I Just finished filling out the registration form for the Oct. class "Intro to Bladesmithing" at the ABS school in Texarkana. Has anyone here taken this course? If so how was it? Its two weeks long so I'm thinking its going to be really intense. Any suggestions on what I should bring? Also what can I expect other then having a great time learning how to pound steel? Thank you in advance.
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ABS School
- Thread starter Wolfsong
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I took the class in 1995. It was great. Aside from learning to forge you will make some good friends and good contacts within the knife world. Get your test knife out of the way first and then you'll have time for some real fun.
It will be hot, both inside the smithy and out. Plan on sweating a lot and make sure you stay hydrated.
Enjoy, and tell Mr Jerry the Possum Sheriff said hello.
Gene
It will be hot, both inside the smithy and out. Plan on sweating a lot and make sure you stay hydrated.
Enjoy, and tell Mr Jerry the Possum Sheriff said hello.
Gene
Class of 2008. They furnish hammers and tongs. There also will be some other tools floating around like flatters, and hot cutters. You can still take what you want, like a favorite hammer. You will be assigned a locker to lock your stuff up. Gloves, and water.
You are going to have a blast.
You are going to have a blast.
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- Sep 9, 2003
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October is a good time to do the Old Washington School, depending on where you are from. They were always kind enough to assign me the classes in the early spring
. I think an important thing not to bring are any preconceptions. Be an open door or sponge for the information coming at you, your instructors will enjoy seeing you run with what they show you, but it will slow you down if you have to unlearn too much in order to process the new information.
One thing that I think any of the instructors would appreciate is for students to always bear in mind that it is "Intro to Bladesmithing" not an $800+ opportunity to build the sword, Karambit or Klingon Batleth the student always wanted to build. You want to take everything they can teach you home and use it for a year or two so you can easily make those other things with style anytime you want.
Dive into the whole test blade concept with gusto! Some of my favorite students wanted to test, bend or break every blade they could just to see how they did and how the steel works. There are guys who need to be forced to test just one blade, and those poor souls get the least from the class. They may take a stock of blades home, but no knowledge comes home with those blades, not about the craft or about the blades themselves. $50 will get you enough steel to make a pile of blades at home, the knowledge you can pick up in an environment like one of those classes is priceless, so forget about the blades themselves and make it about how much you can learn.
. I think an important thing not to bring are any preconceptions. Be an open door or sponge for the information coming at you, your instructors will enjoy seeing you run with what they show you, but it will slow you down if you have to unlearn too much in order to process the new information. One thing that I think any of the instructors would appreciate is for students to always bear in mind that it is "Intro to Bladesmithing" not an $800+ opportunity to build the sword, Karambit or Klingon Batleth the student always wanted to build. You want to take everything they can teach you home and use it for a year or two so you can easily make those other things with style anytime you want.
Dive into the whole test blade concept with gusto! Some of my favorite students wanted to test, bend or break every blade they could just to see how they did and how the steel works. There are guys who need to be forced to test just one blade, and those poor souls get the least from the class. They may take a stock of blades home, but no knowledge comes home with those blades, not about the craft or about the blades themselves. $50 will get you enough steel to make a pile of blades at home, the knowledge you can pick up in an environment like one of those classes is priceless, so forget about the blades themselves and make it about how much you can learn.
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- Jun 5, 2008
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This is a great class and you will meet some great people. But I agree with Kevin. Remember that it is a class, so learn and don't worry about making alot of blades. It is important that you learn what the steel is doing when heated. Making a blade to pass the test is the easy part of the class. October is a great time because the weather might be cooling off by then. Expect to sweat alot anyway. Have some lunch at the Tavern.
I want to go back just thinking about it.
I want to go back just thinking about it.
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- Dec 22, 2009
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What is the date on the Oct class? The website list the 2009 dates. I may have some time off in Oct. to take a class.
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- Aug 16, 2001
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I believe the dates are October 25 thru November 5. Instructors will be J.R. Cook for the first week and Mike Williams for the second week. Assistant instructors are listed as Bill Wiggins for week one and possibly myself for week two. That is a great time to take the class. It should not be too hot and nice foliage in the area. Yes eat at the tavern. I also agree with Kevin, It is about learning to forge and make blades, think quality over quantity.
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- Jan 10, 2007
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I am hoping to make it one of the classes this fall. Here is the schedule of classes at Old Washington this year:
http://www.texarkanacollege.edu/ced/bladesmithing/bladesmithBrochure2010.pdf
http://www.texarkanacollege.edu/ced/bladesmithing/bladesmithBrochure2010.pdf
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Class of 04. It may be provided or not. But take a note pad and pen/pencil. Keep a smaller one in your bag with your tools you plan to take, so you can take notes in forging area as well as the classroom. Take a small camera if you got one. I had Harvey Dean and Michael Connor. The discussion's in the classroom on how to conduct yourself at a knife show, and other small business stuff was just as valuable as the bladesmithing itself. Also go see Al up in Riverside while your there. Prepare to empty your wallet before you go though.
Thank you all for your information. Oct. cant come fast enough. I've never done any type of forging befor so I am very open with everything that the teachers can teach me. I'll be sure to test as many blades as I can so I can see what I'm doing wrong and right. And I'll be sure to bring plenty of water. Is there any tools that I have to bring or do they supply everything? Also, what is the tavern? I'll be driving in from Chicago so I no idiea whats around the school. Looks like I'll be staying at either the Super 8 or the Econo lodge.
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- Mar 28, 2007
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Hope is the nearest town, Texarkana (better Lodging there) isnt that far by interstate. There are plenty of Resteraunts and places to eat as well. you should have a good time.
The tavern is Williams' Tavern. Washington is actually a state park. A town set in about 1820. Here is a link: http://www.historicwashingtonstatepark.com/
Hope is fine to stay in. There are several places to eat. There's also a Walmart at the freeway exit to Washington.
Take any tools you want, but they do supply hammers, and tongs.
Hope is fine to stay in. There are several places to eat. There's also a Walmart at the freeway exit to Washington.
Take any tools you want, but they do supply hammers, and tongs.
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2003
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- 2,361
It is worth noting about that "Tavern" that it is not a tavern, but just a restaurant. Old Washington and Hope are in a dry county, so if you like an ice cold brew after a hot day in the forge one thing to bring is your own beverage for at night in your hotel room. Texarkana, on the AR side, is the nearest place to get anything with alcohol unless you know the area well enough to find little places like BollWeevil's.
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That would be at the Fulton exit going to Texarkana off the interstate.
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- Jun 5, 2008
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If you are not use to forging alot, you can count on being tired and dirty at the end of each day. You will not be by yourself. Tools are supplied and a locker key issued. $100 of the fee is for tool deposit, which you should get back after the class in the form of a check from Texarkana College. If you have a favorite hammer already, you might take it. The tools they supply are well used. I know my two weeks there I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express, but it was fairly expensive for two weeks. Make sure you tell the hotel you are attending the class, they may give you a discount. You can also contact the park personnel and see about staying at the bunk house. It's in one of the old buildings as part of the park. I believe its $15 a night and provides a bed, access to a shower and a kitchenette. The bunk house is across (north) from Williams Tavern. You might try and get by Kenny Rowe's leather shop in Hope. He's got great stuff and is a very good friend of all ABS members.
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- Nov 23, 2008
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- 437
I just took the intro class in Texarkana from may 14th to the 28th.
I stayed at the Super 8 and it was just fine. $39.99 a night if you ask for the Bladesmithing rate.
Hope is 8 miles from Old Washington where the school is located.
+1 on lunch at Williams Tavern. You can go back to Hope if you like but don't discount the value of lunchtime learning. Our consversations at lunch were a combination of great stories and further discussion of subjects like -Passing the Journeymans test - Heat treating- Handle and guard construction-tools tools and more tools- making damascus- to name a few. It was basically a VERY educational question and answer session which I felt was beyond the scope of the class for our instructors to spend their lunch time continuing to teach and share their experiences. I know I really appreciated it so thanks to Jim Walker, John White, and Dan Petersen for spending their down time continuing to teach and answer questions.
You'll get 2 hammers and 3 sets of tongs to use during the class.
Bring a couple pairs of Gloves !
As mentioned it's hot in the shop so bring ice water. I lucked out by going to the forge in the back of the shop right in front of the Oxy/Acetaline tanks on the first day. Walking over in front of the 4 ft fan at the back door is like a blast of AC which makes the heat far more bearable but plan on doing some sweating, LOL.
Some Para cord to do a handle wrap on your test knife is a good idea. Someone in our class got some cord from the Farm store in hope to share with the class.
I highly recommend a visit to the Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock on the weekend to see the Bowie exhibit. I did that and the tour of Old Washington which was worthwhile but given the choice of 1 I'd definately go for the Museum.
Uncle Al Lawrence came right to the school with a slide out store in the bed of his truck. Check out Riverside machine's website to get an idea of what he may have available if he makes it over during your class.
- http://www.riversidemachine.net/
Heres link to my Photo bucket album of the last day of class-
http://s570.photobucket.com/albums/ss147/joshdabney/Intro to Bladesmithing 2010/
Historic Arkansas Museum-
http://s570.photobucket.com/albums/ss147/joshdabney/Arkansas Historic Museum/
Tour of Old Washington-
http://s570.photobucket.com/albums/ss147/joshdabney/Old Washington Arkansas/
Here's a shot of the blades I forged and my test blade on the Moran Memorial
Here's the whole Motley Crew test blades in hand. I'm the fat guy in the back row 3rd from left, LOL
Prepare to really enjoy yourself and learn a TON !
-Josh
I stayed at the Super 8 and it was just fine. $39.99 a night if you ask for the Bladesmithing rate.
Hope is 8 miles from Old Washington where the school is located.
+1 on lunch at Williams Tavern. You can go back to Hope if you like but don't discount the value of lunchtime learning. Our consversations at lunch were a combination of great stories and further discussion of subjects like -Passing the Journeymans test - Heat treating- Handle and guard construction-tools tools and more tools- making damascus- to name a few. It was basically a VERY educational question and answer session which I felt was beyond the scope of the class for our instructors to spend their lunch time continuing to teach and share their experiences. I know I really appreciated it so thanks to Jim Walker, John White, and Dan Petersen for spending their down time continuing to teach and answer questions.
You'll get 2 hammers and 3 sets of tongs to use during the class.
Bring a couple pairs of Gloves !
As mentioned it's hot in the shop so bring ice water. I lucked out by going to the forge in the back of the shop right in front of the Oxy/Acetaline tanks on the first day. Walking over in front of the 4 ft fan at the back door is like a blast of AC which makes the heat far more bearable but plan on doing some sweating, LOL.
Some Para cord to do a handle wrap on your test knife is a good idea. Someone in our class got some cord from the Farm store in hope to share with the class.
I highly recommend a visit to the Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock on the weekend to see the Bowie exhibit. I did that and the tour of Old Washington which was worthwhile but given the choice of 1 I'd definately go for the Museum.
Uncle Al Lawrence came right to the school with a slide out store in the bed of his truck. Check out Riverside machine's website to get an idea of what he may have available if he makes it over during your class.
- http://www.riversidemachine.net/
Heres link to my Photo bucket album of the last day of class-
http://s570.photobucket.com/albums/ss147/joshdabney/Intro to Bladesmithing 2010/
Historic Arkansas Museum-
http://s570.photobucket.com/albums/ss147/joshdabney/Arkansas Historic Museum/
Tour of Old Washington-
http://s570.photobucket.com/albums/ss147/joshdabney/Old Washington Arkansas/
Here's a shot of the blades I forged and my test blade on the Moran Memorial
Here's the whole Motley Crew test blades in hand. I'm the fat guy in the back row 3rd from left, LOL
Prepare to really enjoy yourself and learn a TON !
-Josh
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2010
- Messages
- 1,013
Is there anyone doing anything like these classes in Canada? Say on the east coast somewhere? Everyone says ask around but its always " I know a guy who knows a guy who does some but I dont know where he lives" type of thing. Im stock removal right now but I have a RR anvil and a small forge and would like to at least do some small stuff. I dont mind experimenting, learning and having fun but it would be much better to learn the right way first rather then find out 3 or 4 years from now that I could have been doing some things easier.