Introduction to blacksmithing – Flower Hooks

Description

This three hour hands on class will introduce you to blacksmithing and working with hot iron . You will learn techniques like drawing out, bending, texturing, and fullering to create two flower hooks to take home with you. We will also cover correct hammer technique, and use of anvils, vises, and tongs.

The flowers will be forged from plasma cut blanks and we will use top tools to achieve some deep textures in the steel. We will use top fullers to create the deep lines in the flower petals – fullering is a technique that forges deep rounded lines into hot steel. Often these top tools and top fullers will be used with a smith and striker technique, where one person (smith) holds the top tools while a striker swinging a larger hammer hits the top tool. This allows for more accuracy and also you can create more dramatic forgings.

Once the flower petals have been forged and patterned, we will use rivets to join the flowers to the hooks. The holes for the screw to hold the hook to the wall will be countersunk using a round fuller to create a beautiful “swollen” hole effect.

I like the deep textures achieved through the use of top tools and this class is an excellent introduction to these different techniques. By the end of the class, you will have at least two hooks with some beautifully textured flowers that you can proudly display at home and show all of your friends and family.

Class will meet on a weeknight at 5.30pm-8.30pm or Saturdays 10.00am-1.00pm

The class is open to students of all skill levels and each class is limited to 5 students. Please note that classes are co-ed unless otherwise indicated.

Expect to leave with basic forging skills and the knowledge needed to forge hot steel. If you have prior experience this class will help you refresh your skills.

This class will take place in The British Blacksmith forge located at
8477 Pools Brook Road
Kirkville NY 13082

The forge is 20 mins east of Syracuse NY and easy to get to from all locations it is close to I-81 and the New York Thruway I-90.

If you would like any more details, please look at the “classes” page which will probably answer any questions you may have.

If you have any questions please email me at mark@thebritishblacksmith.com