primtechsmith

Cool! I am really looking forward to the Hammer Making Class. There will be a lot to learn from Brian on everything from tooling to striking, and most importantly reasoning behind the actions and process in hammer making. Peyton

The school/host location is in Crewe Virginia. Here is a google link on the location: Yesteryear School of Blacksmithing - Google Maps From there you can zoom out and see what is going on....we are about an hour and a half or so south of Richmond. Peyton

Brian will be teaching those two classes and doing a demo for us in November. All are welcome!!!

No harm no foul Glenn. I saw the original post with mention to Big Blu....now it is gone...thats all. Peyton

Big Blu also sells a similar type of hammer. There was a link in a post a few above mine....but it mysteriously disappeared when someone made a "url correction"....hmmm. Weird. I have never used a Hofi or Big Blu....I have heard people being happy with both. Peyton

This is in the gallery...maybe it will help: Can-Iron 2007 - Blacksmith Photo Gallery The guy working on the press is Paul Thorne. He does Press forging...maybe someone to look into tracking down. Peyton

We are going to have Clay Smith come and demo for us on May 16th. He is going to do a gunsmithing demo. He used to work at Williamsburg in the Gun Shop and leaned under Wallace Gusler. He is now out on his own making guns....There is a photo on his website of him and one of the guys from "Last of the Mohicans" holding a gun he made for him. I am excited about the demo! Clay Smith Go there and look around. He has some beautiful stuff! Peyton

...one of the things that makes the anvil shoot so popular is the controversy that surrounds it... I dont mind it. But I do recognize the risk and usually stay further back than most. Peyton

I was reading the CBA newsletter last night I got in the mail and saw a photo of Mark Aspery demonstrating and an IFI sticker was on his tool stand....cool. Peyton

Paul... Nicely done on the anvil! Got any pics of you making it, or sketches, or willing to do so??? That is one of the best I have seen forged out! Peyton

~NEXT MEETING~ SATURDAY MAY 16, 2009 Where: Yesteryear School of Blacksmithing Yesteryear School of Blacksmithing 1918 West Virginia Ave. Crewe Virginia 23930 TIME: 9:30am - 4:30pm Topic: CRASH COURSE IN GUNSMITHING...GUN BARRELS, BUTT PLATES, AND MUCH MORE!!! Demonstrator: Clay Smith Reminders: IRON IN THE HAT! and bring a chair! RSVP To: Peyton Anderson president@blacksmithguildofva.com or 434-390-6203 FREE TO ATTEND! ALL ARE WELCOME! MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS...We would love to have you join us!

Brian is going to be teaching this in a class this coming November up here in Virginia... Peyton

Marry into a family of Blacksmiths! ...worked for me.... Peyton

I use a JHM Competitor. After getting some better hammer control I was allowed to choose my anvil to use. I picked this one out of the pile in the shop. In my honest opinion it is a great anvil. Plenty hard. Good horn size....and I really like the deep step from the face too. The hardy is a little over 1 1/8" I believe... The casting on mine is beautiful, pretty much the perfect anvil for me. Peyton

I have changed the working height of my anvil a few times based on prolonged use...I started out with it at the suggested height at the knuckels. Then I lowered it down some because for whatever reason it seemed like I needed to. I then found myself stooping over to work. So I have since raised it up a little past my knuckles. The great thing is the floor in Mike's forge is rock dust and I can easily adjust the height by sinking in the stand or pulling it up to whatever I need it to be. Glenn is right. Lost of body types mean lots of variation. I have seen adjustable stands on here...Jr. has one he did for his grandson that will "grow" with him over the years. Other I have seen you add in wood plates to raise and lower it. Good luck! Peyton

Brian, This is one of the hammers the students will be able to make in November right? How about maybe a cross pien??? Do you make those as well? I can't wait to see this done in person! Peyton

We are going to have Brian here in Virginia for a demonstration and a couple classes in November. Would be a great time to get some IFI people there for a group shot...and a great time! Just a thought... Peyton

They just may... Here is their contact info as well... American College of the Building Arts, Inc 21 Magazine Street Charleston, SC 29401 Toll Free: 877-283-5245 Tel: (843) 577-5245 Fax: (843) 577-2451 Email: info@buildingartscollege.us Website: The American College of the Building Arts I have a big list of these places.... Peyton

Jeff, There are a few colleges/universities around that still offer blacksmithing/metalworking endorsed degrees. It is an art degree from what I understand. Here is some info on what I have found to be the more popular of them: Southern Illinois University at Carbondale PO Box 4301 Carbondale, IL 62901-4301 (618) 453-4315 Website: Southern Illinois University Carbondale For more information about the program contact Valerie Brooks Academic Advisor School of Art and Design Email: vlbrooks@siu.edu (618)-453-4313 Hope this helps... Peyton ...and here is a link to our school: Yesteryear School of Blacksmithing :)

Matt that means you are also 2 hours from our guild meeting site as well! Come on down man! We would love to have you hang out. Peyton

We are new! No worries buddy. Peyton

Jeff, I think it completely depends on what you mean by "school". You can go somewhere like Carbondale and actually work on a degree or you can hit up one of the more popular single class offering type schools that are all over. From what I can gather The US has roughly 80-90 schools that I have found on the net. That does not mean there aren't more out there. You have some great schools close-ish to you like New England School of Metalworking, Touchstone, etc. Taking classes, to me, gets you out into a different mindset no matter what the class is on. I truly believe that one day with an instructor can potentially equal months of trial and error on your own. I am also super lucky to have the opportunity to work for a guy who owns and operates his own school. I do the bookings, scheduling, website stuff, etc...I have seen just this year students coming through some of the classes and leaving with a much better understanding than they came in with no matter their skill level. If you want to make a road trip to Virginia to take a class or two we would love to have you. Some of the iforgeiron members also teach down here including Brian, Alwin, and Mark Aspery. We do weekend, week long, and long weekend type classes. No matter what school you decide to go to or class to take the most important thing is to go in with the mindset of learning as much as possible and not being afraid to ask questions and try new things. "Experience is a wonderful thing." As my boss so often tells me... Peyton

Yeah.....the sun was soo easy to peek in and look to the occupant of the outhouse it was quickly phased out! not really sure about that, but it sounds good! Mike's outhouse at the forge has both on it so everyone knows it is friendly to both. :-) Peyton