ments or steps that the scouts needed to complete to receive their badges. There are four different categories under the metalworking badge; however, all four boys elected to follow the blacksmithing track. Over the course of two months, the Scouts spent a few hours once a week at Flaherty Iron Works, where lead blacksmith Hong Le demonstrated various techniques, according to the guidelines set forth by the handbook. The first class — which both the handbook and Flaherty considered the most important — was safety. The boys learned about what kind of gear to wear when performing metalworking tasks as well as basic safety practices around the shop. They were very conscientious about following these guidelines throughout the class. In addition to safety practices, the scouts learned: After first learning safety rules, the Scouts were taught a variety of blacksmithing and metalworking techniques, such as working with anvils, tongs, power hammers and punches.
About the forge, parts of the anvil, tools used in the shop How to use the forge and anvil to draw out pieces of iron Making circles and bends with the horn of the anvil Making twists (hot forged) using a vice Making rivets Upsetting Working with tools such as tongs, power hammer, and punch MIG and TIG welding Tempering metal and annealing The differences in working with different metals — ferrous and nonferrous How to apply wax, turpentine, and linseed oil rubbed finish By the end of the class, the scouts had each made a skewer with circular twisted handle, a punch, and a sword. Flaherty says that the class was not only beneficial to the scouts, but also to his employees. “Some of our laborers were not familiar with the blacksmithing aspect of ironwork, forging, etc., so they attended some of the classes, too,” he notes. “It was a great opportunity for them to learn.”
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Fabricator
January/February 2008