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.
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.