Description
Have you always had a fascination with blacksmithing and wanted to learn how to get started? Join us for this introductory class and learn all the basics of blacksmithing.
Students will learn shop safety, starting and maintaining a forge fire, introduction to forging tools and their use. Basic hand hammer techniques will be taught using an ergonomically correct hammer technique to reduce hand, wrist and elbow discomfort and improve hammer control and efficiency. Students will learn the 7 basic skills that all artist blacksmiths must know: bending, drawing (lengthening), tapering (pointing), upsetting (thickening), chiseling (cutting, incising, punching, splitting), twisting, and forge welding.
Students should wear denim pants, cotton shirts (or 80/20 blend is alright), and ankle-high boots. Safety glasses are mandatory and hearing protection is optional. This is an unheated, partially open to the elements building, so we advise you to dress in layers appropriate for weather conditions. Please do not wear synthetic clothing or tennis shoes.
Pat Hayes has been a blacksmith for 25+ years. He began his career as a farrier and then ventured into artistic blacksmithing and never looked back. He studied at the Ozark School of Blacksmithing and demonstrates and teaches at a variety of blacksmithing events in Michigan. He specializes in restoration work as well as making historically correct reproductions.
“Blacksmithing has always been a traditionally hands on taught craft; you can only get so much from reading and watching videos. Nothing can replace feeling the heat of the forge and the movement of metal under the hammer. I have had the privilege of many smiths helping and sharing their knowledge with me and now it is my time to pass on that knowledge to preserve this craft and art form.”
Pat Hayes
