On our second day of Blacksmithing, we finally got to play with fire!
After a LONG time struggling to light the fires, we were saved by Bruce. With much effort, the forges began to burn, growing stronger as more coal and more air were added. As we worked to maintain the blaze of the forges, we started hammering away, molding the metal.
For lunch, Mr Thomson was King of the Grill – charcoal, fortunately – and made all-meat cheeseburgers (we had no buns). Better luck tomorrow.
As we returned to our forges after lunch, we panicked because we let the fires die out! It took some doing, but soon we were back in business, with a few people still working metal while others tried their hand at the lathe. Once we had adjusted our chucks and tool rests, we set to work, whittling away as sawdust flew all around the room.
We found a lot of ways to use our creativity – we can even try our hand at casting metal and woodturning. Personally, after completing my poker, I began work on a handle. Unfortunately, as soon as I completed the handle, the wood splintered everywhere, resulting in a loud crack and a surprised Bruce. Luckily, I was able to grab another block of wood and complete my project. With my giant twist done, and the handle almost ready, I cannot wait till the next day.
Next up: the Lost Wax Process. Stay tuned!
