An amazing week
Day three of the blacksmithing conference. Spent yesterday watching a demo of Japanese steel making as well as forging and tempering a sword that had been made from a previous tamahagane billet.
There were three smiths all working on their own blade so while one blade was undergoing one process, the other two were in different stages so you could get a really good overview or drill into one subject and watch it done (and explained) three times from three different perspectives. Lots of questions and answers too.
I am interested in learning how to make knives so this translates very well and one of the smiths is the guy in Seattle I want to take classes with this fall.
The Blacksmith Wars is a lot of fun -- been taking some photos and will post when I get back home (staying in a dorm so not much connectivity -- writing this in the local coffee house).
Today is a Farrier competition (horseshoeing) as well as more classes on knifemaking and general forging techniques.
Spending the better part of Monday in Portland --
Powell's mostly.
Back late Monday
just in time for the rain...
Posted by DaveH at August 20, 2011 8:13 AM