A no messing around guide to the coolest things to eat, drink and do in Vancouver and beyond. Community. Not clickbait.

On Getting Hammered The Old School Way With Local Blacksmith Lorne Gray

blacksmith_tradecraft

by Grady MitchellTradecraft takes Scout readers into the workshops, kitchens, and toolkits of Vancouver’s most talented crafts-people. From trusty pencils and custom-built machines to good luck charms and bespoke chef’s knives, this new column aims to get to the bottom of every creative attachment. No laptops or cellphones allowed!

Today we hear from Lorne Gray, resident blacksmith at the Burnaby Village Museum, where he teaches regular schmucks like you and me how to heat and shape metal.

1. Anvil | “The anvil is a key component to a blacksmith’s shop. This anvil is a Peter Wright 170 lb. The top surface has been recently machined and its edges square.”

2. Swage | “A swage slips into and fits securely in a hardie hole in the anvil. The blacksmith lays the hot iron on the bottom tool and selects a hammer (or a top tool) to shape both the bottom and top at the same time.”

3. Blower | “This is a Champion 400 hand crank blower by Champion Forge & Blower Co circa 1905. Blowers are used to get oxygen into the heart of the fire to keep the temperature of the coal high enough for metal working.”

OTHER INTERESTING VANCOUVERITES