Blacksmith of artistic forging. Training in blacksmithing - where do you learn to be a blacksmith? Career steps and prospects

WORKING PROGRAMM
EXPLANATORY NOTE

To provide students of the Gunsmith course with the opportunity for career guidance. Selection of weapons: designer, award, museum, decorative, gift edged weapons. Compare old traditions with modern weapons and their production. Introduce the legislation in the Russian Federation “Weapons Law”. Give the basics of mechanical processing of metals, as well as methods of forging, chasing, hammering and hammering, engraving, tauching and some methods of chemical surface treatment. This knowledge is necessary for the manufacture of highly artistic products in the field of historical edged weapons and armor of the 9th – 20th centuries.

Objectives of studying the discipline.

As a result of studying the discipline, the student should know:
- basic properties of ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys used in the manufacture of artistic weapons and armor,
- basic technological operations of the processes of mechanical processing of metals, forging, minting, shaping and upsetting, engraving, tauching.
- basic technological methods of casting non-ferrous metals and alloys.
- basic technological methods of connecting technologies using riveting, welding, soldering and gluing.
-know and understand the classification and terminology of edged weapons.

CONTENT OF DISCIPLINE

1. Contents of the lecture course.
1.1. Introduction to the profession. The history of the emergence of crafts related to the manufacture and decoration of weapons and armor. 1.2. Centers for artistic metalworking and their significance in the development and establishment of a high culture of society as a whole.
1.3. Classification and terminology of edged weapons
1.4. Legislation in the Russian Federation “Weapons Law”. Author's artistic and decorated weapons.
1.5. Fundamentals of economic and legal knowledge in the field of production of bladed weapons, sales and exhibition.
1.6. Fundamentals of market economics, conflict management, art management. Profitability, cost, payback.

2.History of weapons making.
2.1. History of the production of bladed weapons and firearms in Russia and the world. Weapons plants and factories. Master gunsmiths.
2.2. Types of bladed weapons. Slashing weapons and their characteristics. Piercing weapons and their characteristics.
2.3. Weapons of Russian and foreign cavalry, infantry and sappers, and other branches of the military. Cossack weapons. Hunting weapon.

3. Materials and tools.

3.1.Materials science.
Basic information about ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys. Physical, mechanical and technological properties. Grades of metals and alloys, the importance of alloyed elements in improving their mechanical properties.
The internal structure of metals and changes in their structure when heated and deformed. Iron-carbon diagram.
Technology of production of Damascus and damask steel. Forging and hardening. Chemical-thermal treatment. Grinding and polishing. Works of Anosov P.P. and his followers. Abrasive materials. Marking.

3.2.Forge workshop: tools and equipment.
- Types of fuel for forges and furnaces. Their calorific value and methods of loading into heating devices.
- Heating devices: stationary and portable furnaces, shaft furnaces and other heating devices. Elements of heating devices, tools for their maintenance.
Safety precautions when working with heating devices.
- Tools and devices for machining metals: saws, files, chisels and metal cutters, drilling, turning and pressing machines
- Equipment and tools for forging, chasing and other percussion works. Supporting tools are anvils, shperaks, plates and forging molds. Percussion instruments: handbrake and special hammers, war hammers, sledgehammers, homemade hammers. Backing tool; forging chisels, punches, smoothers, flattening and rolling, undercuts, cones, forks, slopes, crimps, nails, forging molds, etc. Clamping and gripping tools: chair vices and blacksmith pliers. Standard and special measuring tools.
Hammer and press equipment and tools for servicing forges and furnaces.

3.3 Gunsmith's tools and equipment.-
Workplace of a blacksmith - gunsmith. Workbench and necessary equipment for work. Tools for marking operations, straightening and soldering. Files and needle files. Soldering equipment. Drill, drills and burs for metal. Jigsaw and its accessories.
Equipment and tools for casting, mechanical processing of elements of artistic products, their assembly and final processing.
Engraving cutters and gravers. Coinages and matoirs.
Safety precautions at work.

3.4 Gas and electrode welding.
Equipment and devices for welding.
Safety precautions at work.
- Connecting and assembling elements of artistic products using forge welding, rivets, wedges and pins, soldering and electric welding.

4.Fundamentals of gunsmithing.
4.1.Hand free forging. Examples of hand free forging.
Rank of blacksmiths of manual free forging.
4.2. Technology for manufacturing length gauges (sabers, swords, etc.). Templates (blade curvature, profile, cross-section).
Ax manufacturing technology.
Pike manufacturing technology.
4.3. Finishing and artistic processing of weapons.
- Tauching. Notch.
- Artistic etching.
- Patination and oxidation.
- Galvanic coatings.
Stamping and embossing of sheet blanks using backing dies and special basma “boards”.
- Technology of manufacturing art products from sheet materials: cutting, embossing, punching, difing. Tools and accessories.
- Ornamentation of blacksmith products using notches, fillings,
incisions and various engravings, printing and etchings.
Blade sharpening. Rules and means of sharpening.
-Safety at work.

5. Artistic design of edged weapons.

5.1.Fundamentals of artistic composition and technical drawing.

Engineering graphics and basics of descriptive geometry:
laws of constructing a three-dimensional artistic product on a sheet plane, construction of developments, axonometric projections, preparation of working drawings and explanatory notes.
- Drawing: laws of construction on a plane, drawing techniques, elements of decorative and applied drawings, sketches of an artistic product, computer drawing.
- Composition: laws of composition, proportionality of the whole and its parts, ornament, rhythm and dynamics.

5.2. Modeling and prototyping.
Basic laws of form construction taking into account tectonics and material, relief as the basis of decorative and applied composition, elements of plastic anatomy of humans and animals in decorative and applied art.
- Design: laws of shape formation, graphic design, design tools and techniques.

6. Topics of practical classes

Study of tools and equipment in a machine shop and forge.
- Practicing basic technological techniques for mechanical operations: filing, cutting bar and sheet metal, drilling, engraving, grinding and polishing.
- Practicing basic forging techniques: broaching, upsetting and upsetting, bending and twisting.
- Technology of manufacturing single-piece products by forging, chasing, casting and other methods.
- Technology of assembling two or more products into a single composition
using welding, soldering and gluing, rivet and wedge connections
- Tauching and notching on metal.
Artistic etching.
Oxidation.
Galvanic coatings.
Artistic lost wax casting.

7.Independent work

7.1.After the theoretical course, each student creates an image of an artistic product, makes a sketch, drawing, draws it in full size and makes it from metal using all technological operations (forging, casting, welding, etc.).

8. Defense of the diploma project.

After manufacturing an original artistic product in metal, the student reports to the commission about the technology of its production and answers all questions asked. If the answers are positive, the student receives a certificate or diploma with the assignment of the ETKS category - assistant blacksmith - gunsmith.

is a specialist in metal processing to create artistic products to decorate everyday life: gates, fences, stair railings, spiral staircases, railings and handrails, window bars, canopies, awnings, lanterns, garden gazebos and even forged furniture. The profession is suitable for those who are interested in drawing, labor and housekeeping (see choosing a profession based on interest in school subjects).

They say about architecture that it is “frozen music.” I would like to call masterpieces of artistic forging “frozen songs,” the lace swirls of metal are so expressive and airy. Just as the most ordinary words in a song, combined with music, awaken enthusiastic emotions in the soul, so ordinary metal, merging with fire, fantasy and the skill of a blacksmith, turns into a real work of art and pleases not only the eye, but also the heart.

This elegant form of art, combining elements of painting and sculpture, can hardly be called a craft. In the old days, the craft of a blacksmith was considered magic, and the master himself was considered a sorcerer.

Standard houses framed by wrought-iron fences become unique, designer houses acquire unique flavor and elegance, and palaces and castles become elevated to such an extent that it is hard to believe that they are the work of human hands. Wrought iron fences are for a home what lace is for a dress: they decorate and highlight it with elegant patterns. The forged fence of the Versailles Palace, the fence of the Palace of Justice and the Tuileries Garden in Paris, the Kensington Garden in London, the lattice of the Summer Garden in St. Petersburg, the forged balconies and canopies of the Arbat - this incredible beauty will take your breath away! Despite their apparent openwork and lightness, they are reliable and durable, and have been amazing people with their magnificence for several centuries.

The ancient art of artistic forging, after the minimalism of the twentieth century, is again entering the life, culture and way of life of the people. Therefore, the profession of an artistic forging blacksmith is in great demand and is decently paid.

Masterpieces of artistic forging are BEAUTY, PRESTIGE, UNIQUENESS AND DURABILITY!

Features of the profession

An artistic forging blacksmith is engaged in metal processing. These are operations such as melting, bending, forging, forge welding, casting, stamping, twisting, and heat treatment of products.

Functional responsibilities of a blacksmith

• forging parts taking into account dimensions and allowances for subsequent processing;
• broaching and bending of different types of metal (square, round, strip);
• welding of parts;
• cutting with a chisel;
• editing by hand on a plate, anvil, cold or hot, checking templates and drawings;
• selection of metal heating mode;
• assembling the springs into a set, fitting the sheets according to the template;
• final finishing of parts;
• editing of stamped products;
• making tools for our own production.

Pros and cons of the profession

pros

• demand for the profession;
• decent wages;
• creative, interesting work.

Minuses

• working in a semi-inclined position, which creates additional stress on the spine;
• high level of noise from the anvil, which has a negative effect on hearing;
• increased level of vibration from the hammer, affecting the joints and ligaments of the arms and shoulders;
• high temperature in the room. The forging temperature should be 800-1200 degrees Celsius. The following fuels are used in forges: charcoal, peat, fuel oil, various types of coal, natural gas;
• in general, there are quite a lot of traumatic factors that require special attention and compliance with safety regulations.

Place of work

Forging workshops and factories, forges, of which there are quite a lot even in Moscow, and especially in the Moscow region.

Important qualities

• physical strength and endurance;
• artistic abilities;
• a sense of beauty, harmony and purposefulness;
• good eye;
• developed attention.

A blacksmith must know perfectly:

• designs of forges, furnaces and blowers, ability to work with them;
• properties of metal during forging and processing of certain types of parts;
• heating modes of steels of various grades;
• purpose and conditions of use of all forging equipment and tools;
• technical conditions for assembling a set of springs;
• sequence of transitions for forging complex parts;
• forging properties of various metals;
• modes of heating and cooling of parts.

Training to become a blacksmith in artistic forging. Education.

The profession of an artistic forging blacksmith can be obtained at art universities with a specialty in “Artistic processing of metals.”

Metallurgical universities teach technologies for artistic processing of metals: “Artistic forging”, “Artistic casting”. The Moscow State Evening Metallurgical Institute (MGVMI) trains specialists in the technology of artistic metal processing on-the-job.

The School of Blacksmithing has been opened at MSUMI on a paid basis. Education at the school is carried out at four levels of training. In 3 months you can get the qualification “blacksmith’s assistant”, in six months - “journeyman blacksmith”, in 10 months - “master blacksmith”, graduates of the Moscow State Veterinary Institute - “technological engineers for the artistic processing of metals”.

St. Petersburg State Academic Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture named after. I. E. Repin. The basic artistic education received here can be successfully applied in forging. At the School of Blacksmithing at this university you can get a specialty as a blacksmith-designer.

St. Petersburg State Academy of Arts and Industry named after. Baron A.L. Stieglitz (formerly V.I. Mukhina Leningrad Higher Art School). Department of Artistic Metal Processing (HOM, Faculty of Decorative and Applied Arts). The training ground is the city itself, decorated with forged gates, bars, and bridge fences.

Diploma specialty: artist with a specialization in artistic metal processing. During the training, students are taught all possible technological processes of metal processing - from milled iron to casting. The result is a wide range of specialists who can successfully work in any technology.

Moscow State Art and Industry University named after S. G. Stroganov. Since 1945, the Department of Artistic Processing of Metal and Other Materials has been opened at the Faculty of Monumental, Decorative and Applied Arts. The department trains metal artists (jewelry, forged and monumental).

Ural State Academy of Architecture and Art (UralGAHA). Since 1990, the Department of Decorative and Applied Arts has opened a specialization in artistic processing of stone and metal. The teachers of the department are members of the association “Blacksmiths of the Urals”.

Universities

The following specialties are taught in colleges (vocational schools):

• Pavlovsk art and industrial establishment No. 23, Kovrov (Vladimir region)
• Oryol Art School.
• Suzdal blacksmith and restoration school.
• Vocational school No. 12, Chebarkul, Chelyabinsk region.
• Mechanical Engineering Professional Lyceum, Krasnoyarsk.
• Vocational school No. 16, Barnaul, Altai Territory.
• Vocational school No. 41, Bely Yar village, Verkhneketsky district, Tomsk region.

There are courses at the Russian Academy of Crafts, where you can master a profession in a short time.

Another way to master a profession- Immediately get a job as a blacksmith's apprentice. This site has a directory of blacksmiths

Salary

The salary for a beginning artistic forging blacksmith in Moscow starts from 40 thousand rubles. An experienced master can qualify for a salary of 80 to 120 thousand rubles per month.

Salary as of 02/17/2020

Russia 30000—70000 ₽

Career steps and prospects

The career of an artistic forging blacksmith begins with the position of an apprentice blacksmith. Despite the education received at a college or university, practical experience and mastery of all the subtleties of the craft are priceless, and they can only be obtained in real work under the guidance of an experienced mentor. The next stage is the blacksmith's assistant, then the blacksmith. Further career consists of improving skills, mastering related specialties, and the possibility of starting your own business.

The craft of forging appeared around the 4th millennium BC. The forged products that have survived to this day are distinguished by their elegant shapes and expressive lines. The art of forging flourished in the 15th-16th centuries, when water-powered hammers with paired bellows appeared in Europe. They contributed to the rapid development of technology and the creation of large forge shops. During this period, ornate fences and furniture began to be made. In the 19th century, with the development of industry, stamping methods appeared and the craft of forging ceased to be so popular. In the modern world, interest in artistic forging has revived and craftsmen masterfully combine ancient technologies with the achievements of scientific and technological progress (cold forging machines and other innovations in equipment).

Weapon forging is one of the oldest crafts. The image of a blacksmith forging a combat blade can be seen with your own eyes at the courses of blacksmiths-gunsmiths at the Russian Academy of Crafts. And become that same blacksmith.

Completing the training will allow you to independently bring to life your ideas about creating blades; recreate historical military paraphernalia; participate in reconstructions with personally created objects.

The teacher adapts to the students’ requests and manages to devote individual time to each one.

During the course you will make 3 products: a training blade from raw material, a second one from tool steel (remains with you) and a final work (remains at the Academy).

What is included in the training program for blacksmiths-gunsmiths:

• Introduction to the profession, safety precautions, history of blacksmithing
• Basics of metal science
• Construction of a forge, tools, basic forging operations.
• Forge welding. Damascus. Principles of modeling the pattern of Damascus steel.
• Making a model of an all-metal knife from low-carbon steel.
• Making an all-metal knife from high-carbon steel.
• Fundamentals of metalworking of blade products.
• Fundamentals of heat treatment of metals. Practice.
• Mastering different types of welding: forge, manual arc welding, semi-automatic welding in shielding gases.
• Drawing and designing thesis, drawing up a technological map.

Conditions of education

Duration: 144 academic hours.
Document issued: certificate "Hand-forged blacksmith" with assignment of rank, certificate "Weapons production technology in blacksmithing"

To register, you must have your passport and a 3x4 photo with you. When registering for the course, you must pay 50% of the tuition fee. The remaining amount is due during the first month of classes.

Frequently asked questions about blacksmith-gunsmith courses:

I already know how to forge. Will I be bored during the first days of studying in your program?
We do not recruit large groups specifically so that the teacher has the opportunity to work individually with each student. Therefore, everyone, regardless of their initial level of training, gets from the training what they came for.

Do I need to buy anything for training?
There is no need to purchase anything. If you wish, you can bring personal protective equipment - goggles and a respirator.

I want to complete both of the Academy's blacksmith courses. Which one is better to start with?
We recommend that you first take a course in artistic forging and gain the skill of working with metal (any blacksmith should be able to forge). After this, learn to work with high-carbon tool steels, which are used in the manufacture of blades.

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