japanese forging area

[whitebear]

hello everyone,

i am attempting to recreate a japanese forging area in the rear of my shoppe. under a small 10'X12' overhang. my question is. does anyone have any pictures or examples of forging areas like this. i'm gongi to be working alone in the area. and i am plannig on this area being job specific for making costum damascus. i can make everything i need. i have a traditional japanese anvil. i'm basically jsut looknig for floor plans and layout designs.
thank you!!

Son

[nthe10ring]

Love to see a pic of that anvil, and whole area when you finish.

Jerry

[High Plains Forge]

Originally Posted by whitebear

hello everyone,

i am attempting to recreate a japanese forging area in the rear of my shoppe. under a small 10'X12' overhang. my question is. does anyone have any pictures or examples of forging areas like this. i'm gongi to be working alone in the area. and i am plannig on this area being job specific for making costum damascus. i can make everything i need. i have a traditional japanese anvil. i'm basically jsut looknig for floor plans and layout designs.
thank you!!

Son

I saw a show on PBS recently, a NOVA episode about making samurai swords. Most of the sword makers get their stock from traditional forges that make the damascus specifically for samurai swords. The place I saw on NOVA was huge, and they bury the steel underground, more like a giant kiln. There were a bunch of employees and the area was huge. So, not to take the wind out of your sails, but I don't think you can recreate that in a small area.

The sword maker's shop that they featured was a lot smaller.

Click on the "launch interactive" link on this page:

NOVA | Secrets of the Samurai Sword | Making a Masterpiece | PBS

[saintjohnbarleycorn]

I have seen some and I can't seem to find them now. i will keep looking, but the guy is sitting down on the floor, and there is a pit around the forge for his legs. His wife is the striker. funny how you can't find things when you are looking for them.

[HWooldridge]

Find a copy of "The Craft of the Japanese Sword" by Leon Kapp. It's a very comprehensive work and has numerous shop pictures.

[saintjohnbarleycorn]

Japanese Woodworking Tools, Cutlery and Garden Tools - The Japan Woodworker Catalog

here is the best I could come up with till I find the post I was looking for.

[Mende]

If you follow this link ( Twin Oaks Forge ) You will at least learn how to make a box bellows and a good sword forge.

This site is also mentioned in a charcoal making thread.

In the middle of the homepage you can see a rather traditional outdoors Japanese style smithy .

Hope this helps.

[whitebear]

thank you everyone!! i really appreciate it!!! unfortunately i haven't a camera to take pictures with...

high plains. that which are are speaking of is the steel foundry not the actualy smithy. the large furnace it used for making the tamahagane which is a spesific sword making or blade making steel!!

as memory serves (uit's been along time since i was in japan) i belive there was a rectangular channel about 24" deep in which the smiths legs were also the forge was in the channel and the anvil was on the oposite side of the channel...

thanks again

Son

[ThomasPowers]

It's the steel *smelter* or bloomery to make tamahagane that is large---a foundry is where you melt something not smelt it. The forge where the tamahagane is worked is not very large.

May I suggest you check and see if the local library can get you a copy of National Geographic's "Living Treasures of Japan" that has a section on forging a sword---including the using of 3 trained strikers during the folding and welding of the billet. The other sections are interesting too.