SOTW #1 - Sharpening a Nata (variation of a Japanese brush knife) @islandblacksmith

Uploaded July 2013 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago

grandpa has a half dozen variations of these ancient tools and keeps going back to them despite having newer ones on the shelf...the old ones are hand forged and very thick and sturdy, with an integral rope-wrapped handle and lots of heft...the style can vary from a slightly curved bamboo hatchet shape to a sickle style with deep brush tip...i started with a fairly coarse synthetic stone and then went to a fine natural Japanese finishing stone...shot near Sasayama.

this tool makes a great charcoal chopper if you are using properly cooked softwood that still has lots of strength left in it!

SOTW #1 - Sharpening a Nata (variation of a Japanese brush knife)

TLDW #19 - Bladesmithing at the Museum Swordsmith Forge

$Soulsmithing: adventures in hitech/lotech part 5 - chopping and sorting charcoal Pierre Nadeau of soulsmithing.com prepares to light his new forge in Canada. The focus of this video is sumi-kiri, charcoal chopping, screening, and sorting techniques, and will offer some valuable details for astute observers. The charcoal is chopped and then processed through four sizes of screen, the largest is for tanren, the second for hizukuri, his third size isnt highly useful but may be used in mini forges or crushed into fines, the fourth is the fines for lining the bottom of the forge, and the remainder is dust used for mixing into yaki-ire clay or for brasque refractory. See the rest of the series here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpmPJRiiS-E&list=PLBJ5AOs7cMwCSinW7foaiHFZKbZDkasQL&index=14 I met Pierre several years ago in Japan where he spent almost a decade working as a swordsmith apprentice. I am very grateful for his advice and assistance over the years. He is now continuing his research into traditional Japanese swords and historical crafting techniques. Soulsmithing channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Soulsmithing An interview of Pierre: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNKymP1QF4M Read about apprenticeship: http://islandblacksmith.ca/2015/05/on-swordsmith-apprenticeship/ Pierre also specializes in making hempcrete mixers and custom wood-fired ovens on the side, the pizza was so good that unfortunately there is no footage! http://soulsmithing.com$

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$Soulsmithing 3: adventures in hitech/lotech - laying forge bricks Laying bricks for the swordsmithing forge at Pierre Nadeau’s workshop. Pierre spent several years working as a swordsmith apprentice in rural Japan and is ready to continue his research into traditional Japanese swords and historical crafting techniques in Canada. Soulsmithing channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Soulsmithing An interview of Pierre: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNKymP1QF4M The three major projects during this visit were focused on getting the forge itself ready for use. In this episode, insulating and laying bricks for the forge. During the long cold Quebec winters, the ground can become very cold and tanren could become difficult or impossible with an earth-grounded forge. Pierre’s solution to combat cold and moisture is to enclose the forge in a concrete box, insulate inside the box with ceramic fiber, pour a castable refractory floor, and then install the hard firebrick walls inside. The bricks came from a former pottery kiln in the area and have lovely wabisabi textures and colours that record past projects from their earlier use. A blend of sand, refractory cement, and clay seals off the fuigo manifold pipe and the tuyere within the brick opening. This series is a compilation of what footage I was able to collect while both of us worked morning ’til night but gives a good idea of what went on and will offer some valuable details for astute observers. Pierre also specializes in making hempcrete mixers and custom wood-fired ovens on the side, the pizza was so good that unfortunately there is no footage! http://soulsmithing.com$

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SOTW #1 - Sharpening a Nata (variation of a Japanese brush knife)