Now in his 40th year of blacksmithing, San Francisco Bay Area blacksmith James Austin has spent a lifetime researching little-known or lost metalworking techniques, and developing his own. Unable to deny his love for metal fabrication, James apprenticed to a blacksmith in Germany in the early 1980s after receiving his degree and a brief career in chemical engineering.
In 1990 James started Alchemy Metalworks, a name he still fabricates under, and in 2011 he decided to get serious about doing American educational blacksmithing instruction. A patient and capable teacher, he offers workshops once or twice per year geared at demonstrating traditional techniques of ax making, hammer making, and forge skills that students can easily incorporate into their own small-scale blacksmithing productions. James was kind enough to open up his teaching shop to give Make: an inside look at metalworking and a brief history of his metalworking career.
Blacksmithing is a very inclusive art, and blacksmiths often stop by other shops to visit, help, and share news. Cecilie Robinson, a blacksmith from Somerset, UK, assists James by holding a swage block in place while James guides the power hammer.
Before leaving Germany and returning to the United States Jim completed his Journeyman’s Project, a beautifully detailed pierced metal rod grill.
The hilt of this blade shows an amazing technique of looped copper wire covered in metal which is then exposed as a chevron style pattern.
It was while studying in Germany that Jim first became deeply interested in traditional woodworking axes and tools.
This deep interest in traditional techniques has lead to a lifetime of learning and preserving this knowledge from being lost due to modern manufacturing methods.
While his shop is equipped with all of the latest modern machinery for metal working, his classes focus on older techniques that can still be used with smaller setups.
Students first observe the smithing techniques as demonstrated by Jim.
Forge welding is an integral skill for metal joining.
Broken up into several sections, the lessons are concise and easy to interalize to the students’ processes.
Proper fire temperature maintenance is essential to achieving the most from your metal and time spent smithing.
Along the way you will also learn the rich history of the craftsmen who developed these techniques.
After demonstrating each section, students work on their own projects and practice their newly learned skills.
Students use small scale furnaces or open forges to work.
Each lesson is filled with valuable tips and technique practices from a lifetime of metalworking.
Students learn by doing, working the metal themselves to create their own axes or hammers.
While training in metalworking in Germany in the 1980s, Jim learned his relatable teaching style in the traditional German way where Journeymen teach the incoming Apprentices.
In between times on the anvil, metal is heated for further shaping in the student furnaces.
Timing is also incredibly important when working metal. The slightest delay in pulling your metal when it is time can sometimes lead to the loss of the whole project.
Even as the metal heats in the fire, Jim gives valuable advice on metal working.
Students perform as strikers for heavier shaping tasks.
By the end of the class each student will have crafted their own carbon steel faced traditional hammer.
In the coming months Jim will be visiting Europe on a teaching and research tour
This collection of metal is being shaped for his upcoming classes on Viking Axes in Norway in April.
Of course, the shop cats know who the real shop bosses are.
You can find James Austin online at http://forgedaxes.com or on Facebook. If you are interested in getting started in blacksmithing, be sure to check out his website in May for the next set of workshops and classes.
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