Tunnel Mill Crafts Calendar, 2013
Updated: August 30, 2013
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Still in the Planning Stages:
In addition to all the events scheduled below, we are still working on arangements to do a spring pole lathe class
and a wood turning class with Roger Abrahamson. Also planning another iron ore smelt.
Tunnel Mill Iron Mine Tour and Slide Show, Saturday, March 2, 2013
We'll first see a slide show that documents Iron Mining in the Filmore County, Minnesota area, then we will tour some local
former Spring Valley Iron Ore Mines.
We will meet Saturday March 2, 10:30 AM at the Spring Valley, Minnesota Public Library,
121 E Jefferson, Spring Valley, MN 55975
Library phone: 507-346-2100
Tom Latane', April 11th, 12th & 13th, 2013
Forging a Steel Body Plane
Students will forge parts for a steel body plane - chisel cutting the side profile and joining parts with
mortise and tenon as well as dovetail joints which will be brazed in the fire.
The grip at the front
of the plane can be a scroll or a stylized acanthus leaf. A student may fit the plane to an old blade,
make a blade ahead, in class, or at home after class. (blades will be solid without a chip breaker).
There will be an evening demonstration of forge-welding a tool steel bit to a mild steel blade.
Other parts will be demonstrated during class.
Before the plane can be used, a hardwood insert
and wedge will need to be fashioned to secure the blade under the decorative retaining bar across
the center of the body.
Tools and materials lists coming later.
Kitty Latane', April 12th and or the 13th, 2013.
Beginning Tinwork; Take a 1 or 2 day class.
Pioneers used tinware because it was inexpensive and portable, and settlers liked it because it was shiny and clean
looking.
In this class students will have the opportunity to make a variety of traditional items such as cups,
candleholders and cookie cutters using tinplate shaped with stakes and mallets.
Skills learned include cutting a pattern, wiring an edge, setting down a seam and soldering.
Class cost: $85.00 per day. Limit of 10 students. Class 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Please bring a sack lunch.
Materials fee: $30 for a two day class or $15 for a one day class.
Extra tin will be available.
Attention.....
with the beautiful snow last week we were forced to change our first bread oven class date
from May 4 to May 11 and we DO still have openings..
Build and Bake in a Portable Brick Oven May 11, and June 8, 2013
Join David S. Cargo at Tunnel Mill to learn how to build a portable stacked-brick oven.
After the oven is built, it will be fired up while students learn how to make dough for flatbreads, pizza and bread.
Bake (and eat) all these in the brick oven.
Note:!!!
The May 11 (was May 4), 2013 Class still has room!!.
Sign up for either class now.
Class runs 9am-5pm. Bring a light sack lunch; we will sample products made around mid afternoon.
You will leave with knowledge in baking and building and also plans. See you there.
Preregistration is necessary.
Fee to be collected at class is $65.00 per student.
Bob Fredell, June 28, 29 & 30th, 2013
Crucifix Making Workshop
A number of years ago Bob saw Bernard Heer, a former Guild of Metalsmiths member who apprenticed in
Switzerland, forge a crucifix. Having now made several himself, Bob now wants to share with others the
making of a crucifix using this specific process.
Bob, former Guild President and a firm believer in blacksmith education, will be teaching this
Crucifix workshop.
Keeping with his beliefs, Bob Fredell has volunteered to teach this class at Tunnel Mill for a nonminal fee,
and so we are able to offer this 3 day class (food and lodging included (two night stay)) for the fee of $200.00.
Don't miss out on the opportunity to make this beautiful 1 piece crucifix orginally taught by Berhard Heer.
The 18" tall crucifix is made with one continuous piece of steel from the crown of thorns down
and up to the three tips of the cross.
Participants need to have basic forging skills because the demonstrations will use modeling clay, not hot forged steel.
Short demonstrations with modeling clay allow more time for the participants to work on the project.
End of July 24th removal of old stuff --->
Don't Miss Out on the Ric Furrer Wootz Workshop This Month!!!
Ric Furrer - August 23, 24 and 25, 2013
Wootz Crucible Steel
Weekend Demonstration of making and forging Wootz Crucible steel with Ric Furrer.
Wootz is the steel used in many of the famous Persian and Indian sword blades and research into its creation
spawned the field of Microscopy in Europe.
Some call it the "true Damascus".
Watch (and maybe help a bit) as Ric demonstrates the melting of the raw material in a crucible heated by
a charcoal fire, making of the solid ingot and carefully forging that ingot of steel into bar. From there the
audience gets to pick what the bar will become.
Each step will be described and demonstrated in detail.
The history, chemistry and art of this material will be told though stories, pictures and old examples.
Ric promises not to put too many people to sleep with the chemistry talk.
***************************************************************
Ric Says:
Here is a crossover show which illustrates the historical roots of some of the more famous video game edged weapons.
This show was on the Spartan Short Sword from "God of War" and how it evolved to what they use now from what they
used then.
My assistant is Jeff Benson of Benson Designs in Green Bay, WI
http://www.bensondesigns.com
The film crew came in from Hollywood and filmed for one long day. Due to the length of the show much of the info
filmed in the shop had to be cut.
Hard to distill it for all audiences as well so it it not a "how-to" for blades, but rather an introduction
to the method.
I like the concept....how digital entertainment draws from old craft.
Enjoy.
Ric
Youtube Video on the Spartan Short Sword
***************************************************************
In 2014 there will be a week long hands on class at TunnelMill.
Come see what all the fuss is about.
Ric Furrer has been making a wootz for over 14 years and has traveled throughout the US, Europe and India studying old
blades.
He began blacksmithing under the instruction of Paul Marx in Madison, WI some 23 years ago and has since focused on
ancient and medieval metalworking.
In 2002 he demonstrated at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC and was featured on NOVA "Secrets of the
Viking Sword" in 2012.
His shop, Door County Forgeworks, is located in Sturgeon Bay, WI.
Nathan Robertson - August 3, 2013, Hand Hammer and--- August 4, 2013 Sledge Hammer
Nathan will do a hand hammer class again this year on August 3, and then on August 4 a sledge hammer workshop.
Prerequisite for the sledge hammer class is the hammer class.
Make your own heat treated hammer(s).
Cost for hand hammer class $85.00. Sledge hammer class $120.00.
TUNNEL MILL FALL GATHERING
OCTOBER 5 & 6, 2013
It's that time of the year....we would like to invite you to the mill
There will be plenty of interesting demos...
(or just come and hang out; you are bound to learn something)
IRON---- we will be running the 500Lb Little Giant
--Iron Bloom Project--
Saturday we will be running our ongoing Iron Bloom project
We will also be having an ongoing slide show and information on iron ore mining in the Spring Valley area,
from where we got our iron ore for our bloom project*
COPPER----learn some new techniques
Let's tie-dye or bleach your t-shirt, we have a new tie-dye project to add to the mix.
Bring something for Show & Tell
ALSO, WE ARE GOING TO SET UP A GALLERY, PLEASE BRING
SOMETHING FOR THE GALLERY
Bring a Quilt to display in the barn
Wine and cheese has become a regular for Saturday afternoon.
(Bring a favorite bottle to share or make a small donation)
This year John was asked to demonstrate at the Olmsted Count Fair in or by the original CCC
(Civilian Conservation Corps) blacksmith shop,(many of the buildings on the fair grounds were built by the CCC)
Minnesota had a great number of CCC camps and they have quite the history, we will have a display and some
information to share in regard to that, and if anyone has any info to share we would be pleased if you would bring it.
*Friday we will be building another furnace.
Directions to Tunnel Mill: Tunnel Mill is located 20 miles south of Rochester. Take Hwy 63 S to Stewartville, turn east
on Hwy 30 to County road 1 (approximately 5.5 miles) Turn south on County Rd 1. Follow County Road 1 6.5 miles to
Tunnel Mill on the left side of the road. (Call about camping or lodging on grounds.) 507-378-4983
Lodging in Spring Valley, 5 miles south of TM on County Rd 1
Shady Rest-507-346-2625---Spring Valley Motel & Suites-507-346-7788
Registration-Please fill out and return by September 30th..
Name_________________ Phone #_______________
Weekend admission fee $10.00 per person____Daily admission$5.00 per person______
Meals available for these costs.......
Saturday morning_____persons @$4.00 each Saturday lunch____persons @$7.50 each
Saturday evening_____persons @ $12.00 each Sunday morning___persons @6.00 each
Sunday lunch______persons @ 7.50 each
Weekend rate Saturday & Sunday Food & Admission $45.00
FRIDAY POTLUCK
Send registration to:
Carol Adams
4505 Hwy 63 N
Rochester, MN 55906
507-289-4189 or 507-289-5246
NO PETS PLEASE
Tom Latane' October 11, 12 & 13th, 2013
Candle-Holder with Saw-tooth Trammel
Students will create a two candle chandelier with a saw tooth trammel for adjusting the hanging height.
The Teeth of the trammel will be formed over the edge of the anvil.
Candle cups will be forged and riveted through drip pans with raised edges into the cross arms.
The junction of the center trammel and the cross arms (mortise and tenon) will be decorated with delicate scrollwork.
These scrolls, drawn out and forge-welded together in pairs, can be simple or more complex depending on the desires
and skill of each student.
Other Event News:
Due to schedules and time restraints we will not be able to host Peter Ross this year.
Look for a class at Tunnel Mill with Peter Ross in 2014.
Directions to Tunnel Mill: Tunnel Mill is located 20 miles south of Rochester. Take Hwy 63 out of Rochester to Stewartville, turn east on Hwy 30 to County Rd 1 (approx 5.5 miles).
Turn south on County Rd1 Follow CO RD 1 6.5 miles to Tunnel Mill on the left side of CO RD
Call about camping on the grounds. 507-378-4983 or 507-289-4189, John or Carol.
Lodging available in Spring Valley, 5 miles further south on CO RD 1.
Shady Rest 507-346-2625---Spring Valley Motel & Suites-507-346-7788
Class Contact Information
For more information on any of the classes contact us at
jc-adams@msn.com, or call 507-289-4189 John or Carol Adams.
We are located in southern Minnesota. Tunnel Mill was an old water powered mill. Built in 1869.
Retired in the late 1920's..
Located on the Bear River north of Spring Valley, MN.
Wooded 50 acres with a stream that runs through it.
Now, it's a place for crafts people and friends to congregate, relax and learn some of our forgotten crafts.
Watch for more classes!!
Hosted by TDS