Tunnel Mill Craft Calendar, 2012

Updated: January 20, 2012

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Upcoming classes

Tom Latane'.. April 20, 21 & 22nd, 2012

Seventeenth Century Battle Axe or Hewing Hatchet

Students will forge an axe with a tapered rectangular eye socket. This shapely early form is made up of three pieces rather than the two used to produce an axe with a simple wrapped eye.
Parts will be forged to shape from 1/4" and 1/2" thick mild steel, forge welded together and further forged to refine. A high carbon steel bit will be welded between layers of low carbon steel, shaped, hardened and tempered. Students wishing to create a hewing hatchet may leave the blade thicker and less broad with the high carbon steel welded to one side rather than in the center of the edge.
The low carbon body of the axe will remain soft enough that it can be decorated cold with punches (at home if there is not time in class) as the early ones were.

Kitty Latane' April 21 and April 22, 2012 (Two-one day classes)

Tinsmithing

Come to Tunnel Mill and learn a centuries old craft, Tinsmithing, with Kitty Latane' from Pepin, Wi. Design and make your own one of a kind tin cookie cutter and/or other simple tin project, including flour scoops and candle sconces.
In this one-day workshop you'll learn traditional techniques for cutting, shaping and soldering tin plate.
$65.00 per day plus $15.00 material costs. Limit of 10 students. Class 9am to 5pm. Bring a sack lunch.

Build and Bake in a Portable Brick Oven May 5, 2012
Join David S. Cargo at Tunnel Mill to learn how to build a portable stacked-brick oven.
After the oven is built, it will be fired up while students learn how to make dough for flatbreads, pizza and bread.
Bake (and eat) all these in the brick oven.
Class runs 9am-5pm. Bring a light sack lunch; we will sample products made around mid afternoon.
You will leave with knowledge in baking and building and also plans. See you there.

Preregistration is necessary.
Fee to be collected at class is $60.00 per student.

Bob Fredell, June 2 & 3, 2012

Crucifix Making Workshop

A number of years ago Bob saw Bernard Heer, a former Guild of Metalsmiths member who apprenticed in Switzerland, forge a crucifix. Having now made several himself, Bob now wants to share with others the making of a crucifix using this specific process.
The 18 inch tall crucifix is made with one continuous piece of steel from the crown of thorns down to the base of the cross and up to the three tips of the cross.
The participants need to have basic forging skills because the demonstrations will use modeling clay, not hot forged steel. Short demonstrations with modeling clay allows more time for the participants to work on the project.
The workshop is taught by Bob Fredell, a hobbyist blacksmith since 1981. Bob is a past president of The Guild of Metalsmiths during which time he emphasized blacksmithing education and established the Education Committee. Bob along with Pete Stanaitis established the present day Basic Blacksmithing Workshop, the Instructors' Workshop and wrote the Blacksmith Study Guide. You usually see him at Guild of Metalsmiths events with his lovely bride, Mary.

Peter Ross classes.. June 10-12 and June 14-16, 2012

Colonial Tools
Colonial Williamsberg blacksmith Peter Ross will be returning to Tunnel Mill again for 2-3day sessions. One of the two classes will be forging a cagehead brace. Come to the class and add to your tools!

Directions to Tunnel Mill: Tunnel Mill is located 20 miles south of Rochester. Take Hwy 63 out of Rochester to Stewartville, turn east on Hwy 30 to County Rd 1 (approx 5.5 miles). Turn south on County Rd1 Follow CO RD 1 6.5 miles to Tunnel Mill on the left side of CO RD Call about camping on the grounds. 507-378-4983 or 507-289-4189, John or Carol. Lodging available in Spring Valley, 5 miles further south on CO RD 1.
Shady Rest 507-346-2625---Spring Valley Motel & Suites-507-346-7788

Class Contact Information

For more information on any of the classes contact us at
jc-adams@msn.com, or call 507-289-4189 John or Carol Adams.

We are located in southern Minnesota. Tunnel Mill was an old water powered mill. Built in 1869. Retired in the late 1920's..
Located on the Bear River north of Spring Valley, MN.
Wooded 50 acres with a stream that runs through it.

Now, it's a place for crafts people and friends to congregate, relax and learn some of our forgotten crafts.

Watch for more classes!!

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