Lost Art Press

Why You Should Work With a Blacksmith

Posted on by Lost Art Press

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Yesterday I put the finishing touches on my traveling Dutch tool chest: strap hinges and a hasp made by John Switzer of Black Bear Forge.

Of course, the metalwork looks fantastic and correct on this old-style piece. But beyond the outward appearance, these hinges reminded me of why it’s always nice to work with a blacksmith on a furniture project.

First, I was able to get straps and a hasp that were perfectly scaled to the piece. I couldn’t find manufactured straps that had leaves where both were the lengths I wanted.

Also, Switzer was able to make the hinges and hasp so they worked perfectly with my lid, which is at a 30° slope. The hasp comes down at 30° and stops just where it should. The hinges lift up just past 90° and stop – I don’t need a chain or leather strap to prevent the lid from flipping back.

Switzer also supplies slot-head screws that are exactly the same color as the hardware. So installing all the hardware on this chest took about 30 minutes – instead of a whole day of stripping, cleaning, grinding, filing and tweaking to get commercial stuff to fit and suit my (admittedly) picky tastes.

And the price was fair for this level of work – $260 delivered for the two hinges and hasp.

Having this chest complete is a huge relief – I drive to Highland Hardware in Atlanta on Thursday for the Lie-Nielsen Hand Tool Event and to teach a one-day class. If you’re in the area, come by and check out the chest and hardware – plus I’ll bring my Milkman’s Workbench.

And if you need some custom iron hardware, I can highly recommend Switzer. I’ll be knocking on his digital door again real soon.

— Christopher Schwarz

P.S. Before I forget: This Dutch chest – fully loaded – tips the scales at 98 pounds, or about 44-1/2 kilograms for our metric friends.

38 thoughts on “Why You Should Work With a Blacksmith”

  1. Very nice! Has John built any holdfast’s for customers? With the excellent detail on the hinges and hasp I know he could but was curious if he has them in his line or would do them as a custom order? I know he always sees the post so John if you read this curious if you do? Great work as always Chris and John….

    1. I have made a few holdfast’s but like so many things things they just haven’t made it into a product line (to many irons in the fire). I am really hoping to revamp the website and feature more woodworking related items. Feels free to drop me a line. switz@mindspring.com

      1. Will do, again beautiful work. I’ll get some measurements and see what we can come up with. Thanks for the info, I’m sure you will have even more irons in the fire after the article!

        1. The hold fasts look great, glad to see Phils design carried on as well as your own…

  2. Beautiful metal work. Outside my current budget, but really nice. The chest looks great.
    Question: what’s holding the chest up in the first pic? I finished my Moravian stool and have been considering a slightly scaled-up pair for use around the shop as sawbenches, etc.

    Robert Justiana

          1. Hahaha ! It’s just a french expression : C’est lourd comme un âne mort. I think you’ve convinced me. I’ll build that Dutch tool oven.

  5. Hi Chris,
    Nice chest. Perfect size.
    Speaking of LN events, I just checked the calandar at LN and they have you attending Jeff Miller’s at the same time you are in Perth Ontario (per your post). So, can we count on someone else to rep LAP in your absense and sell some books? Also, will the poor-man’s Roubo be out then? (mid April).
    Thanks in advance.

  7. I hired a local blacksmith to make a hasp for my ATC this past Fall. I found a cool antique padlock on eBay that I wanted to use. It worked out very well. I will need him to make some handles to go along with it. Now I also have a local craftsman to work with on mixed media projects.

  8. Do you anticipate moving the traveling tools to the “anarchist’s” tool chest and working from that one when you are at home, leaving the traveling tools in the Dutch tool chest and working from both tool chests at home, or eventually outfitting the Dutch tool chest with a separate set of traveling tools?

    1. David,

      I don’t want two sets of tools. So I will be moving the tools from the small Dutch to the full-size chest when I’m home. Takes less than 10 minutes and it allows me to examine all the tools for damage, to wipe them down with an oily woobie and to see if they need sharpening.

      The large Dutch chest has a new home in Chicago.

      I have visitation rights.

  10. Chris,
    Thank you so much for the kind words. I have to admit that some of those things where just a lucky guess. I look forward to reading the article in PW.

    John

  11. I don’t see one of your essencial tools. Where do you pack your SuperWoobie?

  12. This hits home with me so much. I started forging just to get the hardware I want. I also love the ability it gives me to make my holdfasts, stop dogs and any other tool I want. I enjoyed reading this so much. Keep up the good work!

    1. Making things for wood working is also what got me started in blacksmithing. Nearly 30 years later I am just getting to that point. I have spent most of my time working for re enactors, making knives, small household items and simple harware. I have only made a few chisels. I hope to do much more of this type of hardware along with simple hand forged tools. (holdfasts, froes, chisels, slicks, and axes to name a few)

      2. Ma-bee one day I will be able to do some of the fine work you produce. The roses are amazing. You sir are a smith.

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