Rex Krueger patreon

Early Access Video: The Morning Star

🕑 Added 2020-12-05 12:01:00 +0000 UTC

Comments

Kyle Gilmar

The solution would be to cast the ball out of foam rubber/silicone. It's not too hard to do.

Daddykirbs

I loved it! Nice work. My brothers and I made all kinds of weapons back in the early 80s. Yep, we shot, poked, and hit each other with them too. Bruised and bloody at times, but we survived LOL. Those times make great (somewhat embellished) stories now. I wouldn't want to talk to my grandkids about the video games I conquered "back in my day". I'm glad you are such a thoughtful and giving uncle to help foster your nephews imagination. I'm also glad he has a mommy that is willing to take a chance and let him be a boy too.

Rex Krueger

Americans are very hesitant to ban weapons of any description. Honestly, this thing probably should be illegal.

Rex Krueger

Yup, it’s scary. I do not disagree.

Rex Krueger

I agree, but this is all he wants this year. Fingers crossed!

Rex Krueger

I fenced for a little while! (Never really took to it).

Rex Krueger

I don't give toys that take batteries. I'm a human being!

Rex Krueger

That's not a bad idea....

Rex Krueger

Honestly, I’ve always felt that this series should do big numbers…and then each video comes out and I’m disappointed. That’s the game.

Rex Krueger

Man, I made an Excalibur too! I really treasured that thing. Later, I got really into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. You can imagine where that went….

Rex Krueger

I’m honestly quite nervous about him hurting himself, but his mom said it’s literally the only gift he’s really talking about this year, and I’m kind of a sucker.

Rex Krueger

These things happen to all of us! I’m sure you’ll make something great next year.

Rex Krueger

I appreciate that!

Rex Krueger

Thank you!

Rex Krueger

Man, the nomenclature of all this gets confusing! I don’t think I’m going to do plans. It’s a lot of work and I don’t think a lot of people would buy them.

Rex Krueger

Uh, that kind of stuff does not improve my day.

Rex Krueger

Thank you!

Rex Krueger

With a little bracket I made. You can see it towards the end of the video.

Rex Krueger

I certainly hope to do more smithing videos in the future!

Rex Krueger

I couldn’t agree more! I do this every year and it never gets old!

Rex Krueger

Mild steel is also called 1018. It’s a low-carbon alloy with nothing but iron and carbon in it. Almost everything made out of steel that isn’t a tool is made out of mild steel. Scratching it with a file won’t tell you much, because that just shows whether the steel has been hardened or not; it won’t tell you what alloy you’re dealing with. Metallurgy is a big topic and I only know a little!

Rex Krueger

Hopefully, there will be more blacksmithing in future videos!

Deron Kosloski

P.Finger is correct, A morning star is a spiked Ball on a Shaft.

David Coxon

Just the screams of the kids who get hit

P.Finger

Nice one Rex, my boy would love this thing, but I feel your safety concerns. Still my nephew got a Zelda-Style Sword which is 2/3 of his height for his birthday. Sorry to be the smart ass here, but this is what you call a flail. This gets confused very often, people remember the name morning star better because it sounds more awesome, I guess. The flail was developed from the flail for thrashing corn. And thus being the one with the cain. The Morningstar came from the cub of which’s end was spiked of some sort.

James Boatright

And we were born free...

James Boatright

Kids play, kids get hurt. If the hurt doesn't involve the ER it's an easy learning experience.

Kyle Gilmar

Fun fact: this is a prohibited weapon in Canada. SOR-98/462, Part 3, Section 14: "The device commonly known as a “Morning Star” and any similar device consisting of a ball of metal or other heavy material, studded with spikes and connected to a handle by a length of chain, rope or other flexible material."

Dan Miller

That flail scares the S*** out of me. One swing and goodbye to the TV, window, cat/dog. Just plain terrifying. Enjoyed the build but, man, I can't believe the mom is good with this. And I have many years experience doing armor and weapons at the original Renaissance Faire in southern California.

Jeff Stauffer

I shudder to think what would have happened if my boys would have ever got a 'toy' like that. They almost killed themselves (and me) with pool noodles!

Spencer Stephens

I think that's called a flail, when there's a chain on it.

Abhorsen Ailin

Looking forward to armor video😁

Todd Maurer

Loved the video. I learned riveting and ball turning in a one sweet video. I hate to be a kill joy but what is manufactured in the video isn’t technically a Morningstar. Mount the ball with spikes on the wooden haft and you have a morning star. Put the spiked ball on a chair and you have a flail. BTW, my son was 10 and into dragons and medieval weapons and so forth. My wife got a Groupon for an epee lesson. 10 years and he hasn't stopped fencing!

The Super-wrench Garage

Rex great job! Way to be Uncle of the year! All it needs is a longer chain and you have a wepon of mass destruction wielded by an 8 year old. On the positive side it has no batteries to make obnoxious noise!

Matt Evans-Koch

Great video Rex. Liked the turning of the ball a lot. Now you need to make a wooden suit of armor for your nephew using carved scales with leather binding. ;^) Take care and have a great week ahead.

Wayne

Great problem solving video I really enjoyed it, unsure why this style of presentation is your least popular as it seems to fit a wood working theme with extra bits😁.

Sean O'Neill

Ah, Rex! This reminds me of the days of yore when I wasn’t making things like this for my nephew, but for my 12 year old self. I loved medieval legend and history, knights and the weaponry they used. Probably some of the first “woodworking” I did was making my own version of Excalibur, as well as morning stars and shields, etc. I also like the metal forge work that you’re doing and I’d like to do some of that myself. Probably from all the metal chips that got imbedded in me back doing machinist work years ago, I think metal work is imbedded in me, too. But in all seriousness, there is a time when we are limited in resources and have to “figure it out” and break out the propane torch and go to town for certain projects. I like how you brought it all together. Thanks!!

John Kiernan

I love the project it uses a number of different skills, however I hope someone will supervise the young man. I worry that toy? will hurt someone.

The Poor Man

I haven't watched this yet, due to today being my daughter's birthday. Just wanted to say that alas I am not able to make gifts for anyone this year. I was going to then September hit and bad luck started so I have been on weight and work restrictions since September 4th. However as soon as they are gone im just going to start next years presents that way if bad luck returns im very well prepared

Gareth McMahon

Hey man that is a simple(ish) but amazing build. Well done and a lucky nephew!

Russell

If you can scratch it with a file, it is mild steel I believe. It's not hardened.

Andrew Waddington

Another fantastic and fun video. Thank you. Nice also to see the lathe in action.

Michael Bennett

Another great video. Have you thought about putting together a plan bundle for these "toys"? Maybe call it the "Medieval Mayhem for Kids" bundle? If you need ideas for more "mayhem", maybe a warhammer (a mallet with a long handle (maybe a spike on the end), or a Viking-style ax. Using Padauk for the edges seems like it would make a great feature as well, the red of the wood simulating blood and also acting as a warning (!! Warning: Semi-sharp edge !!) And to answer @Andrew More, it's been called many things. Nobles tended to call it a Morningstar or a Ball & Chain, so as not to be confused with the lowly peasant's implement. While a Morningstar (or Morgenstern) was used to describe any weapon with a ball covered in spikes. And a Mace was any stick with a heavy ball with spikes (or not), and attached by a chain (or not).

Brett Masek

Just about any steel you get from the steel supplier or home center is mild steel. It is the most common to buy. Anything else will be called something different, and cost lots more!

Bas Vermeyden

I did have to anneal them first, but all I did for that was wrap a bunch together with with and chuck it in the fireplace 😂 I'm sure you could accomplish the same result with a blowtorch much faster though

Bill Smithem

Thank you! It never occurred to me that large nails would make good rivets. I have a plentiful supply and will have to give it a try.

Andrew More

Oh boy, now you've done it. In before somebody points out that that is a flail, and a morning star is attached to the shaft, and D&D got it wrong. :)

Kevin S Thomas

Nice! I like the blend of wood and metal work. Looks like a great "boys" toy. You used some unique problem solving too.

Jerry Moomaw

How did you attach the ball?

Bas Vermeyden

What a fun project :) I've done similar rivets before as well, though all I had on hand were large nails. Would love to see more projects that involve blacksmithing in the future!

Christian Engelund

I love the work! I really need to up my game here... Gotta point out though that a morning star is a long haft with a spiked ball on it - if a chain is involved, it's a flail :-)

Bill Smithem

Fun build. I'm planning on building a cigar box guitar for one of my grandsons. Small child sized, more like a cigar box mando-guitar, with a 15 inch scale. At this point I extremely doubt it will be ready by Christmas, but I'm hoping he'll like it. Making stuff for people, particularly children, is very rewarding.

Kirk von der Heydt

I liked the integration of blacksmithing into the woodworking. I'm going to have to start doing some of this. The rivets are especially interesting. You say "mild steel". How does one know if the chunk of metal they have is mild or not-so-mild?