Northwest Blacksmith Association

Basic Blacksmithing and Ritual Implement Crafting: The Nail

Date/Time
Date(s) - 02/12/2017
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Location: Maple Mist Wood (30 minutes north of Olympia, Washington).

Cost: $125 ($50 deposit required upon registration). Space is limited. Paypal, cash or personal check accepted).

Contact Cody with any further questions or to register at: oldtubalo@gmail.com

Sunday, 12 February Noon – 4 PM

Instruction by Cody Dickerson

The Nail is an implement of diverse purposes. Historically, and beyond its commonly understood applications in the craft and art of building, it has established around itself an immense legacy of folklore and practice, some reaching back as far as three millennia.

In this class we will be discussing the diverse magico-religious applications of the iron Nail in several healing and folk-charming traditions. We will cover its historical use in protective and cursing charms, as well as its applications in fixing, centering, and binding — and the diverse ways in which it can still very much serve in our daily lives.

Each participant will have the opportunity to forge their own Nail using a traditional coal forge and anvil, as well as add any additional material the student may wish to incorporate into the process of forging. Instruction is offered here in the use of basic tools involved in the heating, hammering, drawing, quenching and finishing processes involved in the fabrication of the Nail.

No prior experience in this area is required, and all are welcome to participate. Closed-toe shoes and long pants are highly recommended. All else will be provided. The participant will complete the class with a basic working knowledge of forge and anvil. You will leave with an item crafted by you and to your individual purposes and designs — to the end of invigorating your own practices congruent with centuries old techniques.



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