Jim Kehler Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 I've been lurking here for a while and thought If I start posting should probably let people know who I am. I've been at this for thirty years now, ( I'm 49), first as a hobby then in a "historical village", ten years in a railroad blacksmith shop and self-employed since 1999. Grant's passing really hit me,( I met him once in '90 and he helped me with my hammer back in the days of the "junkyard"), and I thought it will take a LOT of us to fill his shoes and I will try to do my part. Quote
Sask Mark Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 Welcome Jim. Did you work at a Mennonite historical village? Seeing that you are from Steinbach, it would make sense. Quote
Jim Kehler Posted January 12, 2012 Author Posted January 12, 2012 Yes, that would be the place. Quote
Sask Mark Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 Cool. I've never been to the one in Steinbach. I'm married to a Mennonite girl and have been to the village in Swift Current. It's not a living village though. More of a museum. Quote
Scottiblasto Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 Hey Jim, I am from Winnipeg. I am just starting out in blacksmithing. Thought I would say hi. Quote
Jim Kehler Posted January 12, 2012 Author Posted January 12, 2012 Hi Scottiblasto, If you're ever close by drop in, I'm in the Steinbach phone directory Quote
Dillon Sculpture Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 Welcome, Curious what kind of hammer Grant helped with? Like the avatar, any pictures of your work? Quote
Jim Kehler Posted January 13, 2012 Author Posted January 13, 2012 Hi Danger, it's a 250 lb Bement Miles that came out of the railroad shop I worked at. I've got some photos on my facebook page if you do that sort of thing. Quote
Jim Kehler Posted January 13, 2012 Author Posted January 13, 2012 Should've added that I love your work Danger, would like to do stuff at that scale. Quote
Northern hot steel Posted March 31, 2013 Posted March 31, 2013 Hello everyone. I'm in northern Manitoba. I'd like to learn more about blacksmithing, once in a while I get a chance to get as far south as Swan. Quote
Northern hot steel Posted March 31, 2013 Posted March 31, 2013 Hello everyone. I'm in northern Manitoba. I'd like to learn more about blacksmithing, once in a while I get a chance to get as far south as Swan. Quote
Klorinth Posted January 9, 2016 Posted January 9, 2016 Hi there Jim. I'm located just East of Winnipeg. I thought I would just say hi. I'm just starting out so not ready to visit anyone. As much as I would love to. I'll be doing a course during the summer so hopefully I will be doing better next fall. Its nice to know there are people close by with lots of experience. Quote
swedefiddle Posted January 9, 2016 Posted January 9, 2016 Welcome and Happy New Year, I'm glad to hear some murmurs from Manitoba. It would be nice if some of you get together, I haven't heard of a group in Manitoba. Neil Gustafson, Vancouver Island Blacksmith Association viblacksmiths.com Quote
Rashelle Posted January 10, 2016 Posted January 10, 2016 I'm not sure of the dates but there is supposedly a Hudson Bay Co. Fort with blacksmith shop and at least one blacksmith that does demo's there. I missed it when taking a week long canoe trip with some friends that live in Winnipeg a year or so ago. Didn't find out about it till I got back ......... GGGGGGGGGRRRRRRR. I asked even. Quote
Klorinth Posted January 10, 2016 Posted January 10, 2016 We have 3 historical sites that have a blacksmith. Lower Fort Garry near Selkirk, the Mennonite Village in Steinbach, and the the Festival du Voyageur each February at Fort Gibraltor in Winnipeg. I don't know who is acting as blacksmith at each if those right now. There may be others I don't know of. I know of 2 working smiths near me. One does classes each summer and teaches at a historical school in the USA periodically. I will be doing a couple days with him this coming summer and hopefully I can get to the Festival for a day. I know from experience that I can learn the basics on my own but there is no replacing a teacher for taking you to the next level. i used to watch at smith at the Folk Festival each July. We have a 4 days music festival here each summer and there usually was one or more blacksmiths that would come to sell to the tourists. I spent time watching them work as a teenager. It's been a lot of years since I have done that though. Quote
Rashelle Posted January 10, 2016 Posted January 10, 2016 Cool, thank you for that information. I'll have to let my friends know for next time I go up there that we have places for us (me) to visit, heehee. Quote
Justin Lamoureux Posted January 10, 2018 Posted January 10, 2018 Possibly a dead board since the last post was from almost perfectly a year ago but Hello! Another Manitoban here. I really enjoy hammering that hot metal! Cheers! Quote
horse Posted January 10, 2018 Posted January 10, 2018 Glad you posted the Mennonite thing caught my eye. Grew up Amish then Mennonite. Would love to see that village one day. Quote
Furious Posted January 11, 2018 Posted January 11, 2018 Figured I may as well chime in here too, I'm also from Manitoba.. just getting started in blacksmithing. Been doing a lot of reading on iforge for a bit now, excellent site! Quote
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