[TheForge] TheForge Digest, Vol 213, Issue 2

Ed Eccleston edeccleston at att.net
Tue Apr 23 13:32:27 EDT 2024 

     Forgive me, Ms. P.  I did not know.  😊  (Although living in Ca., gender is, shall we say, not as fixed as elsewhere…..)

Ed



> On Apr 23, 2024, at 4:46 AM, J. Petrila <jlpservicesinc at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 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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>>> 
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