Cascadia Center For Arts & Crafts – Keeping The Arts Alive On Mt Hood

Beginner Bladesmithing – Forging Knives to Shape

July 13, 2022 By Gary Randall

Beginner Bladesmithing – Forging Knives to Shape

Forge your own knife with simple tools with Joe Vachon, the Season 6, Episode 27, Forged in Fire Champion, in this 1 day, hands on course.

In this class we will be exploring the rudimentary hammer techniques used, step by step, to forge a knife blade to shape without a grinder.

You can expect to learn how to forge a point on the end of a bar, flatten your blade to its final thickness, create a counter-bend, forge your bevels, shape an all-steel handle, clean up your work with a file, and sharpen on a stone.

We will be using mild and medium carbon steel to make things easier for the novice smith. We will also be discussing what goes into proper heat treating when using various high carbon steels and learn about various types of blade geometry and their application.

There will be a 45 minute lunch break.

Note about safety – Wear cotton pants and shirt (synthetics are potentially flammable). Make sure your pants fit over the tops of your closed toe shoes or boots so nothing hot can fall in. Safety glasses and ear plugs are available, or bring your own. Bringing your own leather gloves is a good idea. Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated.

Beginner Blacksmithing I – Decorative Hooks

March 19, 2022 By Gary Randall

Beginner Blacksmithing I – Decorative Hooks

- June 11, 2022 – 10am-3pm
- July 2, 2022 – 10am-3pm
- August 6, 2022 – 10am-3pm
- September 3, 2022 – 10am-3pm

Learn some blacksmithing fundamentals from Joe Vachon, the Season 6, Episode 27, Forged In Fire Champion, in this 1 day, hands on course. Safety, body mechanics, tools, and the working properties of hot steel will be addressed, as well as various techniques, such as: tapering, scrolling, twisting, bending, drilling, punching, hot cutting, flat peening, upsetting and shouldering. Students will start out practicing the basics with the forging of a few decorative hooks for the first half of the class. After lunch, folks are welcome to practice making hooks or create something of their choosing with their new found skill-set, such as (but not limited to) a fire poker, meat turner, bottle opener, letter opener, necklace pendant, or an experimental piece. 45 minute lunch break.

Note about safety – Wear cotton pants and shirt (synthetics are potentially flammable). Make sure your pants fit over the tops of your boots so nothing hot can fall in. Safety glasses and ear plugs are available, or bring your own. Bringing your own leather gloves is a good idea. Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated.

CLCIK HERE for tickets

Beginner Blacksmithing II – Fire Tools

March 17, 2022 By Joe Vachon

Beginner Blacksmithing II – Fire Tools

June 12, July 3, 2022 – 10am-3pm

Dig deeper into the fundamentals of blacksmithing with Joe Vachon, the Season 6, Episode 27, Forged in Fire Champion, in this 1 day, hands on course. This class is for students who have taken “Beginner Blacksmithing I” or have comparable blacksmithing experience.

In this class we will be working slightly thicker bar stock (3/8’ – 1/2’) to make fire pokers, skewering forks and fireplace tongs while exploring the possibilities of forging decorative and functional steel handles and finials. This will include various types of forging, bending, scrolling, chiseling, punching, riveting, twisting and wrapping depending on what designs you choose from the samples provided, or come up with on your own. 45 minute lunch break.

COVID-19 Reopening Statement

March 18, 2020 By Jamie Dull

Cascadia Center for Arts & Crafts, was forced to cancel and refund all classes this Spring due to the Covid19 global pandemic.

At this time, we have been given permission to slowly reopen, following guidelines set by The State of Oregon, and CDC, as required by the USFS. CCAC will change the policies as regulations change. As all classes are small at Cascadia, the smaller class size is not a problem; however, we ask you to come prepared to work with staff, instructors and fellow participants following the guidelines we have been given. CCAC classes are not political ‘platforms’ for personal beliefs in safe practices during these times. If you feel uncomfortable or cannot comply with the safety regulations given to CCAC for reopening, we will continue to present programming, and perhaps waiting till all restrictions have been lifted would make your experience more enjoyable at CCAC. Please realize, CCAC must comply to all mandated safety regulations in order to reopen.

Let’s all work towards the push back of Covid 19 in the world, and eventual eradication w/ vaccine, through first following safe social distancing, and using these guidelines while attending or visiting CCAC. Printed signage will also be used for reminders and location of hand sanitizers, tissues, washrooms, and safe towel disposal areas.

The studios, restrooms & kitchens have been sanitized, and ready for your creative enjoyment. We hope to see you at one of the Summer classes that have been scheduled/rescheduled.

Please bring either one new mask per day (washable) or, a new disposable mask for each day you will be attending CCAC… at times when ‘social distancing’ can be accommodated, the masks will not be needed, however during some demonstrations w/ the group, please be prepared, also some businesses in the village require masks when picking up groceries or beverages. We will post changes as they are made.
CCAC will supply hand sanitizers in all classroom areas. Disposable masks can be purchased for $1.00. Your instructor/artists will go over any required Covid safety regulations when the class begins… however please read the posted signage regarding the requirements and adhere to these guidelines. Class areas will be set up to practice distancing.
If you feel sick, have a temperature, have a cough or cold-like symptoms please notify CCAC immediately to cancel your place in class & receive a refund. We cannot have any students, or instructors, exhibiting these symptoms in class. We realize some people have allergies & know the difference; the Cascadian Environment may trigger these symptoms and this is understandable… we have tissues.

Thank you for waiting for rescheduled classes, we appreciate all of our students and artist/instructors …your safety is our upmost concern. Let’s get back to creating art on Mount Hood!