And that right there is one of the best reasons to pass the craft along. You don't really start learning a craft until you teach THINK about the whys of what they do and often come up with better.

I preferred to have a couple youngsters at a time, I'd show them a technique and thing to practice it on and let them work together. It's amazing to see what two beginners problem solving together can achieve. More than 3 tends to slow down, too cluttered maybe. 

Don't forget to show the student a thing and ask how s/he'd make it. You get some good ideas and some DON'T DO THATs! It's what I really like about having young kids at demos, they ask the BEST questions. Their thinking is unpolluted by knowledge or preconceptions. 

Frosty The Lucky.

I think what I am finding is that my student is unconcerned with how difficult or time consuming anything is. His first major project, designed by him, is a multi-leaf and root wall hanging towel hook. It involves several drop tong welds among other things, and he is doing remarkably well trying to iron out all the pieces and make sure they are where he wants them. 

It made me start to reevaluate what I do. I know a lot, and know that I can do many things, but don't expand to encompass those things. It has shown me the narrowness of what I thought possible. Everything is doable, and most things are just processes. 

That's pretty typical for beginners. Seems everybody wants to "learn" by making a masterpiece project Forged In Fire inspired them to make a sword without knowing how to hold a hammer even. 

Every thing is just basics, the most complex project is a combination of basic processes. PERIOD. Putting the basics together is sequence or procedure same same. A forge weld was usually a first session thing in my shop. Don't bother to show up without proper PPE, safety glasses, NO synthetic clothing!! 

Then a little talk about what was on todays schedule but first session included tool abuse, you do NOT tap my anvil PERIOD. Tap your own, NOT MINE. Use the chisel plate, NOT the step. It only takes a few minutes to make a saddle chisel plate measure your anvil and we'll make one for yours next session. Until then I have a chisel plate USE IT. 

Etc. etc. Deliberate abuse of tools or equipment is an 86 offense. Once is a mistake twice is 86 time. PERIOD.

I only ever 86ed two people and one stole about $40 worth of hickory handle material on his way out the door. He insisted I show him the secrets of making a knife first session. Didn't want to learn the basics, just the "secrets." Abuse a tool or person in my shop once is a mistake, twice it's deliberate there's the door don't let it hit you on the way out. What I learned from him was to ESCORT them out. 

A cold chisel and heat treating it was first session. 

There are NO secrets or mysteries it's all a little knowledge and a LOT of practice.

Frosty The Lucky.