Making hooks is a good way to stretch your mental and physical muscles while learning blacksmithing. They tend to use small amounts of material, come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and specific dimensions are usually not an issue so random pieces of steel can be used as a source.
John Switzer, author on the Black Bear Forge YouTube Channel, just completed a year long “Hook of the Week” series in which he created a new and different hook design and published a video on same every Sunday. I collected the list of the 53 hooks (yes 53 - he published two different Week 10 videos). I’ve included them below, along with a link to the Flickr Album “366 Hooks” by Matt Jenkins of Cloverdale Forge, in which Matt made a new hook every day for a (leap) year. The latter was the inspiration for the BBF series and is also well worth it for an inspirational look.
Black Bear Forge “Hook of the Week” Series
Week Hook Type URL
1 Simple Tulip Finial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytwh4BKzD2Y
2 Swivel Mount Ceiling Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3vzhfECad4
3 Heart Finial Wall Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXHlxNqvnCc
4 Inverted Plant Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_DPVSqgv-g
5 Coat Hooks on a Backplate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKZA5PiZIEU
6 Twisted Double Hook (Octopus Hook) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BAwgk_Ou0E
7 Bar and Pipe Swivel Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vABD65ZteCQ
8 Tong Half Wall Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiUCGhS89Dw
9 Square Tubing Hook Under the Hydraulic Press https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHV9nfOrpBk
10 Angle Iron Shelf and Key Hooks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRBcpD8bcgI
(also) 10 Split and Scrolled Top Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FhwcvLqvPI
11 Angle Iron Feather Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxaXcZWO7WM
12 Forge Welded Double Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWZACyevkrc
13 Eye Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K2-lYAehUg
14 Spade Finial Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQYpQefUpQQ
15 Forging a Hook From Scrap https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO8udncX4mk
16 Mouse Tail Hooks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJQkzeLcjOk
17 Forge Welded Scroll Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KSIW993sDU
18 Rudy’s Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2UTIR7MKH4
19 Fire Tool Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Nkeh3YGW84
20 Drive Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXe1JwzeWx4
21 Heart Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0kx8GFG3VA
22 Coat Hook With Diamond Backplate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ph0vixCASw
23 Nail as a Hook (With a Face) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH8Vl6EPuvc
24 Assorted Angle Iron Hooks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRDy-E9sdLE
25 Four Way Split Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVXkUd4XLwI
26 Special Purpose Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTjEN24kU-Y
27 Interlocking Wrap https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxpBbGUJttw
28 Trammel Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzZJmGgj8YQ
29 Railroad Spike Hooks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BzLu74l0eQ
30 Square Knot Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCF8KlfGxWs
31 Pierced One Piece Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCUyUkaCWrk
32 Forge Welded Branch Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9508wTiOAy4
33 Railroad Spike Drive Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I1pGGdlfYQ
34 Forged Ceiling Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTcx-P4LpXs
35 Spiral Top Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejPmK0C1NFk
36 Spiral Hook with Ball Finial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F6uFGedeXM
37 Horseshoe Nail Hooks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FCTdKkSyoY
38 Chiseled Decorative Elements Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQdAK_hztmU
39 Plant Hanging Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okedV1wkJlU
40 Split Backplate Coat Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNifo3lqaBY
41 Joes Rail Spike Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVTNcYg55k4
42 Coat Hanger https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIT9wh0QytU
43 Ceiling Hook with Integral Mounting Flange https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PH7bw-IIA
44 Forged Key Hook with Shelf for Wallet or Phone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci7Z5E884M0
45 Decorative Finial with Teardrop Punches https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1_fwjmm_ls
46 Rafter Tail Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPSG2CInxZM
47 Longhorn Steer Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7-r8p1saIk
48 Split Cross Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahMrbbQYyxc
49 A Tale of Three Hooks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=214hyjmslFY
50 A Place to Hang Your Hat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWcezIvrWVo
51 Welded Double Hook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2GOP9EjY80
52 Hook of the Week final episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgY2e_5fvHM
Bonus Sometimes You Just Need to Start Over https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn6wEEX7tN0
This series was inspired by Matt Jenkins of Cloverdale Forge’s “366 Hooks” series from 2016
https://www.flickr.com/photos/cloverdaleforge/sets/72157678651367780/