Comments on: Kenyan blacksmiths make bellows from cement sacks http://boingboing.net/2009/09/04/kenyan-blacksmiths-m.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:30:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: kez http://boingboing.net/2009/09/04/kenyan-blacksmiths-m.html#comment-581635 kez Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-581635 and in bare feet, without eye protection... and in bare feet, without eye protection…

]]> By: baccaruda http://boingboing.net/2009/09/04/kenyan-blacksmiths-m.html#comment-581911 baccaruda Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-581911 I'm visualizing an old bike hooked up to those bellows - pedaling would be easier... I’m visualizing an old bike hooked up to those bellows – pedaling would be easier…

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/09/04/kenyan-blacksmiths-m.html#comment-581916 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-581916 be awful surprised if most private smiths wore goggles anywhere. As to simplest and oldest: a hollow branch blowpipe. Bag bellows are pretty ubiquitous since people cut open animals and find lungs to get the idea. A bicycle needs a fan or squirrel cage, lots more work. be awful surprised if most private smiths wore goggles anywhere. As to simplest and oldest: a hollow branch blowpipe. Bag bellows are pretty ubiquitous since people cut open animals and find lungs to get the idea. A bicycle needs a fan or squirrel cage, lots more work.

]]> By: hadlock http://boingboing.net/2009/09/04/kenyan-blacksmiths-m.html#comment-581666 hadlock Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-581666 Yes, it's amazing that blacksmiths and craftsmen the world around survived for these thousands of years without the benefit of OSHA and the Nanny State to protect them from themselves. Here's a picture of me melting down some scrap aluminum in a "pot in a pot foundry", wearing sandals and flammable clothing. Oh noes! (I cheated, I used a blowdryer as my bellows) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/hadlock/forge/first%20melt/1packing.jpg First pour http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/hadlock/forge/first%20melt/melty.jpg Link to how to make a "pot in a pot foundry (not mine, but similar) http://www.geocities.com/wandrson/blast_furnace/ Yes, it’s amazing that blacksmiths and craftsmen the world around survived for these thousands of years without the benefit of OSHA and the Nanny State to protect them from themselves.

Here’s a picture of me melting down some scrap aluminum in a “pot in a pot foundry”, wearing sandals and flammable clothing. Oh noes! (I cheated, I used a blowdryer as my bellows)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/hadlock/forge/first%20melt/1packing.jpg

First pour
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/hadlock/forge/first%20melt/melty.jpg

Link to how to make a “pot in a pot foundry (not mine, but similar)
http://www.geocities.com/wandrson/blast_furnace/

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/04/kenyan-blacksmiths-m.html#comment-581938 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-581938 Takuan, I think baccaruda might have been thinking of using the circular motion of the back wheel and a couple of pegs as a makeshift crankshaft... unfortunately I don't think that would work either since it looks like the guy opens the bag a little on the way up and then closes it on the way down, I'm probably wrong though since I'm taking the time to comment, there's a 99% chance that there is a proper valve in the video that I've missed. Takuan, I think baccaruda might have been thinking of using the circular motion of the back wheel and a couple of pegs as a makeshift crankshaft… unfortunately I don’t think that would work either since it looks like the guy opens the bag a little on the way up and then closes it on the way down, I’m probably wrong though since I’m taking the time to comment, there’s a 99% chance that there is a proper valve in the video that I’ve missed.

]]> By: forgeweld http://boingboing.net/2009/09/04/kenyan-blacksmiths-m.html#comment-581946 forgeweld Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-581946 The only blacksmiths that wear eye protection are the ones that really want to keep their sight. You only need to get a metal sliver pulled from your eyeball once to get that religion. But, as with motorcycle helmets, to each his own. @4-They hold the top of the bag open on the upstroke,close it on the downstroke. The only blacksmiths that wear eye protection are the ones that really want to keep their sight. You only need to get a metal sliver pulled from your eyeball once to get that religion. But, as with motorcycle helmets, to each his own.

@4-They hold the top of the bag open on the upstroke,close it on the downstroke.

]]> By: Violet http://boingboing.net/2009/09/04/kenyan-blacksmiths-m.html#comment-581703 Violet Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-581703 As a Blacksmith i gotta say, I am grateful... Props to these guys As a Blacksmith i gotta say,

I am grateful…

Props to these guys

]]> By: Buckets McGaughey http://boingboing.net/2009/09/04/kenyan-blacksmiths-m.html#comment-582471 Buckets McGaughey Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582471 They're a resourceful bunch all right. I was in Ethiopia a couple of months ago, and an Englishman I met out there told me the tale of a road trip he and his wife made from Addis Ababa to Kampala in the late Sixties. Driving through Kenya, they had a bit of an accident (a pretty common occurrence), went off the road and rolled their pickup. The roof was caved in on one side and the truck generally wasn't a lot of use. They'd been on their way to meet a friend who'd grown up in Nairobi. He took them to a backstreet garage and the boys in there made a new roof for the truck and fitted it ready for them to drive on the next day. The guy swears it was a better job than what it had to start with. They’re a resourceful bunch all right.

I was in Ethiopia a couple of months ago, and an Englishman I met out there told me the tale of a road trip he and his wife made from Addis Ababa to Kampala in the late Sixties.

Driving through Kenya, they had a bit of an accident (a pretty common occurrence), went off the road and rolled their pickup. The roof was caved in on one side and the truck generally wasn’t a lot of use.

They’d been on their way to meet a friend who’d grown up in Nairobi. He took them to a backstreet garage and the boys in there made a new roof for the truck and fitted it ready for them to drive on the next day. The guy swears it was a better job than what it had to start with.

]]> By: wizardofplum http://boingboing.net/2009/09/04/kenyan-blacksmiths-m.html#comment-581993 wizardofplum Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-581993 Kenyan metalsmiths are quite remarkable.Back in the days when the MauMau were doing their little number. The metal masters produced rifles using malleable iron gas piping. It was very much a hit or miss affair when engaged in confrontations with the Colonial forces and many rifles exploded in the "rifleman's" hands.Yet as a morale booster the weapons had some merit, for the survivors ! Kenyan metalsmiths are quite remarkable.Back in the days when the MauMau were doing their little number. The metal masters produced rifles using malleable iron gas piping. It was very much a hit or miss affair when engaged in confrontations with the Colonial forces and many rifles exploded in the “rifleman’s” hands.Yet as a morale booster the weapons had some merit, for the survivors !

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/09/04/kenyan-blacksmiths-m.html#comment-582002 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582002 pangas always work http://images.coldsteel-knives.com/Lg/3332_1/97PM_Cold_Steel_Panga_Machete_16_Blade_21-5_8_No_Sheath.jpg pangas always work
http://images.coldsteel-knives.com/Lg/3332_1/97PM_Cold_Steel_Panga_Machete_16_Blade_21-5_8_No_Sheath.jpg

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/09/04/kenyan-blacksmiths-m.html#comment-582010 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582010 http://1501bc.com/metalworking/forging/06150027.jpg apparently called a pot-bellows http://1501bc.com/metalworking/forging/06150027.jpg

apparently called a pot-bellows

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/09/04/kenyan-blacksmiths-m.html#comment-582011 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582011 made a brake drum in oil drum forge with electric blower once, the design worked well but didn't compensate for the ignorance. made a brake drum in oil drum forge with electric blower once, the design worked well but didn’t compensate for the ignorance.

]]> By: JoshP http://boingboing.net/2009/09/04/kenyan-blacksmiths-m.html#comment-581786 JoshP Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-581786 Hrrmm. Yeah, I forget the exact reference but one of the earliest documented bellows was apocryphally something about 'pressing skins' or 'pressing bladders.' (think wineskin) What the author inferred was a setup like this, a nice ground forge, 2 man rig, with a dual chamber bellows made from... whatever. What I wonder from the video is how they rigged the flap or intake... Nice anvil too, can't tell if it's a really good brick or an old piece of low carbon. What I also notice is that this setup would be tough solo. Hrrmm.
Yeah, I forget the exact reference but one of the earliest documented bellows was apocryphally something about ‘pressing skins’ or ‘pressing bladders.’ (think wineskin) What the author inferred was a setup like this, a nice ground forge, 2 man rig, with a dual chamber bellows made from… whatever.
What I wonder from the video is how they rigged the flap or intake…
Nice anvil too, can’t tell if it’s a really good brick or an old piece of low carbon.
What I also notice is that this setup would be tough solo.

]]> By: kerrie08 http://boingboing.net/2009/09/04/kenyan-blacksmiths-m.html#comment-582302 kerrie08 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582302 I would love to see more! If any one knows of more videos, please let me know. <!-- kerrie08@gmail.com --> I would love to see more!
If any one knows of more videos, please let me know.

]]> By: unruly katy http://boingboing.net/2009/09/04/kenyan-blacksmiths-m.html#comment-581843 unruly katy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-581843 Humans are so godawful and so godawesome. The news is always full of the -awful so what a delight to be reminded of the -awesome. Humans are so godawful and so godawesome. The news is always full of the -awful so what a delight to be reminded of the -awesome.

]]> By: jonathan_v http://boingboing.net/2009/09/04/kenyan-blacksmiths-m.html#comment-582100 jonathan_v Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582100 i've spent about two months on lamu island. its amazing what the locals are able to build out of near nothing. what's also funny is that a lot of folks there cook on wood, coal, gas tanks.. and they build the dhows by hand... and for quite some time they have rolling or entire-island blackouts to manage resources... but somehow, most everyone has a big-screen tv and a satellite dish. i’ve spent about two months on lamu island. its amazing what the locals are able to build out of near nothing.

what’s also funny is that a lot of folks there cook on wood, coal, gas tanks.. and they build the dhows by hand… and for quite some time they have rolling or entire-island blackouts to manage resources… but somehow, most everyone has a big-screen tv and a satellite dish.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/09/04/kenyan-blacksmiths-m.html#comment-582102 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582102 http://tinyurl.com/nn58rh so this is from ancient Eygpt. http://tinyurl.com/nn58rh

so this is from ancient Eygpt.

]]> By: Mitch http://boingboing.net/2009/09/04/kenyan-blacksmiths-m.html#comment-581858 Mitch Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-581858 I noticed the lack of safety glasses, too. I want to see more. I noticed the lack of safety glasses, too.

I want to see more.

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