Smithing schools/training

[george m.]

Dear All,

I just received the catalog for the New England School of Metalwork winter session and there are several classes which look tempting to me. There is a 3 day "Basic Damascus Steel" course which would be a valuable addition to my knowledge. As a self taught smith forge welding is not one of my strongest skills.

However, Auburn, Maine is 2000 miles away which adds considerable cost to the basic tuition.

I am wondering if anyone has any suggestion about which schools/training are worth the cost and any to avoid. I looked at Frank Turley's classes as New Mexuco is a lot closer than Maine to NE Colorado (I saw him demonstrate along with Francis Whittaker in the early-mid '90s. The man is a god. If I'm ever 20% as good as he is I will die a happy man.) but The 3-week course is a bit much and probably starts to basically for me and the shorter classes are mostly introductory.

Any comments or suggestions would be welcomed.

Thank,
George Monsson

[HWooldridge]

I'd say talk to Frank and see if you can work something out that benefits both parties - he posts here quite frequently.

[Thomas Dean]

Brian Brazeal has one on one classes and YOU decide what you want to learn. He's in Brandon, Miss. and he is a member here also. Also there is the Gunters, they are in Moriarty, NM about 45min. east of ALB. NM. You can contact them at www.g3blacksmithing.com

[SoCal Dave]

I took a week course from Frank. I loved every minute. The first day I was forge welding. I got so much more from the class than I had expected and I know you could talk to Frank about setting up a class specifically for your needs. We had that talk about just working on specific projects or aspect. Give him a call, you won't regret it. I stayed in a guest house just down the street from the school and walked to class each day. Good luck.

[basher]

look at the work of the individual tutor and decide what you want to do based on that . smiths are very different from one another.
If you want to learn damascus then learn it from someone who specialises in making it not a general smith.
I have traveled to California and Arkansas (and holland) from the Uk to do specialist classes and its worth the time and money.

[John McPherson]

I have two friends, both full time, self employed smiths with their own shops. They took a class together at John C. Campbell folk school in western North Carolina. One loved it, one did not: a personality thing with the instructor, I guess. I have heard very few negative comments about any instructor or class taught there, and the setting is beautiful.

Now that my wife and I are on the same work schedule, we hope to do a his/hers week there.

https://www.folkschool.org/

[Frank Turley]

I have a six day class. I have a curriculum that I roughly try to follow so that you can learn a host of techniques. If you are already experienced, I am willing to tailor-make a program for you. Of course, I want to see you work, so that we iron out bad habits and can go forward. A dialogue before class would be in order.

My journeyman helper and striker, Daniel, is a pattern-welding bladesmith, and can coach you in that regard. Sometimes, doing a lap weld is more difficult for a pattern-welder than pattern-welding is.

Thanks, SoCal Dave, for your input.

[Jerry W.]

Another one to consider that I did not see is Gordon Williams out of Peih Tools in Arizona.

[ThomasPowers]

If you are focused on Pattern Welding perhaps the classes at the American Bladesmiths Society school in Texarkana AR would suit you.

[danielpiotte]

Being a graduate of the Turley school I can tell you that you will be hard pressed to find a better experience. Total immerson for three weeks in your chosen field is hard to beat. I have found through the years that there is a HUGE difference between being able to do something and being able to teach it. I have also found VERY few people who can do and who can teach on any given subject. Frank Turley,Mark Aspry and Brian Brazeal are three of these rare people. With all due respect to Basher ( and he is due a lot) I would rather have someone with the rare ability of being a good teacher than someone with the most talent available. Be sure you know the instuctor and his teaching specific experience. His 50 years of blacksmithing experience is worth nothing to you if, he can't convey an idea, listen properly to your questions or disern where you specificaly are going wrong.

Just my two cents

Good Hunting
Daniel Piotte

[Randy]

You can't beat Frank as a great instructor. If you're in Colorado did you check with the group out there, the Rocky Mountain Smiths, and what they do at the school in Carbondale?

[george m.]

Dear Randy,

I've rejoined Rocky Mountain Smiths. I was member in the early '90s and attended a number of the conferences in Carbondale. I didn't stay with it then because of mundane life and I hadn't felt real welcome because I wasn't a full-time commercial smith. At that time hobby/part time smiths seemed to be 2d class members. We'll see how things go this time.

Also, the conference isn't until next August and while the conferences have very interesting demos they aren't exactly what I need right now.

Thanks for the suggestion, though.

GM

[Randy]

Good move. Don't they have classes there, too? At least you should find someone local that can teach you what you're looking for within the group. Good luck!

[Erik Cornelison]

I took a 3 week class from Master Turley last year...excellent class, I filled up two notebook with notes. Three of the four of us were pilots too!

Daniel, Master Turley's striker, is excellent too...I really enjoyed the class.

I already had a degree in welding, but this was the other side of metal work..which is what I wanted.

Erik

[Laertius]

Not that I want to 'jack this thread'.......BUT I will ask a little side question: I am in Thunder Bay Northern Ontario, and hoping to learn from some proffessionals. I am just getting into things: forge just built, RR anvil, first projects include fire poker, tongs and a couple of punchs....pics are coming and I'll start a new post!
Long story short, I enjoy it and want to learn more. Thunder Bay is close to the Canada/MN border and I could take a course at the North House Folk School -- Has anybody heard of this school, or any experiences from there? The instructor is Dave Hanson of Duluth......Any comments appreciated!

[george m.]

Dear Laertius,

No problem from me about expanding the discussion. I'd like to hear about all teaching smiths/schools. I started with a brochure from the New England School of Metalwork in Maine which is about as far as you can get from NE Colorado and stay within the coterminous US. If I can find someone to teach me in the areas I specifically need I would be willing to travel.

You're in some nice country (tough winters, though). My mother was from Duluth and I spent quite a bit of time in that part of the world when I was young. However, I still think of Thunder Bay as Port Arthur and Fort William which dates me.

Expansively,
George M.

[Laertius]

Thank You George,

Not too often someone on the boards recognizes where Thunder Bay is! And yes it is beautiful with very harsh winters, but they help you appreciate the spring that much more!

btw-- most of us around here still think of it as Port Arthur (the Good Side) and Fort William (The Dark Side) lol -- I am a little biased....

Jon --

[GMoore]

My wife is attending a conference in Woods Hole next June (2013). Is there a school, close by, where I could take a class? On a scale of 1 to 10, I am about a 2.5 in blacksmith skills. I've taken a number of classes from David Norrie in Berthoud, CO and one from Brian Brazeal in Brandon, MS, plus 3 or 4 welding classes at Aims Community College in Greeley, CO. I've got a small shop, but nothing even approaching professional.