Learn metalsmithing through alternatives

[richsc]

There aren't a lot of armoring teachers running around. But when I ran across the following course at the local art school All things hammered the description fit. The instructor has been very supportive of my goal of a Roman helmet, and works instruction to what I need to know.
So, in your area if you're interested in learning metalsmithing, it may be worthwhile to investigate the local art schools. My instructor doesn't work in iron and the studio isn't really set up for it, but the iron sculpture folks might be.
If you know of similar classes in your area, maybe you could check them out and post here?

[Gobae]

Here are the organizations and individuals in my area (New England & the "Capital Region" of NY) that teach blacksmithing and metalworking.

I did not include the many blacksmithing groups in my area simply because that while they often have gatherings that teach, most do not actually offer true classes or tutoring on a regular basis.


New England School of Metalwork
7 Albiston Way
Auburn, Maine 04210
207-777-6211 Toll Free 888-753-7502
[url:3vy55vn1]http://www.newenglandschoolofmetalwork.com[/url]

Peters Valley Craft Education Center
19 Kuhn Rd.
Layton, NJ 07581
(973) 948-5200
[url:3vy55vn1]http://www.pvcrafts.org[/url]

Heldeburg Workshop
PO Box 323
Voorheesville, NY 12186
(518) 765-2777
[url:3vy55vn1]http://www.heldebergworkshop.org[/url]
Blacksmithing courses taught primarily to Middle and High Schoolers but they do offer some adult courses.

Oak & Acorn Ancient Metalcrafts (this is me )
35A State Street
Valley Falls, NY 12185
518-665-8308
[url:3vy55vn1]http://www.oakandacorn.com[/url]

John Ackner
in conjunction with the Mabee Farm
1080 Main Street, Route 5S
Rotterdam Junction, New York 12150
518-887-5073

[gaiusseptimiuslucianus]

If you're in the Boston, MA area I would add:

Massachusetts College of Art
621 Huntington Avenue
2nd Floor, Tower Building
Boston, MA 02115

Tel 617-879-7200
Fax 617-879-7171
[email protected]

They offer continuing education course on "Basic Bladesmithing" [url:28oesgoj]http://www.massart.edu/at_massart/academic_prgms/continuing/courses/spring08/sculpture/[/url] which covers, "...the basics of hand forging knives and fine edged implements. Blades will be ground and polished to a clean finish and then properly heat-treated to the proper hardness for superior edge holding and strength. A variety of construction and finishing techniques will be explored to produce finished hand-crafted tools and knives."

In addition there is a damascus steel course, one on welding and moldmaking and casting. I will be taking their "Metals/Jewelry" course this coming semester.

A caveat, if you are looking at art school offerings, be sure to check all the listings. Sometimes courses such as this turn up in odd places like "sculpture."

Lucianus