Build Your Own Backyard Forge

Backyard forge is finally done, now to adjust our heat with a small fan and we are ready to roll

Let the backyard metal casting begin! Getting the right air flow and heat dialed in. Now to just get up to 1900 degrees to melt the metal. Nothing like redneck tech.

Creating Patterns In A Blade, An Intro Into Damascus Steel and It's History

Manuel Quiroga making a special pattern in folded Damascus steel

Seeing is believing. Case in point, have a look at the knife detail below. The folds and patterns in the steel are created from a well thought out and engineered process to create a hardened metal that is known as Damascus Steel. The process originates from Middle Eastern swordmaking and the steel itself is known as wootz, emanating from India around 300 BC.

The distinctive patterns are a result of the forge welding and layering of the steel as it is continually compressed pushing out impurities. Damascus Steel was once considered a lost art in swordmaking but has been rekindled as of late and potentially very close to its original origins. Check out a few great links below to help with a plethora more info on all things metalurgy in knife making. The second link plumbs the depths to fully understand the science behind the metal for those of you enjoy drilling down into the periodic table.

How to create patterns in blade steel

In depth discussion on Damascus Steel and why impurities enhanced the steel

Amazing pattern created within the folding and forge welding of the steel through a specific build process

Stamping Out Keychains With Jesse James

Love his work or hate his personal life, who the hell cares. Give credit to someone that is continually refining their craft. Stoked to see more of Jesse James black smith work along with more forging. This could all lead to some very interesting parts for sale.

Check out Jesse James etsy store

Hand stamped key chains by Jesse James

Assymetry works out great in this scenario of stamped logos

Glowing red hot from the forge

Jesse James at work in his shop

The Birth Of A Custom Tool. Axe Making With John Neeman

Creating something by hand is a building block experience. It could be a mundane chore or a complex operation. Instilling craftsmanship and hard work into any project should always be the goal. Seeing crappy work, such as what he had done recently to a new door being put on baffles me. The slackers even left the stickers on the door and drilled out holes in the wrong area and left them to be seen. Quality is something we strive for and get damn stoked when we see other folks who exemplify this notion. 

John Neeman is a craftsman who makes tools by hand. His methodology is a mix of modern day technology, with old world ideas. To see a person in their element and going through the motions of creating from scratch is a peek back in time. With the amount of throw away consumer goods that pervade store shelves, knowing quality items are out there ignites our fire for new ideas.

Check out the original short film on Vimeo



The Birth Of A Tool. Part I. Axe Making (by John Neeman) from John Neeman Tools on Vimeo.

"This is a short documentary movie that shows the whole process of how the John Neeman tools are being hand crafted.

"It is a tragedy of the first magnitude that millions of people have ceased to use their hands as hands. Nature has bestowed upon us this great gift which is our hands. If the craze for machinery methods continues, it is highly likely that a time will come when we shall be so incapacitated and weak that we shall begin to curse ourselves for having forgotten the use of the living machines given to us by God." Mahathma Ghandi"

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Contact us: neemantools@gmail.com

Railroad Spike, Custom Knives

Over the last few years I have really been interested in learning more on the science and craftsmanship behind forged steel and blacksmithing. Our logo of the wrench knife was created by a local blacksmith as a gift and that set the ball in motion to learn more about this ancient craft. One area that I have been particularly paying attention to is custom swords and knives as the amount of craftsmanship to create such a type of blade can be done in many stages, such as with a Japanese sword or a bit quicker of a process with railroad spike knives.

Below is a cool video on how one guy is creating knives in a back yard forge and getting quite the results. If you want to know more about the science of metalurgy and sword making, check out a post we did a while back.

Link to article on sword making from an earlier post:

Custom knife made from railroad spike with leather sheath

Railroad spike knife with twisted handles

Railroad spike knife custom made

Railroad spike knife forged with black oxide and wood handle