First 'Smithing' course

Joined
Feb 28, 2002
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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……
 

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Look up Indian George, right here on Shoptalk. He is part of a New England knifemaking/collecting association. They get together for knife forging classes all the time. Seems like it would be right up your alley.
 
yeah,, Bob get with it..:D
sorry just funning Mike
bob does belong to the NECKA now
Bob shortly you and the others will get a heads up
on the next hammer-in hopefully at the new England blacksmiths club
in Brentwood NH. we're working on it now
and going to open it up to them too.:)
 
Thanks Mike - Actually I a little bit head of you on that one as George contacted me about a month after I started making knives - he has a way of finding people who are into knives and bikes & is great at getting people together to learn & share.

I go to all the hammer -ins and have picked up most of my contacts and knowledge there .....and I guess that explains how I also became one of the founding members of NECKA!


Hey Dan ! - a Hammer -in in the Granite state sounds great! I'll, see you there.

Bob
 
It's going to be cool Blacksmiths and knife smiths together
there's going to be some teaching there I'll bet..both sides of it.:)
 
Dan , I think Brentwood is the place wher if you are an ABANA member, you can go up any weekend and just use the forge - nice perk! They will be great folks to get together with. I hope NH is a little bit closer for you than MA

Bob
 
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