Learning metalwork ?

At least once a week I get an enquiry from someone who wants to learn how to work metal and I tend to write something like the following.......

The best way to start is to work with a blacksmith or an engineering works that includes hot worked metal as part of their production.

Unfortunately there are few workshops at any given time looking for an assistant, so the alternative is a college. Art colleges tend to have a section on metalwork but if you are not interested in doing all the other course work this is not the best way to go. From experience, I rarely find a graduate from such a college with many accumulated skills. There are colleges that specialise in practical forging skills and these will undoubtedly give your son a good foundation. If he can understand that the best way forward is to be useful, and therefore employable in an environment where he can widen his skills, then these latter courses are the best. If he just wants to get into a creative environment immediately then he will find these courses a bit too technical......but if he has a creative imagination, there is always room to explore his ideas at these technical colleges in his own time.

The most creative apprentices that I have trained, all had to work hard for the first couple of years in order to become proficient, yet they all began making something out of their heads in the first month.

I know no of no course in Canada but you can look at the education link on http://www.baba.org.uk/ for colleges in the UK.

I always welcome a visit to my studio from any boy or girl interested in metalwork....

Comments

[Melissa Dobbin]

where can i find out about different solid metals and at what degrees they liquidfy at?

basically i need to find stuff that melts at or below 1950 degrees. i want to go further in my ceramics class and we "lowfire" everything

[Sara Lawrence]

Hi,

I love metal work and I'm trying to design some metal pelmets to put round my window.

However, I know absoloutley nothing about metalwork. Do you know where I might be able to get such things made ?

I am also intrested in learning metalwork. I am 30 and female and would love to make picture frames, flowers and vases etc.

Hve you any suggestions.

Look forward to yr comments.
Sara

[gail]

One of the best places to learn to work iron is to work for a farrier. You will learn a lot, and if you are creative...take it from there!

[Air Jordan]

Ultimately the bond of all companionship, wheather in marriage or in friendship, is conversation. Do you agree?