Day: October 26, 2017

Much thanks goes to Herb Crosby for videotaping this footage!

Beginning Blacksmith Course at Curran Homestead

Beginning Blacksmith Course Begins Tuesday, November 7, 2017

19th Century Curran Homestead Village

19th Century Curran Homestead Village at 372 Field’s Pond Road, Orrington will offer a basic 6-week introductory blacksmithing course Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 9pm limited to six participants beginning Tuesday evening November 7, 2017.

No experience is needed. Participants will attend six consecutive Tuesday and Thursday evening classes and will also have access to the Homestead’s forges and tools for practice or projects on Saturdays during the same 6 weeks. It is recommended that participants wear leather shoes, cotton or wool clothing (not man-made fiber clothes), bring a pair of work gloves and, if they have them available, safety glasses/goggles, and a 2lb cross pein hammer.

In announcing the course, Curran Homestead Village Museum Director, Robert Schmick, said Dwight King of Orrington will teach the offering which has been very popular among both men and women throughout the region. Dwight King has been passionate about moving metal around with hammer control for more than 12 years. His work runs the gamut of functional, handcrafted items to artistic garden and lawn sculptures, and he’s crazy about forging leaves. He has been a frequent volunteer at 19th Century Curran Homestead Village, as well as Leonard’s Mills, and is always willing to communicate knowledge of the craft. Dwight says, “Never stop learning, when you rest, you rust!”

Schmick said, “This is a beginner’s course which will introduce the participants to traditional blacksmithing methods using coal-fired forges, hand tools and shop equipment. Each participant will go away with knowledge, skills and products of his/her work.”

Dwight King added detail to the course curriculum, to include: safety discussions, materials and tools of the trade, fire starting and maintenance, heating the work, hammer blows and hammer control, measuring and marking, tapering to a square point, drawing out metal, forging square to octagonal and round, bending, twisting, forging a basic S-hook, a drive hook, screw-in/nail-in hooks, making a chisel, a punch, a drift, punching holes, flattening and spreading, forging a spoon, simple leaves, nails, rivets, tool handles, door handles, scrolls, preparing for welding, forge welding a ring, butt hinge and riveting as well as working on personal projects.

Cost of the course including materials and supplies is $395.00 per participant. Cost includes a copy of the book “The Backyard Blacksmith” by Lorelei Sims. Pre-registration is required and is first-come, first-served by cash, check payable to The Curran Homestead, or credit card (MasterCard or Visa only). To register, contact Irv Marsters, Curran Homestead Village Treasurer, at 745-4426, irv@bangorlettershop.com, or by mail at 99 Washington Street, Bangor, Maine 04401.