Category: The Smithy
Soulsmithing — Japanese ground anvil installation
Japanese blacksmiths work sitting on the ground and their anvil is half protruding, half buried, sitting on convincing wooden base. Here’s the installation of the anvil I brought back from Japan.
CO Poisoning: How NOT to install a forge hood!
So I poisoned myself while working in a carbon monoxide-soaked smithy! The western style forge chimney was not functioning properly. In a sealed winterized shop it is a good idea to have a CO detector, and there must be a place for fresh air to enter the shop. Here’s the link to proper forge hood…
Soulsmithing Visit Video 6
reposted from islandblacksmith.ca: Pierre Nadeau of soulsmithing.com lights his new forge in Canada for the first time. I was honoured to be there for the inaugural firing, it felt like a graduation, a major milestone. Pierre will now resume his work and research in the area of traditional Japanese sword craft. Read more about the…
Soulsmithing Visit Video 5
reposted from islandblacksmith.ca: Pierre Nadeau of soulsmithing.com prepares to light his new forge in Canada. The focus of this video is sumi-kiri, charcoal chopping, screening, and sorting techniques, and will offer some valuable details for astute observers. Read more about the project, or watch the whole soulsmithing series. The charcoal is chopped and then processed…
Japanese Forge Hood in a cold country!
This is a quick overview of how I tackled putting together a quick and dirty hood for my Japanese forge. I needed a flap that would cap the chimney so that, when not in use, the warm air wouldn’t leak outside the building in winter. I also needed to make my own crooked 12″ dia.…
Installation of Japanese Power Hammer
I brought back from Japan two power hammers: a belt hammer — on which the head is suspended by a belt, and a spring hammer — on which the head is suspended by a set of leaf springs. This is the latter. Here’s a recap of DaveJ from Crossed Heart Forge and I working on…
Let there be Light
Lights are installed and working! Downlights and uplights on different switches for ambiance.
Soulsmithing Visit Video 4
reposted from islandblacksmith.ca: Building the fuigo floor at Pierre Nadeau’s workshop. Read more about the project, or watch the whole soulsmithing series. The three major projects during this visit were focused on getting the forge itself ready for use. In this episode, creating a steel frame and wooden floor to support the fuigo and conceal…
Soulsmithing Visit Video 3
reposted from islandblacksmith.ca: Laying bricks for the swordsmithing forge at Pierre Nadeau’s workshop. Read more about the project, or watch the whole soulsmithing series. The three major projects during this visit were focused on getting the forge itself ready for use. In this episode, insulating and laying bricks for the forge. During the long cold…
Soulsmithing Visit Video 2
reposted from islandblacksmith.ca: Fabricating a combined fuigo/blower manifold at Pierre Nadeau’s workshop. Read more about the project, or watch the whole soulsmithing series. The three major projects during this visit were focused on getting the forge itself ready for use. In this episode, fabricating a custom manifold for combined fuigo box bellows and electric cage…
Soulsmithing Visit Video 1
reposted from islandblacksmith.ca: I had the honour of being able to observe and assist as Pierre Nadeau of soulsmithing.com works on setting up his new smithy in Canada. The last time I saw Pierre and his wife was when they (and we) were packing to move from Japan in late 2011. Pierre spent several years…
The Roof is on
Still some trim and finishing to go but the water will stay out now. Beautiful rammed earth look to the hempcrete walls.
Timberframe Assembly
The new forge frame is coming together nicely. Ceiling is finished, walls framed and ready to begin hempcrete fill.
A tour of the forge
Wishing you a truly successful new year! This morning I fought my way out of my futon, and into winter. It was three degrees. Inside. The pipes were frozen. No water. They keep telling me “Aren’t you tough?! It’s much colder in Canada!“. “Yeah, but we have heating in our insulated houses,” I always reply.…
Katana-kaji – Forge
This is a tour of my smithy here in Shimizu, Japan. The smithy has over a century of recorded history as the workplace of a village blacksmith. Only the forge itself has been refitted for sword making.