Crossed Heart Forge

Photo Essay: Final Forging Day

Talented Vancouver Island photographer Jordan Wende stopped in at the Island Forge in mid-July to document the final forging session. In this installment of the series, using the mukozuchi hammer to perform wakashinobe in preparation for forging sunobe.

Photographed and edited by Jordan Wende

Interior Views

Heating a reclaimed steel billet in the charcoal forge.

Tim of Reforged Ironworks lends a hand with the mukozuchi sledge.

Working the billet towards the proper dimensions.

The low striking method is used for careful straightening between upsetting.

Demonstrating the use of the tebouki hand broom to control the work and protect from scale.

Heating the bar, view of tsuchikabe earthen walls in background.

Using water on the anvil to clean the forge scale off of the work.

Tim takes the role of smith for the next project using antique carriage spring.

Lengthening and thickening the bar.

At the ready between heats.

A decision is made to separate the bar from the rest of the spring.

The other end can now be heated and forged down more efficiently.

Wakashinobe draws out the bar in preparation for forming the sunobe.

The low striking method allows for great accuracy despite the weight of the mukozuchi hammer.

Approaching the final dimensions using a slightly smaller mukozuchi sledge.

Beginning to taper in preparation for sunobe.

Using a tezuchi hand hammer to finish the tapering.

Beginning to form the sunobe.

Discussing tanto geometry as the forge cools after a day’s work.

see the rest of the series

Posted

2020/07/10

in

Blacksmith Shop

by

davej

Tags:

collaboration, instruction, island forge, jordan wende