23/06/2008 - Metal Trades Project

Peak Hill Central School: Career & Transition Support Programme

A two day workshop for Year 10 students held at Agforge Blacksmithing in Peak Hill.

The students received an overview of the workplace, demonstration of equipment and initial training in forging and metal fabrication. Instructed by Damien, each student forged a fire stoker on the first day and produced a 'boot beetle' on the second, all from raw metal.

"Blacksmithing is a unique form of training for developing hand/eye co-ordination on the job and being able to visualise the finished product - excellent preparation for any metal trades" explained tradesman Damien Sharah.

Completing these projects has meant these students have demonstrated forging and shaping metal from a raw state to a usable one.

Students Comments

"On Monday and Tuesday we went to Agforge to learn about the Blacksmith Industry. Damien taught us how to heat and bend metal on Monday and we made a beetle boot remover on Tuesday. We all had a good time and learnt a lot." Toby

"On Monday and Tuesday the Year 10 Metal class went to the Agforge workshop owned by Damien Sharah. We learnt how to make different
styles of handles and points using a forge and an anvil. My favourite part was getting to build the boot beetle and seeing some of the machinery like the hydraulic hammer." Michael

"On Monday and Tuesday of this week the Year 10 Metal work class went to Damien Sharah's Agforge workshop to learn about how blacksmiths and apprentices work and what they do. We learnt how to forge metal on anvils and watched Damien demonstrate this. On Tuesday we made a beetle boot remover to better our skills. This was a great experience and we will probably never get a similar opportunity again. Thank you Damien." Jacob