FORGING AND MORE

A few years ago, I discovered my grandfathers old blacksmith tools. Blacksmithing had always intrigued me, and since he was a boyhood hero, I decided to see if I could follow in his rather large footsteps. While still learning every day, the enjoyment I receive from the craft has been amazing. For me, there is nothing like getting out in the shop to make something special and unique from a blank slate. Turning an old leaf spring into a highly polished scimitar that cuts paper effortlessly is a treat, indeed. 

From   the   beggining

Where   we   are   now

In the beginning, I started with an anvil, a few hammers and some very old blacksmith tools. The hammering took it's toll, so I built a "power hammer" from wood. Yes, wood! While my friends made light of it, the beast is still working today and is used to draw the steel out for nearly every project we produce. You can see how we built "The Beast" here. 
Another difficult task is creating the smooth, mirror-like finish. I was looking for a way to make that process less difficult when a friend suggested converting an old commercial time saw. I did, and it makes life a whole lot more fun. 

Today, I am fortunate to have many tools to help in the craft. All of our creations are hand-made, so I do not use any machine tooling or automated equipment. However, a large belt sander or a rudimentary surface grinder (made from an old tile saw) make the job less strenuous while still allowing the ability to call the work "hand-made". 

Leaders   of   industry

I had the good fortune to meet Trenton Tye and