Chaudywogbaaga

I have an apprentice in metalworking. A young man that likes the idea of being able to make things out of steel, aluminum and brass. For a long time we’ve talked about metalwork and he’s helped me with blacksmithing projects. He always talked about getting some kind of forge or foundry set up. I sometimes wondered if he ever would but he’s a very determined young man so I feel it’s just a matter of time.

In fact his hesitancy is very much like my own initial fears. I turned to the internet and sites like backyardmetalcasting.com and didn’t make a move until I was sure I understood. He is doing the same, only I am his information source instead of the internet. I’m an information aggregator for him. I’m also quite sure that some of the things I’ve tried to explain to him were just as incomprehensible as when I tried to learn them through pictures and text (with the occasional video).

Well, today he surpassed me in a way. Even though it was his first cast, he found a practical use for his casting. Something I have not done. Sure I love my castings and I’m proud of them but they’re mostly art. Not really practical. His casting was to replace a part on his car. It wasn’t a big part, but it saved him thirty dollars and that’s more than all my metalwork has earned me.