Tryon Arts and Crafts School will host a traditional blacksmithing workshop with instructor Walt Myers. The weekend workshop will be held on Saturday, Nov. 12, 8 a.m. -5 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 13, 1 p.m.- 5 p.m. at the craft school located on Harmon Field Road in Tryon.

One hundred years ago, one could find a blacksmith in almost every village, town and city in America. The blacksmith was the toolmaker, implement fixer, the one who fashioned all manner of fittings, kitchen devices, and yes, shoes for horses and oxen.

Experienced blacksmith Walt Myers will teach an introduction to traditional blacksmithing. This workshop will include a little bit of history, a lot about safety, how to build and manage a fire, use of standard blacksmithing tools and basic forging operations such as fullering, drawing a taper, upsetting, punching, twisting, hot cutting and MIG welding. Students will make a folding firewood carrier while practicing these operations. The class is intended for those with no previous blacksmithing experience.

Students may expect to leave having constructed their own fire rack. Just as every village needed a blacksmith, every fireplace needs a nice place for firewood.

Myers was trained as an engineer. His career was dedicated to the metalworking industry. He has challenged himself with forging decorative iron for 35 years.

Advance registration for all workshops is required.  For more information about the instructor or workshop, including tuition and supply costs, please contact Tryon Arts & Crafts School at 828-859-8323 or by email at tryonartsandcrafts@windstream.net.  More details and examples of projects are available on the Tryon Arts and Crafts School website, www.TryonArtsandCrafts.org. Space is limited.

– article submitted by Julia McIntyre