Building An Ancient Tech Forge For My Workshop

In this video I begin my experiments in turning dirt and branches into a fully functional blacksmith's forge based on ancient designs and techniques!
I hope you enjoy the first episode in my series called Scrapcraeft! This series is my digital journal/portfolio where I'll record my progress in trying to learn the most resourceful and crafty ways to make. I filmed this episode under the Snow Moon down at my workshop at the edge of the woods, and boy was it snowy! I'm still a complete novice at each and every medium depicted in this video, but I learned so much in the progress of making this and I hope to share that with you in this video, and in its follow up where I'll refine clay to test other more elegant and crafty forge designs as I continue to experiment with possibilities.

The metropolitan museum of art was an extremely useful resource in the process of making this forge, their archived artifacts are far-reaching and the images they provide are beautiful and high quality.

PottedHistory channel:

Dr. James Dilly's phenomenal video on copper smelting:

if you enjoyed this video, please subscribe and share it with your friends!

[danielkover]

That connection you feel with people in the past isn't silly. That's why I love history and why I'd like to get into ancient craftsmanship, too. 😊

[_culr_]

No jokes or puns about “shells” in an ammo can is a missed opportunity hahaha. Great video!! Thanks!

[shaynecarter-murray]

The japanese style handsaws really were a game changer for my woodworking experience. So much easier for me that western saws.
Western saws have their place but pull cut saws just feel better to me

[McClainJ]

Probably a little late now, but there is an inherent mismatch between the exhaling power of a human, and the inertia of air. You can get significantly more airflow by cutting short slots in your pipe near the middle, The air going through the pipe will have built up lateral speed (presuming the tube has a small enough diameter), which reduces its pressure and draws in air through the slots that will equalize the pressure, and will increase flow-mass significantly. It will also allow you to breath slower, but at a higher pressure, which should reduce how fast you get light-headed.

[Alphamez]

Thank you! This is hands down the most awesome, wholesome, and informing video I have seen in ages. So much knowledge packed in there amongst the hard work and love of creating. LOVE THIS FORMAT! Please keep it coming!

[Visigoth_]

21:05 Coppicing &/or Pollarding are also a great way to manage Trees as a resource (when cutting down a tree... so cutting down tress can still be "nature friendly"/ sustainable). 🤔

[galewollenberg]

I'm a retired tool and die maker and I'm impressed. You might look up the bow lathes of Marakesch. I built mine along the same lines and they are an impressive little tool.

[uxb]

I should like to commend your enthusiasm and willingness to both learn and improve. Well done. It is always wonderful to watch someone being genuinely excited about their subject and you should be encouraged. You would not believe how many times I have been censured for "encouraging the kids"

[Marialla-ub]

Watching you go through the process of figuring out how to make things work from scratch is so fun! I went through a similar process (not as complex, for sure) when I taught myself how to hand-sew years ago, with no instruction other than the knowledge that children as young as four were handed a needle and thread and told to sew patchwork or doll clothing, and experienced tailors could create elaborate court gowns for Queen Elizabeth the First all by hand. So I knew a modern machine wasn't necessary to sew with, though I didn't know yet how anyone ever accomplished the old techniques. But through trial and error I developed or stumbled upon many skills and techniques of my own, which were often confirmed when I discovered a larger hand-sewing community on YouTube and also channels all about historical sewing.

All this to say it isn't the sewing, in particular, that I find so fascinating. It is the process of discovery and testing in practical circumstances. Problem solving through historical inspiration. Deducing answers based on scant clues and defacto examples, rather than necessarily having the benefit of skilled teachers who can just show you the right answers easily. When ancient skills basically go extinct it is a fascinating practice to try to rediscover that wisdom. I'm all in for it!

[nicholasbell]

Dude wood tongs i never would have thought! Very cool!

[garethbaus]

I started out blowing on a fire through a pipe for my first forge. It really does make you lightheaded.

[uxb]

I did have a thought about your pipe though, if you were to fill the void in the wooden tube with clay and then push a thin hole through it, the velocity of exhaled breath would be increased and then by adding a small nozzle an extremely forceful wind might be produced.

[josephdorey]

As and when health allows, im a professional blacksmith with a passion for experimental archaeology, so this video was fantastic for me!

Re getting more heat - ive often found that simply increasing the mass of the fire (i.e. bigger mound of charcoal) is a pretty effective way to get that. Its a natural thermal insulator which also really helps and the larger thermal mass means you'll have a more stable central temp too

[mattl]

This was such a great video- I love seeing the whole process and your descriptions are perfect. I'm SO glad the algorithm suggested your channel John. I've done a good deal of quite successful Egyptian faience myself (shabti mainly), so if you get to the point you want to try it, I'd be glad to let you know how I do it. But I've used a modern electric kiln- if you do it in an more historical type, it should be even cooler :D

[Shaboynga]

Love when I get gem channel suggestions from a fellow pot geek. I had seen Andy but not potted history. So thanks!

[PatrickMatherne]

Have you tried using that brass tube you use with the blow lamp on the forge to see how well it works. I do a lot of camping and was thinking of getting something similar to help get the fires going., Great series. can not wait to see more. Best part for me is watching you make your tools from scratch.

[aolster]

My parents were potters. This adds huge insight. I saw your third vid on wild clay. As I garden and live where soil is heavy clay, decades ago I dug wild clay from my yard for my parents to experiment with. We used normal cleaning meyhods. Your alchemical techniques would have been useful.
(They belonged to a group that did annual pit firings on a stretch of private ocean beach and they made raku pieces.)

[hootiebubbabuddhabelly]

REALLY enjoyed your video. Just right detail shown, just right narration, fascinating subject - thank you for sharing!

[jebyron]

What a journey! Your discovery of the nozzle effect reminded me of a similar scene in “Rocket Boys”. Amazing that an aerodynamic system with greater drag/energy loss through flow constriction, can produce more momentum in the flow-stream and end up stoking the fire (or thrusting the rocket) more effectively… An interesting paradox!

[adreabrooks]

That brick space-restricter is rather brilliant! They seem like a great way to keep the fuel contained and to help direct the heat,