California Scraping Class getting full

[Richard King]

Hey everybody. Just a quick report on the scraping and machine reconditioning class conducted By Richard King last weekend. The short version is that if you reading these words and you have the opportunity to take Richard's class, do it, you will learn a lot.
We had 3 full days that covered principles of scraping, hand scraping, machine scraping, and topics related to machine rebuilding and setup. Some of us were complete novices and some were accomplished machinists with decades of experience. But everybody learned to scrape -- although some of us need lots more practice... And there was time for one on one consulting on the topics and projects of most interest to each of us.

This link is a slideshow that will give an idea of some of the demonstrations and sights.

http://s739.photobucket.com/user/prboulay/slideshow/Richard King Machine Scraping Class

Thanks to Richard our instructor and Dad, to Jim for being the gracious host and to DH for pulling it all together.

Paul

Thanks Paul, Very kind of you to take the pictures and it was a pleasure teaching you. I wish I had tucked in my shirt and combed my hair....ha ha... It was a GREAT class, I just wish we would have had more time. But as I reach Jan's letter on the GA class thread... I am glad I can help you students start on a solid footing it should help all of you to begin your scraping adventures. Paul is a good friend of Jim our host and they are both Blacksmiths in CA and Jim mentioned he was doing a seminar on Blacksmithing this fall. I am sure if you PM Paul he can get you more info. In the pic's you can see Jim using his forging hammers in a demo he gave us making short bar of steel into a long sword. Very Cool. Jim is Journeyman Blacksmith and apprenticed in Germany where he also worked learning the trade. I will add some more info to this thread when I get a chance. Thanks again Paul....

 

[Ulma Doctor]

As a member of the Oakland class i was able to meet a great group of men that have the same intention, to learn.
Some had vast technical knowledge , others had little mechanical experience.
It made no difference what the background of the student was, anyone can be taught to scrape if they have the desire to learn.
I felt the class was well taught and very enjoyable.
there was volumes of information being exchanged, both by the teacher and the students.
Richard's general presence served as inspiration to all of the students.
He has a good natured personality and really cares about the individual.
He's able to convey a lot of information in a short amount of time.
His understanding of machinery can fill encyclopedias. He has the ability to make the class keep moving along and share tidbits of information as the class progresses.
i consider myself very lucky and would like to tell anyone who will listen to get involved with Richard's teachings even if it's just reading his posts on this forum. The wealth of information will enrich any project guaranteed.
i can't wait to see you out on the west coast again!!
Thanks Richard!!!)

 

[Richard King]

As a member of the Oakland class i was able to meet a great group of men that have the same intention, to learn.
Some had vast technical knowledge , others had little mechanical experience.
It made no difference what the background of the student was, anyone can be taught to scrape if they have the desire to learn.
I felt the class was well taught and very enjoyable.
there was volumes of information being exchanged, both by the teacher and the students.
Richard's general presence served as inspiration to all of the students.
He has a good natured personality and really cares about the individual.
He's able to convey a lot of information in a short amount of time.
His understanding of machinery can fill encyclopedias. He has the ability to make the class keep moving along and share tidbits of information as the class progresses.
i consider myself very lucky and would like to tell anyone who will listen to get involved with Richard's teachings even if it's just reading his posts on this forum. The wealth of information will enrich any project guaranteed.
i can't wait to see you out on the west coast again!!
Thanks Richard!!!)

Your quite welcome Mike.

Mike or the Doctor is a very nice guy and a great student. He helped with buying supplies out of the goodness of his heart and was a easy to teach student...I will add more about the class this coming weekend. Thanks to all the students, I really enjoyed teaching you! Rich

 

[Richard King]

Here are some pictures I took at the Oakland Scraping class.
We had a bunch of great guys. I want to thank my Friend and coordinator DH Mayeron who wears the orange hat for helping organize the 3 RD CA scraping class. He said if we have another group next spring he is ready to help do the 4th class. If any of you need live in CA and have some machine tool problems, need any engraving done, need any books on machine tools; Blacksmithing and wood working he can help you out. Mike (Ulma Doc) was a great help plus mastered scraping on day 2 and was working on his South Bend Compound. He also is a maintenance man on food processing equipment.

Paul struggled at first but again on Sunday he was helping the other guys especially he helped Gary put his band saw table he brought on 3-points and indicate it with the bridge straight-edge shown in the picture. He brought his own 1-2-3 blocks and several tools we used. He wears many hats as a machinist, computer programmer Blacksmith. He is a dynamite photographer too and thanks for taking all the pictures and helping.

Kurt is a Textbook (caught me with that one, ha ha) Engineer who consults with many large Bay area companies, he had some challenging questions for me and was a natural scraper, I designated him my assistant teacher and he had never scraped before. He scraped 30 + PPI by hand and power with ease. It took Ray a while to catch on, but on Sunday I was having him assist too, Gary who is a mold maker and he builds fiber columns that are inside casinos in Vegas and a Journeyman Wood-Worker who teaches class's to young students as he wants to pass on his knowledge also had some scraping issues, but on Sunday finally figured it out an started to work on his router table.

Mel who brought the Mini Mill had his own scrapers and straight-edge is a MD who got as many questions as he asked, ha ha. I rode back and forth to the hotel with Mel and he is a really nice guy, he told me he repaired roller coasters to help pay for Med school. If he doctors as good as he scrapes he will be famous someday. He caught on so fast.

I also want to thank John York a friend of DH who is a retired Journeyman Machinist and who owned his own job shop before he retired. He mentored us all and brought several of his straight-edges and Biax scraper / flaker. If anyone is in the Bay area needs some help I am sure if his health allows it he would help as he also wants to pass on his experience and knowledge. He is part of the older generation who you all should invite over to show you how. Our host Jim Austin is Journeyman Blacksmith and also teaches classes, He is an amazing man who apprenticed in Germany and worked there. He was another natural scraper and he scraped 30+ PPI. Do a search on You-Tube and he is there making a Viking AX head. His work is amazing. Thanks to all the students as I love teaching these classes. I just wish I could have taught you more. Rich




Jim Austin making a sword from a billet of steel he heated in his oven forge using his air operated hammer press.
PS: I also put in some photo's in the Cheapo Mill post. If any of the students took some more please share.