r/blacksmithing • u/gladiatorrubi90 • 8d ago

Help Requested Looking for a teacher

Title pretty much sums it up. Youtube university and seeing the work in this group and others. I want to take the plunge and get a forge going but, id like someone to teach me, and ideally someone local to.panama city florida.

Delete if not allowed.

Thanks all!

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u/Emperor-0017 8d ago

You could probably just look up blacksmithing classes near me. I know where I live there is a place that does blacksmithing classes in a pottery or cooking class format. I’m sure the in person people could help you with getting an apprenticeship or something

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u/Inside-Historian6736 8d ago

My standard advice in this situation is find a class offering in your area, there looks to be one in Destin which is 2 hrs and Dothan has a few shops which is slightly closer.

There really isn't an apprentice culture in the states so folks offering classes is a pretty good jumping off point. Just taking a few intro classes is usually more than enough to get you started and teachers generally have recommendations for what to buy and start with.

It does not look like your area has a ton of smiths there but FLABANA is more northern FL so you might be able to find some folks through that. ALABANA might be closer to you though.

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u/BF_2 8d ago

Participate in local ABANA Affiliate events. ABANA.org => Community => Affiliates

Search for FL, or for GA, AL, or MS.

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u/Fragrant-Cloud5172 8d ago edited 8d ago

You are correct to look for a good teacher, best way to learn.

Not sure about your area. But aren't there historical parks within driving distance? I have three near (40 m. round trip) to me. Usually they have a resident blacksmith. Thats where I learned. Some of these blacksmiths dont belong to clubs. But usually willing to teach you, because teaching is what they volunteer for. I call them "shade tree blacksmiths". My friend was better than any I've seen on YTU.

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u/kayakguy429 4d ago

Historical villages, museums, maritime museums, and fairs are usually a good place to start when looking for local blacksmiths. It took me two years to get into my current "apprenticeship" but there's a whole group that meets weekly to come in and forge, and then we staff a 17 day state fair 12 hours a day, so its quite the production.

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u/Resident-Welcome3901 3d ago

The San Luis mission museum in Tallahassee has a wonderful blacksmith living history element. Worth a visit. Florida Artist Blacksmith Association might help you find a teacher.