[HBP#36] - Nicholas Downing - Traditional Blacksmithing Explained | Ancient Tool & Iron Age Craft

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Welcome to another episode of the Heritage Buildings Podcast.

Vincent Reed sits down with Nicholas Downing of Downing Arts, a Maine-based custom blacksmith and metalworker specialising in traditional timber framing tools, hand-forged axes, bespoke ironwork, and historic hardware. Nicholas shares his journey from early exposure to blacksmithing and metalsmithing to helping revive Maine’s historic axe-making tradition at Brant & Cochran before launching his own business during the COVID pandemic.

The conversation explores traditional blacksmithing techniques, the history of bloomery iron and early steel, forge welding, and the craftsmanship behind multi-piece, hand-forged axes. Nicholas also discusses experimental archaeology, historic timber framing tools, and his fascination with rare forms such as the offset goose wing, or “brightbill,” hewing axe.

Other topics covered include:

• The path from metalsmithing to custom blacksmithing and entrepreneurship

• Reviving Maine’s historic axe-making tradition

• Building a small-batch handcrafted tool business through Etsy and online sales

• Traditional ironworking, bloomery iron, and early steel production

• Forge welding and constructing multi-piece hand-forged axes

• Historic timber framing tools and their modern relevance

• Experimental archaeology and recreating historic metalworking techniques