Tryon Arts and Crafts School will host a one day tomahawk and power hammer certification workshop with Robert Silver on Saturday, June 16.
In the workshop, students will learn to safely operate a power hammer and use the hammer to forge a tomahawk from a ballpeen hammer. They will learn to forge, heat treat, temper and grind the tomahawk blade, which can be attached to a wood handle. The goal of this class is to bring students to a basic understanding of safe power hammer operation and workmanship in the forge.
Instructor Robert Silver has been smithing for approximately14 years. He took a beginning class at John C. Campbell Folk School and had a lot of continuing help with a friend who had been smithing for a good bit longer. He has forged quite an assortment of items – tables, fire screens, candelabra, hooks and hangers. He said he enjoys making knives, but specializes in tomahawks made from hammers, square stock and railroad spikes.
The workshop will run Saturday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Students need to bring lunch, beverages, snacks, protective eyewear, leather gloves and earplugs (if desired) and should wear leather shoes and old clothes.
Advance registration is required. For more information about the instructor or workshop including tuition and supply costs, contact Tryon Arts & Crafts at 828-859-8323 or tryonartsandcrafts@windstream.net. More details and examples of projects are available on the Tryon Arts and Crafts website, www.TryonArtsandCrafts.org.
– article submitted
by Julia McIntyre