Kodama

Dear Blacksmiths, Quite funny how I stumbled upon this tread by accident. Browsing for more holdfast designs I recognized the pictures and thought, 'this looks quite similar to what I have ordered'. I must say that I have been very pleased with the professional service of T.Joe and his ability to work to the specific requirements I have asked for. We have been in constant dialogue true the whole design/forge process. I have had a lot of tools custom forged to my own specs in the past and dare to say I am quite particular in what I want. So far I have not been let down by T.Joe. It is indeed always a big question wether the holdfast will perform the way it should but so far everything looks good and I am sure that if there is anything that needs to be adjusted he will happily do that. I will post a review of the tool here after I had the chance to work with it for a while and let you all know how it performs under demanding situations. 'The Belgian Carpenter' aka client.

Sorry for my late reply, been travelling lately. Thanx guys so far that was all extremely usefull information. I will look for a copy of the book you mentioned. Thomas would you be willing to offer some of the material you have for sale? If so, please let me know. My blacksmith friend is very experienced forging wrought iron. It will transform in very nice tools in his hands.

I am on a search for 'Ashton Steel'. This is what i could find about it: In 1925, James Aston of the United States developed a process for manufacturing wrought iron quickly and economically. It involves taking molten steel from a Bessemer converter and pouring it into cooler liquid slag. The temperature of the steel is about 1500 °C and the liquid slag is maintained at approximately 1200 °C. The molten steel contains a large amount of dissolved gases so when the liquid steel hits the cooler surfaces of the liquid slag the gases are liberated. The molten steel then freezes to yield a spongy mass having a temperature of about 1370 °C.[27] This spongy mass must then be finished by being shingled and rolled as described under puddling (above). Three to four tons can be converted per batch with this method. wikipedia Is there anyone who can help me find this steel or refer me to anyone who could help me with this. Hope to find some usefull links soon. I am not a blacksmith but a woodworker and it is for a friend that i am trying to find some of this fine steel.