Tool Box Class 2012

This is a two-day class: Saturday, November 10 and Saturday, December 8.

Are you still using a 5 gallon bucket to haul your tools to classes? How gauche! Sign up for this class and you can soon be toting your tools in style.

In this class students will make all the hardware for their own wooden tool box. Parts include hinges, bale handles with plates and cotter pins, a hasp and staple and, of course, nails.

On the first day of class students will be given the wooden parts of their box and begin making the hardware. There will be a month break before the second day of the class so students can customize and assemble their box in preparation for mounting hardware as well as any work they may need on the hardware they started. On second day of the class students will be taken through forging the rest of the hardware and mounting it on their tool box.

This is a class for those with solid intermediate level skills. Students should be able to forge weld thin stock, have good hammer control and be able to control where they spread their steel. Students will be shown the basic functional hardware but may choose to get decorative with it (see Metalsmith photos of toolboxes made by Mike Fasold or Stephen Olivio for examples). Students should also have basic wood working skills and tools to be able to assemble their box at home.

Max class size = 8; minimum class size 6.

Instructors: Tom Sanders & Martin Pansch

Bring: your favorite blacksmithing hammer, tongs for handling 1/8″ flat stock, 1/2″ square and round stock, files, 1/2″ wide cold chisel, 3/16″ round punch, hacksaw, and any other tools you think might be useful. Flux, drifts, nail headers, and hinge bending jigs will be provided.

Safety equip: Safety glasses and ear protection are mandatory. Other equipment could be gloves, leather apron, cotton clothing, and leather shoes.

Lunch arrangements: bring a bag lunch or money to dine at one of the fine eating establishments near the school.

To register for this class, send a check made out to “Guild of Metalsmiths” for $90 to:
Martin Pansch
8750 Yale Avenue
Young America, MN  55397
blacksmithingyeti@gmail.com