Nick

.-- .... .- - .----. ... / .- / -.-. --- -- .--. ..- - . .-. ..--.. Sorry, couldn't resist Really, I'm not bad with computers, when they work. I can do all the things I need to do (papers, 'net), and can fix minor problems that happen, but when it comes to the big stuff, I have no idea. I've got Atari 2600, Sega Genesis and Master System, and Super Nintendo, and Apple IIgs emulators on my laptop. I perfer the old games to the new for the most part.

I would suggest a microcrystaline wax like Renaissance wax if you're going to wax the blade.

'Fraid I don't have any of my books here with me, but when I get a chance I'll take another look. I was largely thinking of several of the armourers, nailers, farriers, and some plain ol' smiths I've seen. I suppose most of them stand, like my favorite (attached).

Sitting is commonly shown in medieval and early renaissance illustrations of smiths.

I always take my wedding band off when I'm in the forge, mostly because it's .999 silver and tongs would wear right through it (plus a desire to not let it get caught on anything). One day while I was outside the shop I took it off and must have missed my pocket. Never saw it again, though I looked for months before I finally broke down and made a new one.

Got an autographed copy It is a great book, I also highly reccommend it!

I fill a large plastic garbage can with a lid in the main part of my shop, and keep all the rest in the bags in my storage space.

I've seen experienced men spar with European longswords, and I can tell you it's every bit as developed and deadly as Eastern martial arts. We've been fortunate in the last several years in the publication and growing interest in medieval and Renaissance fechtbuchs. The typical veiw of European swords and swordfighting is mainly a Hollywood stereotype, along with 100 lb. armour and craning knights onto their horses. I've been looking for a group near me, but haven't found anyone conveniently close yet.

Wear lots of wool, but in layers so things can be taken off as it gets warmer in the shop or you get warmer. Heat in my shop is usually generated by the forge and a propane salamander.

I usually tap the anvil to keep my rythm, but I also usually tap the anvil when I enter the shop.

Today I closed down my shop. I'll be leaving for grad school in less than two weeks, my wife sold her car so we've only got one between us, and I've got to finish packing up the house. Packed up all my favorite tools, the wrought iron bars I've got, and put the old forge I'm going to restore in the shop (it was under the eave). When we come back and I've got a new shop I'll get everything in a truck. It was certainly sad. I'm going to miss the hammer and anvil. I'll still be checking in here, though. Nick

There's also the less powerful, earlier horizontal waterwheel.

I was told to wait until the metal looks like melting butter. Obviously this is a bit more subjective, but it's worked well for me. Dan, an undershot waterwheel is one which is lowered into a running river, an overshot wheel is one which is positioned below a natural or manmade waterfall and the water flows down onto the wheel. That's the best type as far as getting the most power out of the water.

If I ever have a power hammer in my shop, it will be one of those water powered monsters. Which would nesseccitate having my shop next to a river which could run an undershot waterwheel at the least (though an overshot would probably be better).

Found it! Click the link in "The Big Maglio". Damascus Ome - Damascus blades from a medieval brescian forge

One of the members at Living History Library- Your Home for Living History and Reenactment! works in a shop that has an original hammer quite like that. I'll have to see if I can find it.

I was trying to find what it says on the back of the IFI T-shirt, but I can't seem to find it anywhere. Anyone have a link?

Drinking mug, got it Thanks for all the info, it'll be very helpful when I build my setup. It'll be a while because of school, but I like to plan ahead a little. I'll be in Leeds for a year or more for graduate school, at least one of my classes is going to be in the Royal Armouries. I'll be there for medieval history, and my main focus is the armour and metalwork of the Middle Ages, so I hope to plumb the depths of their library and archives! I just remembered a couple other illustrations, these are woodcuts from the 15th and 16th century.

Wayne, that's exactly what I've been looking for, thank you! When you said the pivot bar has to be angled, are you refering to the bar I've marked in blue? Also, if that's the case, is the pump lever attached to the crossbar and the pivot bar, or is it just resting on the pivot bar? What's the bronze colored thing on top of the bellows nozzle? Is it just a weight to keep things from shifting? What kind of valves do the bellows have, and do you get a continuous airflow or puffs? Lots of questions, but this is the first time I've seen this kind of setup recreated!

Wayne, I'd love to see pictures of the setup! Do you have a digital camera or know someone who does and can upload them? If so, and the pictures are on your computer, click the "manage attachements" button below the reply window and you can load the picture. Otherwise, upload it to Photobucket and you can then post the URL here (posting it with will post the picture here directly.)

That's one of the challenges of interpreting medieval art. There can be an incredible amount of detail at times, but the way in which it's portrayed (perspective, arrangement, etc) can make figuring it out harder. The first drawing seems to have a more detailed blower, but it's obscured by the forge. The second clearly shows the bellows but it's more representative than detailed. Still, they both show the bellows attached to ropes on a handle. Jake, I think I understand what you're saying. The green things in image #1 could be weights. They're absent in #2, but like I said it's more representative. I've found a few pictures of blacksmiths from the period, but not many good ones of forges. They seem to be more common in the later 15th and 16th centuries (I've got a copy of De Re Metallica, it's got a great period exploded view of a great bellows). When I'm in Leeds I'll see what I can dig up.

My travelling setup forge is an old Buffalo forge with a large ratchet and flywheel blower driven by a tiller. It works all right for the small ren faires I've been doing, but I want a more authentic setup. As part of that I'm planning on replicating the rest of the Mastermyr tools and making better garb, but I'd like a more authentic forge, too. A friend of mine is making a small double chambered bellows, but he recreates the early to mid 16th century. I'm more interested in the 14th century, and as far as I know that's before the introduction of the D.C.B. I've seen recreations of Viking forges with two single chamber bellows, pumped by hand. But, I've seen some later medieval illustrations (see below) that show what looks like a lever system so that the smith can pump the bellows one handed, just like the great bellows. The thing I wonder about with a two bellows setup, though, is that when one bellows blows out, the other is sucking in. Is this a problem, or something not to worry about?

That's one nice looking little hammer!

Today I got interviewed by the local news station, TV-6. My wife works with the daughter of one of the main anchors, and I got a call asking if I was interested in an interview! The interviewer started out with a short interview outside the shop, then we went inside and I forged a medieval bodkin arrowhead, just to show a simple project from start to finish. It took about five times longer than it normally does, because she wanted to get each thing from a different angle so I had to wait for her to adjust the camera before doing something. But it worked, so it's all good. After that she did the bit that introduces the piece and the final monologue. For the final monologue she wore the 14th century arm harness I've got completed over her blazer and held my in-progress greathelm Not sure when it'll air, but it was fun. I always thought it would be neat to be interviewed, but I didn't think I'd actually get the chance! Nick

I couldn't help but notice the photo is a little grainy... Very nice pattern.