Hammer-In or Forging How-To in the Carolina?

JC in SC

JC in SC

Joined
Feb 28, 2009
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Does anyone know of an upcoming Hammer-In or a knife forging for beginners type event within reasonable driving distance of Easley, SC? I'm truly fascinated with forging, but have yet to actually get any hands-on experience. Although I really like the idea, I don't want to invest a bunch of money in equipment only to find that it isn't for me. I know workable tools can be built relatively inexpensively, but I work fulltime, am going to school a few nights a week and have a 9 month old, so finding the time to build tools AND do any forging would be almost impossible. We're also in the midst of trying to sell our house, so I'm also not really in a position to move any equipment in for the time being. Ideally, I'd like to take one of the introductory classes at Haywood Community College in Clyde, NC, but the aforementioned time constraints and the ~2 hour drive make that unlikely in the immediate future.
 
JC,

Try checking in with your local blacksmiths. I just checked at the ABANA website and it looke like you have an affiliate chapter in SC:

PHILIP SIMMONS ARTIST-BLACKSMITH GUILD OF SOUTH CAROLINA

Pres: Mike Tucker
122 N.Salem Ave.
Sumter, SC 29150
803-773-6853
mike@tuckersforge.com

Ed: Barry Meyers
1847 Pisgah Road
North Augusta, SC 29841
(803) 279-0363
bmyers647@comcast.net
Click to expand...

See if they have a monthly meeting or something you can swing by to check things out. Not all blacksmiths are really keen on making knives, but all of them I've ever met are always happy to help somebody who's interested in swinging a hammer at hot steel. Starting with general 'smithing is a great way to get started in forging even if you're not making knives right off the bat.

Take care,

-d
 
We will be having a three day ABS hammer-in March 5-7 at Haywood College. Demonstrators will include Jason Knight, Terry Vadeventer, Len Landrum, Greg Neely, BR Hughes, Kevin Jones and Steven Rapp.
 
deker said:
JC,

Try checking in with your local blacksmiths. I just checked at the ABANA website and it looke like you have an affiliate chapter in SC:

See if they have a monthly meeting or something you can swing by to check things out. Not all blacksmiths are really keen on making knives, but all of them I've ever met are always happy to help somebody who's interested in swinging a hammer at hot steel. Starting with general 'smithing is a great way to get started in forging even if you're not making knives right off the bat.

Take care,

-d
Click to expand...

Hey, thanks for the suggestion. I'll have to look into that:thumbup:

wiggins said:
We will be having a three day ABS hammer-in March 5-7 at Haywood College. Demonstrators will include Jason Knight, Terry Vadeventer, Len Landrum, Greg Neely, BR Hughes, Kevin Jones and Steven Rapp.
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Awesome! Please share some details or provide some contact information:thumbup:
 
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JC
I am about 1.5 hours from you, although that is a bit far I usually make damascus every Saturday from 0800-1300 or sometimes forge knives also. You are invited if you can ever make it.
Chris
 
Tryon Arts and Crafts in Tryon, NC. has a 5 forge shop that is open for public use every Thursday. Cost is only $15 for the day to help pay for fuel and there is usually a well seasoned smith there to coach new guys. They also sponsor 4-5 week-end basic knifemaking classes per year with the next one scheduled some time in March.


You can contact them via
Phone: (828) 859-8323
Email: tryonartsandcrafts@windstream.net
 
blindhogg said:
JC
I am about 1.5 hours from you, although that is a bit far I usually make damascus every Saturday from 0800-1300 or sometimes forge knives also. You are invited if you can ever make it.
Chris
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Thanks for the offer Chris. Where are you located exactly? I ask because mapquest shows fayetteville as being 4.5 hours away:eek:

G L Drew said:
Tryon Arts and Crafts in Tryon, NC. has a 5 forge shop that is open for public use every Thursday. Cost is only $15 for the day to help pay for fuel and there is usually a well seasoned smith there to coach new guys. They also sponsor 4-5 week-end basic knifemaking classes per year with the next one scheduled some time in March.



You can contact them via
Phone: (828) 859-8323
Email: tryonartsandcrafts@windstream.net
Click to expand...

I actually grew up in Landrum, SC (right across the state line from Tryon, NC), so this is a particularly interesting option. Thanks for bringing it to my attention:thumbup:
 
wiggins said:
We will be having a three day ABS hammer-in March 5-7 at Haywood College. Demonstrators will include Jason Knight, Terry Vadeventer, Len Landrum, Greg Neely, BR Hughes, Kevin Jones and Steven Rapp.
Click to expand...


Bill,
I was wondering when this was going to happen this year. See ya there.
This is a fantastic event. Highly recomended.
 
JC
Yea my mistake, for some reason I was thinking Easley was right next to Florence.
Your alot further West than I had realized. Your still welcome out but I understand if you can not make it.:D
 
Montgomery County Community College in Troy, NC as well has beginners 4 day courses- look in the "Continuing Education" section- under the NRA Coruses- they are mostly grind and build, but forging is covered in one course I believe. They just posted the courses so you may be able to get a slot. Also have you tried John Campbell <<www.Folkschool.org>>???
 
You've got three really good choices listed here. Bill Wiggins with the ABS Hammerin at Haywood CC, Gerry Drew's suggestion at Tryon ( I think he spends a good bit of time there teaching), and Track
Rock Hammerin which offers lots of "hands on " teaching for new people. Wouldn't be that much driving to try out Tryon, make the early March ABS event and finish in Track Rock March 19, 20 and 21 to hone up on what you've learned. If you need any more info on Track Rock, give me a shout.
Rick
 
Big Blu hammerin--March 20th-in Morganton,N.C.,directions on their website- is always a good one-Regards Butch
 
First off, I really appreciate all of the responses you guys have provided. As always, this has proven to be an invaluable source of information.

silverforgestudio said:
Montgomery County Community College in Troy, NC as well has beginners 4 day courses- look in the "Continuing Education" section- under the NRA Coruses- they are mostly grind and build, but forging is covered in one course I believe. They just posted the courses so you may be able to get a slot. Also have you tried John Campbell <<www.Folkschool.org>>???
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It looks like there are a lot of opportunities in NC. Unfortunately, most appear in the 2.5 to 4.5 hour away range, with the exception of Tryon, which is right at an hour.

Rick Lowe said:
You've got three really good choices listed here. Bill Wiggins with the ABS Hammerin at Haywood CC, Gerry Drew's suggestion at Tryon ( I think he spends a good bit of time there teaching), and Track
Rock Hammerin which offers lots of "hands on " teaching for new people. Wouldn't be that much driving to try out Tryon, make the early March ABS event and finish in Track Rock March 19, 20 and 21 to hone up on what you've learned. If you need any more info on Track Rock, give me a shout.
Rick
Click to expand...

Gerry is actually doing at class in Tryon this weekend, but the short notice and scheduling conflicts are going to prevent me from making this one. He has another scheduled in April, so I'm going to try to make that one. Would it be a waste to go to the ABS event at Haywood if I've never done any forging before or would it be a good intro type event? That facilty looks incredible, so I really want to make it up there at some point.

butchesforge said:
Big Blu hammerin--March 20th-in Morganton,N.C.,directions on their website- is always a good one-Regards Butch
Click to expand...

March 20 seems to be a popular weekend, but I've got class that day (I have 3 Saturday classes per Semester in addition to two nights a week). My wife is trying to persuade me to wait until I've finished school (June of this year:thumbup:) before getting involved and I'm wondering if she might be right.
 
JC,
By all means go to the ABS event if possible. I've been there and really enjoyed it. After that, go to Track Rock and we'll give you a hammer, anvil and steel to apply what you learned at Haywood.
Rick
 
Green Coal will be going all day Friday and Saturday at the ABS event for anyone wishing to forge. Also, we will be having the Battle of the Bladesmiths on Friday. You will get to see four full time Master Smiths make a knife at the same time. A great chance to pick up some info.
 
There is a FREE Hammerin at Trackrock Campgound in Blairsville, GA soon.
Here is some of the info from the email i got just a few days ago.

Date: Weekend of March 19, 20, & 21, 2010
Best News: Open to all & no admission fees
Location: Trackrock Camp ground, Blairsville, GA
Directions: WWW.TRACKROCK.COM
Activities: Bladesmithing, Hawk forging, Leather Crafting, Forge Building, Anything Knife Related
Who: Anyone interested in knives, knife making, hawks, leather work, collecting, trading, etc. Watch, meet and talk talented bladesmiths, master leather craftsmen, collectors, etc.
See old discarded steel, scrap metal, wood and bone transformed into functional works of art.
 
Give David Manley a call. He's a pretty well known maker in the area (I'm from Walhalla), and I beleive he does forging, damascus, etc. He's from Central, not far from you
 
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