Chandler Dickinson "One Piece Wrench Sword" - Youtube Video

I was just looking at random videos on YouTube and this popped up. The guy takes an old ~2" double ended wrench and turns it into a sword. It's a long video, but interesting and personally I think it's worth the watch. The sword might be novelty, but I can't say I'd be upset with owning one. It actually turned out surprisingly nice for what it is.

Regardless, it's an interesting video that I'd figured I'd post the link to. It's fascinating the kinds of salvage and "junk yard" projects people come up with. I'd also like to hear some input on his quick-and-dirty hardness/temperable test, or any input people have on his process, in general.

I just now watched this video, and found it totally fascinating. This guy has some talent! I like the way he reclaimed the steel from the wrench 'jaw' back into the blade. That was a LOT of work. Just goes to show what some people can see in ordinary objects. With enough imagination and determination(and SWEAT), you can turn almost anything into something else entirely! Thank you for posting this. :) I believe I'll go out and do a bit of hammer-work this afternoon! :D .....McM

My wife accuses me of being a 'junk-yard pack-rat' because I will bring home bits of this and that. Things that I can see *possibly* made into something else. She always asks-"What the heck are you gonna do with that piece of junk?"---To which I reply-"I don't exactly know---YET.'' :lol: Just goes to prove the old saying--One man's trash is another man's treasure! :D My local scrapyard and the GoodWill store are my friends! :lol: ......McM

I recently bought two entire rolls...whole hides...of upholstery-grade finished leather from GoodWill...for $70. SCORE! :D Got plans for that stuff! ;) :D ......McM

Now that's what I call a real multitool!

I thought it would be cool if he used a round-end/open-end wrench and made a ring-pommel out of it. O==I======> :D ....McM

Yup....Everything you just said. You, sir, are a man after my own heart and mind. :lol: ....McM

I bet, with a couple'a beers and a couple'a hours....we could solve a lotta problems! :lol: :lol: ....McM

of the topic of junk yard steels. There is no reason for any begging smith to avoid junk yard steels. leaf springs coil springs, axles. I have personal worked with all while beginning the trade, and find no obvious flaws. old hammers old drill bits, cold chisels. all excellent tool steels.

but some of these are going to be a different qualities. The idea not to use a leaf spring for a sword or knife because it may have more imperfection or impurities in the steel . . . . i have not yet run into that case but i have not yet made a sword. typically, most manufactures are getting their 5160, or 1060 from the same mill that your going to buy your spring steel.

now I'm not saying, that if a customer asks for a blade of 5160 to jump on a coil spring, for a customer you always get the best of the best material to work with - they are paying for the best so its up to you to find the best. rather if I'm working with a design or need a quick tool, its' much easier to just make one up from a coil spring than to use something I'd rather reserve for a customer.


a wonderful junk yard steel if you can find it from old wrenches (which i think you find chrome vanadium on more recent stuff) is D2. massively awesome steel in my opinion, i have a hankering for finding an old wrench of d2 and jamming it into a axe body for the bit.

Yes, Daniel....D2 is great steel. I've worked with it before and had good results. I have also made knives and daggers using old chainsaw bars. The solid bars, with the chain groove milled in, make great blades. The chain groove can be ground away, leaving a solid 'billet' of steel. The steel is VERY hard, but slow grinding and frequent dunks in water will keep it that way. No need for heat-treating. If anything...heating it a bit to draw out some of the hardness might not be a bad idea. Shown below is a Scottish Dirk I made using a billet bar. Turned out pretty good, I think! :D .....McM

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It's hard to see from my BS computer camera photo, but the blade is double-edged a little over a third of the way from the point. Later on, when time and some new files allow, I'll do some decorative filing on the back spine. I hand-carved the grip from one solid piece of black walnut. I also did some wood-burning on the grip with a Scottish thistle on one side of the pommel and a 'trinity' motif on the other. I wore it with my kilt to Scarborough Faire one year and got FIVE offers to buy it...all of which I turned down. ;) It's a keeper. :) .....McM