I am teaching hands on classes again

K

Kevin R. Cashen

Joined
Sep 9, 2003
Messages
2,361
I must be a glutton for punishment with how busy my schedule is already:o. But last fall I was asked to return to teaching and instruct an “Intro to bladesmithing course” at Haywood Community College in North Carolina and I decided to start the hands on thing again. I found I actually missed the hand on instruction, and now that the ABS has classes in NC I thought it may be more stimulating than being lodged in Hope AR for a week or two (there is more to do in north eastern Siberia than in Hope AR in your off hours:(). At any rate I will be teaching the first week of the first class this year for the ABS courses now offered by Haywood Community College.

The best reason for me to offer my services is that another dedicated school of this nature is a very worthy cause and I was excited and very happy to hear of another ABS school being taken on by a College. :thumbup: Hammer-ins are great but they are really just a quick glance to wet your appetite for real instruction. Watching how easily a guy with 20 years of experience can do it in 1 hour is great to get you pumped up and eager to learn but it really doesn't prepare you for when you roll up your sleeves and tackle the task yourself. Two weeks of intense hands on work with an experienced smith along with other students, whose questions and mistakes and successes only multiply your learning, is the best opportunity you will ever get to get a head start on the craft.

I would be happy to have any folks here sign up to work with me, but more importantly if you have been thinking of classes give Bill Wiggins a shout about taking any of the classes offered and support this great new opportunity for bladesmithing as a whole, the first couple of years can determine if things like this thrive and I would like to see this one be a success.

Here is the full 2009 schedule:


March 9-20 Intro. To bladesmithing
Instructors week1 Kevin Cashen
week 2 Dickie Robinson

April27- May 8 Intro to bladesmithing
Instructors week 1 Jim Crowell
Week 2 Jim Crowell

June1-12 Intro to bladesmithing
Instructors week 1 Greg Neely
Week 2 Burt Foster

Aug. 17-21 Handles and gaurds
Instructor Bert Gaston

Oct. 5-16 Intro to bladesmithing
Instructors week 1 Jason Knight
Week 2 Ron Newton

Dec.7-11 handles and gaurds
Instructor Joe Keeslar

Contact info for registration:
Haywood Community College (828) 627-4505
Bill Wiggins wncbill@bellsouth.net
 
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Spending a couple of days as your student would be demanding, I know, but what a great learning experience that would be.
The give and take of group learning is the best way to learn, for someone like myself.

But, alas; it is not in the cards.

I will have to be content with the forums classroom.

That, in itself, has advanced my knowledge of steels and their applications in knife making, tenfold.

Best of luck with this teaching venture and thanks once again for elevating our knowledge of this craft.

Fred
 
Plenty of good hog hunting around Hope, AR, and some decent fishing at Millwood. Other than that, you're right, there's NOTHING to do.
 
Hey Kevin,

Do you know how much the tuition would be for the Intro to Bladesmithing Classes?

Thanks,

Bob
 
Thanks for the information Kevin. It is great to see another ABS school, especially one a little closer to my area.
I truly hope the school makes it in this economy.
My problem though is that, there is no way I could take 2 full weeks off from work. Especially right now with layoffs and job uncertainty in today's market. I don't want my employer to think they can manage two weeks with out me. :D

Is it possible to take week 1 now and come back later to complete week 2?

Thanks
Cliff
 
Jeez Kevin,

That list of teachers looks like who's-who of top names.

Anybody would be lucky to get in on that deal.

Shane
 
Just to update the schedule, we had to change the date and instructor for the Aug. handles and gaurds class. Someone scheduled it to close to the San Antonio show. :o The new dates are Aug. 3-7 and John Perry will be teaching. Let me know if anyone has any questions.

Bill Wiggins
 
We will be having the second annual Great Smoky Symposium March 6-8. This is also a ABS event. Demonstrators will be Burt Foster, Greg Neely, Joe Keeslar , Jim Batson and BR Hughes. When Batson found out Kevin would be there, he was also added to the line up. This will all be happening the weekend before Kevin's intro course. We will have a great time, hope you will join us!!
Bill Wiggins
 
Hi Folks,

I just got off the phone with Brenda at Haywood Community College in Asheville NC. She said that the class "Introduction to Bladesmithing", scheduled for March 9-20, with Kevin Cashen and Dickie Robinson has only 3 current registrants, of which I am one. She also advised me that the class most likely will be going on as scheduled with the low registrant numbers. But she also said "pray that we get at least one more student", so, I am posting this addition. If you are interested and can make time in your schedule for the course, then contact either Bill Wiggins wncbill@bellsouth.net or Haywood Community College (828) 627-4505 as soon as possible.

The course is offered right after the already scheduled Great Smoky Mountain Hammer-Inn, being held on March 6-8 also at Haywood community college. I will be attending both, and am currently looking into hotel arrangements.

Thanks,

Bob

Hershey, PA
 
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