[Blacksmithing] some workshops

[Ben Westbrook]

Zac Buehner and I are going to be offering a set of
workshops during this spring semester in the hopes of
expanding your blacksmithing knowledge and practice. 
Most of these workshops will require some basic
blacksmithing understanding, although there are a few
that will be open to anyone.  So, tell your friends! 
The first one, this past week, on scrolling jigs
seemed to go well.  We welcome feedback from anyone
who attended.  Part of this gig is seperate time on
Friday afternoons when Zac or I or both will be around
Lemelson to talk with you about whatever blacksmithing
related things you wish to discuss.  

So, this past week was week one.

Week 2    10 February   Thursday 7-10
	Tongs – This workshop will explore forging custom
tongs for a given operation.  Blacksmiths are notable
for their capacity to create their own tools specific
to a task.  We will discuss possible uses for
different shaped tongs, and then each student will
produce a set of tongs for themselves.  This will
likely require some additional work outside of the
workshop time.  Prereq:  basic blacksmithing

Week 3    17 February   Thursday 7-10
	Hot tools – In this tool-making session, we will
forge different types of punches and hot-cutters. 
These tools will be made using high-carbon steel,
offering students a chance to work with a more
resilient material.  The workshop will cover the
fabrication and use of these hand tools, and each
student will finish with at least two punches and a
hot-cutter.  Prereq: basic blacksmithing

Week 4    23-25  February    Wednesday & Thursday 7-9,
Friday afternoon
	From vague inkling to solid steel – This workshop
will cover carrying a project from initial conception,
through sketching and the order of operations process,
and into a completed object.  We will discuss
furniture, sculpture, decorative architectural
elements and tool-making.  The workshop will explore
the options available for buying pre-fab parts to
incorporate into a project, methods for using
non-traditional processes during construction, as well
as assorted surface treatments for a finished product.
 The main benefit of the workshop will be our
availability as consultants on process, concepts, and
realization of an idea.  Prereq: none

Week 5     First week of March   Two afternoons and
one evening
	Damascus steel – This workshop will follow the
creation of a Damascus steel billet from initial
layering through to final polishing and etching.  We
will cover the history of Damascus steel, and its
modern-day implications.  Students will develop
forge-welding and striking skills.  Students will also
come away with a solid understanding of coal fire
maintenance.  This workshop will require additional
time outside of class to be spent at the coal forge. 
Prereq: basic blacksmithing and forge-welding
experience

Mark your calendars!  Somewhere along the way, we're
going to do a forge-building workshop, too.  In that,
whoever attends will organize into an assembly line,
and we'll crank out little one-burner forges like the
one Hampshire has.  For a low cost, these'll be yours
to keep!

If anyone has anything they'd like to explore in a
workshop format that's not covered here, please let me
know.  I'm open to suggestions.

Hopefully, we'll see a number of you regularly!

Hammer on,

-ben