[hso]

Just had time to take Saturday and drive up to Larry Harley's hammer-in.

Rick Farr was making steel from dirt again this year. This years stratified burn was much smaller than the previous 2 years, but produced a nice little "bloom" of carbon steel.

Steve Schwarzer then took the bloom and forge welded it into a layered billet. I can't tell you how many layers because I lost count with all the joking about Steve breaking everything in Larry's shop.

Don Fogg (yes, Don Fogg) then forged a tanto from the carbon steel made on Friday that Steve formed this morning. This was the first blade Don had forged in nearly 2 years and he commented he was a little anxious to see if he remembered how to swing a hammer. He certaily did.

Wally Hoffseter's demonstration on handling and fitting traditonal Japanese blades was fascinating. When asked why he would show his trade to people that intended to take it up he pointed out that it was a poor craftsman that couldn't aford to share something to help beginners and not still have plenty all his own to use.

Quite an illustrious group of presenters and I wish I could have stayed for Sunday.

[Pax Jordana]

Rick Farr was making steel from dirt

:what: and wine from water? hehe.


HSO, give us a link wouldja?

[hso]

http://www.lonesomepineknives.com/2007_mtnhammer.asp

Rick oversaw the construction of the small upright smelter. Volunteers spend most of a full day feeding it iron sand (or ore) and charcoal every few minutes. The result is a bloom of cabon steel that has to be sorted for carbon content. The tamahagane is then forged into a billet. From there it's used to forge a blade.

I didn't get there in time to see the first bloom come out, but the second came out last night before I left. I have helped tend the smelter and harvest bloom, but the real genius comes in construction and knowing how much of what to add when and how often.

They had hoped to get enough tamahagane early to make a daisho this weekend what with Don and Steve and Wally all there, but I guess the rain (rain and more rain) kept the quantity of quality steel down this time.

[Valkman]

Even if it's pouring rain just talking that group would be great! Man one of these days I have to have a knifemaker show me how to do stuff. I'm thinking of going to Texas to see Mark Terrell and Mike Lovett as they've both been helping me recently.

[coelacanth]

sounds like my kind of party but a bit far from my usual stomping grounds. I noticed from the site that they ask everyone to bring charcoal which put me thinking about making my own from local mesquite. Anybody remember a thread or a link about how to accomplish that?