Working in Metals, Hand-forged Iron

It might seem like a very different skill set between working in wood and working in iron. The skills and the materials are dissimilar to each other, so how do you cross over from one to another? The short answer is you don't! But the long answer is once you have disciplined yourself to learn and develop new talents over time, studying new techniques makes learning an untried skill that much easier.

I have worked in metals for 30 years, first making specialty hardware such as small pulls, hinges, clavos, etc.  My uncle, on my father's side of the family of Irish and Swedish descent, and his father were blacksmiths.  When he heard that I was doing metalwork in my business, he gave me the family forge, anvil, vice, tongs, and hammers and this opened up a whole new realm of possibilities for me. Now I could handle larger pieces of metal, and take on larger projects.  I could also combine materials, incorporating beautiful hand-forged metal work to my hand-carved doors.  To this day, I love combining wood, glass and metal arts together into my projects.  It adds a whole new dimension and depth to my work. 

Some people don't understand how I can enjoy working with heavy metals over a hot forge, hammering for hours, but I truly do.  Partly it's because I take pleasure in creating that object I have envisioned and designed.  And partly because the rhythm of the hammer and anvil is grounding and simple, allowing me to shape and form with my own two hands something that will be a thing of beauty and last a lifetime.    

Derek Pruitt

Squarespace Authorized Trainer.

https://derekpruitt.design
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