Ore to Axe. The Complete Movie.

Ore Dog Productions
Ore Dog Productions
22,657
0
Published 2022-01-24
This documentary film details the process of smelting iron ore into metal and forging it into an eighteenth century-style axe. Follow blacksmiths with over 100 years’ collective experience as they demonstrate every step in the centuries-old bloomery smelting process. By combining earth, air, and fire, they create that “tool of necessity” used for generations. Oredog Blacksmiths Shelton Browder, Ken Koons, Stephen Mankowski, and Lee Sauder take you on the journey of finding ore, making charcoal, building a furnace, smelting the ore to iron, converting the iron to steel, and finally, forging the axe. If you have ever wondered how the tools so important to our ancestors were made, watch and see skills almost lost to history. To purchase a DVD of this video visit oredogproductions.com/ore-to-axe/
The processes documented here can be dangerous. The blacksmiths, photographer, and Ore Dog productions are not responsible for injuries or damage sustained when attempting the processes depicted in this video.
All Comments (21)
  • @himself54
    I'm in awe of the process, and the sheer amount of labor involved - kudo's, gentlemen. Your axe and this film are a work of art.
  • @highdesertsunset3011
    the amount of sheer labor is incredible - amazing human men in 2022 still possess this knowledge
  • @conradsutton
    By far the most complete and comprehensive smelting/forging video I've seen to date. Many of the videos I've seen skipped a lot of important steps you gentlemen showed, and their results were predictably far inferior. Watching your seamless teamwork was as fascinating as the processes involved....great job, guys!
  • @tomaspabon2484
    I didnt even know ore dogs were a thing. Makes sense as iron oxides definitely have a scent to them. That is insanely cool
  • @theothergameygamer
    Excellent. Really adds perspective on the cost of this essential and ubiquitous tool 200+ years ago.
  • @clatz13
    Superb video. Somehow I found myself following peoples attempts at smelting iron (often failing). I think your video completes my journey. Thank you so much for posting this, just amazing to see the skill, effort and care you all put into your craft.
  • @klausgartenstiel4586
    it took many iron tools to make an iron tool. add to that a herculean amount of power, precision, and perspiration, and the result is nothing short of wizardry.
  • @BlueJeebs
    Back when it was made this way, it lasted well over the creator's lifetime, and for some it was their most valued possession. I've done blacksmithing as a hobby using rail spikes myself, but had no clue how an axe is actually made, very interesting how the traditional axe was not entirely made of steel, but it also makes a lot of sense. Very insightful, thank you for this elaborate guide, not too many of these floating around the interwebs, that's for sure!
  • @gabrielasweet7347
    Ore-sniffing dog? Who knew! This is such a lovely video. Thank you.
  • @mr-x7689
    When I studied Blacksmithing some years ago, making Iron and steel this way was one of the classes. When we did our charcoal, we tightly packed our wood to the point where we almost had to batton the wood in to the container. However our containers where massive. We could stand 3-4 people shoulder to shoulder inside those. Tho our coal where supposed to last over a year, as we used charcoal to light our forges. Doing the same i would estemate you would get 3/4 of the quantety placed inside your barrels. + Dont let the wood get thuroly started, but light it and let the fire get a good grip, then put the lid on, and alternate the openings at the bottom, A good burn will take about 1.5 days depending on the quantity placed in to the container. Slow burn = high yeld. As my teacher said. "A good burn, will make the local fire department thinking about making a visit." (Due to a large amount of slow drifting smoke being released from the barrel/container.)
  • @MyBinaryLife
    Probably would have been a good call to bring a backpack with you to gather 50 pounds of ore in the woods, rather than just bringing a flour sack with you lol
  • @stantilton2191
    A fine example of the whole process, complete with the end product. Thank you, well done guys.
  • @adammontgomery7980
    I'm usually inclined to try (at least once in my life) the "old way" of doing things. This, not so much! Very cool to see, and I appreciate all the little metal objects a bit more now.
  • @jasonmelius4839
    This is an incredible video! Thank you so much for creating it.