- Joined
- Feb 28, 2002
- Messages
- 751
Well- actually Blacksmithing. When the time came to start hammering steel I decided I had to look for a place that would teach me entry level skills, was the short commute and would ideally connect me to a local network of craftsmen. After a search where to take a course that would get me going on forge work (I live in New England) , I settled on a series of two day intensive courses in blacksmithing offered by Bill Senseny. He is a well known in blacksmithing circles and is also well versed in bladesmithing. After calling him up. I realized what he had to offer would be a good fit for me. Bill teaches in several places in New England . In addition to 30 years in the craft, He has put about 25 years into developing a process of teaching the craft of Blacksmithing, This series also includes a course in bladesmithing and one in Damascus.
Anyway, I just finished the first two day intensive last weekend. It was held in the Blacksmiths shop at Hancock Shaker Village in Hancock Mass. We had 5 students, a lead teacher and two assistant teachers, Half the time was spent on the coal forge shown and the other half with a gas forge. Bill runs a fast paced course with solid info on the basics and moves you quickly and surely into skills development the most important part of the course. By the end you know 5 or 6 anvils , controlling your hammer,using the leg vise other hand tools, the different forges, how to read your heats, how to forge weld and more.
The first course just works with mild steel as I mentioned, skills developlment is high on the agenda. I was extremely pleased with this course and like the feel of working with the real basics coal, air and steel. I also am happy with my decision to pursue blacksmithing as a path to bladesmithing. The instructor was well aquainted with the ABS program in Arkansas and thought that one or two introductory courses like he teaches would set you up better for the ABS school than going in cold I agree!
Bob
Well I'm off the Vermont tomorrow to look at some used equipment ..never can have enough tools
Anyway, I just finished the first two day intensive last weekend. It was held in the Blacksmiths shop at Hancock Shaker Village in Hancock Mass. We had 5 students, a lead teacher and two assistant teachers, Half the time was spent on the coal forge shown and the other half with a gas forge. Bill runs a fast paced course with solid info on the basics and moves you quickly and surely into skills development the most important part of the course. By the end you know 5 or 6 anvils , controlling your hammer,using the leg vise other hand tools, the different forges, how to read your heats, how to forge weld and more.
The first course just works with mild steel as I mentioned, skills developlment is high on the agenda. I was extremely pleased with this course and like the feel of working with the real basics coal, air and steel. I also am happy with my decision to pursue blacksmithing as a path to bladesmithing. The instructor was well aquainted with the ABS program in Arkansas and thought that one or two introductory courses like he teaches would set you up better for the ABS school than going in cold I agree!
Bob
Well I'm off the Vermont tomorrow to look at some used equipment ..never can have enough tools