Corkscrews, the online class.- PHF

This is an online class. Stay home, use your tools.

Corkscrews, the online class.
Something dark and twisted

In this class we will make a corkscrew suited to opening even the finest of wines.

Unlike most modern, mass-produced, skinny little corkscrews, this design grabs a whole bunch of cork, not just the bit down the middle.
With one of these you will never find that, instead of removing it, you have just drilled a ragged hole in that piece of bark that's keeping you from your wine.

"You're going to have to change this design... It makes wine toooo accessible." - A.Z. (student who made a nice one. Then tested it.)

These make nice gifts (especially when you demonstrate that it really does work, on that bottle of nice wine you brought along).

The student must have: (please read this carefully)

Their own blacksmithing set up:

A forge, lit and running by the beginning of class, type is unimportant (being able to back-down a gas forge while we're talking would likely be good)

An anvil-like object with a relatively sharp, but not sharp sharp 90 degree edge.

A hammer, 1.5 to 2.5 pound, no larger.

A smaller hammer (~8oz)

Tongs to hold the stock straight at least, crosswise can be helpful.

A corkscrew opening tool. Description and instructions.
A bending 'U' would be useful but not vital
A bucket of Super Quench. Useful stuff, worth the time to get and make.
Eye and ear protection
Ear buds or somesuch that fit under your ear protection so that you can hear me while you're hammering.

A device that will run Zoom, has a camera, a microphone, and a decent 'net connection while in your work area.
The ability to move that device around the work space so I can watch you work from helpful angles. A photographer's tripod and some way to hold your device on it would be marvelous
Enough light. So both of us can see what you're doing
If you're willing to give a brief tour of your set-up before class, that'd be cool.

Materials

At least 14" of 1/4" round steel, preferably mild. 24" or longer is better.
If it's 18" or more long you won't *need* the stock-sized tongs.

Gift Certificates for Corkscrews, the online class. are available.

3 hours, one meeting dates&times

Instructor: Carl West
Fees: Participating $75. Auditing - Free, come see how it works.
Maximum 4 students

Prerequisite:

Required: A rapid Covid test that day, ideally just before class.

Students should have demonstrated skill at making long, very thin, round tapers.

Please wear proper clothing for visiting or working in the forge:
closed toe shoes (preferably leather, preferably high-topped. Sneakers are sufficient, sandals, crocs, pumps, mules... are not), natural fiber clothing, long pants that cover the tops of the shoes.
Click here for more safety information.

Dates and Times:
If none of the dates below work for you (or are already full), we suggest you
Add yourself to the Notification List for this class.
(The notification list gets emailed soon after classes are put on the schedule.)

This class is either:
- not upcoming on our schedule,
- or we've fallen behind in our clerical duties and not entered it in the database.
If you found it on our calendar page, we are planning to offer it on that date.

If you're interested in taking Corkscrews, the online class. and it's not on the calendar, please tell us using our Notification-List Page.

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