Lyle Wynn will be conducting a class on the ‘Elements of Forging’.

When: April 21^st , 2012
Where: Ag Museum shop, 1150 Lakeland Drive  Jackson, MS 39216
Class Fee: $50.00
Class Size: limit of 10

Registration:
Send class fee to:
Patti Mitchell
203 Summer Hill Rd
Madison, Ms 39110
601-331-1030
PATTIPMPRO@aol.com

 This class is limited to the FIRST 10 Participants to get their Class Fee to Patti Mitchell.
Students, with student ID’s, will need to call Woody Woodard at 601-624-3280 to arrange a student discount.

Class Objective: This workshop is solely for the purpose of education. Most blacksmiths rely on what someone else has read in a book, therefore these items get passed on to new blacksmiths and are retained solely because someone else said so. We want to eliminate the assumptions and work from the reasons. Example: When you start your fire use coke. We all know coke does not light as easy as green coal, if you leave a hole in the middle of your fire so flames always burn through the center you will never fill a room up with dark coal smoke, and your fire will light very easily. Another thing is that at the end of the day people tend to rake their fire out of the fire pot and mix it with the coal. When you do this you drag dust, ash, and pieces of clinker out and contaminate your coal. When this happens you will continue to have bigger clinkers and more dust each time you build a fire. Leave your fire alone at the end of the day and wait till morning to pick out the good coal and get rid of the dust and clinker through your ash dump.

Curriculum: The core curriculum of this workshop is to help you to understand what the metal does when you work it between the two dies. Forging is an exact science. The top die, (your hammer) and the bottom die (your anvil) are precise, The metal will do the same thing every time you use dies to shape it. The top die can be of many different forms, (round face, cross peen, flat face, straight peen, and any of these in multiple sizes) the bottom die can be many different surfaces as well. The near side of the anvil, whether it is a round or square edge, the far side of the anvil. The horn, large round surface and small round surface.

Forging Elements: Forging is defined as, “the shaping of metal using localized compressive forces” This can be achieved easily or it could involve lots of work to shape metal to the desired dimensions. Efficient forging is what we are wanting to achieve. This is done simply from, a heat, a hold, and a hit. The hit represents the top and bottom die. By reducing the surface area contact of the top and bottom die it increases the energy that you are able to transfer into the hit, and also reduces the area that lays on the anvil to maintain heat.

The least efficient way to move metal is to use a flat die on top and a flat die on bottom, this also causes you to lose more heat. There are very effective elements of forging for drawing tapers, reverse tapers, and creating bars. All these elements of forging are to be done in such a way that you can maintain a structure that results in forgings that often achieve much stronger shapes than can be achieved any other way. This workshop is designed to show you how to create bars, and tapers in such a way that you will learn what true efficiency in forging means. You will leave with an understanding of what the metal does. Whether you are new to blacksmithing or have been at it for years, if you don’t understand how easy a one heat taper can be achieved, or if you cannot explain why you do the things you do this workshop is for you. Everything done to a piece of metal is done for a reason. This workshop is reasonable.

Paul will make a knife starting with the steel flat stock and finish with a complete knife and sheath before the day is over.  Several of us went last year and had a great time.  They furnish the food and there will be plenty of knives to look at as well as some knife forging going on if it is like last year.  Paul’s shop is a good example of how one should be set up and he will be glad to answer any questions you may have about how you make a knife and sheath.  For those of you that aspire to be knife makers this would be a trip well worth taking.

Paul’s telephone number is 228 238 7461.

The shop is located at:
14700 Old River Road,
Van Cleave, Ms. 39655.

View Larger Map

Alfred will be building an amazing bench to be permanently installed at The
Metal Museum. Haley and Colby will amaze you with their tricks of the trade.

In addition to the chance to learn from a Master Blacksmith, Forging on the
River provides metalsmiths and enthusiasts the opportunity to network with
others who share their passion for the craft, exchange work and ideas and
work collaboratively on projects, while enjoying the Metal Museum
exhibitions and grounds. We have all kinds of exciting and inspiring
activities planned for the weekend, so this event is a definitely a “Must
Attend”!

Conference registration features a deep discount for students at $80.00 for
the three days. Non-Student Registration is $100 before March 1, 2011;
$135 after Feb. 28, 2011.  One $80 companion ticket may be purchased with
each full registration.  ALL MEALS ARE INCLUDED in the conference fee, so
this is a huge bargain. You may enroll online at
http://www.metalmuseum.org/store/c/14-Forging-on-the-River.aspx

Please help us make this year’s Forging on the River Conference the best
ever by passing this email message on to your friends and fellow smiths.
We are grateful for your support!

Also, you may want to consider donating to the Saturday night live auction,
which will be attended by some of the biggest collectors in the mid-south.
The proceeds of the auction will go to support The Metal Museum and its
unique programming, including the 2013 Forging on the River Conference.

To learn more visit http://www.metalmuseum.org/FOTR or email me -
holly@metalmuseum.org

PARTY TIME!

 It’s almost time for the MFC’s Christmas party, which will be again take place at the Monday place on Saturday, December 10th. James and Laura Monday are legendary hosts who outdo themselves every year in preparation for this annual event.

There will be an abundance of great food and fellowship, and savvy veterans know to show up early in order to get a head start on the breakfast goodies and camaraderie. Meats and main courses are provided, and those attending are asked to provide a covered dish or desert.

The big meal will be served around noon, with snacking, show and tell, impromptu demos, horse trading, lying, free advice, snoozing, etc., continuing well into the afternoon. Additionally, the grounds of the Monday estate will be open for self-guided tours of the renowned junque collection, unique outdoor metal art, and whatever eclectic project(s) James has conjured up since last year.

Please make plans to gather with us this year. Family members and guests are always welcome, and don’t forget to bring a donation for “iron in the hat”.

Directions: The Monday place is located a few miles east of Canton, Mississippi, between Hwy.16 and the Natchez Trace. Please refer to the accompanying map, and if you need further directions contact James or Laura at 601-859-8537 (home), or 601-940-2597 (cell).

1878 Pontotoc Rd., Ponotoc, MS – Ph (662) 489-4661

Featured Demonstrator: Travis Fleming, Athens, AL

Travis Fleming represents one of the finest blacksmiths / metalsmiths in the

Southeast who has over 17 years of experience and we are grateful to have the honor of presenting him to you for this one-day event.  All you can eat gumbo for lunch, etc., with iron-in-the hat after lunch.  Proceeds will go to the demonstrator and meal and we encourage & welcome your donation for items & contributions.  We also welcome all family members and all potential blacksmiths to experience the excitement and explore the fascinating world of metal art in its finest form.  For more information, contact John Crawford, (662) 489-4661 or Richey Crew, (662)-489-0252, our hosts for the hammer-in.

HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY TO ALL OUR MFC FRIENDS!!

Benny & Linda Crevitt