2012 Pre-Conference Forge Welding Class is full!

Please factor in how much time it is going to take to download and set up your equipment when planning your departure and arrival times.
Class size: minimum 15 students
Tools & equipment to bring:   Students will need to bring their own coal forge and anvil for this class. If you either aren’t able to move your forge yourself (e.g. it doesn’t fit in your ’74 Gremlin) or you don’t have a coal forge let us know and we will see what we can arrange. Additionally students should bring: forge tools (rake, shovel, etc); 5 gallons buckets for coal and a slack tub, an ash pail; hammer; tongs; wire brush; flux spoon.
Safety equipment: safety glasses & ear plugs are mandatory. Other safety equipment may include: gloves, leather apron, cotton clothing, leather shoes.
Lunch arrangements: Students will need to bring their own lunch. We’ll have a grill available if you want to cook something.
This fall don’t miss a rare opportunity to learn forge welding from a recognized expert in the field, Bob Patrick. During the two days prior to the fall conference, Bob will be teaching students more than you would think possible on forge welding.
What’s that? You know how to forge weld already? Well, as Bob puts it “There is a lot to learn in welding and no one learns it all in one day, one week, one month, or one year.” In two short days with Bob Patrick your learning curve should be a near vertical line.
Students will first learn how to build a decent fire and maintain it.  From there you will move on to welding simple welds without flux. Then the class will move into welding with commercial flux. Armed with flux and with Bob as your guide students will start with unscarfed faggot welds then move on to scarfing. Along the way you will learn several methods of upsetting and when to use them. Next you will weld flat stock, first simple lap welds, then we learn to weld rings out of square and flat, and learn to weld chain links.  Then you will go on to weld a ball on the end of a rod. Then learn a T and Y weld. If you, through some stroke of brilliance or luck get through all this, don’t worry, Bob’s sure to have something in his bag of tricks to teach and challenge you.
Class champion:
Martin Pansch
8750 Yale Avenue
Young America, MN 55397
612-599-4762
blacksmithingyeti@gmail.com