ABANA National Curriculum Training for Level IIA and IIB
The National Curriculum is limited in its scope and deals only with developing a blacksmith’s skills in the forge environment. The lessons are exercises, and are usually criterion based rather than project-based unless required for the Grille Projects.
The National Curriculum has been divided into 3 levels, with some levels having multiple subjects, each requiring considerable time requirements by the student/instructor.
Individual items have been grouped, where possible, with similar subject materials. Levels can be taught out-of-sequence.
It is anticipated that the student will have some access to equipment such as a Drill press, a Machinist vice Welder, and Oxy/Fuel system.
The Level IIA certificate will be awarded to those who have completed the Level IIA, intermediate training. They will have presented to their instructor the various exercise pieces together with the grille or equivalent, and have passed a verbal or written safety test.
Passing this level demonstrates competence in some of the Intermediate skills of a blacksmith.
The Level IIB certificate will be awarded to those who have completed the Level IIB, intermediate training. They will have presented to their instructor the various exercise pieces together with the tools listed or their equivalent, and have passed a verbal or written safety test.
The core lessons of Level IIA are broken down into seven courses.
The first course includes safety, a forge welded ring made to a pre-determined size and forging a basket handle fire poker.
The second course includes forging a scrolling fork using volume, area, or weight calculations, a bending dog (horns), and a scrolling jig.
The third course is comprised of making the level IIA grille frame with mortice and tenon joints and upset square corners using two methods.
The fourth course includes making scrolling tongs and test scrolls with various finials for the level IIA grille project.
The fifth course includes making finished scrolls for the level IIA grille project and collar theory and tools. Assembly of the grille project will be expected in this course.
The sixth course includes making and using drifts of a given size and shape, bolster plates, and making calculations to determine stretch or shrinkage between punched holes in a bar.
The seventh course includes punching and drifting various shaped holes in a variety of stock cross sections.
The core lessons of level IIB are broken down into six courses.
The first course includes safety, making a hammer eye drift, and creating a general-purpose leafing hammer.
The second course includes crimping and leafing stakes and three cold chisels.
The third course includes benchwork with cold chiseling and filing and the creation of a top and bottom swage to be used for the welded collar in the Level III grille project center stile.
The fourth course is a practice session to perfect the techniques of welding half-round collar material to rectangular cross section bar stock as used in the level III grille project.
The fifth course includes making angled bolster plates and creating angled pass-throughs and making a ‘V’-shaped bolster swage.
The sixth course includes making a pair of box jaw tongs with forge welded reins.
When you sign up indicate which course you require as they will be taught concurrently on each Level I Monday class. Core lessons are 8 AM till 5 PM and cost $180. Lab time for that class will be the Tuesday immediately following and will be paid by the amount of time spent at $10/hr. The sign-up sheet for lab time will be available during class.
Refund, Transfer and Cancellation Policy
Please Note: A parent, guardian or responsible adult must be on site for students under 18 years of age for the duration of the class. Adults accompanying minors do not have to take the class, but they are welcome to if they wish.
After you have successfully registered for this class on PayPal by clicking on the Buy Now button below, PayPal should redirect you to a page “What You Need To Know Before Class”. This page contains some important information.
