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The Virginia Institute of Blacksmithing.  Great place and really friendly people.  I wasn't really excited about the class that was happening the week I was there, building a Viking helmet, but the instructor, Dale Morse, let me know I could work on whatever I liked and he'd help as much as possible.
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A very open, roomy and bright area for smithing there.  Work stations for about 11 people with water-cooled forges of Dale's design.



An interesting idea for a tong rack I hadn't seen before.
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So this is what they were going to make.  I figured, "What the heck, might as well," and dove in.

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After the two frame bands were complete, dishing out the 4 separate sections of steel for riveting were done.  After that, we could add any sort of embellishment we wanted.

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Snake and noseguard enough for me...
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During my free time, while the other two gents were catching up, I worked on a few twists.
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Then I found out that Fred Crist had a shop there, right next to where I was forging!  OK, so who's Fred Crist? I asked.  Dale Morse took me down and introduced me to the Foreman of the Yellen Blacksmith shop for 10-15 years!  Awesome.  We talked awhile and I snapped a few pics of his workspace and art...
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I had so much fun at the VIB, and Mr. Morse such a knowledgeable and willing teacher, I decided to accept his offer of staying for an additional day and doing a little forging at his shop.

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