Yoshimitsu Brothers Making Tamahagane

[ChefKnivesToGo]

I had this video sitting on my desk for a couple years without looking at it. Sheesh, I'm an idiot.

Here is a cool tv piece on the Yoshimitsu brothers and how they forge Tamahagane steel. I was wowed by the part where they go to the freaking beach and use magnets to grab the iron! I had never seen what they really meant by "iron sands" before.

I'll be visiting these guys in May. I'm really excited to hang out with them. Also, check out their ages! They list them near the end of the video.

[desol]

The black stuff is the good stuff...

Have fun Mark. I'm envious.

[ChefKnivesToGo]

Here's another one on the same disk.

[halfdana]

You are lucky to have such an amazing job Mark. Better yet, you've done well to create and build this job for yourself.
Getting to travel around and meet all these artisans and see all this culture must be fantastic.
Also being a kind of knife detective like you described when magnaging to get Ishikawa products must be very intriguing.

Though I understand that most days aren't as exciting, still you get to work with something that's a huge hobby and passion for many of us here .
I'm looking forward to seeing photos and videos hopefully from this trip!

[ChefKnivesToGo]

Thanks Halfdan.

I gotta tell you. Watching this makes me want to try my hand at making Tamahagane. I'm going to see if I can get a lesson when I'm there.

[TommyB]

Mark - You might want to consult with the Madison Fire Department before you go too far down that path!
Tom

[ChefKnivesToGo]

Mark - You might want to consult with the Madison Fire Department before you go too far down that path!
Tom

Maybe I can set up a garbage can tatara like these guys have on the roof of my condo?

[knifenut]

Cool stuff, you have to hand it to those guys. Somebody a long time ago was thinking out of the box, to just go to the beach, gather up some sand, and make iron with it.
Sure beats the heck out of working in a mine or having to buy the stuff. Probably play a little volleyball, shuck some clams while they are at it. They also look pretty jolly and content in their work. Great vids, thanks for sharing.

[taz575]

Speaking of Tamahagane, any word on your katana?

[mchltylr]

I would love a knife made from tamahagane

[XexoX]

Well, I usually don't like to bring old threads back to life, but these videos are worth it.
Thank you for posting these Mark.

[Fedan]

These are really cool to see, keep it up!