Blacksmithing - Forging tools for stone splitting 

My great-grandfather emigrated from Cornwall to mid-coast Maine (U.S.), where he eventually managed a granite quarry. I've seen the quarry and his old tools. Since there are boulders on my property, I've also done a little stone splitting myself. So these tools and techniques are familiar to me. Good to see someone still practicing these techniques for working metal and stone. Thank you for posting this video -- and reminding me of my great-grandfather.

I enjoy seeing tools. The tools are civilization-building. Welfare and comfort are owed to those who made these tools.

I really wanted to thank you for this video. My grandfather was a rock driller for the railroad that went through the Muskokas of central Ontario. All canadian shield granite. He started when he was 11 years old. Myself, as a child had a hard time picturing this process while hearing it. After watching your video - I got it. And even more respect for my grandfather and those who drilled in the past. Thank you.

My grandfather was a stone cutter and one of the fondest memories i have was learning how to cut sandstone along side him. Thank you for showcasing the old school technique.

I'm a simple man. I see Torbjörn notification, I click and like before watching then I enjoy. Thanks for uploading again.

my family owns a monument business and i cant tell you how many times ive had to do this. from anything to a small slant monument to a big block that weighs 3 tons and is about 4 ft high, 4 ft wide and about 10 ft long. just a little tip, put some grease on your wedges before you use them. you wont believe how much of a difference it makes in splitting

There is a certain amount of zen, to the way you set up your videos. Not a lot a talking, straight to the point and all business. Greatly appreciate your videos like always.

As a miner for mineral specimens and crystals, that must split rock with out explosives, this was fascinating to watch. We often use ling tapered hardened pipe fitters flangewedges to exploit fine cracks in working face to open natural splits up for larger wedges. Since collectors hate to see drill holes, we want as natural a surface as possible. Good job on forged tools and splitting the rock. Thank you for showing us how you do it.

de toda la basura que hay en youtube, estos vídeos si merece la pena mirar

Of all the smithing channels this is the most relaxing one!

🌺💐💐⚘🌹🌹👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻السلام عليكم ورحمه الله شيء جميل جدا وانا اشكرك من اعماق قلبي انت عملت هذه الازميل بنفسك وقمت في المحاوله الاولى ولم تنجح لكنك لم تياس و قمت بالمحاوله الثانيه وكانت ناجحه جدا هذا الفيديو جميل لانه كان واقعي كان بامكانك ان تاتي بالصخره اخرى وتحاول مره اخرى وتقص الفيديو الاول لكن ما اعجبني انك لم تقص الفيديو واستمريت بمحاوله الثانيه في نفس الفيديو هذا لانك صادق وامين وكل الحب والاحترام لك والله انك تستحق المتابعه🌺🌺💐😘😘😘

Just the most informative,entertaining and relaxing twenty minutes. My mid morning break was this video and a nice coffee, does not get any better!

Outstanding video, not only do we get to see the old craft of stone splitting with feathers and wedges but also we get to see how the tools are made. GREAT VIDEO!!

Thank you for the demonstration of stone splitting. Also, your honesty of the first bolix is refreshing Torbjorn. Good day too.

Absolutely *AWESOME* video! Where I live, we have a lot of limestone industry. I have even done some stone carving myself. I have considered trying to forge carving tools some day, but this is the first time I've seen stone cutting tools forged. This is definitely a video that I will be watching again!

I love your videos Torbjorn. I especially appreciate the fact that you show the finished product before showing how it is made; not many people do that, and it makes the steps much easier to follow when you can see where they're leading.

I really like these round trips between the demonstration and the manufacturing ... Bravo for this video !!

Who the hell thumbed this down! This man has made tools that have built our civilization, fantastic video and smithing thank you TA!

They built entire tunnels in Switzerland using this drilling method for dynamite back in the day. What a monster job! Good work 💪

That rock splitting at the end was one of the most satisfying things I've seen or heard so far in my life, thanks for showing me how to do it myself!

Now added " split up a big rock" to my bucket list!

I'm a stone mason from Devon, England and I've used this technique before to split a large raw rock of Devon Granite for a headstone - It's called plug and feathering.

See, this is why I love this channel. You dont make things that you dont need. Nor do you make everything exotic and Damascus. Although those things are fun to watch, I enjoy your "see a need, fill a need" content. Keep up the good work, sir.

Thank you. My wife has been baking a lot recently and this should help considerably.

I love that sound. Chissel to stone. I carve granite . I'm grateful for carbide . I have also used feathers and plugs for splitting. The hardness of the material plays a crucial role in success or failure. Thoroughly enjoyed the video!

I have to watch it again, I got so relaxed I fell asleep.

My late father told me about this quick hardening and tempering process for stone chisels. He still saw blacksmiths make chisels that way in the late 1940's. This is the first time I see this simple method on the internet. Thank you very much for sharing your fine craftsmanship.

I always approach tasks with greater mindfulness after watching your videos.

I was really getting into the rhythm as you were hammering the second time. It was so musical and then the sound of it splitting was perfect. Like a smithing ASMR session

Dewalt - the best assistant bricklayer! 😆 💪👌

Those old boys in ancient Egypt must have had a few sweaty moments when they were knocking out their obelisks! Big balls required! Fascinating post Torbjorn, thankyou.

Most interesting. It gives one renewed respect for the masons of old who constructed the cathedrals and castles we admire so much today.

Thank goodness for the hammer drill at the end! I enjoy cutting granite with a hand tracer, feathers and wedges but if I had to drill holes by hand using a chisel or star drill, I'd find another hobby. Love my Hilti rotary hammer. Great video, thank you👍

The sound a fairly large rock makes when splitting is actually a whole-body experience! It reverberates through your chest like nothing else!

I loved it when you pulled out the drill. Great work. I appreciate it that you don't feel the need to talk, instead you let your actions tell the story. Keep it up, and Thank you!

Loved the IKEA commercial RU-vid showed me before watching a Swedish man make some tools. Life’s little games

Absolutely impressive work. It is always a pleasure to witness your craftsmanship and ability to turn your creative ideas into real world things.

I wonder why blacksmithing is so relaxing to watch.

I didn't even know stone splitting was still around, that is so awesome man, like also like how you show how its done 👌🏻

I love this video format! You did a really good job of showing silently I might add :-) what the tool was going to be used for and practical application and then how to form the ends. Great video keep up the awesome work God bless!

You have a lot of what you might call arcane interests. I dig it. Keep sharing the old ways of doing things. Splitting rocks, putting holes in rocks, scythes, sharpening scythes and much much more. I'm on board.

The sound of the stone cracking was so satisfying, haha! The reward of a great deal of work. Great work, as always.

Watching a clean straight fracture appear like that was quite satisfying.

I really love this style of video no talking just great forging. Also the way you did this is good in my opinion. Showed use of the tools than forging them one by one

Super cool, I'm a Mason and enjoy seeing how feathers and wedges are hand built, awesome.

That's definitely an awesome video!!! Not just showing a "how to" but also telling a whole story about the tools. I'm deeply impressed. Chapeau!

I've seen rock work done before but the first time making the tools for it. Great job and video! Thumbs Up as well

Very informative, I cheated and bought the feathers and wedges, and used the hammer drill, but it still is quite gratifying. Thanks for sharing.

my man! rocking that relaxed look! i love it. hard work and comfort together at last!

Really like the ancient tools and processes. Thanks for sharing.

Howdy. I have done some stone splitting using pieces as shown. Works really well. Yes one should drill holes no more than about 3 inches apart as deep as possible. One inserts the side bits as follows to avoid then to drop into the hole: Take the side bits between your fingers and imagine they form a cigarette. Then one inserts the "cigarette" into the hole the "amber" end first. Still holding the "cigarette" between one's fingers one rest one's fingers against the stone. Now it is easy to insert the force wedge into the "cigarette" split. The side bits won't drop into the hole. Regards.

Again, every minute of the video was a pleasure to watch and for me at this point in time, just the information I need as I will be working with rock. Your unfailing consistency in the quality of your videos amazes me. Thanks.

Nice editing. Fun to see every tool in work and fabrication of the tool 👍

LOL, but you proved the tools and method! I admire the quality of your production and your traditional methods.

Watching you work does have a calming effect to it............Awesome work man..Thanks for posting

That's very interesting! Great work man.

Love to watch these kind of videos! Gonna grab a coffee and " watch it again " ! Heheheh

Brilliant! Far better then anything on tv where they never stop talking and asking stupid questions. Best video yet. 👍👍

I have to make a chisel for myself. A friend gave me a nice anvil recently and I got my forge set up. I'm familiar with basic heat treating -- I make my own spears that stay sharp even after hitting rock. This would be a good first project.

19:00 Oh, we've all been there! I love your expedient solution to the problem. Thanks for the laugh and another great video.

Amazing metalwork and amazing montage of the video. I love the non-linear action of the video. Thumbs up all the way!

Illuminating video. I just imagined that process being repeated thousands of time just to prepare the material for a cathedral. Mind boggling. Your channel is a treasure

Thank you very much. I got the answer to a long-standing question about how to make thorns...❤️👌👌👌👌

This is so awesome,that's all you really need to know. Blacksmithing and stone cutting! Great video. Thanks!

Really interesting technique!

I like the format, showing the tools being used, and then how you made them. Interesting to see how it was done back in the day. As always, I really enjoy your no nonsense style, just letting the work do all the talking.

Amazing… the answers to what I’ve been looking for for years

*Thumbs up* For whipping out the Masonry drill bit. A mix of new and old tech isn't a bad thing. That being said, I've watched some Japanese stone masons on youtube, split stones, and they seem to normally put more "wedges" in the stone.. they also seem to tap more lightly.. and go twice as slow as you did in the video.

Great presentation. We call it "Feathers and Wedge" splitting. A suggestion for the drill rod. Upset bump the cutting end and forge dress it to a 4 corner star shape with a center point. The upset material in the cutting end will allow deeper drilling without becoming stuck in the hole. Before we had electric hammer drills we used hand forged star drills for anchoring to masonry & stone with lead plugs & screws. I've also seen many bits for cable drill rigs dressed on site with a coke pit, bucking cradle and sledge. That is some serious two fisted hammer work.

Worked in the Vt stone trade for years , good stuff my friend .

Gives you a profound respect for those that split and quarried stone back in the day, really liked the video format also. GG

The sound the rock makes when it splits

Maestro ud no es perezoso, lo que ocurre con los que hacemos, los que construimos , tenemos muchos trabajos, que buscamos que rinda el tiempo, y a veces no sale como se planea...y cada detalle , el que sea, suma a nuestra experiencia...y maestro es aquel que ha intentado otras formas de hacer un proceso...gracias por mostrar y demostrar, tanto temple como rotura de rocas, para ver la calidad de las herramientas, que es el objetivo de este gran video...hare krishna

Thanks for not playing loud music.

Why would anyone give thumbs down for such a nice video ? They never answer.

I really enjoyed how you presented this. Showing the tool in action, then cutting back to making it. Kept it interesting.

Great Video, Start to finish, I love it.

I love the way this video is organized. Showing the tools in use, mixed with forging them is great. Really loving your channel and it makes me miss having access to a smithy!

B4 dynamite was invented, a man had to be skillful and creative, like TORBJORN☆☆☆

figuring out how it was done, by what we can see is very difficult, but this truly seems to be right on point. Nice work Torby!

the way the sound changed when hitting the wedges as the rock started to split :-)

Beautifully done! I love to see the practical application of the things made.

An unimproved upon technique still used today. Great video as always.

Fascinating video, just shows how many crafts a Smith can make tools for

watching this video, reminds me when my grandfather taught me how to split stones using same techniques about 30 years ago. I work in construction have not seen any stone mason using this technique anymore. enjoyed watching this video.

-"Screw this, I'll go electric on this mofo !" :D All cred to the assertiveness and patience of the acients

I remeber the hapiness i ave the first Time i break a stone in a good dimensions. Gppd tools and good job

Torbjorn, Thank You for this amazing insight into this wonderful craft. 🙂

Great Video, Torbjörn! You always make the coolest videos!

Hello Torbjorn, In Canada those tools are called feathers and wedges. Nice job!

Thank you from the old tradition,, that you enherit the knowledge from ancestor ,,and again a new breed will learn the way of art ,,😊

I had started watching your videos a while back out of boredom. Now they are something I look forward to. I have actually collected the bits and pieces to make a crude but functioning forge. I'll be using your toolmaking videos, among others, as a guide. Thanks for giving me a hobby my neighbors will hate!

How It's Made. Pyramids of Sweden..

I like how you can hear the sound change when hammering the rock

I recall doing exactly this same job using exactly the same tools with my grandfather one summer when I was 10 or 11 years old. As a blacksmith, you have an advantage -- my arms and back were sore for a week!

The stone chisels and wedges worked fantastically! Your second attempt made a nice even split. Thanks for sharing this!

I am sorry. timestamp 19 minutes 11 seconds I busted out laughing so hard. I really did love the video though I'm telling you that I can't wait until I get my forge finished and I start blacksmithing

keep the wedges the same pitch! the pitch of the sound they make when you hit them indicates their tension, and it's better to keep even tension when all the holes are the same size :)

thank you very much sir for the tutorial, hopefully it's useful, greetings from Indonesia

Its always such a nice gift when you upload a video. Its just like unwrapping a present.