Free Blacksmith Clinics @ Centaur Forge in Burlington, WI.

Brian W. Rainey · Post by **Brian W. Rainey** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 2:27 pm

Free Blacksmith Clinic!

Centaur Forge Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest Blacksmith Association are excited to announce six free Blacksmith Clinics scheduled for 2004.

The clinics will be held at Centaur Forge in Burlington, Wisconsin.

Remaining Clinic Dates

Saturday, September 11th; 8 am - 5 pm
Saturday, October 16th; 8 am - 5 pm
Saturday, December 11th; 8 am - 5 pm

Safety Glasses & Ear Protection are Mandatory

All levels of smiths are welcome. If you've never picked up a hammer or attended any blacksmithing events, or if you would just like to see what blacksmithing is all about, this is the place to be! The clinic is free, but you must pre-register with Centaur Forge. Please pre-register by calling 800-666-9175 or e-mailing centaurforgeinfo@centaurforge.com. Wear non-synthetic clothes and hard-soled shoes/boots. You may bring your favorite hammer & tongs, or use UMBA tools. There is a lunch break, so don't forget to bring your sack lunch

I will be attending the one on October 16th. Should be fun.

Thomas Powers · Post by **Thomas Powers** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 5:39 pm

Say hi to Patrick Nowak for me! In fact tell him you had heard that he was going to quit smithing and only work in polymer clay and would be shipping all of his equipment to some crazy fellow in NM.

Thomas (who put a hammer in his hand when he was at college)

Brian W. Rainey · Post by **Brian W. Rainey** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 7:44 pm

Thomas Powers wrote:Say hi to Patrick Nowak for me! In fact tell him you had heard that he was going to quit smithing and only work in polymer clay and would be shipping all of his equipment to some crazy fellow in NM.

Thomas (who put a hammer in his hand when he was at college)

I'll pass it on!

I'll be going up there on Saturday, it turns out.

A good friend of mine is the shop manager for Centaur's WI location. I figured this would be a good reason to chat for a while since I don't get up there much anymore. And I might actually learn something whiel I am at it.

I used to love going and hanging out at the shop. It issort of a metalworker's wet dream. You can close your eyes and just smells the lovely fragrance of ferous metals! It is great. I get all tingley just thinking about it.

If anyone is in the area for their Texas grand opening... I suggest checking it out. They are expensive, but a good business for us hobbyists none the less.

Gruber · Post by **Gruber** » Thu Sep 09, 2004 1:43 am

Hey Brian, is Rick still there??? He is a very cool guy to hang out with. I need a couple of new steaks made... maybe Saturday

Brian W. Rainey · Post by **Brian W. Rainey** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 8:57 am

Gruber wrote:Hey Brian, is Rick still there??? He is a very cool guy to hang out with. I need a couple of new steaks made... maybe Saturday

Yep, Rick is still there! He is a great guy. Lots of ideas floating around in that man's head. Now if only we can get him to DO something with all those ideas!

I will be heading up early in the morning. He wants to borrow my anvil and a few other goodies. Give me a call if you need a ride or anything.

Are you going to be up there? I am sure that people would be interested in discussing your heat-treating methods and sheetmetal work. Also, If you have any armour to show off, bring it. Rick wanted me to bring some stuff up and do a demo, I think... but I do not have anything laying around. I cleaned house before I moved last fall and haven't made anything since.

Also, I am going up there to learn about blacksmithing, not teach armouring!

Maelgwyn · Post by **Maelgwyn** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 9:06 am

Brian W. Rainey wrote:If anyone is in the area for their Texas grand opening... I suggest checking it out. They are expensive, but a good business for us hobbyists none the less.

Thanks for the tip! I've passed it along to some other Texas armourers as well.

Brian W. Rainey · Post by **Brian W. Rainey** » Sun Sep 12, 2004 11:23 am

Thomas Powers wrote:Say hi to Patrick Nowak for me!

I did not see Patrick Nowak. There were about 55 people there, I would suspect. Everyone mulling around so I might have missed him. I wil ask about him at the October session.

I will say that it was an EXCELLENT experience and I encourage anyone who can to attend the later sessions.

There must have been a dozen forges of all shapes and sizes. Plenty of anvils and hammers for everyone, as well as stock/materials. There were more than enough people to teach those of us who were "lacking in knowledge" of the blacksmithing arts, also.

The October session might be better, actually. I will not be standing in front of a force air propane forge on a 85 degree day with the sun baking me. I will also finish the latch for my picket fence/gate!

Even with the use of tongs, I successfully toasted the hair off all my knuckles!

It was definitely a learning experience. Centaur Forge and the UMBA sure know how to throw a party!