Way OT: Which one would you choose?

bigbore442001 · Post by **bigbore442001** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 8:50 am

Beginning Blacksmithing
Friday, 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM
2/8/2008 to 4/11/2008, 10 classes

Ian Henderson / Beginner / Metals Studio
Member Fee: $299.00 / Non-Member Fee: $339.00
Studio Fee: $15.00

There's a certain timeless romanticism to the ringing of hammer and anvil, the roaring glow of the forge...This class will cover traditional tricks and founding principles, from making your own working tools to the elaborate (but deceptively simple) twists and flourishes seen in architectural ironwork. Students will execute a series of guided projects to familiarize themselves with ironwork and its possibilities before embarking on a project of their own design. Class limited to 8. Materials not included.

Or...

Knifemaking
Tuesday, 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
2/5/2008 to 4/8/2008, 10 classes

Chuck Gedraitis / All Levels / Metals Studio
Member Fee: $299.00 / Non-Member Fee: $339.00
Studio Fee: $15.00

This course will introduce the basic techniques for hand forging knives and fine-edged tools. A variety of construction methods and finishing techniques will be presented to produce a quality hand-crafted tool or knife. This course will cover metal selection and design of a functional blade, handle or guard. Demonstrations will include forging, shaping, grinding, tempering and polishing. Class is limited to 8 students. Materials not included.

REGISTER NOW! 508-753-8183

I have always preached to the young people under my tutelage to have more than one skill, to have a back up plan and be flexible. In all honesty, in my own assessment I am lacking in other skills. I was sort of daydreaming and thinking about this spring and the opportunity to try something new.

Sooo. What course would you pick if you could only pick one due to the time and money constraints. Thanks.

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:08 am

I'd take the knifemaking class. I've forged a few myself and love it.

homefront · Post by **homefront** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:23 am

Both great ideas, and a tough choice.
What would muddy the waters for me is my latent desire to work metal into usable objects, much like I do wood. Knives have always been on my person, ever since I worked in a warehouse as a teen, and while I really like the fancy spring assisted works of art I see in the stores, I know that a Mora would do the same thing without the incredible price tag. I also think, "Gee, I could heat, hammer and shape metal, why don't I make my own?" Then I could have the fun of shaping wood or bone into a handle, and there's nothing I enjoy more than working with a block plane/rasp/sandpaper to shape things! The thought of leather work is attractive, too.
I also enjoy boat building and things boat related (like fishing) . There's a lot of fittings and such that the old timers like Pete Culler, Wes Farmer, Nat Herreshoff, and John Gardner would tell you to shape with your own hands, involving basic annealing, hardening, peening, and galvanizing that the blacksmithing workshop would address.
Sorry

, I was no help at all!

cnjarvis · Post by **cnjarvis** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:23 am

Knifemaking without question.

Post by **Hobie** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:29 am

Blacksmithing. Precursor skills to knifemaking AND potentially more useful and salable in a low tech economy. Plus, it is just plain fun.

Knifemaking is really just a bit more attention to tempering, some design study, joining handle to knife, and polishing. I'm sure somebody will think I've over simplified this but...

I'd start with blacksmithing.

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:34 am

Either one would be great, but I would probably go with knifemaking.

Buffboy · Post by **Buffboy** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:38 am

I'm gonna take a different tack from the others. I recommend taking the beginning blacksmithing. It will give you more backround into working with metals(not just steel) than the knife making class. It "should" teach the operation of all the tools(really talking about more than just a hammer, tongs, and anvil, here) and the whole process of metalworking in all materials.

IMO taking the knifemaking course first is putting the cart before the horse. Take that course next, though you'll probably find, you don't need to.

Ram Hammer · Post by **Ram Hammer** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:39 am

Great question!

I've been slowly accumulating the materials to start forging knives but have to admit that I have never put hammer to hot steel. I think I would take both! Get the fundamentals of forging from the first class and focus on blade forging in the second.

A great book that will give you some of the fundamentals is "The Fifty Dollar Knife Shop" by Wayne Goddard. He is a regular contributor to Blade Magazine and got his start in knife making as a hobby but later turned pro.

I got the fever and made this knife a few years ago by grinding.

canonsix · Post by **canonsix** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:50 am

As a reformed amateur knife maker,I would go for the knifemaking class,slow learner

Doug

dr walker · Post by **dr walker** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 12:40 pm

I would definitely start with the blacksmithing class. It realy helps a student gain an understanding of steel.

shooter · Post by **shooter** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 2:41 pm

I would take the knifemaking class. I've been wanting to take one, but I don't know if there are any in my area. I live in Roswell, NM and if any of y'all have ever been out this way, y'all know there ain't much of anything out here. I just don't think I could pass up the knifemaking class

bsaride · Post by **bsaride** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 3:39 pm

+1 on BuffBoys statement

FWiedner · Post by **FWiedner** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 3:45 pm

Personally, I'd be lookin' real close at the blacksmithing class.

crawdaddyjim · Post by **crawdaddyjim** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 4:35 pm

If it is a comprehensive knifemaking class and not a grinding and polishing class. Then the knifemaking class will teach most of the basics of blacksmithing.

cutter · Post by **cutter** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 4:49 pm

Blacksmithing and knife making are two seperate things.

Where blacksmithing will teach welding, cutting, and shaping, the knife making course will teach 'pre-cutting', tempering, anealing, hardening, straightening of warped steels, and be much more educational. There is a LOT more to making knifes, than horseshoes.

I guess it depends on what you wish to accomplish by completing the course.

Marlin .35 · Post by **Marlin .35** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:15 pm

I would definitely go for the knifemaking class!! I have wanted to make knives since I was a kid, but don't know the first thing about it!! Art

jazman · Post by **jazman** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:22 pm

I love metal work, I would start with that and it would lead into knifemaking.

Leverdude · Post by **Leverdude** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 11:34 pm

I think I'd be looking into the blacksmithing first. Knife makings more specialized but you'll still use things you learned in the smithing class.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 7:36 am

Blacksmithing first. As noted by others, the skills will form the basis for a lot of other classes, including the knifemaking.

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:58 am

If i had the time i would do both...
big bucks in both trades....
At the Orlando gun show many were selling custom knives...
prices ranged fron 100 to 2000 buck for Randel knives...
And lately in custom homes we are seeing ornimental iron..gates
fences, etc....
besides its could to have mulitiple trades...

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 12:59 pm

Blacksmithing..With it you can learn to make just about any kind of hand tool.. after you get the basics of anealing, hardening, tempering, Scissors , Knives, Hammers, Hatchets, ..You can even make springs too..It's all fun stuff if ya like to whip steel..