Comments for Dragonfly Forge http://dragonflyforge.com Custom Hand-crafted Japanese Art/Cutting Swords, specializing in forge-welded cable and handmade steel, By Michael and Gabriel Bell Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:03:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on So you want to become an apprentice swordsmith… by mariano molina http://dragonflyforge.com/2009/01/31/becoming-an-apprentice/#comment-9796 mariano molina Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:03:58 +0000 http://www.dragonflyforge.com/?p=241#comment-9796 I would like to know if you have any schools close to Florida like around Miami Dade I would like to know if you have any schools close to Florida like around Miami Dade

]]> Comment on So you want to become an apprentice swordsmith… by Michael Bell http://dragonflyforge.com/2009/01/31/becoming-an-apprentice/#comment-9741 Michael Bell Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:59:27 +0000 http://www.dragonflyforge.com/?p=241#comment-9741 Dear Mr. McDonnell Thanks for your inquiry regarding getting your son started in swords and smithing. I usually recommend starting at the library or book store and getting a feeling for the process and materials used in the making of blades, including knives. There are some excellent books available, specifically "The Craft of the Japanese Sword" by Yoshindo Yoshihara, "The Complete Bladesmith" by Jim Hrousla, and anything by Wayne Goddard. I also recommend taking some of the courses offered by The American Bladesmith Society [ABS] which has a school in Old Washington Ark. They have an excellent facility with top-notch instructors with an interesting and diverse curriculum. I have been a guest instructor there several times. You can also take our Basic Forging Course. While we obviously teach the Japanese method, most of what is taught applies very well to western styles as well. By the way, the Japanese style of forging is not necessarily superior to western methods. Many of the early broadswords were every bit as complex and sophisticated. Dear Mr. McDonnell

Thanks for your inquiry regarding getting your son started in swords and smithing.

I usually recommend starting at the library or book store and getting a feeling for the process and materials used in the making of blades, including knives. There are some excellent books available, specifically “The Craft of the Japanese Sword” by Yoshindo Yoshihara, “The Complete Bladesmith” by Jim Hrousla, and anything by Wayne Goddard.

I also recommend taking some of the courses offered by The American Bladesmith Society [ABS] which has a school in Old Washington Ark. They have an excellent facility with top-notch instructors with an interesting and diverse curriculum. I have been a guest instructor there several times.

You can also take our Basic Forging Course. While we obviously teach the Japanese method, most of what is taught applies very well to western styles as well.

By the way, the Japanese style of forging is not necessarily superior to western methods. Many of the early broadswords were every bit as complex and sophisticated.

]]> Comment on So you want to become an apprentice swordsmith… by Mark McDonnell http://dragonflyforge.com/2009/01/31/becoming-an-apprentice/#comment-9474 Mark McDonnell Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:28:13 +0000 http://www.dragonflyforge.com/?p=241#comment-9474 My son is currently 15 years old. He has had an interest in swords and smithing since he was seven or eight. We live in Houston, Texas and would like to know how to get him started. His primary interest is in the European broad swords. But realizing that the Japanese forging processes were superior, it would be desirable to mix the Japanese metallurgy mixed with the broadsword designs. Thank you in advance for any communication, Mark My son is currently 15 years old. He has had an interest in swords and smithing since he was seven or eight.
We live in Houston, Texas and would like to know how to get him started.
His primary interest is in the European broad swords. But realizing that the Japanese forging processes were superior, it would be desirable to mix the Japanese metallurgy mixed with the broadsword designs.

Thank you in advance for any communication,
Mark

]]> Comment on Sword making classes, UPDATE by Gabriel Bell http://dragonflyforge.com/2008/06/04/sword-making-classes-update/#comment-9436 Gabriel Bell Fri, 06 Jan 2012 03:41:03 +0000 http://www.dragonflyforge.com/?p=75#comment-9436 Dear Anthony, Thank you for your interest in our school and swordsmithing classes. Our Basic Forging Course is by far our most popular class. For more information on <a href="http://tomboyama.com/the-school/basic-forging-course/" rel="nofollow">our Basic Forging Course</a>, please visit our school's website, <a href="http://tomboyama.com/" rel="nofollow">tomboyama.com</a>. It also has photos from our classes, and reservations can be made there with payment online via PayPal. Please feel free to contact us by email or telephone if you have any further questions or if something on our website is unclear. Dear Anthony,

Thank you for your interest in our school and swordsmithing classes. Our Basic Forging Course is by far our most popular class.

For more information on our Basic Forging Course, please visit our school’s website, tomboyama.com. It also has photos from our classes, and reservations can be made there with payment online via PayPal.

Please feel free to contact us by email or telephone if you have any further questions or if something on our website is unclear.

]]> Comment on Tomboyama 2012 Class Schedule by Gabriel Bell http://dragonflyforge.com/2011/12/04/866/#comment-9319 Gabriel Bell Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:07:08 +0000 http://dragonflyforge.com/?p=866#comment-9319 Thank you for your interest in our school and swordsmithing classes. Our five-day Basic Forging Course costs a total of $1,350, with a deposit of $350 required to reserve one's space in a session. There are no prerequisites for the Basic Forging Course. It has been our experience that those without any experience blacksmithing or bladesmithing generally perform at least as well as those with prior experience. Thank you for your interest in our school and swordsmithing classes.

Our five-day Basic Forging Course costs a total of $1,350, with a deposit of $350 required to reserve one’s space in a session.

There are no prerequisites for the Basic Forging Course. It has been our experience that those without any experience blacksmithing or bladesmithing generally perform at least as well as those with prior experience.

]]> Comment on So you want to become an apprentice swordsmith… by Gabriel Bell http://dragonflyforge.com/2009/01/31/becoming-an-apprentice/#comment-9318 Gabriel Bell Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:05:26 +0000 http://www.dragonflyforge.com/?p=241#comment-9318 Dear James, Thank you for your interest in our swordsmithing school. We would love to have you and your father attend our swordsmithing school. Although we do offer a full curriculum of classes on making all parts of the Japanese sword, it is not possible to make a complete sword and mounting in two weeks, or even in a month of classes, given the time-consuming and demanding nature of the Japanese sword arts. One should be aware of that in Japan, generally each part of the sword is completed by a specialist artisan; a sword may pass through the hand of four or more craftsmen before completion. My father's teacher, Mr. Nakajima, was unique in that he learned all of the aspects of making a complete sword. Undertaking each separate sword art is a challenging proposition in itself, becoming proficient in all of them is much more so. In two weeks, it would be only possible take two 5-day courses: our Basic Forging Course, and our Kajioshi-Habaki Combo-Course. Although we don't currently have any instance of these classes scheduled back-to-back for the 2012 school year, if you are interested in planning 2 weeks of classes we would be happy to accommodate you as best we can. Please feel free to contact us by email or telephone if anything on our websites is unclear. Dear James,

Thank you for your interest in our swordsmithing school. We would love to have you and your father attend our swordsmithing school.

Although we do offer a full curriculum of classes on making all parts of the Japanese sword, it is not possible to make a complete sword and mounting in two weeks, or even in a month of classes, given the time-consuming and demanding nature of the Japanese sword arts.

One should be aware of that in Japan, generally each part of the sword is completed by a specialist artisan; a sword may pass through the hand of four or more craftsmen before completion. My father’s teacher, Mr. Nakajima, was unique in that he learned all of the aspects of making a complete sword. Undertaking each separate sword art is a challenging proposition in itself, becoming proficient in all of them is much more so.

In two weeks, it would be only possible take two 5-day courses: our Basic Forging Course, and our Kajioshi-Habaki Combo-Course. Although we don’t currently have any instance of these classes scheduled back-to-back for the 2012 school year, if you are interested in planning 2 weeks of classes we would be happy to accommodate you as best we can.

Please feel free to contact us by email or telephone if anything on our websites is unclear.

]]> Comment on So you want to become an apprentice swordsmith… by Brad Purrone http://dragonflyforge.com/2009/01/31/becoming-an-apprentice/#comment-9191 Brad Purrone Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:20:24 +0000 http://www.dragonflyforge.com/?p=241#comment-9191 Dear Michal Bell, I have always wanted to be a blacksmith since I was ten. I have started to make my own forge but I am not there yet. I have no formal training or training what so ever and I want to learn how to make blades, I would be ever so thankful if you gave me a rundown on where I could find sword smithing masters, the style i would like to make is that of western blades but the eastern blades are just as good. i have also heard that i must read several book if not more on this subject, please point them out if you could. i would love to become an apprentice I am fifteen at this time. I live in C.T please contact me at this address pdp123@att.net again i would be ever so grateful for you assistance in this matter and if you cannot assist me thank you for your time Dear Michal Bell,
I have always wanted to be a blacksmith since I was ten. I have started to make my own forge but I am not there yet. I have no formal training or training what so ever and I want to learn how to make blades, I would be ever so thankful if you gave me a rundown on where I could find sword smithing masters, the style i would like to make is that of western blades but the eastern blades are just as good. i have also heard that i must read several book if not more on this subject, please point them out if you could. i would love to become an apprentice I am fifteen at this time. I live in C.T please contact me at this address
pdp123@att.net
again i would be ever so grateful for you assistance in this matter and if you cannot assist me thank you for your time

]]> Comment on Tomboyama 2012 Class Schedule by Greg Logan http://dragonflyforge.com/2011/12/04/866/#comment-9146 Greg Logan Mon, 19 Dec 2011 06:03:43 +0000 http://dragonflyforge.com/?p=866#comment-9146 How much is the tuition and deposit to sign up for your basic class and are there any prerequisites? How much is the tuition and deposit to sign up for your basic class and are there any prerequisites?

]]> Comment on Sword making classes, UPDATE by Anthony Simone's http://dragonflyforge.com/2008/06/04/sword-making-classes-update/#comment-9138 Anthony Simone's Sun, 18 Dec 2011 21:02:07 +0000 http://www.dragonflyforge.com/?p=75#comment-9138 Please send me some info and some pis of the sword making class if u get time please Please send me some info and some pis of the sword making class if u get time please

]]> Comment on Katana by Ronald West http://dragonflyforge.com/photo-galleries/katana-photo-gallery/#comment-8849 Ronald West Sun, 04 Dec 2011 03:51:25 +0000 http://www.dragonflyforge.com/index.php/photo-galleries/katana-photo-gallery/#comment-8849 You can try Wood stove or fireplace repair cement it works very well thin with water for the initial coat then apply a thicker layer to the spine to slow the cooling down there. I've used the "Rutland" brand for this for many years with more than fair results, remember to forge the blade straighter than you want it to end up as it will curl when quenched. leave the surface rough 60 grit or rougher, and the edge at least .060" thick a .100" is better. Ron West Shining Mountain Knifeworks Westcliffe Colorado and Gilroy California. You can try Wood stove or fireplace repair cement it works very well thin with water for the initial coat then apply a thicker layer to the spine to slow the cooling down there. I’ve used the “Rutland” brand for this for many years with more than fair results, remember to forge the blade straighter than you want it to end up as it will curl when quenched. leave the surface rough 60 grit or rougher, and the edge at least .060″ thick a .100″ is better.

Ron West
Shining Mountain Knifeworks
Westcliffe Colorado and Gilroy California.

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