WAS looks busy grilling iron on coals that afternoon. Helped by his beloved wife, Isnaiyah, old man 47 that year occasionally flipping through iron to be polished into a machete. At the same time, Isnaiyah is also busy polishing a wooden knife handle.
The husband and wife team work together to process iron into sharp weapons (fair) traditional. Discard is one of the blacksmith craftsmen who still survive today. He has been in the making of the traditional shaman for a long time. He was in that profession before marriage.
Until yesterday, Dump was still enjoying his work gratefully. Because, The business of producing various kinds of jamam is sufficient to meet the needs of family life. In any condition, he doesn't want to change direction. That's because his work has been going on for generations in his village, Kendal hamlet, Sumberbaru Village, Singojuruh District.
Discard words, there used to be only one blacksmith in his village. But, there are more and more blacksmiths nowadays. Throw away can produce various kinds of traditional jam, like a knife, machete, machete and hoe. He is able to produce these tools to order.
So far, Buang supplies his production goods to various regions. It depends on the request of the collectors and agents. ''There is already an agent who is ready to accommodate him,"he said he met at his workplace yesterday morning. Dump's production machete is not only to meet the local Banyuwangi market. According to Discard, the production is also sent to rap to be sent outside the region in East Java.
''For example, can order from Tulungagung,'' said the old man 47 that year. In a day, Buang claimed to be able to produce dozens of machetes. For the type of machete, Discard can solve 24 fruit. ''If a machete can do that, but if the knife can arrive 35 fruit,” he added.
The difficulty of processing iron into jam is varied. The level of difficulty depends on the type of sword you want to produce. ''Indeed the kitchen knife is faster," he said. Buang claimed to get the raw materials from a shop in Srono. Because it's still traditional, then Dispose requires firewood and charcoal.
''If charcoal already has a subscription," he said. As a blacksmith, Discard is required to maintain the quality of the product. Because, he has to compete with factory products. It turns out that it's not only Throw away who is in the blacksmith business. Because, many residents in the village- the one who depends on the production of blacksmiths.
‘‘ Although a lot, but every smart craftsman has his own label- alone,"Said Buang. The gains gained from becoming a blacksmith are indeed considered sufficient. Estimated operating costs per day on average Rp 200 thousand. The production was to buy iron, charcoal, and iron smoothing material aka grinding eye.
''One machete costs Rp 20 thousands. Yes, it's good that you can still make a profit," he explained. Another blacksmith, Hariyadi, I've also been doing the same job for a long time. He is also good at producing traditional jam. ''People here Friday off work,"said the father of one child.
according to her, in his village, there are many blacksmiths. even so, every handyman competes with sportsmanship. ''Because it already has its own network. I also often send to Jember,"he said. So many, Don't be surprised if the village is called the blacksmith center. Imagine, in one RT alone there are ten blacksmiths.
''Usually in one place more than one worker,said Hariyadi. Because the blacksmith still exists with an increasing number of workers, the local village government also plans to make a blacksmith statue at the local village fork.
"I want to make a big statue here as a symbol of the center of the blacksmith village,"said Hariyadi. In the village there are also residents who focus on making tools that resemble antiques, aka gaman, like a sword, sangkur, and samurai. As practiced by Hariyanto, ''I've been marketing through social media. Alhamdulillah, there are many orders,He said. (radar)
