About Wilkur Forge
THE BUILDING OF WILKUR FORGE
THE BUILDING OF WILKUR FORGE
THE BUILDING OF WILKUR FORGE
Here are some highlights and milestones in the building of Wilkur Forge.
Read along to learn some of the story that has helped to bring Wilkur Forge from imagination to reality.
Additional information may be found in the Gallery, where some images from the building of Wilkur Forge are available.
IN THE BEGINNING
THE BUILDING OF WILKUR FORGE
THE BUILDING OF WILKUR FORGE
As a little kid I was 'helping' dismantle an old dairy on our recently purchased property.
"Poles held together with cocky's twitches in number 8 wire and force of habit," was was one way to describe the dairy.
In the dismantling process, an incalculable number of nails, a straight peen hammer head and the hub from an old plough appeared in
As a little kid I was 'helping' dismantle an old dairy on our recently purchased property.
"Poles held together with cocky's twitches in number 8 wire and force of habit," was was one way to describe the dairy.
In the dismantling process, an incalculable number of nails, a straight peen hammer head and the hub from an old plough appeared in the junk.
Using the hammer head to flatten nails against the hub - my first anvil - I noticed the heat generated in the nails.
That observation started the hot metal working ball rolling for me. I was not quite five years old.
FAST FORWARDING
THE BUILDING OF WILKUR FORGE
TRADE QUALIFICATION
Fast forwarding through school, engineering workshop practice furthered my interest in hot metal working. Steam engine-making aside, hot riveting garden rake tynes into a piece of flat bar sealed the deal on hot metal working. By now I was fifteen.
Soon after, I was gifted a set of bellows, bought an anvil that had survived a timber mill f
Fast forwarding through school, engineering workshop practice furthered my interest in hot metal working. Steam engine-making aside, hot riveting garden rake tynes into a piece of flat bar sealed the deal on hot metal working. By now I was fifteen.
Soon after, I was gifted a set of bellows, bought an anvil that had survived a timber mill fire - as the mill's blacksmith could carry it at 126kg (278lb) so it wasn't burnt, but the 227kg (500lb) anvil wasn't so lucky - and discovered 1,000l oil tanks can be used to make forges.
From there a small smithy appeared in the back of the shed which replaced the old dairy of bush poles, cocky's twitches and corrugated tin we'd pulled down more than a decade before.
Starting work in an unrelated field, some side ventures and life saw the typical twists and turns, but among these 'other things' was the desire to get into hot metal working at any opportunity.
TRADE QUALIFICATION
RECENT WILKUR FORGE NEWS
TRADE QUALIFICATION
After an extended period doing these 'other things' I decided if I was going to follow the hot metal working path I had best complete some trade training, which I viewed as a backing up of my past experience and sundry courses completed with a state blacksmithing association.
Ultimo TAFENSW was offering blacksmithing at a trade qualificati
After an extended period doing these 'other things' I decided if I was going to follow the hot metal working path I had best complete some trade training, which I viewed as a backing up of my past experience and sundry courses completed with a state blacksmithing association.
Ultimo TAFENSW was offering blacksmithing at a trade qualification level, being one of the last places in Australia to provide such formal training. My Certificate III Engineering - Fabrication Trade - Blacksmithing, was undertaken at Ultimo.
Thanks to one of the 'other things' I'd done being workplace training it seemed a natural progression to combine blacksmithing, tool and knife making with training. The seed for Wilkur Forge had been sown.
PURPOSE-BUILT FORGE
RECENT WILKUR FORGE NEWS
RECENT WILKUR FORGE NEWS
Using skills from a previous profession, combined with a lot of research - done by visiting all manner of blacksmiths' shops, from the smallest to the biggest - Wilkur Forge began to take shape.
A final design was settled upon and time was called on the initial development phase of Wilkur Forge. Time for to it happen for real!
Site prepar
Using skills from a previous profession, combined with a lot of research - done by visiting all manner of blacksmiths' shops, from the smallest to the biggest - Wilkur Forge began to take shape.
A final design was settled upon and time was called on the initial development phase of Wilkur Forge. Time for to it happen for real!
Site preparation began - removal of the old shed, followed by new concrete, steel, wiring and manufacture of custom equipment. Course content was developed, opinions from trusted friends on all aspects of the plans was sought and considered.
After this long gestation Wilkur Forge is now offering courses to novices, those with a casual interest and those experienced in hot metal working, the opportunity to join others of like mind to learn and to gain experience, knowledge and skills in blacksmithing.
RECENT WILKUR FORGE NEWS
RECENT WILKUR FORGE NEWS
RECENT WILKUR FORGE NEWS
The announcement of recipients of the prestigious Churchill Fellowships was made on 28 Sept. 2020. Visit www.churchilltrust.com.au for details about these.
Jim Deering, Forgemaster at Wilkur Forge, became the delighted recipient of the Park Family Churchill Fellowship for 2020. The Fellowship project is titled, “To learn the syllabi and me
The announcement of recipients of the prestigious Churchill Fellowships was made on 28 Sept. 2020. Visit www.churchilltrust.com.au for details about these.
Jim Deering, Forgemaster at Wilkur Forge, became the delighted recipient of the Park Family Churchill Fellowship for 2020. The Fellowship project is titled, “To learn the syllabi and methods of blacksmith training organisations and individuals”.
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, the Fellowship enabled me to visit blacksmithing training facilities in England, Ireland, Scotland, Switzerland, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Czechia, Austria and Italy during 2023.
The knowledge obtained with the Fellowship will be disseminated through courses conducted at Wilkur Forge, including Masterclasses overseen by master blacksmiths contacted as part of the Fellowship.
This major achievement for Wilkur Forge will provide a significant advantage to our participants as courses are developed and delivered.