Dale Morse's 
      Virginia Institute of Blacksmithing

     Master Blacksmith/Educator Dale Morse has been an avid supporter and member of Old Dominion Blacksmith Association since we first were organized in 2005. Over the years he has given us all advice on how to be a better blacksmith with his many classes/demonstrations and also, has written many “how to do articles” for our Newsletter. I can think of very few people in our area that has done more to help the blacksmithing cause than Dale. For this reason alone we owe him, so if you are planning on taking any professionally taught blacksmithing classes, please consider taking it from this well liked, knowledgeable, professional artist Blacksmith teacher at his newly relocated,well equipped school in Waynesboro, VA.
       Bobby Floyd (President of the Old Dominion Blacksmith Association)


Master Blacksmith/Educator Dale Morse is the VP of Education for the Old Dominion Blacksmithing Association and the Guild Mentor for the Shenandoah Valley Blacksmithing Guild.

****** Dale's Virginia Institute of Blacksmithing new location as of February 2010 will be in Waynesboro, VA.
South River Complex
200 West Twelth Street
Waynesboro,VA 22980

Note that classes marked with PVCC are taught through Piedmont Virginia Community College. Please register for these classes through their web site at pvcc.edu/workforceservices or call Maggie Myers, Division Secretary, Workforce Services at PVCC directly: 434-961-5495. Gift Certificates available from PVCC.

REGISTER FOR ALL CLASSES THROUGH PIEDMONT VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT pvcc.edu/workforceservices

 
Feb 6 – 7 Blacksmithing Beginners – Version 1, PVCC $225
Feb 20 – 21 Blacksmithing Intermediate – Tools, Tongs, and Knives $225
March 6 – 7 Blacksmithing Beginner – Version 2, PVCC $225
March 20 – 21 Traditional Joinery Trivet, PVCC $225
April 3 – 4 Beginning Blacksmithing – Version 1, PVCC $225
April 17 – 18 Blacksmithing Intermediate – Tools, Tongs, and Knives $225
May 1 – 2 Blacksmithing Beginner – Version 2, PVCC $225
May 15 Blacksmithing Beginner One Day Workshop, PVCC $125
May 16 Blacksmithing Beginner One Day Workshop, PVCC $125
May 29 – 30 Traditional Joinery Trivet, PVCC $225
June 5 – 6 Beginning Blacksmithing – Version 1, PVCC $225
June 19 – 20 Pattern Welded Damascus, PVCC $225 

Note: Piedmont Virginia Community College is holding classes in blacksmithing through the Virginia Institute of Blacksmithing Studios. For more information or to register, call PVCC Workforce Services Division Secretary, Maggie Myers, at 434-961-5495 or go to pvcc.edu/workforceservices.

Blacksmithing Beginner – Version 1
$225
Come hammer metal in this beginner level one weekend course where you will make a candlestick and a wall-mounted coat rack. Study includes safe shop practices, fire management, efficient hammer techniques and basic forging. Class starts at 9 AM and runs to 4 PM both Saturday and Sunday. For specific dates, see above. Register for this class through PVCC. See note above. 

Blacksmithing Beginner – Version 2
$225
In this one weekend class you will learn the same skills as in the Version 1 class plus riveting and an intro to forge welding. Projects will include a wall mounted pot rack. Class schedule is the same as Version 1. For specific dates, see above. Register for this class through PVCC. See note above. 

Blacksmithing Beginner One Day Workshop
$125
A one day version of the Beginner 1 class. Shop orientation, safety, fire management and efficient hammering are the focus of this class. The project is a three hook rack. Class runs from 9 AM to 4 PM. See specific dates above. Register for this class through PVCC. See note above. 

Blacksmithing Intermediate – Tongs Tools and Knives
$225
A two day intermediate class that focuses on simple tools, hardening and tempering. Also students will make tongs for use in the forge, and will get an introduction to beginning knife making. A beginners class, either version 1 or 2 is a prerequisite for this class. 

Blacksmithing Intermediate – Traditional Joinery Trivet
$225
This is an intermediate blacksmithing class and requires one of the beginner classes as a pre-requisite, or at least some previous experience. The class will focus on forge welding, tenon and rivet joinery. Students will make a table trivet to a per determined design to develop the skills necessary to join metal using time honored techniques. A great step to being able to make more complex projects.

Blacksmithing Intermediate – Pattern Welded Damascus
$225
This is an upper level intermediate course and requires both a beginning class or some previous experience, as well as the Traditional Joinery Trivet class as a pre-requisite. Pattern welded steel uses the process of forge welding steels of differing carbon contents to create a decorative pattern in the resulting material after polishing. Damascus pattern steels are most commonly used in the making of knives and jewelry. 

Tuesday Afternoon Open Shop
Available to anyone who has completed a beginners course, the shop is open from 3pm to 6pm on Tuesdays to practice or work on personal projects for a fee of $10/ hour spent. There may be a materials fee depending on the project. Projects cannot be stored at the studio. Call 434-244-7833 and leave a message to reserve your spot no later than Monday noon beforehand.

For more information about Dale and/or his school please go to his Web site www.vablacksmithing.org