Bladesmithing is an ancient craft and its notoriously technical. For some, it may be a surprise that in today’s age of mass produced cutlery and other metal objects, anyone would bother to hand forge these tools. Laevi Susman is here today to talk about the incredible art of blade smithing, and how you can get started as an amateur blacksmith.

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Table of Contents:
00:00 Intro
00:50 This week’s guest – Laevi Susman, Artisan Bladesmith
02:13 Icebreaker – What is your favorite attraction or event at a county fair?
03:22 What Makes You Happy?
07:12 How did you get into smithing?
13:10 Technical jargon and whether it matters.
21:25 How does a hobbyist get into smithing?
26:19 What surprised you about smithing when you got into it? (answer at 37:35)
33:15 Lightning Round Questions
33:30 -What is your favorite step of smithing a blade?
34:35 -Practical or ornate. Which do you prefer?
37:30 -What is your favorite completed project?
43:10 -Favorite music to hammer to?
44:40 -BONUS: What do you think of my $7 knife from Amazon?
47:40 How to get in touch with Laevi Susman
48:50 Happiness Fact (1)
52:10 Inspirational Quote (2)
52:45 This Week’s Challenge
53:45 Closing Thoughts

Sources:

1. The happiest state in the United States is Alaska, followed by Hawaii, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana. The saddest states were West Virginia, followed by Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and Mississippi. (Willett, Megan. “The 10 Happiest States in America.” Business Insider. February 19, 2015 https://www.businessinsider.com/gallup-healthways-well-being-index-2014-2015-2)
2. “Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder” – Henry David Thoreau

For more What Makes You Happy?, read our blog, www.ClevelandCreativeOutlet.com/wmyh
What Makes You Happy? is a project by Cleveland Creative Outlet, a video production company. You can learn more and see their work at www.ClevelandCreativeOutlet.com. You can reach out to them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ClevelandCreativeOutlet

Guest: Laevi Susman [URL www.Etsy.com/shop/metalsartisan, Instagram @metalsartisan, Facebook www.facebook.com/metalsartisan]
Hosted By: Dovid E.Z. Stern [Ph. (216) 526-6641, Em. dovid@clevelandcreativeoutlet.com, URL www.clevelandcreativeoutlet.com]

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