Tim Bottom is the head of Union Ore Blacksmith Studio, located in the Coastal Mountain Range of Northern California, USA.

Forge welding occurs at very high temperatures.  Once the metal is heated, it is brought to the anvil for striking and shaping. 

We use mostly renewed materials at Union Ore.  Hand forged hooks from old foundation J bolts are framed in old red oak grape stakes from Potter Valley, California.  They are mounted on a piece of driftwood from Navarro Beach on the Pacific Ocean.

The hooks on this rack were rusty foundation J bolts found on Greenfield Ranch in Northern California. They are mounted on an old piece of redwood and framed with a red oak grape stake border from a vineyard in Potter Valley, California.

We had the pleasure of making bike racks for the Skinny Kitty Teahouse in 2013. Tim is working on "Skinny's" face which was later mounted on one of the racks behind him.

For most pieces we use a propane forge that we built ourselves.  While this forge does not reach forge welding temperatures, it heats up metal to a point that makes it easy to bend, straighten and manipulate.

Mounted on a recycled 4 x 6 redwood post from Comptche, California, this large 1 inch round stock hook can hold a lot of hose.

These hand forged custom buckles were made for a large ranch entry built by Garfield Construction Timber Frame Revival in Willits, California.

Professional timber frame specialists, Garfield Construction Timber Frame Revival in Willits, California built this entry gate and commissioned Union Ore Blacksmith Studio to make the buckles.

Coke, made from coal, is a fuel with few impurities and a high carbon content.

We tagged and sent this bike rack along with many good friends to Burning Man in 2013.  It says "Bottom Zouthere 2013" for Tim Bottom and Renee's Out There (Renee Zouthere).
 

Tim is straightening a piece of found spring steel from Lake Pillsbury in California to add to a Damascus steel knife.

Looking down the flat and horn of the anvil.

This asymmetrical lantern hook started as a rusty 4 foot piece of cold rolled 3/16 inch round stock steel.

The high inertia of the anvil helps the hammer transfer energy into the workpiece.  It is one of the blacksmith's primary tools.

This knife used to be a railroad spike on the Skunk Train line which runs from Fort Bragg, California to Willits, California. 

These sturdy ribbon folded, strap steel hooks are mounted on a piece of recycled old growth redwood.

This piece of twisted cable is in the process of becoming forge welded and turned into a knife.

Using pieces of old rebar, Renee welded the top portion of a bike rack for her good friends at the Skinny Kitty Teahouse.

These pieces of metal may not look like much now but after they are forge welded, folded, twisted, and folded some more, they will be transformed into a beautiful pattern welded knife.

Tim is heating up different types of metal to be forge welded.

Here, metal is being heated up to forge welding temperature for a Damascus steel knife.

This is the first stage of pattern welding or Damascus steel, where a blade is formed from several metal pieces of differing composition.

This is the second stage of pattern welding. The different metals have been forge welded together and can now be twisted and manipulated to form a pattern. 

After repeatedly folding, twisting and cutting a forge welded piece of metal comprised of different metals, a knife shape is formed.  It is then ground, sanded, polished and etched with acid to reveal its unique pattern. 

Hand forged steel hooks with local recycled wood.

Repairing our equipment ourselves is part of working in the shop.

The Champion Blower and Forge Company of Lancaster, PA was founded in 1875 by 17 year old Henry Keiper.  The invention of the rotary forge blower changed the way a blacksmith forced air into the fire, eventually replacing the bellows.

Looks can be deceiving, this sledge hammer made for Bryan Loads' thriller "Wrecker" only weighs about 3 pounds.
 

Hand forged steel hooks with local recycled wood.

In blacksmithing, the seven basic operations are drawing down, upsetting, bending, shrinking, swaging, punching and forge welding.

Get something unique for your nice door, order a custom door handle from Union Ore Blacksmith Studio.
 

These game horseshoes have seen some real action.

A week after this photo was taken of Tim and the "Kitty" bike rack, it was full of fun, furry, decorated bikes in Black Rock City, Nevada.

"It is better to be the hammer than the anvil" Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

These hooks are mounted on a piece of old growth redwood from the Little River Schoolhouse water tank and are framed with red oak grape stakes from Potter Valley, California.
 

Threads from a foundation J bolt are still visible in this scroll.  The hooks are fastened with hand forged nails.
 

A piece of rusted steel is like a diamond in the rough. 

This custom lamp is one of three made from wood miser band saw blades for the movie "Wrecker" by Bryan Loads.

This rack is made from recycled red oak grape stakes and old growth redwood from the Little River Schoolhouse water tank.  The hooks are made from J bolts found on Greenfield Ranch.

This split hooked rack is made from re-purposed J bolts.  The back is made from recycled red oak grape stakes and old growth redwood from the Little River Schoolhouse water tank.

Each piece is individually hand forged and unique. 

This Ram's Head Knife was originally a railroad spike from the Skunk Train, an historical train line built in 1885 that travels from Fort Bragg, CA to Willits, CA.

A railroad spike contains a lot of steel.  Blades made from these stakes can be drawn out to create long blades and sturdy handles.  These railroad spikes came from the Skunk Train, an historical train line built in 1885 that travels from Fort Bragg, CA to Willits, CA.

One of a kind hand forged hooks are great for hanging plants, bird feeders, or for mounting in the tight corner by your door.  Ask us about custom hooks for your home.

For door or drawer, inside and out - these hand forged handles will last forever.