Duncan
@kordwar.bsky.social
Blacksmithing instructor, maintenance manager and Maker, GM, occasional voice actor/ video editor, sling, sword, TTRPG, and belted plaid enthusiast (He/Him) http://www.GauntletTales.com
seeing a ttrpg kickstarter that sounds cool and seeing "5e"
November 16, 2025 at 8:11 PM
seeing a ttrpg kickstarter that sounds cool and seeing "5e"
My mug glows with a quest to remember to finish my coffee
November 15, 2025 at 4:38 PM
My mug glows with a quest to remember to finish my coffee
Two more tiny tin cups done, another coworker has expressed an interest in joining the tiny cup club and the spouse of the first coworker who bought one desired his own. Slowly but surely I get better at making them, just need to make more tools and jigs
November 13, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Two more tiny tin cups done, another coworker has expressed an interest in joining the tiny cup club and the spouse of the first coworker who bought one desired his own. Slowly but surely I get better at making them, just need to make more tools and jigs
It's here! Absolutely gorgeous work from everyone involved! Gotta snag a copy of Refugium at some point, I missed the Kickstarter and I need to complete my Grobusverse collection at some point
November 11, 2025 at 11:34 PM
It's here! Absolutely gorgeous work from everyone involved! Gotta snag a copy of Refugium at some point, I missed the Kickstarter and I need to complete my Grobusverse collection at some point
My parents would have to wait until I got home from elementary school to beat sections for them
November 11, 2025 at 5:18 PM
My parents would have to wait until I got home from elementary school to beat sections for them
My hand burring is... improving. Still a lot to learn but I feel like I get better with each one. I think my issue was I was trying to do too long of a section, bad math/measuring on my part
November 11, 2025 at 2:27 PM
My hand burring is... improving. Still a lot to learn but I feel like I get better with each one. I think my issue was I was trying to do too long of a section, bad math/measuring on my part
I know what they're going for but they really just look like boomer busy boards
November 10, 2025 at 9:24 PM
I know what they're going for but they really just look like boomer busy boards
Past me: I should make a clamp for when I solder.
Current me:
Current me:
November 10, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Past me: I should make a clamp for when I solder.
Current me:
Current me:
100+ years ago I could have just waited for the tinker to come to town and fix this
November 10, 2025 at 1:59 PM
100+ years ago I could have just waited for the tinker to come to town and fix this
Went to my normal antique store last night to try and find some smooth jaw bending pliers, no luck, but I got: another soldering copper, scroll shears for curves, and this slightly damaged tin cup for 6 bucks. It'll serve as good inspiration for future projects, machine made burrs notwithstanding
November 10, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Went to my normal antique store last night to try and find some smooth jaw bending pliers, no luck, but I got: another soldering copper, scroll shears for curves, and this slightly damaged tin cup for 6 bucks. It'll serve as good inspiration for future projects, machine made burrs notwithstanding
Making bigger mugs, 3ish inch diameter. Wiring rims (my first!) by hand is... interesting. I can definitely see why people would switch to burring/wiring machines. Basically a lip is formed gently over a corner and then rolled over a piece of wire that runs though. Might make a jig for consistency
November 9, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Making bigger mugs, 3ish inch diameter. Wiring rims (my first!) by hand is... interesting. I can definitely see why people would switch to burring/wiring machines. Basically a lip is formed gently over a corner and then rolled over a piece of wire that runs though. Might make a jig for consistency
A comparison shot between my coworkers cup and my first one
November 6, 2025 at 2:58 PM
A comparison shot between my coworkers cup and my first one
Cup #2 has gone considerably smoother, cleaner solder joints and a nicer looking handle. Took about two hours, I should really make a pattern if I am going to keep making these little guys. I should probably make some sort of clamp too so I don't have to clamp a pipe wrench in the leg vise
November 6, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Cup #2 has gone considerably smoother, cleaner solder joints and a nicer looking handle. Took about two hours, I should really make a pattern if I am going to keep making these little guys. I should probably make some sort of clamp too so I don't have to clamp a pipe wrench in the leg vise
Scraped the big globs of solder off and buffed it a bit. The tin cup is done and is accidentally 4oz, which is exactly the amount of free mead or cider I get after teaching a class. I might try a different type of flux so the solder flows better to where I want it to go. Excited to make more stuff!
November 5, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Scraped the big globs of solder off and buffed it a bit. The tin cup is done and is accidentally 4oz, which is exactly the amount of free mead or cider I get after teaching a class. I might try a different type of flux so the solder flows better to where I want it to go. Excited to make more stuff!
Espresso mug is done! It holds liquid and everything! Lots of excess solder but I just need to make a scraper and collect what I can to reuse in the future. Soldering copper soldering is like bizarro soldering, it's more like mig welding
November 4, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Espresso mug is done! It holds liquid and everything! Lots of excess solder but I just need to make a scraper and collect what I can to reuse in the future. Soldering copper soldering is like bizarro soldering, it's more like mig welding
Spent yesterday with my brain off, played a lot of lotro and made a loaf of bannock. But today I am reinvigorated! I have begun my first cup, in "fail hard fail fast" mode. The tinplate I could find is small, so tiny cup. I finally understand the soldering copper! Gonna go vote then make a handle
November 4, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Spent yesterday with my brain off, played a lot of lotro and made a loaf of bannock. But today I am reinvigorated! I have begun my first cup, in "fail hard fail fast" mode. The tinplate I could find is small, so tiny cup. I finally understand the soldering copper! Gonna go vote then make a handle
I've been playing Lord of the Rings Online. This place is a fucking prison
November 3, 2025 at 5:57 PM
I've been playing Lord of the Rings Online. This place is a fucking prison
It's festival weekend! Dressed in my finest kilt and teaching a blacksmithing class
November 1, 2025 at 3:24 PM
It's festival weekend! Dressed in my finest kilt and teaching a blacksmithing class
We have some extremely cute leather bat hair pins for sale this weekend at Spookvember here at the Lebanon Valley Mall! Also I forged a javelin (which is also for sale)
October 31, 2025 at 7:01 PM
We have some extremely cute leather bat hair pins for sale this weekend at Spookvember here at the Lebanon Valley Mall! Also I forged a javelin (which is also for sale)
Our shops festival is this weekend so I wrapped up my Dullahan inspired flail so I wouldn't feel rushed trying to finish it Thursday
October 28, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Our shops festival is this weekend so I wrapped up my Dullahan inspired flail so I wouldn't feel rushed trying to finish it Thursday
I work at a blacksmith shop, at least once a week I hear from customers about how "it's great that you're keeping this dying art alive" Blacksmiths are doing pretty well right now, tons operating all over. You know what isn't doing so great? Tinsmithing. Unrelated, check out this candlestick I made.
October 27, 2025 at 10:47 PM
I work at a blacksmith shop, at least once a week I hear from customers about how "it's great that you're keeping this dying art alive" Blacksmiths are doing pretty well right now, tons operating all over. You know what isn't doing so great? Tinsmithing. Unrelated, check out this candlestick I made.
If you're in the area of Lebanon, PA next weekend my work is doing one of our events! We've got vendors, food, music, and booze!
October 25, 2025 at 1:50 PM
If you're in the area of Lebanon, PA next weekend my work is doing one of our events! We've got vendors, food, music, and booze!
Last day of my vacation, we did our traditional carving pumpkins while we watched the relevant Ten Minute Power Hour while sipping mulled cider. I never did a scraped one before so I am very happy with how the little bee came out
October 23, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Last day of my vacation, we did our traditional carving pumpkins while we watched the relevant Ten Minute Power Hour while sipping mulled cider. I never did a scraped one before so I am very happy with how the little bee came out
When I'm reading old books and they catch me not being a stove dealer
October 19, 2025 at 7:57 PM
When I'm reading old books and they catch me not being a stove dealer
On a camping trip for our 13 year wedding anniversary tomorrow. My wife started their first fire using just a ferro rod, we're near a beautiful lake and the prototype tripod pan hanger works great
October 19, 2025 at 6:31 PM
On a camping trip for our 13 year wedding anniversary tomorrow. My wife started their first fire using just a ferro rod, we're near a beautiful lake and the prototype tripod pan hanger works great