoe (Epps began his career as a farrier). The artist also discusses ideas on applications for the items shown. A “chalkboard’ segment introduces each item, breaking down the process of creating the heads and showing how the shape of the steel should change in each step. Epps includes tips on technique, including a discussion of the molecular structure of steel and why a smith makes his steel “square, then round�?, and how to use a cross-peen hammer correctly. Forge-welding can be clearly seen in the making of one of the pieces, and Epps gives tips to the beginning blacksmith on how to get a good forge weld.
Making Tongs shows the blacksmith making three different styles of tong joints with three different tong heads. First we see the Twisted Joint/ Scrolling Head tong, then the Traditional Joint/ Wolf-jaw tong and finally the “Champion� Joint /Bolt Head tong. Epps also shows a variety of other specialty tongs he has made, and discusses the importance of a blacksmith being able to make his own tools. Tips such as how to quench moving parts will help the student blacksmith avoid frustrating mistakes in his own shop. The viewer sees the artist using a power hammer in this video to draw out tool handles, as well. As in the first video, Forged Animal Heads, the directors use careful editing, good voice-over enhancement and a “chalkboard� segment before every piece demonstrated, to help the viewer duplicate Epps’ techniques.
(about 32 minutes)
Third in a series, this video features Bill Epps, a Mesquite, Texas blacksmith, demonstrating some of the techniques for making flower and leaf motifs for decorative projects. There are 5 leaves and 5 flowers demonstrated, including several ways of cutting veins into a leaf, folding and shaping the leaf form, and specific blossoms such as a rose, a morning glory, a dogwood blossom and a calla lily. Epps shows how to achieve surface texturing on leaves and petals to give a more naturalistic finish to the product, and discusses the merits of giving just the inference of a specific species, rather than trying for exact replication. The use of the guillotine tool, or top/bottom fuller, is shown. Applications for the individual items shown are discussed, and the viewer is encouraged to find his or her own ways of using these beautiful decorative details. Skilled photography and editing, and a working knowledge of the subject matter are evident in this video, as in all the others by Love of Art Productions. The professional or hobbyist blacksmith will want to add these techniques to his or her repertoire.
(about 52 minutes)
Continuing in the vein of its companion video, Leaves and Flowers, this tape demonstrates some insect and bird motifs that can be used and adapted for whimsical decorative work and garden-themed pieces. Epps is shown creating critters such as a scorpion, a garden snail and a dragonfly, as well as a hummingbird and two types of swans. These projects range from the extremely simple to the complex , and offer a quick way to add lots of ornamental appeal to a decorative project. Some of these items are used by the artist at demos as quick crowd-pleasers as well, taking only two or three heats to complete. A brief “chalkboard� segment enhances the viewer's learning opportunity by outlining the steps in creating each item, and enhanced video and sound make Epps’ instructions clear and easy to follow.
(about 37 minutes)
This video was added to our catalog on February 16, 2006 in Metalworking::Blacksmithing.
Product availability: moderate wait
I rented the tong making video. Mr. Epps is clearly a talented blacksmith and his video is well made. Unfortunately, the video is a scant 30 minutes long and only gives a cursory demonstration of each of the three tong making techniques used. It's always interesting to watch a skilled craftsman at work, but I don't think that this video actually teaches much. -Chris
This video set is really for the intermediate to advanced blacksmith. It assumes that you already know the basics like hot cutting and forge welding so no explanation is given on how to do these things. It shows a lot of good tools and techniques that you may not have thought of as well a few important safety points.
The video quality is excellent and Bill Epps definitely knows what he is talking about. At times he seems almost bored with the subject matter though.
I was quite happy with these videos.
