My 17-year-old solo student, John, learned the basics of tool making last night at @thesteelyard. He produced a round punch/drift and chisel that he’ll heat treat at home and via The Steel Yard’s open studios program. This was our last class. He’s a bright, focused young man. He’ll make a fine blacksmith.
Also pictured are a round punch/drift and chisel that I produced earlier in the week to demo hardening and tempering tool steel. We’ll see how they perform as I use them to make bottle openers and forged leaves. These were all made from scrap spring steel (meaning, mystery metal), so getting the heat treatment right is a process of experimentation, note-taking, and SWAGs.
Tool making is probably a thing I’ll do more in the future.
