July 5, 2009
After a long hiatus, I am back to work on the web site. I live close to the New England School of Metalwork and it has been my good fortune to be able to drop in on classes there and photograph them. I will be posting these sessions in the Blacksmithing Gallery. They are not meant to be lessons, but to provide a perspective of modern teachers sharing their craft. The latest galleries are two of America's best known. Clay Spencer has travelled all over the country teaching workshops on blacksmithing and tool making. His development of the treadle hammer changed the face of blacksmithing in this country. Here he teaches the art of Forged Spike Novelties. Elizabeth Brim was a pioneer in opening blacksmithing to women. Her stylish pearls and feminine ways translated iron into pillows and lace. Blow It Up! revealed her unique way of inflating hot iron.
New Links:
Pattern Welding Info is a site on Damascus making posted by Rob “Deker” Dekelbaum
Cyrus Haghjoo a jeweler and bladesmith, Cyrus has been doing interesting work in Damascus and Wootz
Celto-Norse Wire Inlay Tutorial by Ben Potter, excellent job
Dan Pfanenstiel Great Wave Forge, Japanese style work excellent
Forging Fundamentals a series of lessons provided by ABANA
Bronze Age Living History in the Netherlands
David Seacrest Wow!
Toby Crocker up and coming British maker and friend
James Johnson is selling Anyang Power Hammers
John Smith Japanese style work, nicely done
Chile Forge go to work
MyArmoury.com resource site for arms and armour
Owen Wood wonderful maker and friend. His precision Damascus is amazing
I just got back from Josh Smith's show and hammerin in Missoula, Montana and was really impressed with the turnout. Besides having top demonstrators Larry Fuegen, Harvey Dean, Owen Wood and myself, the highlight was the bowling ball cannon that shot bowling balls into the mountainside a mile and half away. Wolf Loechner was scheduled, but couldn't make it due to an injury. I had a great time.
Coming up is the ABS Hammerin at New England School of Metalwork here in Auburn, Maine. It has a great lineup so come on by for a weekend of bladesmithing.
September 14, 2008
I have upgraded my Bookstore and added many new titles. There is a section for bladesmithing, blacksmithing, metalworking and Japanese work. Buying books through my site helps to defray the cost of keeping this site going and I really appreciate it. I have added another Blacksmithing photo gallery of Tsur Sadan and friends forging a bell.
New Links:
Brent Bailey blacksmith and tool maker
Craig Bird is a long time friend and potter
George's Pictures great albums of arms including Japanese tsuba
Jeff de Boer How to make a samurai cat
Bartosz Ulatowski Japanese fittings with a tutorial on Following the Iron Brush very complete process
Jake Powning pictorial on the making of Black Uljake a collaboration between Jake and Uli Hennicke
Tony Hnilica professional knife repair, refurbishing and sharpening and also a master index of related links
Didier Yvrard French artist blacksmith
Dick Nietfeld Shady Grove Blacksmith Shop sells anvils
Billy Potter custom knives
R.W. Mack handforged knives
Stebbins Knives
and finally Shit Happens amusing
September 1, 2008
I have had a chance to photograph Peter Ross, leading colonial blacksmith and former head blacksmith at Colonial Williamsburg, when he taught at New England School of Metalworking. The class covered many tool making projects. I have posted a gallery of images from the class on making Calipers. I have other images and will create galleries as I have time and will post them on the new Blacksmithing page. Watching Peter work was a joy. He is one of the most experienced smiths in the country, a thoughtful craftsman and excellent teacher. Peter will be demonstrating along with David Norrie and Mark Aspery at the Atlantic Coast Blacksmiths Conference, September 4-7, 2008 at the Ashokan Center, Olivebridge, NY. For more information contact Tim Neu 845-657-8333 or visit the Atlantic Coast Blacksmiths website.
I have updated my Schedule and included teaching and shows for 2009. I will be attending my first show in a long time next June at Missoula, Montana. It is a private show hosted by Josh Smith and will feature Scott Sawby, Owen Wood, Harvey Dean, Rick Eaton, Larry Fuegen, Wolfe Loerchner, Henry Frank and Josh Smith. For more information refer to the contact information on the Schedule page. This is one of the new mini format shows that are gaining popularity and it will be followed by a hammerin.
The Bladesmiths Forum has had some exciting new work recently. There is a very interesting thread called Knifemaker Interview Series with some fascinating interviews, a wonderful read. If you have not joined us on the forum, I encourage you to do so.
July 9, 2008
As you can see I am continuing to work on the site. I have added a drop down navigation menu to the top which should make it easier to navigate the site. I am also adding to the links that I find interesting. For work, here is a photo gallery of T-2 the second in a series of Polynesian influenced pieces that I have been working on.
Jake
Powning has a nice tutorial on casting fittings. Jake is doing some
incredible work.
Jim Kelso is creating a new
website filled with his art and tutorials, must see.
Jacques Vesery Art and
sculpture, very creative carving
Shawn Lovell
metalwork, blacksmithing. A new friend from California.
Owen Bush blacksmith,
bladesmith in London. Owen hosts hammerins and runs a school from his
forge.
Chris Moss is a
dedicated young maker who is making great progress and building some
good knives.
Don Hethcoat veteran maker has
a new web site, nice work.
Gene Martin bladesmith he also
offers supplies
Eric Paetow
armor and accouterments
Greg Brannon has collect a
nice group of links on knifemaking
The Perfect Edge sharpening
supplies with wonderful natural stones
North Coast Knives by Pat
Percival supplies and tutorials
Martensite and Martensitic Phase Transformations
Museum web links on Saexes
Parser with pictures and description
Tatara
construction
July 2, 2008
I am in the process of updating the web site. The first thing you will notice is that I am incorporating a new look. Along with this is the slow process of updating the navigation system and converting all the pages to this style. I will work on it as I have the time so if it looks patchy for a while bear with me.
I added two blacksmithing photo tutorials and hope to grow this section. The first is Jonathan Nebor doing a tong making demonstration. Jonathan is an experienced blacksmith working out his shop in High Falls, NY. The demo was done at the New England School of Metalworking in Auburn, Maine. The second tutorial is Brian Brazeal making a slitting hammer. Brian and his brother are working from California.
Some new links I found interesting:
Bloomery Ironmaking in Southern England found on British Blades
The Artful Bodger's Home Foundry Iron casting waste oil furnace
Cornel Schneider Incredible carving, you must see this man's work!
The Mad Dwarf Workshop Andy Davis and David Delagardelle, young men with a passion for bladesmithing
Knife Links Unlimited This site has an exhaustive links library and worth a visit as a resource file
Dan Gray's Knifemaking Tutorials Links
Ashokan Hammerin information hosted by Kevin Cashen. This coming Fall the dates are Sept 19-21, 2008
Hammer Time Chris Coleman's plans for the Kinyon hammer controls
The Katana Project lots of useful information about all aspects of building a katana
