The Ferrum Blog

This blog will serve as a platform to post FERRUM D Gentile related news items and inform you on the progress of various projects.

Article in print edition of "Wohnrevue"

The Ferrum Blog
Today the print magazine "Wohnrevue" (Dec. 2010) published an entire article about my business and craft.

Quotation from the Article:
Wir sind dem Mythos Messer bei dem Schmied Daniel Gentile auf die Spur gekommen, der den legendären Damaszenerstahl noch mit vollem Körpereinsatz und viel Herzblut im offenen Feuer herstellt und bearbeitet.
"Wir sind dem Mythos Messer bei dem Schmied Daniel Gentile auf die Spur gekommen, der den legendären Damaszenerstahl noch mit vollem Körpereinsatz und viel Herzblut im offenen Feuer herstellt und bearbeitet."
(Quick translation: "We were trying to follow up on the mythos of the knife by visiting the bladesmith Daniel Gentile, who is passionately forging the legendary Patternwelded ("Damascus") steel.")

wohnrevue_12-2010

The full article can be viewed as PDF by clicking on the following link: FERRUMDG_Wohnrevue2010_12.pdf

Link to the publishers original website and the article: http://www.wohnrevue.ch/Magazin.php?ID=208&pr=

 

Last Updated (Wednesday, 08 December 2010 22:31)

 

Wohnrevue Artikel

The Ferrum Blog
Heute ist auf Wohnrevue.ch - der Website des Wohnrevue Magazins ein kurzer Artikel zu "Rough Luxe" - einem kleinen, exklusiven Firmennetzwerk bei welchem meine Schmiede auch dabei ist, erschienen:

http://www.wohnrevue.ch/Magazin.php?ID=132&pr=

Zitat aus dem Artikel:
"Auch Daniel Gentile stellt sich in den Dienst der Tradition und lässt uns auf 2500 Jahre Messerschmiedekunst zurückblicken. In seiner Schmiede in Walchwil ZG fertigt er am offenen Feuer auf dem Amboss einzigartige Messer und Schwerter im europäischen und japanischen Stil. Die Bearbeitung des sogenannten Damaszenerstahls lässt sich in Workshops hautnah miterleben und ist ein kleines kulturelles Abenteuer (Bild 4)."  (Sept. 2010, Wohnrevue.ch / Highlights, "Rough Luxe", Authorin: Bettina Methner)

resize_image.php

Der komplette Artikel als PDF: wohnrevue-ch-092010.pdf

Last Updated (Thursday, 16 September 2010 10:54)

 

Three new knives available

The Ferrum Blog
In between the last few classes and some other work I have just finished three patternwelded knifes:

 

The first is a small utility knife with my custom "rough-forge-texture" and a fine, precise hollow grind.
The second in line is a small, also "rough-forge-textured" deba hocho (japanese kitchen knife type) with a classic single bevel grind for right hand use.
The third is a high layer count (440 layers), medium sized deba hocho, also with a single bevel, for right hand use.

Details and prices can be found at the online shop: ONLINE SHOP
 

First forging class at the new shop

The Ferrum Blog

Just before the end of 2009 I had the pleasure to host the first forging class at my new shop.
It was a good, fun and successful class, although there were some of the usual technical difficulties after just having moved to a new location.

The new shop has proven to be an excellent location for the classes, finally giving enough room  and a much needed good, relaxing atmosphere and view.

Some impressions:


Last Updated (Wednesday, 05 May 2010 07:48)

 

New Coal Forge, and more things done

The Ferrum Blog
Ever since I was forced to stop using my old coal forge and switch fully over to gas (LPG) forges a few years ago at the old place I wanted to go back to coal (coke)...
Why? simply put: I prefer it.  I guess it is what I used when I was introduced to the art of pattern welding over a decade ago.
It's simply different from gas  - it smells different, it looks a lot different, it handles differently. 
And I find it a lot nicer during operation compared to a gas forge - also I believe it is a good bit cheaper in operation, at least here, when used for forge welding a lot.

As at the new place, coal would not have been a problem at all, I thought I'd finally go back to using coke as my main source of heat for forging.
At first I thought I would reuse my old rig - however parts of my old, home-made, coal-forge were missing (the whole lower part) and also the table had been modified to accommodate two gas forges.... it would have been a lot of work to set it up again. Luckily I found a good, sturdy coal forge for a fair price and had it delivered today:

 I was seriously happy that just a few days ago I had gotten a 2-ton shop crane... otherwise there would have been no easy way to get the 180kg (~400 pounds) heavy forge from the back of the delivery truck - as the truck had no crane at all.
It's quite a beast, measuring 1m by 1.25m and with it's weight (without blower) it stands very firmly and has a nice touch to it.
Finally the old sturdy blower I have will be put to some serious use again.

Besides moving in the new forge I've almost completed all basic work to the smithy and now the machine shop is still a bit of a mess.
Also the shop finally has a small but working kitchen, complementing the nice coffee bar (which was set up almost the first day).


 

Last Updated (Wednesday, 23 December 2009 22:50)

 

Another good bit of Work done

The Ferrum Blog
After finally buying a 2-Ton shop crane I was able to get started with the heavy things. 
Before having had a shop crane I had to constantly "McGyver" my way about moving loads above half a ton around the shop or lift machines up and down from various locations.
Maybe I'm getting old and cozy - but let me say, the shop crane was the sweetest addition, since having the glorious idea of getting a good coffee machine.

Here's more photos... and forgive me for the quality of two or three of them (er... I used my mobile phone's camera on some of them.)

Also my chopper finally has gotten some indoor parking space (it's quite cool, being able to drive it into a buildings industrial elevator and then right into my shop.

 

Last Updated (Wednesday, 23 December 2009 22:48)

 
More Articles...