Blacksmithing: Architectural Sampler

Architecture is all around us, and it’s not just buildings.  It includes any built structure, large or small.  For the blacksmith this means not only gates, fences and railings, but also pot-racks, coat-racks, fire screens and tool sets, shelf brackets and mailboxes.  All of these projects have multiple pieces, must integrate with their environment, serve a function and (ideally) are beautiful to look at.

This three day workshop will focus on the fundamentals of architectural blacksmithing.  We’ll start with a scale drawing of a sample grill.  Each participant will spend their time making this grill and learning/practicing forging skills and techniques that can be applied to any future blacksmithing project.  By the end of the workshop, participants will go home with the sample grill they made and a better understanding of how to approach more complex projects.  This is a perfect opportunity for a newer smith who has made a few things (maybe a wall hook, or fire-poker, or a set of tongs), and wants to take the next step into more complex projects.  This workshop is also a great opportunity for someone with experience in forging pieces and then putting them together with electric welding, but is interested in a more traditional approach.  This class will include traditional techniques of joinery, such as rivets, tenons, and pass-throughs.

Skills and Techniques:

• Forged corners
• Pass-through
• Forged half-lap joint
• Forged tenon
• Forging material to dimension
• Scroll theory and practice
• Simple decorative flower
• Whitesmithing
• Assembly with rivets
• Proper order of operations

Materials Fee: $30 paid at the time of workshop

Special Tools or Equipment: The farm makes available to students eye and ear protection, gloves, and aprons. Comfortable closed toed shoes and street clothes are recommended. If you have forge tools you like working with you are welcome to bring them.

Please be sure to read our policies before you register for a workshop which can be found here Workshop Policies