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.

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

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.

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.

🌺💐💐⚘🌹🌹👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻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🌺🌺💐😘😘😘

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.

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!

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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!!

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.

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

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👍

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

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

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!

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

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.

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.

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!

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

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

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!

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.

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.

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!

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

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!

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

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

Great video. Love the way you showed the different tools in use and then how u made them. Pity about the first attempt on the stone.

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

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

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

Great job and thanks for sharing old techniques, it is how and the tool that did it

Really interesting technique!

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

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

You love this profession and love it so much since I was young I knew it from your calmness and patience and your beauty and the splendor of hands, you have to all this softens your hands iron and obey you rocks Thank you and bless the Lord this hand

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

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

I am a mason/sculptor and the first time I saw this method in a mason's yard it was impressive as the limestone rough block was about 2m cubed +, but the mason doing it just gently tapped the plugs all around the top and sides and after a few taps poured a bucket of water over it and we went for lunch. An hour later just a few more taps and the perfect split of the stone happened, Water it seems helps to soften it all a little. I have used this method several times in my workshop and it works well, I don't want the use a grinder as the whole place would be covered in thick dust!. Nice forge work in this video as well.

Just marvelous craftwork - make your own tools and use them - two things most people couldn't do!

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

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

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.

*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.

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

That's very interesting! Great work man.

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 :)

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!

Excellent! I like how you showed what the tool does before you forged them :)

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

Dewalt - the best assistant bricklayer! 😆 💪👌

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

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

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.

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

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

You are amazing!! It's like there isn't anything you can't build or do. Just Amazing!!

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

The sound the rock makes when it splits

Thanks for this old times tools an workshop an all the systems very very nice video thanks sir

One of the most impressive videos I've watched from you. I felt your frustration when that first split didn't go so well. Very fun to watch and I always enjoy how bring nature into your videos.

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

Great Video, Start to finish, I love it.

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!

So awesome! I really enjoyed this. I sure wouldn't mind seeing you make something with the stones!

Muy bueno yo las fabricó en mexico y se venden bastante .las fabricó de muelles de camioneta huso la más gruesa o de carga se corta en tiras es material con excelente dureza felicidades amigo

good video format, continue in the same direction

You are welcome. I have always been interested in splitting since as a young trainee back in the mid sixties my Dad taught me how to cut a piece of terra- cotta flue pipe to length. Got it on the first try. Patience.

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

thats really hard work 😦

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

Well done.. great job .. this is something i intend to try.. if i can find some decent carbon steel..

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

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

Thanks for not playing loud music.

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

Got a good laugh when I saw the drill come out! I admire your patience. I would have done the same thing. Really neat technique!

7:27 This is where he brought out the power drill and presto!

Come india local pupil can do easily this work.... We build lot of big temples with big rocks... With so beautiful fesigns

very thanks, it's very difficult to find information about old technic, your video is perfectly demonstration :)

Awesome video as always Torbjörn! I really like how you showed the tools in action, followed by you making each tool.

Oh man, you are so cool everytime ☺ no emotions, no one word, 😶 i ask me, how is your smile....😊