[HBP#36] - Nicholas Downing - Traditional Blacksmithing Explained | Ancient Tool & Iron Age Craft

🎙️ You can also access the full Audio version of this Podcast by searching for 'Heritage Buildings Podcast' on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, PocketCasts, and your favourite podcast apps.Welcome to another episode of the Heritage Buildings Podcast.Vincent Reed sits down with Nicholas Downing of Downing Arts, a Maine-based custom blacksmith and metalworker specialising in traditional timber framing tools, hand-forged axes, bespoke ironwork, and historic hardware. Nicholas shares his journey from early exposure to blacksmithing and metalsmithing to helping revive Maine’s historic axe-making tradition at Brant & Cochran before launching his own business during the COVID pandemic.The conversation explores traditional blacksmithing techniques, the history of bloomery iron and early steel, forge welding, and the craftsmanship behind multi-piece, hand-forged axes. Nicholas also discusses experimental archaeology, historic timber framing tools, and his fascination with rare forms such as the offset goose wing, or “brightbill,” hewing axe.Other topics covered include:• The path from metalsmithing to custom blacksmithing and entrepreneurship• Reviving Maine’s historic axe-making tradition• Building a small-batch handcrafted tool business through Etsy and online sales• Traditional ironworking, bloomery iron, and early steel production• Forge welding and constructing multi-piece hand-forged axes• Historic timber framing tools and their modern relevance• Experimental archaeology and recreating historic metalworking techniques• The design and use of the offset goose wing (“brightbill”) hewing axe• Craftsmanship, toolmaking, and preserving traditional tradesWhether you're a timber framer, blacksmith, conservation professional, or heritage enthusiast, this episode offers fascinating insights into traditional toolmaking and the enduring value of handcrafted tools and historic metalworking techniques.Below is a more detailed breakdown of the video with relevant timestamps:(Click the time on the left to jump straight to that section)00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro02:37 Heritage Craft in Maine04:02 Early Blacksmith Spark06:24 Mentors and Apprenticeship08:06 Art School and Finding Direction10:12 Back to the Forge20:31 Juggling Jobs and Studio Life25:49 Axes and Brant and Cochran33:32 Pandemic Pivot to Solo37:08 Bespoke Tools and Inspiration41:30 Iron Was Precious43:21 Bloomery Smelting Explained46:02 From Iron To Steel49:03 Modern Axe Steel Choices51:27 Forge Welding The Pieces53:03 Wrapped Eye Construction56:12 Time Risk And Failure57:01 Favourite Axe Makers59:26 Future Projects And Niches01:05:47 Grinding Edges Then And Now01:09:06 Handmade Value And Story01:10:54 Goose Wing Hewing Axe01:13:56 Where To Find Nicholas01:15:28 Final Thanks And Farewell Connect with Nicholas Downing and learn more:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/downingarts/Email: downingarts@gmail.com Website: https://www.downingarts.com/axerestoration Learn more about the Heritage Buildings Association:https://heritagebuildingsassociation.comJoin the conversation:https://heritagebuildings.forum/share/dDYOnkLWJAkaA5xE?utm_source=manual#Blacksmith #ForgeLife #IronAge