A small scale high-furnace is operated at Les Forges de Montréal. It is supplied with charcoal and iron ore. In order to improve the furnace’s efficiency, the ore is prepared into pellets. This ingenious tool facilitates the making of those pellets.
A small scale high-furnace is operated at Les Forges de Montréal. It… Continue reading
The teko is the tool — a plain bar — that is used to hold the steel block to be forged. The said block is welded onto one end of the teko. This video shows Manabe Sumihira performing such a forge weld.
The teko is the tool — a plain bar — that is… Continue reading
Japanese traditional sword making is bound to the use of certain types… Continue reading
Useful hand-held straw brush and tool The te-bōki (手箒 lit. “hand-broom”) are… Continue reading
Aku, or charred straw, is used as a coating when forging traditional steels at very high temperatures in the processes of japanese swordsmithing. The charred straw is both a light source of carbon for the steel, as well as an anti-oxidizing coating when it liquifies near welding temperature.
Aku, or charred straw, is used as a coating when forging traditional… Continue reading
Sumi-kiri, the elaborate cutting of charcoal by apprentices is said to take… Continue reading
Sumi-kiri, the cutting of the charcoal by japanese swordsmith apprentices, as poorly performed by me. In this video, one strike out of ten is ok, while all others made me frown… size wrong.. size wrong.. swing wrong.. size wrong.. strength wrong.. size wrong.. wrong angle.. and so on.
It is said it takes three years to learn this properly. I think they’re being optimistic.
Sumi-kiri, the cutting of the charcoal by japanese swordsmith apprentices, as poorly… Continue reading
A bit of news… It’s been over a year since I properly… Continue reading
A week in images at Manabe Sumihira’s zuku-oshi tatara Mr.Manabe uses akome-satetsu,… Continue reading