intro to blacksmithing

Introduction of instructor and students where expectations of the class are discussed. I often make adjustments to accommodate what students desire to learn.Students learn to turn on all varieties of forges in the workshop Students are instructed in the recognition of hot metal and proper hammering techniques. Students learn to taper and shoulder metal while we forge the how to make square nails.Live demonstration of techniques to make a nail, then students make one. Perform a second demonstration of nail making to give an overview so that the students recognize what to look for. Instruction is always performed at least twice to keep the students aware of how techniques are used and what the

Next we learn to taper and shoulder metal while we forge the first j-hooks that the students keep.

On the second day we use the techniques that we learned the day before to make how to forge weld the end of our fire place pokers I work with each student individually to understand how to build a beehive coal fire. Students are then instructed to identify how to get the metal to the appropriate temperature in a reduction atmosphere utilizing hammering techniques necessary to complete a successful forge weld.