Description
Our two day blacksmithing courses usually run on a SAT/SUN. Please note that our September course is on a THUR/FRI A two day non residential blacksmithing for beginners course in beautiful Carmarthenshire, West Wales. Group size is rarely more than four at a time to ensure personal attention. You will make plenty of items to take home. Our courses have featured in the Sunday Telegraph and The Guardian as well as magazines, including The Countryman, The Simple Things and Good Housekeeping. Please note that courses take place in St Clears not at the business address on our website - St. Clears is 10 miles away. Directions are sent with the booking. One day courses are also available at £130 per day. Aaron is an arts trained (BA hons fine art), time served smith who spent 6 years working as the demonstrating blacksmith at the Museum of Welsh Life. He is also a qualified teacher with 10 years of experience teaching adults and young people in FE settings. The quality of his blacksmithing training was recognised in 2013 when he was shortlisted for the prestigious, inaugural, National Craft Skills Awards. On a two day course you can expect to learn the following; different types of forges and how they work, basic smithing tools and equipment, basic metals knowledge, different types of heat and what they are used for. You will learn the basic skills of drawing the metal down and upsetting it (making it thinner and thicker as you require it), learning what the various faces of the anvil are for and using these to produce curves and angles, bending, hot cutting (cutting through the metal when it is hot), punching (making a hole through the metal when hot). Joining metal – on the beginners course we teach you to join metal using modern equipment such as a mig welder or via riveting. The traditional, more complex skill of fire welding can be taught on request but we usually find that at this stage it is unsuitable. You will learn hammer skills and practice using a range of blows to produce different effects. You will make around 4 items to take home with you – a typical collection would be a simple rat tail poker, two hammer in beam hooks, two cooking hooks and one other larger item (either a hanging basket bracket or candlestick). If there is something in particular you would like to have a go at just let us know. Blacksmithing courses are a fantastic gift idea for birthdays, fathers day etc. We are pleased to see more and more women coming on our courses - smithing is not only for men! Why not try it out!
What's included in the price?
Lunch is not provided - please bring a packed lunch. Industrial quantities of tea and coffee are supplied. All materials and safety equipment are provided. You will need to wear sensible clothing (no fleeces) and sturdy boots (walking boots/DM's etc are fine).
Duration
2 days
Cancellation policy
Strict - Cancellation and a full refund can be obtained up to 8 weeks before the course starts
Maker
Aaron Petersen is a second generation, fine art trained blacksmith, previously the blacksmith at the museum of Welsh Life at St Fagans. He also worked as a lecturer and is a qualified teacher. Courses are run at the family forge in St Clears, West Wales. We are within driving distance of a number of well known locations, including Tenby. Why not combine a course with your holiday? All the admin is done by Trudi, assisted by Caio, our laid back lurcher.
Suitable for
- Adults
- Teenagers
- Mother's Day
- Stag dos
- UK Holiday
- Hen dos
- Romantic
- Corporate days out & team building
- Christmas
- Engagement, birthdays & anniversaries
- Parking provided
- Father's Day
- Suitable for beginners
