Beautiful job Peter. As usual. Everything you have done so far has been spot on. I wish I lived closer to you. I would love to see all you have done in person. You truly are an inspiration to all who appreciate the 18th century life.
The bellows is the heart and the anvil the soul of the Blacksmith Shop, sounds reasonable to me.Understanding more, the importance of the Blacksmith and his Shop,thanks to you Peter.The bellows is a work of art. Cathy and Peter,we appreciate you so much for sharing 🙂.
We started this channel September 2019 and when we look back it is a wee bit satisfying . It people like you Cheryl that encourage us to continue. Thank you.
I was half expecting your hands to 'leak' when U drank your coffee...with all those stabbings by needle! Poor Peter! Things come at a price n'est-ce-pas? The bellows R looking like yet another of your projects = FINE crafting! How 'tickled pink' U were at the testing of the bellows! If a forge is a good place to; test your 'mettle'...U have won by long strides. I like the sound of lifting the bellows as it will give soOOoo much more 'room for thought', gatherings and projects. U may well admire the; great accomplishments of pioneers, but only a 'pampered present' allows us such appreciation. Yours is a 'tough call'...the balance btw. the past and the present, and U and Catherine have struck a wonderful niche in life that we subs never cease 2 admire. WELL DONE! thank you kindly 4 sharing. Winds sail ships across the sea, and by the wind of bellows...anchors them. Health and God Bless! :)
Well Marie, perhaps I can craft a set of bellows but, you my friend most certainly craft words! Your comments are alway flattering and thought provoking. Merry Christmas to you and your clan.
Actually, Hayward, I got her all plumbed in today and will be filming that first fire tomorrow. The volume of air this produces at the firebox is outstanding!
The last tack! Time to break out the whisky jug.😊😊 I have a great grandfather who was listed as the first blacksmith at the founding of a little town in Southern Ohio in the 1870s. He did well enough there to have a house down the street separate from his shop and raised all his children there. Unfortunately the times were a changing and the town was in decline when my grandfather was old enough to work and he didn't take up the blacksmithing buisness. Funny thing is he had a trade name for a last name. His name was Smith.😄
That’s flattering but, I assure you when we edit a film for release there may be 20 to 40 clips and Cathy does just that in putting them together, watches all day long, lol.
It's always a pleasure to watch your endeavors take shape. I can't wait to see what u turn out on the forge. Hope u and the family have a wonderful, warm Christmas.
I was excited to see you had posted this video on finishing the bellows. I sat down to watch it when my 3 year old Grandson who was spending the night with us, climbed into my lap and I asked him if he wanted to watch the video with Grandpa? He immediately became mesmerized with the video, watching it from start to finish with me. Toward the beginning, I asked him if he liked it, and he said "Yes." I then asked what he liked best, and he said his hat, pointing at Peter's tricorne hat. He then said, "He looks like a really nice pirate, Pa Pa. He is making something inside of his ship, to make it go faster!" I got quite a kick out my Grandson's comments, and had to share them with you. You may have a new 3 year old fan of your work, as misconceived as it may be. However, he was disappointed that you didn't show how fast the ship could go with the new bellows. LOL.
That is simply a grand story, Tracy. I think I’ll have to share that with our viewers, it’s simply too good a story not to share with others and I thank you for sharing it with me. Aren’t grandchildren the best? Cathy and I have 10 and I’m also a Papa.
Great job Peter, you're a special person that has been blessed with a good mind and the ability to make learning an entertaining experience, and also blessed with a wonderful wife who we all appreciate and recognize as well. Many thanks to both of you for producing your wonderful channel.
The bellows is the crowning jewel of your blacksmith shop. You should be very proud of all your hard work. A true representation of how hard life was and what it took to prosper. Merry Christmas from North Carolina ❤️
The Billows Is another work of Art like the Birchbark Canoe and everything you do at The Woodland Escape. The minute details about Blacksmiths is very educational indeed and lots fun. The excitement you felt when testing the Billows was contagious. RC
Congratulations on a complex and Lovely project! You mentioned apprentices and my GGGrandfather was a shoemaker. I have his ledgers from the early 1840s to 1870s. In a 1847 ledger the is a contract to apprentice a man three years to learn boot and shoe making. $25 a year with 4 weeks off for harvest. A pair of children’s shoes was $.95. A pair of fine boots was $5.00. A great work of art you made Peter! I’m sure it will serve you well and we your fans! Many Thanks and Blessings! DaveyJO in Pennsylvania
Peter, rather than using a trough, most natives and whites in the backwoods used the pot and dipper method for bending wood. It was simple. The end of the stick was placed in a boiling pot of water at a steep angle. The dipper was then used to dribble boiling water on the stick so that it ran back in the pot to be re-cycled. The wood was then limbered over a knee, padded with rags and then returned to the pot for more heating. The process was repeated until the desired curve was achieved and then the wood was held in place by a variety of methods until the wood dried. This method is a bit slower but reliable provided the wood was moist and green (no dried lumber). To keep the green wood in this state prior to bending, after each period of work, the wood was stored in a puddle of water or in snow. Good video.
Thanks Doris, I recall you giving me that advise for canoe building. In this application, I was afraid of getting hot water on my tacked on leather. Appreciate any ideas that make life easier or we’re in fact employed in the old days.
Very impressive Peter, you must have been a smith in a previous life because all of these frontier skills seem so natural to you. Looking forward to seeing the forge fired up.
You must have needed a blood transfusion after sewing that bellows Peter. Incredible the work our fore-bearers had to do just so they could do the job. Thanks for continuing to shine a light on the not too distant past.
To top it off my old hide is getting a tad thin. Happy New Year, Karl. As to your not too distance past, perhaps it will be the norm of our not too distant future.
A brick laying friend of mine from England taught me, "The work's not blessed until you bleed." Guess in that case, these bellows have been well blessed! 🙏😊💪
Another excellent video, Peter and Cathy! My wife and I really enjoy the content and the music, the wee bits of history and the beautiful country where you live. Still the best content on UA-cam.
@@TheWoodlandEscape Your videos cover a time period and a lifestyle I have been interested in for many years, and you have a very engaging style of presenting your insights and sharing your knowledge.
You're like a kid with a new toy!! Well done with that work of art - next we fire up the forge? I think we can cut you some slack with your common-sense purchases of tacks, nails & timber (lumber. You kept us advised & maintained a reasonable time schedule. Congratulations
Good night Peter from chilly Asheville NC USA. Love your wee bit of history’s so informative. Great progress on the blacksmith project. First leg done I made it here. Still so much work to do.
You are truly fine artisan!! Love your attention to every detail and give everything you do 150 percent. Can't wait for the first item to come out of the forge. 🐾🙏🏻✌🏻
My son is trying his best to get into blacksmithing. He just wants to be mobile and those forges are not cheap! I have tried to get him to build a more permanent structure and work up to being mobile but I may as well be barking at the moon. Great job on the bellows! The whole shop, forge and anvil has been a lot of fun to watch! Educational too!
I would suggest what is call a riveting forge. They have a circular pot with a hand pumped blower. They are relatively cheap … under 2 hundred dollars. Make an anvil from a cut pie3of railroad tie and a wood stump to fasten it to. Buy a rounding hammer and a simple set of tongs and he’ll be making stuff. Glad you’re enjoying our channel.
Wow nice job!! I was thinkin how you was gonna find one, never really thought about you just makin your own? Very nice!!! How do you like that stove, does it hold a fire pretty good? Your channel is better than PBS by far!!
That certainly a flattering compliment, Daniel. The stove is a poor one compared to modern ones as it not an airtight. It doesn’t hold a fire all that long but, it does make the shop tolerable.
Appreciate your efforts and dedication! Oh the ceremonious first fire. Looking forward to all your future smithing projects. If you are half as talented with the hammer and anvil as you are are canoe building, I think you will be alright. Thanks again and keep your powder dry!
Hi Peter. Still catching up! The Blacksmith’s shop is looking good, love those bellows! I should think that given my Surname, my ancestors were Blacksmiths at some point in history but I’ve yet to discover when that might have been as from my Great Grandfather born in the late 1800’s to my Great, Great, Great Grandfather born in the mid 1700’s, they had all been either bricklayer’s or plasterers! I have to say though, that I am glad Blacksmithing and medical practitioners evolved as separate disciplines in the UK…….I’m sure that a patient in Canada recovered pretty darn quickly when approached by a fellow welding a red hot poker and asking the nature of the poor devils malady in a booming Brian Blessed type voice! 😂 It’s a wonder Canada doesn’t have thousands of Saints as the speed at which patients recovered and tore off into the wilderness like the ‘Road Runner’ must surely have been seen as miracles! Best wishes, Mark
Hello there Peter. Man I'm so envious of you it makes me ache, that's the most beautiful country I've ever seen,everything about it screams "come on up here and enjoy". Talk about Jack of all trades my friend there should be a saying"the Peter of all projects"lol, but seriously I am amazed at all the projects you not only take on but succeed at them all. Until next time take care and I hope your holidays are happy and healthy
Great job Peter and Kathy. Never knew there was this much work involved with making a bellows. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you both and your family, all the best in 2023. Keep your powder dry
Damn, I love this channel found the Deer Hide tanning whilst surfing the other day. I'm becoming addicted. I did a little blacksmithing during my Millwright apprenticeship some 60 years ago. Compared to what your doing here, mine was with benefit of all the mod cons.
Thanks, Anthony. In my humble opinion a millwright is a trade that is underrated. One literally be a Jack of all trades. I’ve often thought it would have been a trade i would have loved.
Hi Peter, it's coming along nicely. I wonder if spruce gum could be used as a seal between the leather and the wood of the bellows. It is interesting to hear you speak of the resurgence of black smithing after it's decline during the industrial rev. Actually I have noticed that the skills of craftsmen in many of the old skills are much in demand and pay well today. Masonry skills are in demand for architectural restorations as well. These are now specialized skills that are not so readily available and are generally costly to obtain. Best Regards and Merry Xmas to all your family. Maybe Santa will bring you some spare parts for the bellows! 😊
And a very Merry Christmas to you and your clan, Robert. I plumbed it all together today and the amount of air pumped is amazing to say the least. Your right on the old skills finally getting paid a descent compensation for their skills.
The blacksmith as a practitioner of or closely connected to folkmedicine, human health and animal health stuff - both in terms of herbalism and mending as well as the magical aspects of it - was very common across Europe. Either the rural blacksmith did it or his daughters/wife.... Here in Denmark, there used to be somewhat of a saying that if you need to consult a witch, you would go either to the priest' wife or the blacksmiths daughter. We also had an uprising around 1900 when a very popular folkhealer who spoecialized in mending broken bones on humans and cattle was convicted of quackery ... the locals where seriously pissed and when he got home from jail he got a hero's Welcome, he was a son of a blacksmith
UffDa! It works! I'm so grateful that this content is available to anyone near internet with a device. An attitude of gratitude is the key to happiness. We ALL should be a bit more grateful to our hearty ancestors for what they accomplished so that we may enjoy our comparatively lavish lives today. Much appreciated guys. Thank you so much for showing and explaining a modicum of what they accomplished through hard work, wisdom and determination.
Well this has been a great series Peter, i have been very curious as to how these wind bags would be built and work opposed to a lot smaller version that people would use in there home to get a fire up and going again, I'm looking forward to the next step, very interesting heart of the black smith shop and a we bit of history for sure, thank you
Used a strip of harness leather to hold the leather/ canvas to the bellows to seal the edges. Have never seen wood strips used like that on original bellows myself. Hope they hold up for you.
If one can find patience in the toolbox, they’ve found the best tool available. Having said that, you’ve not seen me when the camera is not rolling, lol. Once the forge is up and running I’ll be able to make those tacks for the next bellows, or, I might just head off to the hardware store!
Hi Peter, got a question for you. I’ve finished installing tongue an groove 6” boards on my walls and the temperature in the cabin in the mornings takes a couple of hours when I crank up the wood stove to start heating the place up to where I can take my jacket off. Being my first endeavor with a small cabin does this sound ok. I realize if I were there all nite a lot I could keep it warm all the time. Just mostly there during the days. You just don’t know the joy it gives me just to go and hang out there. Your videos along with one or two others guys inspired me at this age in my life to go ahead and do something. I’m now building bits and pieces of furniture for it. After a couple of hours it gets nice and toasty in there but it takes a while. Thanks for the inspiration Bubba. By the way mom is still with us, she gets a little mixed up at times but she still knows us. The other day she told someone I was her husband. Oh well it is what it is. Ha. God bless y’all. (Old guy from Arkansas)🇺🇸
That sounds about right even in a small cabin one has to displace all that cold air. It takes even longer with a fireplace due to its inefficiency. It is nice just to have that space to escape to, especially if it is built with ones own hands. Merry Christmas to you and your clan.
Prior to sewing them on I hand rubbed in 3 coats of oil on the inside and 2 coat site outside. I’ll probably treat the outside once a month. Thanks for the compliment.
@The Woodland Escape: Make yourself Sailmakers Thimbles. You are only supposed to take blood samples just before a meal. Leather workers also have similar thimbles/gloves that protect the palm of your hand and important digits Usually, they are made of layered thick leather with a layer of tough rawhide and only cover the parts of your hand that likely will get ventilated. Unless you are sick, you do not want to draw blood to remove "Bad Humors".
@@TheWoodlandEscape : You took on quite a challenge ! Those thimble/gloves are useful for sewing anything thick and tough upholstery, web strapping (in your outside life), or anything else you can dream up where you would prefer not to have more holes than what the "powers that be", created you with. Have you thought of sealing the seams in the leather and the interface between the leather and the wood parts, for more efficiency ? I think they used a mix of pitch and beeswax as a sealant (not positive on the recipe).
Another fascinating video. I've got a small table made out of hackmatac that II've been using at reenactments. I've never been able to figure out what exactly hackmatac is. Can you enlighten me ? It's a nicely figured open grain wood, that reminds me of hickory.
My fingers hurt watching you use the needle in that thick leather. You made need a transfusion after all the needle sticks. Lol. You have to respect all the pioneers had to do just to make the tools and every part needed to build something. When I go buy a box a screws or nails I think of how they had to make each one. Thank you for a great video.
They kinda looked like a pin cushion when I finished. A friend of mine was hand filing a single screw when his neighbor dropped by and he said “ you know, you can go to town and by a box of those”. Thanks again, Beverly for being such a dedicated followers.
Howdy Peter I cheered up my arm when the top went up .... or did you push up the top with your chest while lifting the bottom ? lol when it is all finished... about how much max. " psi " will it deliver ? or does it really matter as long as good amount of air flow is going in the fire ? In the many years I was a machinist so many things changed ... I was " layed off " because the CNC 's were more useful ... and younger kids were working .... but I was asked to come back in 6 months because the " Young whippersnappers " did know how to do somethings on the cnc's
Darn you caught me, lol. Actually they pump an amazing amount of air,not sure the psi but it’s high. “Young people should get to know old people, old people know stuff”. I loved machine shops high school!
Congrats on the build! I envy so much. With a bunch of luck I’ll be able to start a bit of an adventure like this in 2-3 years. You should get yourself a Speedy Stitcher. It was invented in 1909, so it’s cheating a little, but for sure people used an awl with heavy thread for hundred of years before that. Save you fingers, and much heavier thread is available. Also, I’m not sure what those slats are doing. Just re-enforcing the tacks, or is it to cut down on leaks? If so, wouldn’t putting a little pitch on the underside of the tack when you put it in work?
Tedious work I wouldn't expect any less from you Peter wishing you a happy holiday you and Kathy I am staying strong and your videos help me get through the treatment and the pain always always there Freddie 😄👍😎👍💪🎄⛄🛶🇨🇦🎁🎁🎀
М-да... Ну,что сказать... Пётр,с вашим богажём теоретических знаний и практических навыков,вас бы в описываемый вами период либо носили на руках в данной местности,либо попросту бы вздёрнули на первом удобном суку,как конкурента... Шучу,конечно.. Ну а если серьёзно, Вы молодец. Редаий случай когда отснятый материал даёт предельно простое ,а главное практическое объяснерие того,на сколько не простой была жизнь среднестатистического рядового абывателя в представленый период времени.
We generally sleep on the floor right in front of the fire on straw ticks. It was normal for settlers in small cabins to push the table and chairs to the corner an sleep this way with the young ones in the loft. In the morning all the ticks were rolled up and put in the loft. New day begins.
Beautiful job Peter. As usual. Everything you have done so far has been spot on. I wish I lived closer to you. I would love to see all you have done in person. You truly are an inspiration to all who appreciate the 18th century life.
Thanks Jack and should you ever find yourself in Eastern Ontario we’ll have to share a fire or two.
Really looked forward to this episode.
The bellows is the heart and the anvil the soul of the Blacksmith Shop, sounds reasonable to me.Understanding more, the importance of the Blacksmith and his Shop,thanks to you Peter.The bellows is a work of art.
Cathy and Peter,we appreciate you so much for sharing 🙂.
And we certainly appreciate your continued interest.
WELL DONE It is so incredible all that you and your lovely wife have accomplished in 2022.!!
We started this channel September 2019 and when we look back it is a wee bit satisfying . It people like you Cheryl that encourage us to continue. Thank you.
I was half expecting your hands to 'leak' when U drank your coffee...with all those stabbings by needle! Poor Peter! Things come at a price n'est-ce-pas? The bellows R looking like yet another of your projects = FINE crafting! How 'tickled pink' U were at the testing of the bellows! If a forge is a good place to; test your 'mettle'...U have won by long strides. I like the sound of lifting the bellows as it will give soOOoo much more 'room for thought', gatherings and projects. U may well admire the; great accomplishments of pioneers, but only a 'pampered present' allows us such appreciation. Yours is a 'tough call'...the balance btw. the past and the present, and U and Catherine have struck a wonderful niche in life that we subs never cease 2 admire. WELL DONE! thank you kindly 4 sharing. Winds sail ships across the sea, and by the wind of bellows...anchors them. Health and God Bless! :)
Well Marie, perhaps I can craft a set of bellows but, you my friend most certainly craft words! Your comments are alway flattering and thought provoking. Merry Christmas to you and your clan.
@@TheWoodlandEscape How kind! And may Christmas be a blessed one in your clan as well! :)
Congratulations Peter!
Another project well done. Thanks for the informative lesson.
Cheers!
Appreciate that.
Great job. Always admire you're attention to detail. Can't wait to see it in action!
I’m pretty pumped to pump those bellows with a coal fire in the firebox.
One of the few channels where I am never tempted to fast forward. Thanks for sharing!
That’s encouraging, Paul.
I will be on deck next week for the first fire for sure. It has been a wonderful journey with you on this build. 1st class work.
Actually, Hayward, I got her all plumbed in today and will be filming that first fire tomorrow. The volume of air this produces at the firebox is outstanding!
The last tack! Time to break out the whisky jug.😊😊
I have a great grandfather who was listed as the first blacksmith at the founding of a little town in Southern Ohio in the 1870s. He did well enough there to have a house down the street separate from his shop and raised all his children there. Unfortunately the times were a changing and the town was in decline when my grandfather was old enough to work and he didn't take up the blacksmithing buisness.
Funny thing is he had a trade name for a last name. His name was Smith.😄
Interesting family history and as you point out a very appropriate name, lol. I do believe I did have a wee dram to celebrate.
Looking forward to next weeks episode.
Thanks to you and Cathy for another wonderful video.👍
Ill be firing it up tomorrow and seriously hoping my chimney draws.
@@TheWoodlandEscape Me too, because it is a beautiful set up.👍
I love your enthusiasm and knowledge. I could watch your videos all day long.
That’s flattering but, I assure you when we edit a film for release there may be 20 to 40 clips and Cathy does just that in putting them together, watches all day long, lol.
The nervousness, then relief, was the best part of this video.
Well CC, I’m not sure about the nervousness part but, I agree about the relief aspect, lol. Thanks for watching.
It's always a pleasure to watch your endeavors take shape. I can't wait to see what u turn out on the forge. Hope u and the family have a wonderful, warm Christmas.
Hope to fire it up tomorrow. We’ll be seeing how well my chimney draws. A very Merry Christmas to you and your clan.
I was excited to see you had posted this video on finishing the bellows. I sat down to watch it when my 3 year old Grandson who was spending the night with us, climbed into my lap and I asked him if he wanted to watch the video with Grandpa? He immediately became mesmerized with the video, watching it from start to finish with me. Toward the beginning, I asked him if he liked it, and he said "Yes." I then asked what he liked best, and he said his hat, pointing at Peter's tricorne hat. He then said, "He looks like a really nice pirate, Pa Pa. He is making something inside of his ship, to make it go faster!" I got quite a kick out my Grandson's comments, and had to share them with you. You may have a new 3 year old fan of your work, as misconceived as it may be. However, he was disappointed that you didn't show how fast the ship could go with the new bellows. LOL.
That is simply a grand story, Tracy. I think I’ll have to share that with our viewers, it’s simply too good a story not to share with others and I thank you for sharing it with me. Aren’t grandchildren the best? Cathy and I have 10 and I’m also a Papa.
@@TheWoodlandEscape Amen to that! I have six grandkids and they are the best!
Hi Peter, wonderfully done. Again, enjoyed the history and the update of your progress on the bellows! Take care friend see ya next time👍
Thanks Gil.
Great job Peter, you're a special person that has been blessed with a good mind and the ability to make learning an entertaining experience, and also blessed with a wonderful wife who we all appreciate and recognize as well. Many thanks to both of you for producing your wonderful channel.
Kind words, Brent, thank you. To be honest, it is not really work to produce these as the stuff we do on film we would be doing anyways.
Coming together Proud moment when you see your work starting to come together. Blessed CHRIST mas
Hopefully a successful fire tomorrow… got it all plumbed in today.
Sewing a sock to a big foot, what a great visualization. I love everything you and your wife create.
Encouraging words, thank you.
Hello Guys, thanks for the shout out, I’m in good company with the other smiths!
Our pleasure Chris. I’m looking forward to the meeting of the minds/smiths.
The bellows is the crowning jewel of your blacksmith shop. You should be very proud of all your hard work. A true representation of how hard life was and what it took to prosper. Merry Christmas from North Carolina ❤️
Merry Christmas to you and your clan, Mike. I must say, I’m pretty darn pleased with how they turned out.
Congratulations on the bellows working.
I can’t wait till your hammering steel
Me as well!
Great looking bellows. I imagine the steam bending is rather brutal with the extreme temperature difference.
Actually that Hackberry bent as easily as cedar, go figure.
The Billows Is another work of Art like the Birchbark Canoe and everything you do at The Woodland Escape. The minute details about Blacksmiths is very educational indeed and lots fun. The excitement you felt when testing the Billows was contagious. RC
First fire tomorrow my friend … got it all put together today.
@@TheWoodlandEscape Awesome
Good job can't wait for next week
Hope to film the first fire tomorrow and fingers crossed my chimney draws or it’s back to the drawing board.
So looking forward to all the blacksmithing videos your gonna make!
I’m looking forward to the chimney drafting properly, I’ll be finding out tomorrow.
Blacksmith shop to be in operation soon... Nice to see snow at the cabin...
Yup, the open for business sign will be up shortly, even though I’m not going into business, lol.
Peter you are incrediblely gifted. 💪👏
Thank you.
Congratulations on a complex and Lovely project! You mentioned apprentices and my GGGrandfather was a shoemaker. I have his ledgers from the early 1840s to 1870s. In a 1847 ledger the is a contract to apprentice a man three years to learn boot and shoe making. $25 a year with 4 weeks off for harvest. A pair of children’s shoes was $.95. A pair of fine boots was $5.00. A great work of art you made Peter! I’m sure it will serve you well and we your fans! Many Thanks and Blessings! DaveyJO in Pennsylvania
That is an awesome story, I’ll be using that one in an upcoming episode. Thanks for sharing.
Well done, Peter!! It's a wonder to behold and I'm excited to see what you create!!
Pretty excited. I’ll be finding out tomorrow how well it all works.
Nice work on the bellows, i was excited when it worked too! I'm looking forward to seeing it in use, thanks for the bit of blacksmith history as well.
Glad your enjoying, Jeff.
☕☕🔪🧵🧶🕯⚒🔨🗝🗜⛓🔧🔥
Holy Cow 🐄 the pond isn't even frozen over!❄Merry Christmas 🎄
Been a mild one so far.
Absolutely Fascinating! My favourite part was seeing you boil and bend the wood slats to fit... Very much looking forward to next weeks video.
Thanks, Dave and the best part, none of the slats broke.
Peter, rather than using a trough, most natives and whites in the backwoods used the pot and dipper method for bending wood. It was simple. The end of the stick was placed in a boiling pot of water at a steep angle. The dipper was then used to dribble boiling water on the stick so that it ran back in the pot to be re-cycled. The wood was then limbered over a knee, padded with rags and then returned to the pot for more heating. The process was repeated until the desired curve was achieved and then the wood was held in place by a variety of methods until the wood dried. This method is a bit slower but reliable provided the wood was moist and green (no dried lumber). To keep the green wood in this state prior to bending, after each period of work, the wood was stored in a puddle of water or in snow. Good video.
Thanks Doris, I recall you giving me that advise for canoe building. In this application, I was afraid of getting hot water on my tacked on leather. Appreciate any ideas that make life easier or we’re in fact employed in the old days.
Huuuuuyyyyyyyyyyyyiiii muchas gracias porque sus videos son muy Ilustrativo algún día tendré mi Cabaña
Hope you’re able to hunker down and stay warm with this upcoming Arctic blast.
I kinda like hunkering down by the fireplace on a cold blustery day!
Very impressive Peter, you must have been a smith in a previous life because all of these frontier skills seem so natural to you. Looking forward to seeing the forge fired up.
With luck you can see it in action this coming Friday!
Great video! I enjoyed having a cup of coffee with you and hearing the history of blacksmithing at that time! Bellows looks great too!
We certainly appreciate your interest, sir.
You must have needed a blood transfusion after sewing that bellows Peter. Incredible the work our fore-bearers had to do just so they could do the job. Thanks for continuing to shine a light on the not too distant past.
To top it off my old hide is getting a tad thin. Happy New Year, Karl. As to your not too distance past, perhaps it will be the norm of our not too distant future.
Good afternoon from a snowy Syracuse NY USA brother and everyone else thank you for sharing your live history videos
Thanks Earl.
You are welcome brother
I understand you don't have control over the sub-titles and what is said -I just correcting their mistakes
A brick laying friend of mine from England taught me, "The work's not blessed until you bleed." Guess in that case, these bellows have been well blessed! 🙏😊💪
I love that quote, Lori and if that is true, this set of bellows is the holy grail!
You have worked very hard on the bellows, I am glad they worked on the first trial! Blessings to you and yours.
I’m must say, Jan, it was a wee bit of a relief!
Another excellent video, Peter and Cathy! My wife and I really enjoy the content and the music, the wee bits of history and the beautiful country where you live. Still the best content on UA-cam.
You’ve been a very dedicated viewer, John and we certainly appreciate it.
@@TheWoodlandEscape Your videos cover a time period and a lifestyle I have been interested in for many years, and you have a very engaging style of presenting your insights and sharing your knowledge.
Thanks so much!
Congratulations!! A good reward for all your hard work. Thank you so much for sharing this with those of us who will never have that experience.
I must say it did feel rather rewarding, thank you.
Trop belle la petite musique d'introduction.
Ça fait vraiment plaisir de suivre tes pérégrinations dans les savoirs faire de nos ancêtres.
Two friends of ours supply the music for our channel and many of the tunes are their original songs. We appreciate your interest and support.
You're like a kid with a new toy!!
Well done with that work of art - next we fire up the forge?
I think we can cut you some slack with your common-sense purchases of tacks, nails & timber (lumber. You kept us advised & maintained a reasonable time schedule.
Congratulations
Fingers crossed the my side draft chimney has a good draw.
Huzzah - it works!! Great work Peter! Can't wait to see it all working. A very Merry Christmas to you and Cathy!
Merry Christmas my friend. I’ll be firing it up tomorrow. I sure hope my chimney draws.
Good night Peter from chilly Asheville NC USA. Love your wee bit of history’s so informative. Great progress on the blacksmith project. First leg done I made it here. Still so much work to do.
Thanks Charles.
You are truly fine artisan!! Love your attention to every detail and give everything you do 150 percent. Can't wait for the first item to come out of the forge. 🐾🙏🏻✌🏻
Thanks, Scott, hope to have the first fire tomorrow.
@@TheWoodlandEscape outstanding!
Man the shop sure is coming along! Thanks for letting us see the progress. So cool.
Almost there, first fire tomorrow!
Congratulations on the bellows thus far. Looks great, I’m excited to see it in action. You have a great job.
Next Friday with any luck. Appreciate your interest, Scott.
My son is trying his best to get into blacksmithing. He just wants to be mobile and those forges are not cheap! I have tried to get him to build a more permanent structure and work up to being mobile but I may as well be barking at the moon. Great job on the bellows! The whole shop, forge and anvil has been a lot of fun to watch! Educational too!
I would suggest what is call a riveting forge. They have a circular pot with a hand pumped blower. They are relatively cheap … under 2 hundred dollars. Make an anvil from a cut pie3of railroad tie and a wood stump to fasten it to. Buy a rounding hammer and a simple set of tongs and he’ll be making stuff. Glad you’re enjoying our channel.
@@TheWoodlandEscape Looking them up right now!
Your channel is like a gold mine to me . Thanks
Very flattering, thank you.
Wow nice job!! I was thinkin how you was gonna find one, never really thought about you just makin your own? Very nice!!! How do you like that stove, does it hold a fire pretty good? Your channel is better than PBS by far!!
That certainly a flattering compliment, Daniel. The stove is a poor one compared to modern ones as it not an airtight. It doesn’t hold a fire all that long but, it does make the shop tolerable.
Appreciate your efforts and dedication! Oh the ceremonious first fire. Looking forward to all your future smithing projects. If you are half as talented with the hammer and anvil as you are are canoe building, I think you will be alright. Thanks again and keep your powder dry!
There in is the rub, Ashley, I’m a much better canoe builder. However,I like learning as much as I like tracking. Watch yer top knot.
Hi Peter.
Still catching up! The Blacksmith’s shop is looking good, love those bellows! I should think that given my Surname, my ancestors were Blacksmiths at some point in history but I’ve yet to discover when that might have been as from my Great Grandfather born in the late 1800’s to my Great, Great, Great Grandfather born in the mid 1700’s, they had all been either bricklayer’s or plasterers! I have to say though, that I am glad Blacksmithing and medical practitioners evolved as separate disciplines in the UK…….I’m sure that a patient in Canada recovered pretty darn quickly when approached by a fellow welding a red hot poker and asking the nature of the poor devils malady in a booming Brian Blessed type voice! 😂 It’s a wonder Canada doesn’t have thousands of Saints as the speed at which patients recovered and tore off into the wilderness like the ‘Road Runner’ must surely have been seen as miracles!
Best wishes,
Mark
Oh Mark if you haven’t just made my day! Heck, I can’t seem to quite laughing … thank you so much.
Hello there Peter. Man I'm so envious of you it makes me ache, that's the most beautiful country I've ever seen,everything about it screams "come on up here and enjoy". Talk about Jack of all trades my friend there should be a saying"the Peter of all projects"lol, but seriously I am amazed at all the projects you not only take on but succeed at them all. Until next time take care and I hope your holidays are happy and healthy
Merry Christmas to you and your clan, Phillip. If your ever in this part of the world, you’d be very welcome at the Cedar Hollow Tavern.
Man, that's a big bellows! Beautiful work as well! Seems to be designed on the principal of the umbrella. Merry Christmas!
Actually they are pretty much the normal size for the time period.
Well done on the bellows Peter 👍
Thank you.
Can't wait to see it in action. great work, great we bit of history, great footage
Wow, 3 compliments in one sentence, thank you so much.
Great job Peter and Kathy. Never knew there was this much work involved with making a bellows. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you both and your family, all the best in 2023. Keep your powder dry
Thanks, Lance and a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to yo and your clan.
Damn, I love this channel found the Deer Hide tanning whilst surfing the other day. I'm becoming addicted. I did a little blacksmithing during my Millwright apprenticeship some 60 years ago. Compared to what your doing here, mine was with benefit of all the mod cons.
Thanks, Anthony. In my humble opinion a millwright is a trade that is underrated. One literally be a Jack of all trades. I’ve often thought it would have been a trade i would have loved.
Looks awesome! Another great video!
Thanks Ian. Merry Christmas to you and your clan.
Hi Peter, it's coming along nicely. I wonder if spruce gum could be used as a seal between the leather and the wood of the bellows.
It is interesting to hear you speak of the resurgence of black smithing after it's decline during the industrial rev. Actually I have noticed that the skills of craftsmen in many of the old skills are much in demand and pay well today.
Masonry skills are in demand for architectural restorations as well.
These are now specialized skills that are not so readily available and are generally costly to obtain.
Best Regards and Merry Xmas to all your family. Maybe Santa will bring you some spare parts for the bellows! 😊
And a very Merry Christmas to you and your clan, Robert. I plumbed it all together today and the amount of air pumped is amazing to say the least. Your right on the old skills finally getting paid a descent compensation for their skills.
It works! A job well done Peter.
Yup, sure does, thank you.
Magnifique ! Bravo !
Merci, Steve.
The blacksmith as a practitioner of or closely connected to folkmedicine, human health and animal health stuff - both in terms of herbalism and mending as well as the magical aspects of it - was very common across Europe. Either the rural blacksmith did it or his daughters/wife.... Here in Denmark, there used to be somewhat of a saying that if you need to consult a witch, you would go either to the priest' wife or the blacksmiths daughter. We also had an uprising around 1900 when a very popular folkhealer who spoecialized in mending broken bones on humans and cattle was convicted of quackery ... the locals where seriously pissed and when he got home from jail he got a hero's Welcome, he was a son of a blacksmith
That is some wonderful history, thanks for sharing.
Well done, sir! so satisfying :D
Thank you.
UffDa! It works!
I'm so grateful that this content is available to anyone near internet with a device. An attitude of gratitude is the key to happiness. We ALL should be a bit more grateful to our hearty ancestors for what they accomplished so that we may enjoy our comparatively lavish lives today. Much appreciated guys. Thank you so much for showing and explaining a modicum of what they accomplished through hard work, wisdom and determination.
You nailed it … hats off to our hearty ancestors!
That's truly amazing Peter happy Smithing and Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Thank you and a very Merry Christmas to you and your clan.
Nice work Peter, wishing you and the misses a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Thanks, Teri and a very Merry Christmas to you and your clan.
Awesome. Looking great.
Thanks Douglas.
Well this has been a great series Peter, i have been very curious as to how these wind bags would be built and work opposed to a lot smaller version that people would use in there home to get a fire up and going again, I'm looking forward to the next step, very interesting heart of the black smith shop and a we bit of history for sure, thank you
The big difference with fireplace bellow as they only blow when you squeeze and these bellows blow almost continuously.
Turn out awesome 😃👍
Thanks, I’m rather pleased.
Truly amazing!
Thanks Tammy.
Used a strip of harness leather to hold the leather/ canvas to the bellows to seal the edges. Have never seen wood strips used like that on original bellows myself. Hope they hold up for you.
Here’s hoping,Pat. I’ve actually seen two sets of older bellows that had the wooden strips. I can’t believe the a out of air it pumps.
@@TheWoodlandEscape First set I made could blow up 3 foot of flame from the homemade pot I welded up. Was tough on the hair on my arms.
I’ll be watching for that potential danger!
@@TheWoodlandEscape When I forge all the time there is no hair on the back of my hands.
Good grief, what a job. Its beautiful.Takes alot of patience. O ya, i think you should have made the tacks. LOL, just kidding.
If one can find patience in the toolbox, they’ve found the best tool available. Having said that, you’ve not seen me when the camera is not rolling, lol. Once the forge is up and running I’ll be able to make those tacks for the next bellows, or, I might just head off to the hardware store!
Hi Peter, got a question for you. I’ve finished installing tongue an groove 6” boards on my walls and the temperature in the cabin in the mornings takes a couple of hours when I crank up the wood stove to start heating the place up to where I can take my jacket off. Being my first endeavor with a small cabin does this sound ok. I realize if I were there all nite a lot I could keep it warm all the time. Just mostly there during the days. You just don’t know the joy it gives me just to go and hang out there. Your videos along with one or two others guys inspired me at this age in my life to go ahead and do something. I’m now building bits and pieces of furniture for it. After a couple of hours it gets nice and toasty in there but it takes a while. Thanks for the inspiration Bubba. By the way mom is still with us, she gets a little mixed up at times but she still knows us. The other day she told someone I was her husband. Oh well it is what it is. Ha. God bless y’all. (Old guy from Arkansas)🇺🇸
That sounds about right even in a small cabin one has to displace all that cold air. It takes even longer with a fireplace due to its inefficiency. It is nice just to have that space to escape to, especially if it is built with ones own hands. Merry Christmas to you and your clan.
The bellows are looking great, are going to treat the leather with any kind of a preservative?
Prior to sewing them on I hand rubbed in 3 coats of oil on the inside and 2 coat site outside. I’ll probably treat the outside once a month. Thanks for the compliment.
@The Woodland Escape: Make yourself Sailmakers Thimbles. You are only supposed to take blood samples just before a meal.
Leather workers also have similar thimbles/gloves that protect the palm of your hand and important digits
Usually, they are made of layered thick leather with a layer of tough rawhide and only cover the parts of your hand that likely will get ventilated.
Unless you are sick, you do not want to draw blood to remove "Bad Humors".
Now you tell me, Jim, lol. Hopefully this may very well be my first and last set of bellows.
@@TheWoodlandEscape : You took on quite a challenge ! Those thimble/gloves are useful for sewing anything thick and tough upholstery, web strapping (in your outside life), or anything else you can dream up where you would prefer not to have more holes than what the "powers that be", created you with.
Have you thought of sealing the seams in the leather and the interface between the leather and the wood parts, for more efficiency ? I think they used a mix of pitch and beeswax as a sealant (not positive on the recipe).
Actually the darn thing pumps more air than I’m ever gonna need. The slats took care of the bulk of the leaks.
Now I need to make a visit to pound some steel with you. Nice work Peter!
Anytime and thank you.
Another fascinating video. I've got a small table made out of hackmatac that II've been using at reenactments. I've never been able to figure out what exactly hackmatac is. Can you enlighten me ? It's a nicely figured open grain wood, that reminds me of hickory.
The material I used I’d Hackberry, it is in the elm family.
My fingers hurt watching you use the needle in that thick leather. You made need a transfusion after all the needle sticks. Lol. You have to respect all the pioneers had to do just to make the tools and every part needed to build something. When I go buy a box a screws or nails I think of how they had to make each one. Thank you for a great video.
They kinda looked like a pin cushion when I finished. A friend of mine was hand filing a single screw when his neighbor dropped by and he said “ you know, you can go to town and by a box of those”. Thanks again, Beverly for being such a dedicated followers.
Is it next week yet?
I’ll be lighting the first fire tomorrow and we’ll have it up next Friday. Appreciate your interest Gregory.
Howdy Peter
I cheered up my arm when the top went up ....
or did you push up the top with your chest while lifting the bottom ? lol
when it is all finished... about how much max. " psi " will it deliver ? or does it really matter as long as good amount of air flow is going in the fire ?
In the many years I was a machinist so many things changed ... I was " layed off " because the CNC 's were more useful ... and younger kids were working .... but I was asked to come back in 6 months because the " Young whippersnappers " did know how to do somethings on the cnc's
Darn you caught me, lol. Actually they pump an amazing amount of air,not sure the psi but it’s high. “Young people should get to know old people, old people know stuff”. I loved machine shops high school!
Congrats on the build! I envy so much. With a bunch of luck I’ll be able to start a bit of an adventure like this in 2-3 years.
You should get yourself a Speedy Stitcher. It was invented in 1909, so it’s cheating a little, but for sure people used an awl with heavy thread for hundred of years before that. Save you fingers, and much heavier thread is available.
Also, I’m not sure what those slats are doing. Just re-enforcing the tacks, or is it to cut down on leaks? If so, wouldn’t putting a little pitch on the underside of the tack when you put it in work?
The slats are to seal up the bulk of the leaks between the tacks. It sure does move a lot of air.
@@TheWoodlandEscape Ahhhh, I see. Obvious now that you mention it, since they probably didn’t have any terribly effective glues back then. Thanks!
They had hide glue. I’ve actually made it and it is pretty darn good stuff.
That is a giant bellows. How heavy is it?
I suspect they would weigh in at about 200 and a bit. They are actually a pretty standard size in the shops of the 17 & 1800’s.
Do you rub anything on the leather to condition it?
3 coats of oil on the inside and 2 on the outside. I plan to treat the outside about once a month.
Hi Neighbor from Detroit
Howdy neighbor. Merry Christmas to you and your clan.
Peter another history and story the bellows is guite
Tedious work I wouldn't expect any less from you Peter wishing you a happy holiday you and Kathy I am staying strong and your videos help me get through the treatment and the pain always always there Freddie 😄👍😎👍💪🎄⛄🛶🇨🇦🎁🎁🎀
Thanks Freddie.
М-да... Ну,что сказать... Пётр,с вашим богажём теоретических знаний и практических навыков,вас бы в описываемый вами период либо носили на руках в данной местности,либо попросту бы вздёрнули на первом удобном суку,как конкурента... Шучу,конечно.. Ну а если серьёзно, Вы молодец. Редаий случай когда отснятый материал даёт предельно простое ,а главное практическое объяснерие того,на сколько не простой была жизнь среднестатистического рядового абывателя в представленый период времени.
Thanks for the kind words.
Tacks not tax
Pulls not falls the train
You now seem to have everything but a whiskey still. Perhaps a project for 2023..............
Who says I don’t. These days one must keep certain activities close to the chest!
@@TheWoodlandEscape It was always easier taking corn to the market by the gallon than by the wagon load.
Too funny!
Hi, great, mr peter you just look like our pakistani ex prim minister Imran khan,
I not sure if that’s a compliment, lol.
Sub-titles getting words wrong
We have no control over the subtitles.
Oh cool😎do you watch Townsends? I love watching you work and I like your hat is it called Tricorn hat right?
I do indeed watch Townsend, he is an amazing historians!
@@TheWoodlandEscape same he’s cool 😎
Can you show your sleeping area of your cabin?.
We generally sleep on the floor right in front of the fire on straw ticks. It was normal for settlers in small cabins to push the table and chairs to the corner an sleep this way with the young ones in the loft. In the morning all the ticks were rolled up and put in the loft. New day begins.