How To Make Brass Knuckles, From Bullet Shells

for this video I’m going to show you how

for this video I’m going to show you how to convert a few fistfuls of empty

to convert a few fistfuls of empty

to convert a few fistfuls of empty bullet casings into a decorative set of

bullet casings into a decorative set of

bullet casings into a decorative set of multi-purpose paper weights using a bit

multi-purpose paper weights using a bit

multi-purpose paper weights using a bit of styrofoam a little ingenuity and a

of styrofoam a little ingenuity and a

of styrofoam a little ingenuity and a whole lot of firepower to start this

whole lot of firepower to start this

whole lot of firepower to start this project you might want to check the

project you might want to check the

project you might want to check the legalities of making these artfully

legalities of making these artfully

legalities of making these artfully disguised paperweights where you are

disguised paperweights where you are

disguised paperweights where you are brass knuckles are banned in quite a few

brass knuckles are banned in quite a few

brass knuckles are banned in quite a few places and if that’s the case where you

places and if that’s the case where you

places and if that’s the case where you live then don’t make your knuckles out

live then don’t make your knuckles out

live then don’t make your knuckles out of brass

of brass

of brass all right let’s kick things off with a

all right let’s kick things off with a

all right let’s kick things off with a few handfuls of bullet shells I salvaged

few handfuls of bullet shells I salvaged

few handfuls of bullet shells I salvaged these brass casings from a local

these brass casings from a local

these brass casings from a local shooting range so there aren’t any

shooting range so there aren’t any

shooting range so there aren’t any bullets in them you can tell the primers

bullets in them you can tell the primers

bullets in them you can tell the primers been fired as well which is important

been fired as well which is important

been fired as well which is important now let’s fire up the mini metal foundry

now let’s fire up the mini metal foundry

now let’s fire up the mini metal foundry I showed you how to make in a previous

I showed you how to make in a previous

I showed you how to make in a previous project and toss the empty shells inside

project and toss the empty shells inside

project and toss the empty shells inside to get them warming up now a lot of

to get them warming up now a lot of

to get them warming up now a lot of people have asked whether this

people have asked whether this

people have asked whether this improvised backyard foundry can actually

improvised backyard foundry can actually

improvised backyard foundry can actually get hot enough to melt brass and the

get hot enough to melt brass and the

get hot enough to melt brass and the answer is yeah time out brass no problem

answer is yeah time out brass no problem

answer is yeah time out brass no problem in fact you can melt copper silver and

in fact you can melt copper silver and

in fact you can melt copper silver and even gold without any trouble at all and

even gold without any trouble at all and

even gold without any trouble at all and the best part is you can do it on

the best part is you can do it on

the best part is you can do it on propane propane burns clean costless and

propane propane burns clean costless and

propane propane burns clean costless and melts metal way faster than charcoal

melts metal way faster than charcoal

melts metal way faster than charcoal does but you do need a specially

does but you do need a specially

does but you do need a specially designed jet torch to balance the fueled

designed jet torch to balance the fueled

designed jet torch to balance the fueled air ratios and make it work properly

air ratios and make it work properly

air ratios and make it work properly this is the design I came up with and

this is the design I came up with and

this is the design I came up with and I’ll show you how to make this gasps

I’ll show you how to make this gasps

I’ll show you how to make this gasps blaster torch in another project video

blaster torch in another project video

blaster torch in another project video now it’s only been about eight minutes

now it’s only been about eight minutes

now it’s only been about eight minutes but peeking inside the foundry you can

but peeking inside the foundry you can

but peeking inside the foundry you can see that amazingly the Processing’s have

see that amazingly the Processing’s have

see that amazingly the Processing’s have already melted down and liquefied

already melted down and liquefied

already melted down and liquefied completely that’s really impressive

completely that’s really impressive

completely that’s really impressive considering the melting point of brass

considering the melting point of brass

considering the melting point of brass is around 1700 degrees Fahrenheit and

is around 1700 degrees Fahrenheit and

is around 1700 degrees Fahrenheit and the foundry was cold when we started

the foundry was cold when we started

the foundry was cold when we started less than 10 minutes ago the liquid

less than 10 minutes ago the liquid

less than 10 minutes ago the liquid metal is bubbling because brass is a

metal is bubbling because brass is a

metal is bubbling because brass is a mixture of copper and zinc and at least

mixture of copper and zinc and at least

mixture of copper and zinc and at least temperatures the zinc is starting to

temperatures the zinc is starting to

temperatures the zinc is starting to boil and vaporize right out of the mix

boil and vaporize right out of the mix

boil and vaporize right out of the mix we don’t really want that to happen but

we don’t really want that to happen but

we don’t really want that to happen but luckily there’s an easy way to stop it I

luckily there’s an easy way to stop it I

luckily there’s an easy way to stop it I went to the dollar store and picked up a

went to the dollar store and picked up a

went to the dollar store and picked up a bottle of cockroach killer which you can

bottle of cockroach killer which you can

bottle of cockroach killer which you can see is actually just 100% boric acid if

see is actually just 100% boric acid if

see is actually just 100% boric acid if we sprinkle a generous amount of the

we sprinkle a generous amount of the

we sprinkle a generous amount of the white powder into the soup of molten

white powder into the soup of molten

white powder into the soup of molten metal we can sit back and watch it do

metal we can sit back and watch it do

metal we can sit back and watch it do the dirty work for us Ora Cassatt helps

the dirty work for us Ora Cassatt helps

the dirty work for us Ora Cassatt helps clean the metals by absorbing impurities

clean the metals by absorbing impurities

clean the metals by absorbing impurities and helping prevent new oxide layers

and helping prevent new oxide layers

and helping prevent new oxide layers from forming on the surface and if you

from forming on the surface and if you

from forming on the surface and if you put it in before you fire up the foundry

put it in before you fire up the foundry

put it in before you fire up the foundry it’ll melt your metal even faster and

it’ll melt your metal even faster and

it’ll melt your metal even faster and help keep the zinc from boiling off as

help keep the zinc from boiling off as

help keep the zinc from boiling off as well okay the crucibles full and

well okay the crucibles full and

well okay the crucibles full and everything’s completely liquefied but

everything’s completely liquefied but

everything’s completely liquefied but before we pour the metal it’s a good

before we pour the metal it’s a good

before we pour the metal it’s a good idea to scrape any gunk off the top and

idea to scrape any gunk off the top and

idea to scrape any gunk off the top and clean it up a bit I typically use a pair

clean it up a bit I typically use a pair

clean it up a bit I typically use a pair of old steel tongs for skimming the slag

of old steel tongs for skimming the slag

of old steel tongs for skimming the slag but you can use anything you want as

but you can use anything you want as

but you can use anything you want as long as

long as

long as made of steel and you don’t ever plan on

made of steel and you don’t ever plan on

made of steel and you don’t ever plan on using it for anything else I went ahead

using it for anything else I went ahead

using it for anything else I went ahead and poured these liquefied bullet shells

and poured these liquefied bullet shells

and poured these liquefied bullet shells into a beat-up old muffin tray then ngoc

into a beat-up old muffin tray then ngoc

into a beat-up old muffin tray then ngoc thien gets out and let them cool into a

thien gets out and let them cool into a

thien gets out and let them cool into a stack of mini brass biscuits now to

stack of mini brass biscuits now to

stack of mini brass biscuits now to transform these heavy metal muffins into

transform these heavy metal muffins into

transform these heavy metal muffins into fistfuls of defensive jewelry we’ll need

fistfuls of defensive jewelry we’ll need

fistfuls of defensive jewelry we’ll need a Styrofoam cutting template like this

a Styrofoam cutting template like this

a Styrofoam cutting template like this one I made in Photoshop if you want a

one I made in Photoshop if you want a

one I made in Photoshop if you want a copy just check the description and

copy just check the description and

copy just check the description and download it for free

download it for free

download it for free glue the paper template to two layers of

glue the paper template to two layers of

glue the paper template to two layers of dollars to our foam board then carefully

dollars to our foam board then carefully

dollars to our foam board then carefully cut it all out a cool trick to cutting

cut it all out a cool trick to cutting

cut it all out a cool trick to cutting the finger holes is to simply heat one

the finger holes is to simply heat one

the finger holes is to simply heat one of the leftover casings and push it

of the leftover casings and push it

of the leftover casings and push it straight into the foam with just a touch

straight into the foam with just a touch

straight into the foam with just a touch you’ll see it melts perfect circle’s all

you’ll see it melts perfect circle’s all

you’ll see it melts perfect circle’s all by itself an even better way to slice

by itself an even better way to slice

by itself an even better way to slice foam is with a hot wire foam cutter like

foam is with a hot wire foam cutter like

foam is with a hot wire foam cutter like this one I made from cheap and commonly

this one I made from cheap and commonly

this one I made from cheap and commonly available materials

available materials

available materials this styro-slicer’ uses electricity to

this styro-slicer’ uses electricity to

this styro-slicer’ uses electricity to quickly and accurately trace the edges

quickly and accurately trace the edges

quickly and accurately trace the edges of paper templates without cutting the

of paper templates without cutting the

of paper templates without cutting the paper itself that means you can use

paper itself that means you can use

paper itself that means you can use styrofoam to make just about anything

styrofoam to make just about anything

styrofoam to make just about anything you can think of so watch for how to

you can think of so watch for how to

you can think of so watch for how to build the styro-slicer’ in another

build the styro-slicer’ in another

build the styro-slicer’ in another project video okay now that we’ve got

project video okay now that we’ve got

project video okay now that we’ve got our foam knuckles carved out the next

our foam knuckles carved out the next

our foam knuckles carved out the next step is to glue two styrofoam risers to

step is to glue two styrofoam risers to

step is to glue two styrofoam risers to either side of the base and bury it in a

either side of the base and bury it in a

either side of the base and bury it in a bucket of sand I filled a small trash

bucket of sand I filled a small trash

bucket of sand I filled a small trash bin half full of commonplace and then

bin half full of commonplace and then

bin half full of commonplace and then gently nestled the foam knuckles down

gently nestled the foam knuckles down

gently nestled the foam knuckles down into the loose layer on the top from

into the loose layer on the top from

into the loose layer on the top from here all we need to do is add a bit more

here all we need to do is add a bit more

here all we need to do is add a bit more sand to fill the bucket the rest of the

sand to fill the bucket the rest of the

sand to fill the bucket the rest of the way then give it a little shake so the

way then give it a little shake so the

way then give it a little shake so the sand levels itself out exposing the foam

sand levels itself out exposing the foam

sand levels itself out exposing the foam risers at the top now we’re going to

risers at the top now we’re going to

risers at the top now we’re going to need a way to funnel the streams of

need a way to funnel the streams of

need a way to funnel the streams of molten metal into the foam risers so try

molten metal into the foam risers so try

molten metal into the foam risers so try packing a little wet sand on top then

packing a little wet sand on top then

packing a little wet sand on top then shaping it into little craters a couple

shaping it into little craters a couple

shaping it into little craters a couple inches deep do one for each side and

inches deep do one for each side and

inches deep do one for each side and with that finished it’s time to

with that finished it’s time to

with that finished it’s time to transform our styrofoam investment into

transform our styrofoam investment into

transform our styrofoam investment into solid brass remelt the brass then

solid brass remelt the brass then

solid brass remelt the brass then carefully pour the glowing hot liquid

carefully pour the glowing hot liquid

carefully pour the glowing hot liquid into one of the craters where you can

into one of the craters where you can

into one of the craters where you can see the extreme heat vaporizes the foam

see the extreme heat vaporizes the foam

see the extreme heat vaporizes the foam in an instant this allows liquid metal

in an instant this allows liquid metal

in an instant this allows liquid metal to flow down and fill all the empty

to flow down and fill all the empty

to flow down and fill all the empty spaces and if you quickly and carefully

spaces and if you quickly and carefully

spaces and if you quickly and carefully pour the other side as well you’ll have

pour the other side as well you’ll have

pour the other side as well you’ll have a much better chance of success on the

a much better chance of success on the

a much better chance of success on the first try the metal only needs around

first try the metal only needs around

first try the metal only needs around five to ten minutes to cool down so feel

five to ten minutes to cool down so feel

five to ten minutes to cool down so feel free to pull it out and take a look just

free to pull it out and take a look just

free to pull it out and take a look just be careful not to touch it because it’s

be careful not to touch it because it’s

be careful not to touch it because it’s still extremely hot I cooled mine in a

still extremely hot I cooled mine in a

still extremely hot I cooled mine in a bucket of water then chopped the risers

bucket of water then chopped the risers

bucket of water then chopped the risers off with a hacksaw and just like that

off with a hacksaw and just like that

off with a hacksaw and just like that we’ve got ourselves a crude but very

we’ve got ourselves a crude but very

we’ve got ourselves a crude but very cool looking brass casting now just for

cool looking brass casting now just for

cool looking brass casting now just for fun I wondered how this thing would look

fun I wondered how this thing would look

fun I wondered how this thing would look cleaned up a bit so I clapped it my

cleaned up a bit so I clapped it my

cleaned up a bit so I clapped it my bench vise and worked it over a few

bench vise and worked it over a few

bench vise and worked it over a few times with metal files and some

times with metal files and some

times with metal files and some grain sandpaper and bam there it is just

grain sandpaper and bam there it is just

grain sandpaper and bam there it is just like that we’ve got ourselves a smooth

like that we’ve got ourselves a smooth

like that we’ve got ourselves a smooth and shiny brass paw which for some

and shiny brass paw which for some

and shiny brass paw which for some reason feels really comfortable and

reason feels really comfortable and

reason feels really comfortable and strangely empowering this piece of

strangely empowering this piece of

strangely empowering this piece of defensive jewelry has a really nice

defensive jewelry has a really nice

defensive jewelry has a really nice weight to it because it was designed to

weight to it because it was designed to

weight to it because it was designed to fit my hand it really does feel amazing

fit my hand it really does feel amazing

fit my hand it really does feel amazing but it’s important to note these aren’t

but it’s important to note these aren’t

but it’s important to note these aren’t intended to be used as weapons instead I

intended to be used as weapons instead I

intended to be used as weapons instead I like to think of them more as

like to think of them more as

like to think of them more as multifunctional paperweights buff to a

multifunctional paperweights buff to a

multifunctional paperweights buff to a mirror finish and design to occupy my

mirror finish and design to occupy my

mirror finish and design to occupy my workspace as dangerously elegant decor

workspace as dangerously elegant decor

workspace as dangerously elegant decor now just to push the boundaries a little

now just to push the boundaries a little

now just to push the boundaries a little further I stopped by an alternative

further I stopped by an alternative

further I stopped by an alternative clothing store and picked up a spike

clothing store and picked up a spike

clothing store and picked up a spike studded choker collar so I guess you

studded choker collar so I guess you

studded choker collar so I guess you could say things are getting pretty

could say things are getting pretty

could say things are getting pretty serious let’s unscrew six of the

serious let’s unscrew six of the

serious let’s unscrew six of the aluminum spikes and screw them into the

aluminum spikes and screw them into the

aluminum spikes and screw them into the brass workpiece instead just to make the

brass workpiece instead just to make the

brass workpiece instead just to make the whole thing look absolutely mental the

whole thing look absolutely mental the

whole thing look absolutely mental the six holes were drilled using a 5/32 inch

six holes were drilled using a 5/32 inch

six holes were drilled using a 5/32 inch bit then tapped with a number 1032

bit then tapped with a number 1032

bit then tapped with a number 1032 thread so I could secure each of the

thread so I could secure each of the

thread so I could secure each of the metal spikes tightly to the brass it’s

metal spikes tightly to the brass it’s

metal spikes tightly to the brass it’s beautiful it’s dangerous and it’s

beautiful it’s dangerous and it’s

beautiful it’s dangerous and it’s incredibly durable and to go one step

incredibly durable and to go one step

incredibly durable and to go one step further I went ahead and made another

further I went ahead and made another

further I went ahead and made another one the exact same way well now you know

one the exact same way well now you know

one the exact same way well now you know how to transform a few handfuls of scrap

how to transform a few handfuls of scrap

how to transform a few handfuls of scrap bullet casings into a custom pair of

bullet casings into a custom pair of

bullet casings into a custom pair of fancy and dangerously decorative solid

fancy and dangerously decorative solid

fancy and dangerously decorative solid brass paperweights they are a lot of

brass paperweights they are a lot of

brass paperweights they are a lot of work to make but the feeling of creation

work to make but the feeling of creation

work to make but the feeling of creation and accomplishment is all worth it by

and accomplishment is all worth it by

and accomplishment is all worth it by the way if you’re up for another

the way if you’re up for another

the way if you’re up for another challenge try making my mini Master

challenge try making my mini Master

challenge try making my mini Master Sword I cast this golden sword from

Sword I cast this golden sword from

Sword I cast this golden sword from styrofoam as well and you can find the

styrofoam as well and you can find the

styrofoam as well and you can find the template for how to make it in another

template for how to make it in another

template for how to make it in another project video well that’s it for now if

project video well that’s it for now if

project video well that’s it for now if you liked this project perhaps you’ll

you liked this project perhaps you’ll

you liked this project perhaps you’ll like some of my others check them out at

like some of my others check them out at

like some of my others check them out at the king of random calm hey guys I hope

the king of random calm hey guys I hope

the king of random calm hey guys I hope you learn something new or at least saw

you learn something new or at least saw

you learn something new or at least saw something you like thank you so much for

something you like thank you so much for

something you like thank you so much for watching and sharing my videos that is

watching and sharing my videos that is

watching and sharing my videos that is exactly why you were the best now if

exactly why you were the best now if

exactly why you were the best now if you’re in the mood to see another

you’re in the mood to see another

you’re in the mood to see another project video just click here to go back

project video just click here to go back

project video just click here to go back one or here to go forward you can also

one or here to go forward you can also

one or here to go forward you can also see some my other favorite projects by

see some my other favorite projects by

see some my other favorite projects by clicking on any of these if clicking the

clicking on any of these if clicking the

clicking on any of these if clicking the screen isn’t working just look down in

screen isn’t working just look down in

screen isn’t working just look down in the description I’ve put all the links

the description I’ve put all the links

the description I’ve put all the links down there as well including links to

down there as well including links to

down there as well including links to some my favorite playlists thanks again

some my favorite playlists thanks again

some my favorite playlists thanks again for watching sharing and supporting my

for watching sharing and supporting my

for watching sharing and supporting my videos and I’ll see you in the next one

videos and I’ll see you in the next one

videos and I’ll see you in the next one talk to you then

talk to you then

talk to you then [Music]