Coppersmith, wood hammer

About the sound

This recording was made in the workshop of coppersmith Michaela Ivarsdotter in Karlskrona.
“Drivning” The coppersmith moves the metal in desired direction with a wooden hammer.

A coppersmith, also known as a redsmith, is a person who makes artifacts from copper. The term redsmith comes from the colour of copper. Copper is generally considered to be a soft metal, meaning it can be worked without heating. Over a period of working the metal in this way it can 'work harden'. This means that the molecules within the copper are compressed and irregular in their arrangement. This causes stress in the metal and eventually cracking the metal along these stress points. In order for the copper to be worked to any extensive degree it must be annealed. This process involves heating the metal and then rapidly cooling it in water.

In Swedish coffersmith is slang for a hangover with a serious headache. Probably associated with the sound from the coppersmith working.

Sound recordist: Anders Abrahamsson
Photographer: Anders Abrahamsson
Video recordist: Anders Abrahamsson