Welcome to Little Dipper Forge! 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Forging in Tennessee -
First, I would like to thank the love of my life, my wife Jane, for creating this website for me and then teaching me the rudimentary skills for editing and updating it. She is my partner in all things and I appreciate her ambition and her support.
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Now let's talk forging -
The shop was completed in April 2007 and now, with all the equipment and tools that we have moved into it, well - let's just say that there is a lot of opportunity out there. I plan on beginning a teaching program or two as there seems to be a LOT of interest in the craft in this area. My goal is to start this month. I am a traditional blacksmith and that is what I plan to teach, but some that have talked to me have expressed interest in making knives. I will teach future bladesmiths the basics, and then they will have to find someone better to learn the finer points of bladesmithing from - I guess I will help them on their way. I have two power hammers that I can use, but students will learn how to hammer by hand first - learn how to use the anvil, vise, hammer, file, tongs and swage block - and then maybe they will be ready to work with the powered equipment.
I have three functional forges each setting under it's own smoke hood and flue (stacks). The chimney stacks have been reinforced but the worry about the heavy winds did not materialize, the snow sliding down the roof as it melts was the real problem.
The hydraulic unit for the automotive lift was installed as well as the air supply piping before the concrete floor was poured so that installation is very neat and tidy. I just (still) need to hook it up to an air supply and check out the seals and then connect the top head and arms. I have been using the automotive (and equipment) area of the shop for performing repairs and doing other work, just without the benefit of the lift, yet.
Mitchell Latsch - Blacksmith, Engineer, writer, woodworker, mechanic, gardner, beekeeper, philosopher, soap maker, father, husband, hunter, hiker, camper, fisherman, wood gatherer and campfire cook . No, I do not watch any TV - I don't have the time. (I already have three gardens plowed laying fallow over the winter and have begun planning for the planting season this spring.)
I began learning the blacksmith craft alomost twenty years ago. Jane and I are very active in the Appalachian Area Chapter of Blackmsmiths. She has down-sized so that she is the webmaster for only two websites now, including our local beekeeping group, Houston-Stewart County Beekeepers as well as this one. I am currently the President of the AACB organization of about 200 members. It's a big job, but very gratifying.
It took a while for me to realize that learning and practicing this craft was what I was put on this earth to do, but once realized, I have approached the work with nothing less than wonder and excitement. Every time I light a fire and build a piece I learn something and every time I design and build an original, I am amazed that the result is a product of my own creative mind. Many times I just look in wonder at what I have been able to create - and then I wonder what I might make next.
I am a perfectionist. It is a flaw, a curse and an obsession (and I might add - a gift). I have given away pieces that I had intended to throw away, and refused to tell the recipients what was wrong with them so that I wouldn't spoil it for them. I don't think they believed me that I really intended to discard them - which I did intend.
I enjoy the work and will try to attain new levels of excellence now that my shop is complete - it allows me to maintain my sanity!!!
Mitch Latsch
Website editor - Jane Latsch
This page was last modified on 11/21/11 07:29 AM