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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

• The design and use of the offset goose wing (“brightbill”) hewing axe

• Craftsmanship, toolmaking, and preserving traditional trades

Whether you're a timber framer, blacksmith, conservation professional, or heritage enthusiast, this episode offers fascinating insights into traditional toolmaking and the enduring value of handcrafted tools and historic metalworking techniques.

Below is a more detailed breakdown of the video with relevant timestamps:

(Click the time on the left to jump straight to that section)

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

02:37 Heritage Craft in Maine

04:02 Early Blacksmith Spark

06:24 Mentors and Apprenticeship

08:06 Art School and Finding Direction

10:12 Back to the Forge

20:31 Juggling Jobs and Studio Life

25:49 Axes and Brant and Cochran

33:32 Pandemic Pivot to Solo

37:08 Bespoke Tools and Inspiration

41:30 Iron Was Precious

43:21 Bloomery Smelting Explained

46:02 From Iron To Steel

49:03 Modern Axe Steel Choices

51:27 Forge Welding The Pieces

53:03 Wrapped Eye Construction

56:12 Time Risk And Failure

57:01 Favourite Axe Makers

59:26 Future Projects And Niches

01:05:47 Grinding Edges Then And Now

01:09:06 Handmade Value And Story

01:10:54 Goose Wing Hewing Axe

01:13:56 Where To Find Nicholas

01:15:28 Final Thanks And Farewell

Connect with Nicholas Downing and learn more:

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/downingarts/

Email: downingarts@gmail.com

Website: https://www.downingarts.com/axerestoration

Learn more about the Heritage Buildings Association:

https://heritagebuildingsassociation.com

Join the conversation:

https://heritagebuildings.forum/share/dDYOnkLWJAkaA5xE?utm_source=manual

#Blacksmith #ForgeLife #IronAge