Subject: blacksmith discussion

From: niko caspers <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 19 Mar 1996 09:27:30 +0100

Thank you for all the reply concerning blacksmithing, it was interesting and
fun to read.
But there are a few things i would like to add:

Isn´t there a risk that blacksmithing the old way will be lost in about 30
or 40 years mainly because off the use off modern machines and tools, people
just don´t know how to do it anymore. (Although i am not against moder
methods i like to keep them separated)

As an artist you have the privelige to make what you want like and feel it
is up to the custumor to buy it or not. (that is if you can afford to make
what you want)

P.S Sorry for my English it seems to be muvch more rusty than my tools

Niko

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From: [email-masked]
Date: Tue, 19 Mar 96 17:44:35 CST

>methods i like to keep them separated)

Too True,  but as a hobbyist you learn traditional methods, or at least 
*SHOULD* learn them.  Later, as your skills grow, you add modern 
convienences.  There is nothing that impresses me more than a really well 
done piece made in the "traditional" fashion (I am growing to hate that 
word).  Traditional techniques should be the basis of everything that 
comes from a blacksmiths anvil (IMHO).  I just don't feel we should turn 
our backs on modern tooling.  I don't see why the two approaches cannot 
be used together, in harmony, to the benefit of the craft.

I guess the ole yin and yang philosophy applies here, "Patients 
grasshopper,  you must be one with the forge weld before you strike the 
arc weld."

Oops,  sorry about that.....

-----------------------------------------------------
Name: Franklyn D. Garland        A Hobby Is Hard work
E-mail: [email-masked]          You wouldn't Do For
Date: 03/19/96                     A Living.

http://www.mcs.net/~frnklyn/homepage/

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