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- Dec 20, 2009
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I was fortunate this year to receive a grant from the Rasmuson Foundation to fund some projects I have really been wanting to do for a while. The Rasmuson Foundation is an organization dedicated to furthering arts in Alaska. The projects I included in my proposal were; Build a tatara and make tamahagane, work on my journeyman smith certification, build a rolling mill, and take engraving classes.
First project - Tamahagane
I gathered up all the necessary supplies from a list given to me by Bill Burke; 4000 pounds of charcoal, 600 pounds of iron ore sand provided by David Mirabile (gathered from an un-named creek near his place), 150 lbs GROG, 150 lbs of fire clay, three hundred fire bricks salvaged from a WWII missile site near Fairbanks by my buddy Mike Bracken, 30 cinder blocks and a piece of hardy board to name just a few of them.
With the elements gathered, all we needed was someone to run the show, Bill Burke - the Sensei of American Tamahagane making. As you can imagine, people like him don't come cheap, but they can be bought. His weakness - fishing. My event was going to be during his 25 anniversary to his wonderful wife Patti, so I sweetened the deal with a 5 day deep sea fishing trip and they were in.
The Fishing Trip
We fished out of Seward Alaska aboard my boat the Non-pelagic Squid
Bill and Patti Burke with on of the few fish Bill was able to catch.
From left to right; First mate Mike Bracken with a China rock fish, Bill Burke and Bob Hook, Fairbanks Journeyman smith, both with silver salmon and Daniel O'Malley of Blade Gallery.
Part of a days catch that included silver salmon, china rock fish, copper rock fish, greenling and black rock fish. We brought home limits of fish every day despite Bill's awkwardness with a fishing pole.
Building the furnace
Bill laying the bed for the tatara - the traditional furnace for making tamahagane.
A fire is started in the bed to preheat it and help dry the furnace.
While the base warms up we get started chopping the charcoal. It needs to be chopped to about golf ball size.
First project - Tamahagane
I gathered up all the necessary supplies from a list given to me by Bill Burke; 4000 pounds of charcoal, 600 pounds of iron ore sand provided by David Mirabile (gathered from an un-named creek near his place), 150 lbs GROG, 150 lbs of fire clay, three hundred fire bricks salvaged from a WWII missile site near Fairbanks by my buddy Mike Bracken, 30 cinder blocks and a piece of hardy board to name just a few of them.
With the elements gathered, all we needed was someone to run the show, Bill Burke - the Sensei of American Tamahagane making. As you can imagine, people like him don't come cheap, but they can be bought. His weakness - fishing. My event was going to be during his 25 anniversary to his wonderful wife Patti, so I sweetened the deal with a 5 day deep sea fishing trip and they were in.
The Fishing Trip
We fished out of Seward Alaska aboard my boat the Non-pelagic Squid
Bill and Patti Burke with on of the few fish Bill was able to catch.
From left to right; First mate Mike Bracken with a China rock fish, Bill Burke and Bob Hook, Fairbanks Journeyman smith, both with silver salmon and Daniel O'Malley of Blade Gallery.
Part of a days catch that included silver salmon, china rock fish, copper rock fish, greenling and black rock fish. We brought home limits of fish every day despite Bill's awkwardness with a fishing pole.
Building the furnace
Bill laying the bed for the tatara - the traditional furnace for making tamahagane.
A fire is started in the bed to preheat it and help dry the furnace.
While the base warms up we get started chopping the charcoal. It needs to be chopped to about golf ball size.
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