How the Forge was First Lit:
Chris Maybury began his journey as a blacksmith because he wanted a garden. To plant a garden he needed a trowel. To get a trowel he had to make a forge, find an anvil, and become a blacksmith so he could make one. Since 2017 he has been devoting his creativity and determination to become a damn fine smith, although he still hasn’t made that trowel….
In the search for other blacksmiths Chris found FABA, the Florida Artists Blacksmith Association, and quickly met other smiths devoted to the craft. One of whom, Jordan Borstelmann of Crooked Path Forge, has become his mentor, and friend.
After building a charcoal forge Chris acquired a hand cranked coal forge and purchased a new Texas Farrier Supply 150lb anvil and continues to progress as an Artist Blacksmith.
What I do
I am currently exploring the possibilities of what can be done with steel.
It continues to amaze me that such a hard substance as metal can be heated and formed into a variety of flowing and organic shapes.
My direction in this art is Architectural Iron work specializing in projects such as sign posts, shelving brackets, and hinges.
I enjoy working the steel into more botanical forms, like my signature Calla Lillies.
I make tools in a traditional way including those tools used by my Viking ancestors. Seaxes, axes, and ancient padlocks are just a few of the items I’ve learned to forge. My path has even led me to an unbelievable blacksmith, Elmer Roush, who is an expert in Viking age tools and axes and has been forging for over 50 years.
What can’t I do
My education in the UK included an apprenticeship as a mechanical and production engineer at the once powerful Austin Rover car company. Time spent in the tool shop running lathes, milling machines, shapers and grinders making and using my own tools. In the welding shop perfecting arc welding during a gas strike. On the production line building and testing engines, occasionally blowing them up. Later in my engineering career I became an instructor in the field of computer aided design.
I am an accomplished quilter, having sewn traditional hand and machine pieced quilts including applique. I built my own one room cabin which I lived in for 2 years, off the grid, in Northern Michigan. While there I made cedar log furniture and bespoke carpentry.
Knife making naturally led me to leather working. Which has become another passion, next to working hot steel. I am now producing leather armor, knife sheaths and gun holsters.