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Making a Swordsmith Anvil from Scrap
A Japanese swordsmith style anvil made from junkyard scrap. The two side pieces are cast steel or iron John Deere 8255C rear counterweights from a shovel dozer. They weigh about 200-240lbs each and measure about 2 1/8″ x 14 3/4″ x 25″. There is a ‘T’ shaped face and stem that extends to the ground…
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Building a Traditional Swordsmith Forge
Traditional Japanese swordsmithing forges are purpose-built with certain design elements specific to the tasks involved in tanren and hizukuri. This article will discuss several of the features that are common to this type of construction and follow the process of crafting a swordsmith’s forge at a museum on Vancouver Island. (see the updated workspace) Most…
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Field Trip To A Bladesmith’s Forge
A workshop visit from the The Samurai Carpenter
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Testing Bladesmithing Charcoal
A comparison of proper softwood blacksmithing / bladesmithing charcoal with “overcooked” high temperature charcoal which is best suited for biochar applications. Bladesmithing charcoal tests: 1. hard and clean, not crumbly and dusty 2. dense and solid, not spongy and blown out 3. musical and ringing when tapped, not dead and dull 4. burns with a…
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Soul of Steel Documentary
Here are some excerpts of my segment from Soul of Steel which includes footage from the forge as well as an interview. Thanks to Rolfe and the Todd who came all the way out to the forest and did a great job of sharing the process and vibe of the workshop with folks in Calgary.…
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Making a Bamboo Water Scoop for Water Forging
Forging with a thin film of water on the anvil and hammer prevents forge scale or oxide from being hammered into the surface of the steel. The hot steel instantly vaporizes the water and the resulting steam explosion blows the scale off of the work, keeping it clean as it is worked. This type of…
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You Need A Swordsmith’s Fuigo Box Bellows
Japanese style box bellows (fukisashi/吹差鞴) reached their current and finalized form by about the sixth century. They are constructed almost entirely of wood and allow a smith to supply a highly controlled air blast to the forge by pulling and pushing the handle slowly back and forth. Using dual chambers and two sets of valves,…
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Crossed Heart Forge Maker Video By Stria
Created by team Stria
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Making Charcoal for Blacksmithing
More about making softwood charcoal: How Charcoal is Made
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Forged from Farm Scrap – the Culinary Knife Project
Forging a spring tip cheese knife, along with some finished works from the Culinary Project.
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Chopping charcoal (sumi-kiri)
More about making blacksmithing charcoal: How Charcoal is Made
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You Need A Japanese Swordsmith’s Hammer
Three reasons why *you* need a Japanese swordsmith’s hammer for forging knives. Size – the small face is better suited for working on a narrow target, keeping the hammer from hitting the anvil as the bevel gets thinner Weight – though the face is small, the long body carries the weight of a much larger…
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Post Drill Repaired
Another piece of Canadian history is restored to working order and finds its place in the Island Blacksmith workflow. I have had an old hand powered post drill for about twenty years now, but have never made a hole with it. My long term list of things to do included refitting a modern keyed chuck…
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Portable Forge Stand
Reclaimed farm equipment, bed frames, and some vintage blacksmith technology in a (slightly more) portable format for the summer demo season.
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Cutler’s Hammer
A discarded sledge hammer head finds new purpose as a specialized bladesmithing hammer for heavy hand forging. A Japanese style smithing hammer is a specialized tool for forging thin, flat surfaces such as blades and saws. It has an off-centre weight distribution below the handle and is mainly used on one face (the back is…