Reinier

Thanks for the nice comments! Reinier

Hi guys! Last week I made some tools and I wonder what you think about it. Thanks, Reinier

Hi Phil, Last summer I was in France for holiday and near our place there was a blacksmith shop, what a coincidence. They made most of their products using scrolls they had forged themselves combined with prefabricated stuff. I asked them if they forged their own tools, because their tongrack seemed a bit empty to me. He told me they didn't so I offered to forge them a pair of tongs they could use. The next morning I went overthere to forge the tongs but in stead of forging inside the shop, they took me to a shed somewhere on their property. There stood a springhammer just like the one on the foto and we forged a pair of tongs using the hammer. Though I prefer airhammers for their control, a springhammer is a nice hammer to be forge with aswell. The power of the hammer was good to control using the footpedal, all in all a nice hammer. I've added a link to my google-account where I've uploaded an album called France. There you can find pictures and a short movie of that kind of hammer in use. And for those of you who speak French, forgive me! I've tried speaking French and abviously did not succeed. Luckily for me my girlfriend speaks better French so she could act as a translator. Link: http://bit.ly/V1MJE4 Enjoy! Reinier

Thanks for putting my feet back on the ground guys! I like the way Grant puts it, it's all in the mind. Most important thing for me is now that it works fine this way. cheers, reinier

About a year ago I made a sethammer out of tool steel. Just straightforward piece, no fuller grooves. The hardeningprocess went well as on all my other tools. But in use (a couple of weeks) the corners cracked. First I thought about the hardeningprocess, maybe the corners were too hard. Tried it another time same way, a little less heat for quenching than the first time and a little stronger temper. The corners still cracked like the first time in a few weeks. My old set hammer, having these fuller grooves, never cracked in any way. So I tried making the set hammer with these fuller grooves approx. 1cm from the bussiness end. It still works fine never had any problems with it. Now I don't know how the fuller grooves influence the hammer. I can think of several possible explanations. First the force of the blow of the sledge is directed more to the center of the hammer sparing the corners. Second, the corners can lose the energy exerted on them by bending upwards slightly (if the steel is hardened properly). Third and last is that it is all in my mind or even good luck. Please feel free to criticize my post and/or findings. Best wishes, Reinier

Thank you Thomas for sharing your thoughts. I know the anvil has lots of options for usage so i'll figure something out when the time is there.

A while ago I found an anvil which I had never seen before. It weighs 95 kilograms. It has two holes in it and two 'slots' (I can't find a better word, please correct me) in the, slightly curved face. I think it was a specialty anvil of some kind, but I am not sure. Therefore I would like to know what you think the anvil was used for and how it was used. Thanks! Reinier

Great video, realy enjoyed watching from beginning to the end. As a guy from Holland I wear wooden shoes in and around the shop too, and I know lots of collegues here do. They really keep your feet cool in summer and warm in winter, just like Jymm said. In the old days, people even used wooden shoes for walking on ice. They would have spikes attached to the bottom for grip. It's just a pity that they are so hard to get in the US. But you can order them from Holland for about 45 dollar if you really want them. All the best, Reinier

Hi John, I live in Zeewolde, and my smithy is in Harderwijk. Both not near Rotterdam. The video was shot on the Bataviawerf, where they have built the replica of the Batavia and now working on the replica of the "Zeven Provincien" (Seven Provinces, flagship of the dutch fleet under command of admiral De Ruyter during the war against England). The Bataviawerf is located in Lelystad. Also not near Rotterdam. Yes I am in the video, the guy working on a chainlink at the very begin of the video, thats me. If your family is interested in blacksmithing too; I will be doing a two day demontration in Schiedam next weekend. Schiedam is near Rotterdam. Reinier

Why didn't they shoot some of the action? Here in Holland we had a small craftsfair two weeks ago which got to the local evening news. Just click the link to see the vid. It's in dutch, but you'll understand the blacksmithing part for sure. http://www.omroepflevoland.nl/Nieuws/72358/oude-ambachten-herleven-op-bataviawerf cheers

That looks great! Its kinda like experimental if you ain't got the blueprints. You got to figure out how they've done it, and how you're gonna make it look as good as the original once did. I think you've succeeded on this one! On my bench there is this latch, one of two, a guy ordered some while ago. I finished them yesterday and made some pictures. Its just put together on a piece of wood hangin around in my shop, but you'll get the picture... all the best, reinier

Hey there! That's a nice anvil you bought! The stand looks good and sturdy to me, although I prefer a solid wooden block because it feels like it gives more backing power, or that's just only in my head. Good to see other people from the Netherlands going smithin'. Good luck with building the forge! Hartelijke groeten,

When I have a big job, I often call my cousin who's great with the sledge. I mostly pay him just for the hours he works for me, since working with two goes twice as fast if you don't talk too much. For other jobs I have a friend who's great at welding and stuff. He works with me when I have a welding job aswell as a forging job. In that way he can do the welding and I can do the forging, twice as fast again. I also pay him the hours he works for me. If you are looking for an employee I should spread the word you are looking for one and just try how it goes. Can he work on his own as you described, or do you have to solve problems you wouldn't have when working on your own? But I think you thought of that yourself. I hope my reply helped you in any way. Cheers

Hi Junker, I asked my former teacher and he says it's ok. He also said you can choose any rune you like, as long the intention is good. Most of the time the chosen runes were combined into one symbol, but seperately is also an option he said. You already found the meaning of the runes, so I won't mention them again. I wish you all the best!

Looks great, a little complicated, but great. Have you chosen those runes because the letters Z U C mean something to you, or just because they look good? I have had some lessons in high school about the original futhark, and as I can remember the uppermost rune, the letter z, means safety, or a safe feeling. That is why the hippie-culture uses this rune upside down, thus meaning unsafety. The other two I don't know their meaning anymore, it's been a while. But if you want to I could ask my former teacher, he knows very much about runes. Just let me know. Cheers

Those temperatures are way better than here, but 100+ during the day and mid-eighties in summertime is a bit too much for me. I like the sun to shine, but frying alive... no thanks! Today it was just above 40. So its getting better. No snow, no ice, better working conditions... In the summer it will be around 75 during the day, with peaks to maybe 85, but that doesn't happen often... Can't wait till summer :)

Thanks. Sun is shining today, temperature is getting better by the day. What's the temperature overthere like?

I'm looking forward to that!

Looks great! Mark Aspery has a worthy competitor in you, and that only your first. Its a shame I can't order his books here in the Netherlands.. Is there anyone in Europe who was able to get them? By the way, the weld to make the hip is a tricky one, it made me say awful things the first 5 times or so. What I learned for this weld to succeed is to leave the gap very large, larger than you think is right. Then heat it very slowly, just use a wisper of air. The gap will close neatly if you hit it on the side first progressing towards the gap. In this way I've made dozens of collars on pins for historical boats. I hope this information will help you. Cheers

Wow! That looks very cool. I especially like the twists in the tapered bars. Are those octagonal? Also the wrapping with the small strips looks great. Just like leather wrappings would look like. Thanks for sharing! It sure inspired me. Cheers

Because I like to watch pictures of what you all make, I uploaded these pictures of a candleholder I made for a friends birthday. I find this a great gift for someone you know as it is something you made especially for that person and there is only one of this design. It's made out of one piece of round stock 12mm. On both ends I upset approx. 10 cm to form the drip pan and bottom foot. The rest is done by bending after forging partial tapers in between. I'd like to know what you think about it, aswell as pictures of your own candleholders, drawings on cool designs etc... Cheers!

Thanks guys!

Hello everybody, My name is Reinier and I'm from the Netherlands. I've been blacksmithing for 7 or 8 years now, and since the end of summer last year I am working in a historical shop from 1911. This shop is situated on the largest wharf of the former Zuiderzee in the Netherlands. Therefore I am asked to forge stuff concerning historical boats. So if there's anyone who has any experience with this, I'd be very thankful if you'd share your knowledge with me. I am looking forward to exchange ideas, projects, pictures and techniques with you all. All the best, Reinier I have attached a picture of the outside of my shop, on the background you can see the old windmill. Enjoy!