Crossed Heart Forge

Photo Essay: Museum Forge Visit

Talented LA-based photographer and aspiring bladesmith Jourdan Causey made a detour up to the Museum Forge on a very cool April morning to document the atmosphere as the first blade of the season was forged from century-old mining car rail in a fire fueled by charcoal made with brush cleared homestead branches.

Photographed and graded by Jourdan Causey

Lighting the Forge

The fuigo box bellows.

Hammers and anvil at the ready.

Laying the fire using charcoal and wood shavings.

Fuigo bellows supplying air to the fire.

Time for the first heat.

Forging a Blade

Heating scrap steel in the forge.

Later stages use water on the anvil to keep the steel clean and free from oxide scale.

Temperature of the metal is determined by colour.

Maintaining the fire while keeping an eye on the workpiece.

Swordsmithing forge fueled by charcoal.

In the heat of the moment.

…three months later…

See more photos of the process and the finished work.

Posted

2023/04/08

in

Blacksmith Shop

by

davej

Tags:

jourdan causey, museum forge