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Blacksmith class

Janger

(John)
Administrator
Vendor

I’m taking an intro to black smithing class on Saturday March 11/2023. It is located near Kananaskis. Anyone else from Alberta interested?
 

historicalarms

Ultra Member
20 yrs younger and I'd be with you in a heartbeat.

My little home town had what was reported to be the very last full time "old style" blacksmith's shop operating in AB.....the doors closed the day after Ol' Philip died well into his 80's I'll never forget the inside of that little shop (maybe 20 x 20), the array of home built specialty tooling the man had filled the place and every inch of it had an inch of coal soot on it.
Philip made his living making horseshoes one by one from mill length bar for as long as I can remember. He would sell them to rural farriers as far away as he could get somebody from town to deliver them...My old man was in road construction business so made many trips around the province with a pick=up, every trip he made he would stop at the blacksmith shop to enquire if Phil had any shoes going that direction ....sort of an old school "Chicken Lights";).
 

Dan Dubeau

Ultra Member
Sounds like fun. I'm 3500km away though....

I would like to take an in person class someday, as my only blacksmithing instructions have been via book, forums, and youtube. I'm a pretty good visual learner, but there is no replacement for in person learning sometimes. I'm still very much a bright green beginner. Beware though. It's a addicting.

I look forward to your forge build post class :D.
 

Crosche

Super User
Cool. Let me know what you think of the place. I have been toying with the idea of having a shop tour and firing up the forge for people who are interested in exploring blacksmithing.
 

Tom O

Ultra Member
I haven’t done any work with a forge since Mr Dixon’s class back in grade 8 at Oak Bay Junior in Victoria around 1968.
 

trevj

Ultra Member
I haven’t done any work with a forge since Mr Dixon’s class back in grade 8 at Oak Bay Junior in Victoria around 1968.
Funny, the last name... Took some basic Blacksmithing courses at the Western Development Museum Curatorial Center in Saskatoon, run by a fella named Rick Dixon! They were also bringing in various well established 'Smiths to put on weekend workshops at the time.

We had a big ol' forge in High School too, though we sure didn't get very far with the process, using it then!
 

Tom O

Ultra Member
Well for us it was making a fireplace poker set and it was my 1st experience sand casting.
I’m feeling old today I just found out I’m a “ Great, Great, Great, Uncle “
FFS I’m only 69 ! :rolleyes:
 

DPittman

Ultra Member
Premium Member
Well for us it was making a fireplace poker set and it was my 1st experience sand casting.
I’m feeling old today I just found out I’m a “ Great, Great, Great, Uncle “
FFS I’m only 69 ! :rolleyes:
Well I'm sure you're a good guy and even a good uncle but isn't that bragging a bit much to say that you're a GREAT GREAT GREAT uncle!?? ;)

Congrats. That is something! I won't likely make a great, great uncle so doing that and then some, is pretty cool.
 

Tom O

Ultra Member
It’s something you don’t think about and takes you by surprise who know maybe in 18 or so years I’ll be a great, great, great, great Uncle!
It boggles the mind!
 

Susquatch

Ultra Member
Administrator
Moderator
Premium Member
It’s something you don’t think about and takes you by surprise who know maybe in 18 or so years I’ll be a great, great, great, great Uncle!
It boggles the mind!

Geez...... I thought I was doing well to be a great grandfather already.

I take it that you have a very prolific much older sibling?
 

Crosche

Super User

I’m taking an intro to black smithing class on Saturday March 11/2023. It is located near Kananaskis. Anyone else from Alberta interested?

Janger, have a look at these in prep for your class:

https://www.metalsmith.org/wp-conte...nd-Forging-Study-Guide-Print-File-1-24-20.pdf

 

Susquatch

Ultra Member
Administrator
Moderator
Premium Member
Sister in law say she “ MADE A MISTAKE ” it is great, great uncle, now I don’t feel so old!

Did you get that in writing? No sister in law of mine would ever admit to a mistake of that kind.....

I confess I'm a bit disappointed though. I had kind of liked feeling younger with you being so many greats. Now me being a Great Grandfather suddenly feels older again. Your gain is my loss..... Sorta...... Kinda.... In a way.
 

Janger

(John)
Administrator
Vendor
After some delays the class ran today. It was lots of fun.
 

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