End of Day 1:
What a day, so much information!
Today we made our forges and pounded on tool steel. Now we are about to see a slide show of the instructors work. Gotta go but tomorrow will post more and pictures to follow.
Day 2 and starting Day 3:
Yesterday I finished the first two tools - a straight liner and a curved liner. I had done the hot forging- that's hammering with a big 2 pound hammer and anvil, on Sunday.
And thanks to Elisa, I now have the "Anvil Chorus" running around in my head!
Monday was all about filing and sanding to the correct shapes. I completed all that work by 4pm. So the last hour before we shut down for the day was spent hardening and tempering.
Today we are making texture tools but I migh actually rework some of the Grobet tools I have as they are too sharp and there is still the hammer I want to re-shape as well.
So, off to class I go!
Day 3 done and starting Day 4:
Wow, I am learning so much in the tools class. Yesterday I did get my liners hardened, cleaned and tempered. Then Val gave a lecture on making texture tools and after lunch everyone set off to make theirs.
I on the other hand consulted with Val on modifing my hammer. I did not have to anneal it nor remove the handle - though I think next time I will, and I went at the first face with my files.
I have never done so much filing in my life and there is still more to be done. By yesterday afternoon I had finished filing and sanding one side of the hammer.
Today I polished the first side of the hammer and I am working on reshaping the other side. I am also working on a "hoof" style tool for my chasing and repousse.
Time to return to class.
More tomorrow and there will be pictures posted over the weekend.
Day 4 Complete and Day 5 in-progress:
Yesterday I reworked the second half of the hammer - it was not "just right" - The entire process would have been much easier if I had a belt sander and removed the handle, actually the hammer would have been done the first day. But I did not have access to a sander here at camp - so I forged ahead [yes that was a bad pun] with my files, sanding sticks, vice and vice grips.
FOUR hours later I was done and really pleased with the hammer modifications I had made. I have never done so much filing in my life at one time. I know there will be more filing in my future though, and it will be easier and faster.
I spent the afternoon making a sheep's foot planisher and finished it just before we broke for the potluck and silent auction.
I was in bed and asleep by 8:45 pm (and probably snoring too)
Today is the last day and so when I got into the workshop I took out a piece of tool stock that was 1/4" or even 3/16" diameter to make a thin pusher/embosser tool. I am working on a trinket tray and I have been using a dapping punch for the repousse. It is the right diameter but not long enough to make a good continuous depression. The new tool, which is now done gives me more length so I can work more area with each hammer mark.
After I finished that tool, I refined my undercutter and made a matting texture tool.
It is now lunch time so when I go back I will have time to make one more easy tool and then I will have to pack up my tool box and help clean the space where all six of us, from the Tools class, have been working. I am glad I am not the one who has to wash that floor though as it is covered with bits of slag from the forging and all the coarse and fine dust from the filing and sanding.
My hands are a mess - I have knicked my knuckles and fingers in 8 places from file scrapes or running my hands into the bench pin. There there is the dirt under the nails, around my cuticles and in the creases of my hands. And then there is the ache in my hands from holding the tools too tight while I work.
Am I complaining? NO - this has been a great fun and I can only imagine what I will make next year.
As for my hand, I figure a good soak in warm water and soft scrubbing and my hands will be almost clean enough
At Home and Recovering:
Metals week is now over. :=((
On Thursday afternoon we finished up our final tools and arranged them for display at the final reception where work from all of the classes would be shown. We had to put away all of our tools and return the workshop tools to the tool room. Everyone in our class traded names, addresses - email and home and even phone numbers so we could stay in touch as well.
Then at 4:00 pm the reception started and we could look at all the other work. There were many amazing pieces from the other classes - you just wanted one of everything the work was that amazing. At each classes display many of us asked how this or that was made and when you got around to your own display sure enough, some one asked you how you made your items! During this everyone was taking pictures of the work, and toward the end we were taking pictures of the people we took the class with and with your instructors.
After that it was back to the cabin, open a bottle of wine and chat about our time in class and what we plan to do next. Friday morning, Mary and I packed up our belongings, put them in the car and drove back down the mountain. I was home by lunch and then had to unpack and tell all to my sweetie.
Go to the Pictures - Classes 2010 page to see more pictures
What a day, so much information!
Today we made our forges and pounded on tool steel. Now we are about to see a slide show of the instructors work. Gotta go but tomorrow will post more and pictures to follow.
Day 2 and starting Day 3:
Yesterday I finished the first two tools - a straight liner and a curved liner. I had done the hot forging- that's hammering with a big 2 pound hammer and anvil, on Sunday.
And thanks to Elisa, I now have the "Anvil Chorus" running around in my head!
Monday was all about filing and sanding to the correct shapes. I completed all that work by 4pm. So the last hour before we shut down for the day was spent hardening and tempering.
Today we are making texture tools but I migh actually rework some of the Grobet tools I have as they are too sharp and there is still the hammer I want to re-shape as well.
So, off to class I go!
Day 3 done and starting Day 4:
Wow, I am learning so much in the tools class. Yesterday I did get my liners hardened, cleaned and tempered. Then Val gave a lecture on making texture tools and after lunch everyone set off to make theirs.
I on the other hand consulted with Val on modifing my hammer. I did not have to anneal it nor remove the handle - though I think next time I will, and I went at the first face with my files.
I have never done so much filing in my life and there is still more to be done. By yesterday afternoon I had finished filing and sanding one side of the hammer.
Today I polished the first side of the hammer and I am working on reshaping the other side. I am also working on a "hoof" style tool for my chasing and repousse.
Time to return to class.
More tomorrow and there will be pictures posted over the weekend.
Day 4 Complete and Day 5 in-progress:
Yesterday I reworked the second half of the hammer - it was not "just right" - The entire process would have been much easier if I had a belt sander and removed the handle, actually the hammer would have been done the first day. But I did not have access to a sander here at camp - so I forged ahead [yes that was a bad pun] with my files, sanding sticks, vice and vice grips.
FOUR hours later I was done and really pleased with the hammer modifications I had made. I have never done so much filing in my life at one time. I know there will be more filing in my future though, and it will be easier and faster.
I spent the afternoon making a sheep's foot planisher and finished it just before we broke for the potluck and silent auction.
I was in bed and asleep by 8:45 pm (and probably snoring too)
Today is the last day and so when I got into the workshop I took out a piece of tool stock that was 1/4" or even 3/16" diameter to make a thin pusher/embosser tool. I am working on a trinket tray and I have been using a dapping punch for the repousse. It is the right diameter but not long enough to make a good continuous depression. The new tool, which is now done gives me more length so I can work more area with each hammer mark.
After I finished that tool, I refined my undercutter and made a matting texture tool.
It is now lunch time so when I go back I will have time to make one more easy tool and then I will have to pack up my tool box and help clean the space where all six of us, from the Tools class, have been working. I am glad I am not the one who has to wash that floor though as it is covered with bits of slag from the forging and all the coarse and fine dust from the filing and sanding.
My hands are a mess - I have knicked my knuckles and fingers in 8 places from file scrapes or running my hands into the bench pin. There there is the dirt under the nails, around my cuticles and in the creases of my hands. And then there is the ache in my hands from holding the tools too tight while I work.
Am I complaining? NO - this has been a great fun and I can only imagine what I will make next year.
As for my hand, I figure a good soak in warm water and soft scrubbing and my hands will be almost clean enough
At Home and Recovering:
Metals week is now over. :=((
On Thursday afternoon we finished up our final tools and arranged them for display at the final reception where work from all of the classes would be shown. We had to put away all of our tools and return the workshop tools to the tool room. Everyone in our class traded names, addresses - email and home and even phone numbers so we could stay in touch as well.
Then at 4:00 pm the reception started and we could look at all the other work. There were many amazing pieces from the other classes - you just wanted one of everything the work was that amazing. At each classes display many of us asked how this or that was made and when you got around to your own display sure enough, some one asked you how you made your items! During this everyone was taking pictures of the work, and toward the end we were taking pictures of the people we took the class with and with your instructors.
After that it was back to the cabin, open a bottle of wine and chat about our time in class and what we plan to do next. Friday morning, Mary and I packed up our belongings, put them in the car and drove back down the mountain. I was home by lunch and then had to unpack and tell all to my sweetie.
Go to the Pictures - Classes 2010 page to see more pictures
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