What if you could witness the birth of your garden tools, crafted by hand in a time-honored blacksmith tradition? Imagine ordering a tool designed to your exact needs and seeing it come to life. I had that incredible experience! ::bursting with excitement::
My Journey to the DeWit Tools Factory in the Netherlands
My travels took me to the Netherlands to attend Floriade and present a lecture. During this trip, Sietse DeWit, CEO of Dewit Tools, extended a unique invitation: a visit to his blacksmithing factory in Kornhorn. This wasn’t just a tour; it was an immersion into the world of hand-forged garden tools. I went to learn firsthand what it takes to create a garden tool, a lesson that deepened my appreciation for the tools I use in my own garden.
One particular gardening challenge sparked an idea for a new tool. I often found soil spilling over the edges of my trowel when planting containers. My vision was a rounded trowel, almost scoop-like, featuring a sharp edge for slicing open potting soil bags and a reinforced bottom to tackle hardened soil in pots (as depicted below). The DeWit team embraced the concept, and I had the extraordinary opportunity to collaborate with them in their factory to develop this prototype.
Alt text: Blacksmith Shawna Coronado hand-forging a DeWit potting soil trowel, showcasing the initial shaping process in a traditional workshop setting.
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The Art of Forging a Garden Trowel: A Step-by-Step Journey
The process of forging each garden tool at DeWit is a testament to meticulous craftsmanship. Creating the prototype trowel was a four-hour endeavor, from initial concept to finished form. These aren’t just tools; they represent an investment in the DeWit family’s legacy of quality. Let me share my experience of crafting this special tool, offering insight into the dedication that goes into each DeWit creation. The accompanying video captures the vibrant atmosphere of the factory and the hands-on nature of the work.
Alt text: Close-up of the newly forged DeWit garden trowel prototype, highlighting the unique scoop shape and sharp edges designed for efficient gardening tasks.
Alt text: Derk Klaus Dewit collaboratively designing a garden trowel on a computer with Shawna Coronado, under the supervision of Derk Dewit, illustrating the blend of modern design with traditional craft.
From Design to Prototype: Building a Custom DeWit Garden Trowel
The journey of a DeWit tool begins with design, often utilizing computer-aided design for precision. In the image above, you see Derk Klaus Dewit and myself working on the design, guided by Derk Dewit Sr. This collaborative approach ensures both innovation and adherence to DeWit’s quality standards.
Once finalized, the design is translated into physical form. A specialized machine meticulously cuts the trowel shape from robust metal sheets (seen below). At this stage, the trowel is still flat, awaiting the blacksmith’s touch to bring it to its final, functional shape.
Alt text: Industrial machine cutting the initial shape of a DeWit garden tool from a sheet of heavy-gauge metal, demonstrating the precision manufacturing process.
Alt text: Shawna Coronado activating a large welding machine at the DeWit factory, initiating the process of attaching handles to the metal trowel pieces.
Welding and Shaping: Bringing Form to Function
In the image above, I’m operating a powerful welding machine, joining the flat metal trowel piece to its handle. The enthusiasm is genuine – witnessing the tool take shape is truly exciting!
Next, the nascent trowel enters the intense heat of the blacksmithing forge. The forge radiates an incredible heat; standing nearby, you feel the sun’s full force on your skin. My respect deepened for the craftsmen who work at these forges daily. It’s physically demanding work, requiring resilience and skill.
Alt text: Interior view of the DeWit factory forge, showcasing the intense heat and traditional blacksmithing equipment used to shape garden tools.
Alt text: Blacksmith hammering the seam of a heated DeWit garden tool piece, reinforcing the joint with traditional blacksmithing techniques.
Alt text: Close-up of the stamping process on a DeWit tool seam, showing the detailed reinforcement and marking applied to ensure durability and brand identity.
Reinforcement and Shaping: From Flat Metal to Curved Tool
The series of images above illustrates the reinforcement process. The heated, flattened trowel piece is placed within a powerful press (my “technical term!”), which firmly joins and reinforces the seam.
Following reinforcement, the metal is shaped into its characteristic curve. The red-hot blade is inserted into a custom mold, pressed into the desired form, and then rapidly cooled in water. Below, you see me removing the tool and quenching it, a crucial step in hardening the steel.
Alt text: Shawna Coronado cooling a red-hot, curved DeWit garden tool in a water bath, finalizing the shape and hardening the metal after forging.
Alt text: A blacksmith using a forge at the DeWit factory to heat metal for garden tools, highlighting the traditional techniques and equipment in use.
Alt text: A newly forged DeWit garden tool resting on a traditional anvil in the blacksmith workshop, symbolizing the blend of heritage and craftsmanship.
The Iterative Process: Hand-Forging and Refinement
The creation of a DeWit garden tool is a continuous cycle, moving between the scorching forge, the skilled blacksmith, and the solid anvil. Each tool undergoes numerous heating and shaping stages. The seam is reinforced, the handle meticulously formed (as shown in previous images), and the metal reheated for further refinement. Gentle hammering and molding follow, gradually perfecting the tool’s shape. Finally, the blacksmith sharpens the tool’s edge (see below), ensuring it’s ready for demanding garden tasks. The wooden handle is then fitted and custom laser-etched, completing the tool (as seen at the bottom).
This immersive tool-building adventure culminated in a profound appreciation for DeWit tools. Crafting a tool from raw materials reveals the immense care and dedication poured into every piece at the DeWit factory. This experience has not only made me treasure using these tools but also instilled a deeper understanding of how to care for them properly, ensuring they last for generations. I’m eager to return to my garden, equipped with this newfound respect and knowledge!
Alt text: A worker skillfully sharpening the blade of a DeWit garden tool in the factory, ensuring optimal performance and sharpness for gardening tasks.
Alt text: A collection of finished DeWit garden trowels, showcasing the variety of shapes and designs available, ready for gardening enthusiasts.
Alt text: Close-up of a DeWit garden tool handle, highlighting the smooth, ergonomic wood and laser-etched branding that signify quality and craftsmanship.
Special Note: My factory tour and the experience of hand-forging garden tools were generously sponsored by DeWit Tools. However, all opinions and experiences shared are genuinely my own.
