[TheForge] TheForge Digest, Vol 213, Issue 2

Tue Apr 23 07:45:19 EDT 2024

thanks, Charles.. yes Ms..  But in the male-dominated world of smithing one
gets used to it..  In casual postings like this, I don't make a fuss.

In my youth, I never thought about gender roles as I was taught within
reason all are equal.

Just a reminder : ABANA conference is coming up in short order.   I will be
there demonstrating traditional hinge methods primarily focused around the
welded hinge joints. (H-HL, butterfly, strap).

Please swing by and say hello..

Kind regards Jennifer

JLP Services Inc
6 Kenwood Dr
Rutland, MA 01543-1215

1 (508) 667-5498

On Tue, Apr 23, 2024 at 7:16 AM Charles Vincent <xlch58 at swbell.net> wrote:

> I think that is Jennifer Petrilla so a Ms.  ;’)
>
> Charles
>
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> > On Apr 22, 2024, at 10:16 PM, Ed Eccleston <edeccleston at att.net> wrote:
> > Thank you Mr. Frost and Mr. Patrila. I’ll drop a line to them and see
> what we can possibly put together.  And Jerry, I totally understand your
> philosophy. I can’t think of another trade that requires that constant
> degree of control in process. An equal combination of art and practicality.
> That’s what drew me, and training youngsters in that process can be such a
> leg up for them in gaining maturity.
> >    Thanks again.
> >
> > Ed
> >
> >
> >
> >> On Apr 21, 2024, at 6:44 PM, J. Petrila <jlpservicesinc at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >>
> >> In Cali there is the CBA.  California Blacksmith Association.   They
> run a
> >> great learning program and I'm sure there is at least a person or 2 in
> CA
> >> that could give you a hand to setup a working program.
> >>
> >> The CBA has one of the best Blacksmith programs currently and the
> >> instructors as well as the foundlings are super involved.
> >>
> >> They just had their spring meet IIRC..
> >>
> >> I suggest you look them up.
> >> JLP Services Inc
> >> 6 Kenwood Dr
> >> Rutland, MA 01543-1215
> >>
> >> 1 (508) 667-5498
> >>
> >>
> >>> On Sun, Apr 21, 2024 at 7:09 PM JERRY FROST <akfrosty at mtaonline.net>
> wrote:
> >>> First off I'd like to say thanks for breaking the stream of sad posts.
> >>> I've resisted adding my own to the list. I took a look at the map of
> the
> >>> retreat and it looks well thought out and in nice country. I grew up
> in the
> >>> San Fernando valley in the town of Sylmar which at the time surrounded
> the
> >>> mission on 3 sides.
> >>> I believe blacksmithing would be an outstanding addition to the
> >>> curriculum. Not so much for the real world skills it holds, finding a
> >>> livelihood as a blacksmith is a matter of luck and determination, it is
> >>> very much a niche with a limited market.
> >>> What it really offers is learning control. You can't start a fire
> without
> >>> understanding what is required and the control to do it properly.
> >>> Blacksmithing is not about strength as it is controlling the hammer,
> the
> >>> temperature of the steel, the fire that heats it and amount of time
> best
> >>> for the particular process. Controlling hand tools, the material itself
> >>> either directly in hand or with tongs, hold downs.
> >>> On and on. Every step a blacksmith makes is about control. A little
> >>> knowledge and a lot of practice will start developing the required
> skills
> >>> sets. Once you reach a competent level, I can take you to a beginner's
> >>> level in about 4 hours instruction and another 4-6 practice. Once you
> reach
> >>> a level the craft becomes very meditative soon it is just you and the
> >>> steel. You never lost awareness of the world around you but you are
> focused
> >>> on the process.
> >>> To get there you have to learn to control the tools of the craft. More
> >>> importantly, to control the others you have to control yourself. Only
> then
> >>> can you get in the zone and have THE conversation with the steel. A
> while
> >>> ago a friend on another blacksmithing forum posted a link to Cistercian
> >>> Monastery Blacksmiths. The article that comes up in a web search
> describes
> >>> what I'm talking about well.
> >>> Our club has a number of vets who suffer PTSD and time at the anvil and
> >>> self control required has taught several to maintain when PTSD rears
> it's
> >>> ugly head. Most have taken up blacksmithing as therapy and turn to it
> as
> >>> refuge on bad days.
> >>> The more proficient you become the more spiritual blacksmithing
> becomes.
> >>> Not the craft or product so much as the process. If that makes any
> sense.
> >>> Anyway, I believe a religious retreat is a perfect place for a
> blacksmith
> >>> shop and school.
> >>> You might contact some of the commercial blacksmithing tool makers you
> >>> might get a sponsor for no more than talking about the donation. Hmmmm?
> >>> Frosty
> >>> ----- Original Message -----
> >>> From: "Ed Eccleston" <edeccleston at att.net>
> >>> To: "Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> >>> Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2024 10:10:42 AM
> >>> Subject: Re: [TheForge] TheForge Digest, Vol 213, Issue 2
> >>> Gentlemen,
> >>>      I’ve been a lurker here for quite a while and have had a (mostly)
> >>> unrequited passion for smithing for decades. As Andrew aptly points
> out,
> >>> our lives in general have become rather more complicated over the last
> few
> >>> decades than at any time in history…things that seem to demand more and
> >>> more time, allowing less for the things we, in our hearts, know we
> really
> >>> need to do for pure sanity if nothing else. I am certainly guilty of
> this,
> >>> coupled with the fact that here in Southern California, there seems to
> be a
> >>> dearth of places to go to learn. Years ago I found a shop/school in a
> >>> county park in Orange County (as best I can remember), and I did go a
> few
> >>> times which was wonderful. An older gentleman was on site watching
> over us,
> >>> but there was no real teaching/demonstration/explanation….just a
> number of
> >>> bowl/coal forges, a good number of tongs, tools and anvils. I
> thoroughly
> >>> enjoyed playing with everything and did manage to produce some of the
> >>> basics such as hooks and a couple of decorative tchotchkes. (Full
> >>> disclosure, I’m a 40 year licensed contractor who owned a custom
> cabinet
> >>> shop for 30 years, so quite familiar with tools and fabrication).
> >>> Yet the rather long drive to a place only open a couple of times a
> month
> >>> for beginners was tough, and I haven’t returned. This was also long
> before
> >>> COVID and I don’t even know if the shop still exists.
> >>>   So this long personal lament seems to be additional testimony to what
> >>> I read here so often, but with maybe a thought towards a solution to
> the
> >>> lack of younger interest?
> >>>   Through a series of fortuitous events, at 71, I find myself a full
> >>> time employee and trade instructor at a brand new Trade School started
> last
> >>> September at the Santiago Retreat Center in Orange County, Ca.  Trade
> >>> schools are flourishing across the country as an alternative (and
> >>> antidote?) for those who have no interest in college and want to learn
> the
> >>> hands on trades. The location we have is ideal, our plan is a two year
> >>> curriculum with the ultimate goal of giving in depth instruction with
> loads
> >>> of hands on work on site, culminating in not only real time
> experience, but
> >>> direct schooling in prep for a California Contractor’s license exam.
> (One
> >>> of the hardest in the country).
> >>>   When I signed on, one of the first things I thought of was setting up
> >>> a blacksmith’s shop and having that be part of the curriculum, just as
> >>> carpentry, plumbing, electrical, etc. are. We already have an older
> “barn”
> >>> type building with a great outside shed roof perfect for the shop
> location.
> >>> I can’t think of a better setup to introduce a new generation to
> probably
> >>> what can be considered the first “trade” of the metal age. And I’ve
> got a
> >>> captive audience as all the men (our ages run from min. 18 to at most
> late
> >>> 20’s) live on site and are given a food budget with which they go
> shopping
> >>> as a class group and do all their own cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc.
> >>> while also being responsible for jobs around the retreat center in
> addition
> >>> to classroom and real work instruction.
> >>>  Another full disclosure, the Retreat Center is a non-profit Faith
> based
> >>> Catholic organization, but privately owned and operated.  We do take
> our
> >>> Faith as seriously as our commitment to teaching real trades and work
> >>> ethics to our students.
> >>>   So all that being said, and apologies for the long winds, these trade
> >>> schools may be a real source of fresh interest in smithing, and I can
> >>> promise that if you can find one and communicate both interest and
> >>> hopefully even some hardware (I’m certainly starting from scratch with
> >>> minimal funds), you’ll get not only a bona fide tax write off, but
> fresh
> >>> youngsters who will be exposed to the trade you all love and then pay
> it
> >>> forward.
> >>>   Thanks for listening.
> >>> Regards,
> >>>  Ed Eccleston
> >>>  Santiago Trade School
> >>>  Santiago Retreat Center
> >>>  Orange County, Ca.
> >>> ______________________________________________________________
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