New Student at Brian Brazeals

[Sask Mark]

I think taking a few classes from Brian is now on my bucket list.

[ofafeather]

I think taking a few classes from Brian is now on my bucket list.

+1! Brian, Lyle, thanks for documenting and sharing this. Great job, Darren!

[brianbrazealblacksmith]

Well, we just got back from taking Darren to the airport to fly back to Australia. It was a pleasure having him stay and work here for the past 10 days. He learned alot and so did Lyle and I. Darren asked so many questions and kept asking until he understood it for himself. I really appreciate that! Like I've said, "there is no such thing as a teacher, you have to pay attention to the world around you and understand things for yourself, then you have taught yourself".

We spent the last day mostly with me forging different things using a variety of techniques and Darren took pictures and videos to take back home to reveiw. Then we heat treated his fullering hammer and gathered up his tools and things and took pictures. We had to take the handles out of his tools that had handles, because they won't let that wood into the country.

Here are somemore pics from yesterday:

[lordcaradoc]

Wow, I think taking a class from Brian is on my bucket list too, though I don't know if my wife will let me go for a whole week.

Fantastic pics, thanks Lyle and Brian. I have always subscribed to the notion that when you learn to make your own tools (where blacksmithing is concerned) that those skills will carry you through much of the solid education needed to be competent. I am learning slowly as I haven't been able to take any classes yet, but there are quite a few good classes available here in Washington and I will be taking some as soon as I can.

Brian, I love how the tools you make and teach others to make are not just functional, but also very pretty, I particularly like that flatter I saw repeatedly in the pics.

Again, fantastic job and I am jealous of Darren a little bit.

Best regards,
Tim

[brianbrazealblacksmith]

Thanks, Tim, and everyone else.

Taking classes is a great opportunity to try things that you may have never been exposed to. I was fortunate to be able to participate in classes at Tom Clark's Ozark School of Blacksmithing with Tsur Sedan, William Bastas, and Bob Patric, all some of the best smiths in the world today. You have some of the best smiths also in the Washington area, like Grant Sarver, Darrel Nelson, and Terry Carson, and I know Darrel offers classes.

I was also fortunate to spend a year and a half with Alfred Habermann before he passed. That is where I learned to make these tools. I would like to have similar classes where people could come and learn to make tools with strikers and get on both sides of the anvil. You learn so much that way.

[R.Harrell]

Hey Brian would you mind if I came down for like 2 days and take the hammer class? Is that long enough?

[mrnewberry]

Taking classes is a great opportunity to try things that you may have never been exposed to. I was fortunate to be able to participate in classes at Tom Clark's Ozark School of Blacksmithing with Tsur Sedan, William Bastas, and Bob Patric, all some of the best smiths in the world today. You have some of the best smiths also in the Washington area, like Grant Sarver, Darrel Nelson, and Terry Carson, and I know Darrel offers classes.

I agree! This year I have been fortunate to have been able to take a class with Bob Patrick as well as the ABS Intro to Bladesmithing class and next month I am doing their Handles and Guards class. I don't normally take this many classes, but I have learned a lot because of it.

[gaylan veater]

I just wanted to say thanks to Brian and Lyle for all the pictures etc. It makes it some much more helpful for me to see and then do. I love to make tools because without the tools we can not make the product. I have enjoyed following this thread.

Thanks again Gaylan Veater :)

[brianbrazealblacksmith]

Hey Brian would you mind if I came down for like 2 days and take the hammer class? Is that long enough?

I would appreciate it, if you would come down for a class. Long enough for what?

I wouldn't call these classes "hammer classes", and I don't think anyone that has taken a class with me would either. We always make a hammer the first day, usually by noon, then show what to do with it. The first hammer only takes 1 hour or 2 at the most to forge. Then maybe 2 hours or so to grind, heat treat, finish grind, and handle it.

I believe a properly forged hammer is a great way to start someone out that is interested in forging no matter if you have never forged or if you have been forging. I wish I had been exposed to this sooner.

[brianbrazealblacksmith]

I just wanted to say thanks to Brian and Lyle for all the pictures etc. It makes it some much more helpful for me to see and then do. I love to make tools because without the tools we can not make the product. I have enjoyed following this thread.

Thanks again Gaylan Veater

You are very welcome, Gaylan.
I was not able to take many pictures of the class, and Lyle was only able to take pictures when he wasn't working. Maybe Darren will post more after he gets settled back in at home. He got some really good pics and videos.

[locky.au]

The reason for being able to attend this course from Australia in the first place was taking advantage of a work paid conference in Las Vegas & then tacking on some personal holidays. My intention in attending the training with Brian was always to learn process & methodology and not about producing project items. I did have some specific requirements for home such as a hot cut hardie for my 330lb anvil (1 5/16” / 33mm hardie) & ultimate tongs but was always focused on learning how to forge & the actual techniques. The by-product of which should result in tools & project items.

This concept was absolutely in alignment with the way Brian teaches as he wishes to expose individuals to correct techniques & forging methodology. He will always ensure students walk away with tools & project elements.

A case in point, on day 3, Brian asked what I wanted to do next I replied your “ultimate tongs”. Brian looked over his glasses with a facial expression that said this is going to be challenging! We discussed how I would like to go about it & I believe the process agreed was perfect for learning. Brian provide material for two sets of tongs, demonstrated technique & process in a staged & step by step approach; sending me away to produce mine after each staged instruction & illustration. This was a great learning experience which resulted in two sets of Brian Brazeal “Ultimate Tongs” now in my smithy in Australia!

After ten days Brian, Lyle & I had produced the following tools; 2 hammers (1 rounding & 1 fullering), Habermann style hammer tongs, 2 X Ultimate tongs, 2 Hot cut hardies (one large to fit my 33mm hardie), handled hot cut, drift, handled punch, 2 handled fullers (1 ½” & 3”) with matching (2) hardie fullers, hex edge tool (hardie), cupping tool (hardie), hump tools, 15 punches & a fire rake. Total of 33 individual tools and an estimated conservative retail value of $1000!

In terms of projects & templates for learning this included, a trivet, 4 X scroll jigs, 1” X 1” 3D horse head, 2D story board of how to make horse heads, Seahorse, Crane, Cross, Leaf, Calla Lily, Cable Knife & various attempts at these techniques.

In fact I had to get a second suit case to transport back 62lb of tools & projects to Australia (thanks Lyle Wynn for the suit case!).

Brian is passionate about Blacksmithing who lives & breathes this wonderful trade. He is very humble, generous & enthusiastic about passing on knowledge. In fact the analogy I use is that it’s like drinking from a fire hydrant being around Brian Brazeal! For those who take the opportunity to learn from Brian, my tip is take lots of notes, photographs & video to maximise your learning experience because you can only drink so much. I did all of these (including pictures of chalk diagrams on the shop floor) & use them to reflect & practice the things I have learned now that I am back in OZ. He has a lot to offer the Blacksmithing community & this is clearly evident and demonstrated time and time again as illustrated through the various posts on this forum & demonstrations at various events.

His work ethic is very high & is the same way I like to work; day one 7:30 am to 8 pm. In fact I actually arrived late afternoon the previous day from the work conference & Brian had me in the shop even before the course started striking to make a hot cut hardie! Over dinner & late into the evening we would talk some more about all different aspects of blacksmithing. He shared his experiences & time (approximately 12 months in total) with Alfred Habermann one of the great European artists of our time. Thinking about my comments here, this is Blacksmithing boot camp .

You can clearly see many years of harden skill as you watch Brian forge. He is very particular about correct forging techniques because if you follow these; as Brian would say “it practically makes itself”. The final observation I will make is that Brian is a perfectionist, an incredible eye for detail, composition, proportions & perspective. I have always considered myself a perfectionist but over the years I have allowed this to wane for commercial reasons. Having watched how accurate he is from making out to grinding & polishing; I will be reinstating my attempts for perfection. Even if I slightly fall short I will be so much closer than most .

There is so much to learn & I have a lot of information to digest & put into practice from my time in Brandon Mississippi. The southern hospitality is absolutely all that is said about it & Lyle Wynn (LDW)is the epitome of it. Lyle would visit the shop each day & contribute to my learning’s in many ways. Brian & his wife Karen are wonderful generous hosts whilst I there with them that made my learning easy & a very comfortable stay. Karen’s support was terrific from pick up & drop off at the airport, to meals & sometimes conversations other than Blacksmithing .
I believe I have forged a friendship with them & Lyle, & thank you all for my stay in Mississippi.