***This course can stand alone or be paired with the previous day where you can carve a decoration on a stone boot scraper base details here.***
A rare opportunity to have a hands-on day of blacksmithing making your own handforged Boot Scraper. With the guidance of Blacksmith/sculptor Adrian Wood who anvils, tools and mobile forges, whether you are a beginner or have some prior experience, you will go home with your own unique scraper. There’ll be no excuse for mucky boots ever again!
The scraper can be made to stand alone, spike into the ground or mount in stone. Why not make this a two day experience of both metal and stone? Go the whole hog and carve your own stone boot scraper base with us the day before? You can carve lettering or a relief decoration with stone carver Gaynor Pearson – more info here. On the day you will:
– Understand how to work safely with fire and hot metal
– Learn how to handle the tools and equipment correctly
– Create the components of the scraper with your own hands and make them unique
– Learn how to assemble using traditional techniques
Please note that the day is fairly strenuous and if you have any fitness or health issues please let us know. The workshop takes place outdoors but undercover.
What to expect
Time at ArtisOn is designed to take you away from it all. We provide the environment, the time and the guidance you need to create. You can expect a warm welcome, skilled and friendly tutors and the chance to meet like-minded people keen to share ideas. You can even leave us to clear up the mess! There will usually be two workshops going on and we encourage everyone to mingle and be nosey about what the other workshop is up to.
We encourage you to arrive at 9.30am. This will allow time to meet other participants over a cup of tea or coffee and biscuits before beginning workshops at 10am. There will be a mid-morning break for refreshments and a chance to talk over progress with others. Lunch is usually around 12:45 for about 45 mins – you can expect a delicious homemade 2 course lunch. There will be a further afternoon break with tea or coffee and cake. All food and refreshments are included in the price of your workshop.
The finish time given is a target. There are occasions when the session may overrun so do let us know if you need to be away promptly.
We aim for your day to be a real treat. You could always learn a new skill in a shed or a draughty village hall with a curly sandwich, but we want you to have more fun than that! So we make sure we provide a day where you will be looked after, with good food, good company and great inspiration!
What you’ll need to bring with you
Make sure you wear robust clothing - jeans or thick trousers, stout shoes etc. Especially AVOID synthetic fabrics on clothing and shoes.
We will be working outside under a fabric gazebo so if you think the weather looks cool make sure you bring something warm (although you'll be working hard over a hot forge!) Alternatively, if the weather looks sunny, you might want to bring some sun screen.
Everything else you need will be provided.
