Workshops List
BLACKSMITHING
March 14 - 19, 2010
CLASS IS FULL. Please consider and inseason class or One-on-One workshop.
Learn to forge iron. This course will cover the basics of forging, hammer-work and tools used to learn to blacksmith. You’ll go home with several finished pieces including a triangle dinner bell and other items that you choose to create.
On the first day of class,
1. You'll learn the equipment, it's layout in the shop, and how to work with it safely.
2. You'll learn how to build and maintain the fire in the forge. The better the fire, the easier your work.
3. You'll learn some history. You'll learn just how important the blacksmith was to a frontier community.
4. You'll learn about the types and qualities of coal, iron, and steel.
5. By mid-morning, you'll go to work. Then you'll learn the basic lessons of all blacksmithing work. You'll round a square rod. You'll square a round rod. And you'll learn how to draw out the stock to the desired shape you want. You'll learn how to make a decorative twist and how to punch a hole through the work. You'll learn the proper temperature to work the piece.
6. By day's end, you will have made a few simple hooks that you can hang your hat on.
On the second day of class,
1. You'll learn more about how to select tools, what makes a hammer good, what will make your work easier.
2. You'll console yourself that the hook you made is a good one. But you'll want to make a better one.
3. On the second day, you'll apply everything you learned on the first. You'll also learn how to cut, split, and fuller the work. Your instructor will assign you a project. You might make a fork with a decorative handle--perhaps a leaf with a curling vine. If you are a fast learner, you might start making your own forge tools.
By the time you’ve finished your fifth day of class,
You will have learned joining methods.. You'll have completed several projects. These lessons and techniques will expand your ability to create just about anything you can imagine creating from iron. You will have learned a lot about selecting the right hammer for your hand. The same with tongs. And you will have become pretty good at managing the fire. But most importantly, you will have learned that you need a lot more practice to give your work that natural looking flow.
Class fee $375.00 – a non-refundable registration fee of $75 is due at the time of registration. The remainder of the class fee ($300.00) and the materials fee is due to the instructor at the beginning of class. (does not include meals/lodging)
Materials fee $45.00
Instructor: Scott Riedy
Blacksmithing will be taught by Scott Riedy demonstrating blacksmith at OFC. Scott Riedy grew up in the Ozarks, and has always been interested in working with metal. He spent time working at various blacksmithing shops around the state, but decided to start his own business a few years ago. Scott forms iron into mythical figures, medieval weaponry and nature’s shapes; as well as practical hooks, hinges and tools. Scott is heavily in demand for blacksmithing workshops and demonstrations; and has a barbeque set at the Governor’s mansion in Little Rock.