Products from Kiesbye-Schmiede
Paul Kiesbye has been producing hand forged tools, knives and fittings in his small metal workshop in Upper Lusatia, Saxony, since 2017.
Vagn Maar kindly passed on his special knowledge of the traditional production of Kalfateisen. Vagn supplied TOPLICHT with his hand forged caulking irons and jib hanks for around 30 years.
During restoration work on the German 3-masted topsail schooner ACTIV, TOPLICHThad already become aware of the blacksmith's high-quality work in the 1980s. At that time, he was still working at Troense Træskibsværft, formerly Jacobsens Plads, south of Svendborg, which was founded in 1848. After the shipyard had to close in 1985, Vagn Maar ran his own small forge in Vester-Skerninge.
The Danish blacksmith often brought his tools personally to TOPLICHT in Hamburg. We then procured fat-nut coal for him. This coal, which was much harder to get in Denmark than in Germany, burns particularly evenly and with little smoke and develops a high heat.
Before Vagn Maar stopped working in 2017 due to his age, Paul Kiesbye was able to apprentice with him in Denmark for a few days. In this way, Vagn's detailed knowledge of the production of caulking irons was passed on to the next generation. As the two blacksmiths hit it off straight away, Vagn also gave Paul some of his tried-and-tested tools.
In January 2018, TOPLICHT received its first delivery of hand forged caulking irons from Paul Kiesbye from Upper Lusatia. His forge also produces knives, tools such as axes and hatchets, furniture fittings and other metalwork, some of which are customised according to specific material and shape requirements.
In addition to the hand forged caulking irons, the TOPLICHT range now also includes trunnels, reefing hooks and rigging hooks from the Kiesbye forge.
Vagn Maar kindly passed on his special knowledge of the traditional production of Kalfateisen. Vagn supplied TOPLICHT with his hand forged caulking irons and jib hanks for around 30 years.
During restoration work on the German 3-masted topsail schooner ACTIV, TOPLICHThad already become aware of the blacksmith's high-quality work in the 1980s. At that time, he was still working at Troense Træskibsværft, formerly Jacobsens Plads, south of Svendborg, which was founded in 1848. After the shipyard had to close in 1985, Vagn Maar ran his own small forge in Vester-Skerninge.
The Danish blacksmith often brought his tools personally to TOPLICHT in Hamburg. We then procured fat-nut coal for him. This coal, which was much harder to get in Denmark than in Germany, burns particularly evenly and with little smoke and develops a high heat.
Before Vagn Maar stopped working in 2017 due to his age, Paul Kiesbye was able to apprentice with him in Denmark for a few days. In this way, Vagn's detailed knowledge of the production of caulking irons was passed on to the next generation. As the two blacksmiths hit it off straight away, Vagn also gave Paul some of his tried-and-tested tools.
In January 2018, TOPLICHT received its first delivery of hand forged caulking irons from Paul Kiesbye from Upper Lusatia. His forge also produces knives, tools such as axes and hatchets, furniture fittings and other metalwork, some of which are customised according to specific material and shape requirements.
In addition to the hand forged caulking irons, the TOPLICHT range now also includes trunnels, reefing hooks and rigging hooks from the Kiesbye forge.
5 products
Hand forged steel tackle hook, hot dip galvanized
From
€75.01 *
Tackle hook, hand forged from steel and hot dip galvanized.These hooks are produced in a german blacksmith shop, exclusively for TOPLICHT. They are hand forged in the traditional way from one piece of steel without any welding.This guarantees a nice shape and high breaking load. The hooks match our ash blocks, but may also be used for many other purposes on board.The ash block is not supplied with the hook.
Trunnel or spike iron hand forged, straight
From
€82.90 *
Hand-forged trunnel (spike iron, narrow caulking iron) for the boatbuilding professional and the demanding amateur.Straight version for caulking simple plank seams. The butt iron is used at the ends of the planks (butts).Blade hardened, blade width approx. 15 mm, shaft diameter 16 mm, length approx. 170 mm.We have these spike iron made exclusively by hand in a small forge in Germany.Due to the manufacturing process, slight dimensional deviations, especially in the blade thickness, are unavoidable.
Caulking irons hand forged, straight
From
€82.90 *
Hand forged caulking irons for the boatbuilding professional or ambitious amateur. Straight design for caulking simple plank seams.Hardened blade. Blade width 45 - 50 mm, shaft diameter 16 mm, length approx. 170 mmWe have these caulking irons exclusively hand forged in a little workshp in Germanny. Small variations in dimensions may occur as a result of the manufacturing process.
Caulking irons hand forged, bent
From
€82.90 *
Hand forged caulking irons for the boatbuilding professional and ambitious amateur. Bent form for working on plank seams in hard-to-reach areas like keel and stem.Hardened blade. Blade width 45 - 50 mm, shaft diameter 16 mm, length approx. 170 mmWe have these caulking irons exclusively hand forged in a little workshop in Germany.Small variations in dimensions may occur as a result of the manufacturing process.
Reefing hook
From
€139.00 *
Special tool for traditional boatbuilding. This old-style reefing hook is used to manually remove oakum and sealant from the seams of calendered ship planks. Especially for deep and long plank seams, this joint scraper has proven its worth compared to home-made scrapers such as bent screwdrivers. This tool guarantees long, powerful work, especially for large hull and deck restorations.We have these reefing hooks, as well as our caulking irons, made exclusively by hand in a small forge in Germany.