Visiting Dai's forge!
May 9, 2008 21:26:19 GMT
Post by Matt993f.o.d on May 9, 2008 21:26:19 GMT
Or rather, Dai's forge coming to visit us!
Dai's forge is a travelling blacksmith who travels around the UK showing off his skills at re-enactment shows and events. I met him at the Peat Moors Center, near Glastonbury, which is a recreation of an iron age village. Needless to say, we chatted shop, and I learned lots of great tips from him. I also got some great pics of what he was doing on the day. At the time, he was demonstrating lost wax casting with bronze. Sadly, the particular attempt I saw didnt work, but bronze casting in the traditional way is very hit and miss.
Another cool thing he showed me were all of the weapons for re-enactment that he makes. The items I saw were made from old leaf springs, but does not heat treat them, so that they are tough for re-enactment use. There were some really cool examples, such as a celtic style short-sword with a horn handle that was wickedly curved. They were stunning.
The thing I liked best about his work was the simple workshop set-up he was using. Not a shop bought tool in sight (except for a lone cold-chisel!). Everything he used would have been available to the iron age smith. It was quite refreshing to see.
Here is his forge. It is very simple. Lined with refractory clay, fed by a pair of bellows and fuelled by basic hardwood charcoal. It is dead simple.
Here are the bellows and the pipes that serve as the tuyeres;
Another view of the bellows;
Here is his tongs rack. All the tongs were made by him;
His anvil is rather well travelled!
Here are some examples of the cool things he has made by lost wax casting with bronze and silver. He also did some crossguards and pommels in the same way, which made me jealous. The ones in the pictures havnt been deburred yet.
Here is an example of a cool handle for a tool that he made, with a leaf design;
He also showed me a collection of pattern welded blades he has made, which I thought were fantastically intricate in their patterning. There was a small knife, a small seax with a bone handle, and this small knife, which was finely blued. The blueing and the patterning combine to give the blade a beautiful, marbled appearence.
Truly fine craftsmanship.
Dai's forge is a travelling blacksmith who travels around the UK showing off his skills at re-enactment shows and events. I met him at the Peat Moors Center, near Glastonbury, which is a recreation of an iron age village. Needless to say, we chatted shop, and I learned lots of great tips from him. I also got some great pics of what he was doing on the day. At the time, he was demonstrating lost wax casting with bronze. Sadly, the particular attempt I saw didnt work, but bronze casting in the traditional way is very hit and miss.
Another cool thing he showed me were all of the weapons for re-enactment that he makes. The items I saw were made from old leaf springs, but does not heat treat them, so that they are tough for re-enactment use. There were some really cool examples, such as a celtic style short-sword with a horn handle that was wickedly curved. They were stunning.
The thing I liked best about his work was the simple workshop set-up he was using. Not a shop bought tool in sight (except for a lone cold-chisel!). Everything he used would have been available to the iron age smith. It was quite refreshing to see.
Here is his forge. It is very simple. Lined with refractory clay, fed by a pair of bellows and fuelled by basic hardwood charcoal. It is dead simple.
Here are the bellows and the pipes that serve as the tuyeres;
Another view of the bellows;
Here is his tongs rack. All the tongs were made by him;
His anvil is rather well travelled!
Here are some examples of the cool things he has made by lost wax casting with bronze and silver. He also did some crossguards and pommels in the same way, which made me jealous. The ones in the pictures havnt been deburred yet.
Here is an example of a cool handle for a tool that he made, with a leaf design;
He also showed me a collection of pattern welded blades he has made, which I thought were fantastically intricate in their patterning. There was a small knife, a small seax with a bone handle, and this small knife, which was finely blued. The blueing and the patterning combine to give the blade a beautiful, marbled appearence.
Truly fine craftsmanship.