Uploaded May 2017 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
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 isn't 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: 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: youtube.com/user/Soulsmithing
An interview of Pierre: youtube.com/watch?v=FNKymP1QF4M
Read about apprenticeship: 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!
soulsmithing.com
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 isn't 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: 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: youtube.com/user/Soulsmithing
An interview of Pierre: youtube.com/watch?v=FNKymP1QF4M
Read about apprenticeship: 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!
soulsmithing.com
