Trainer Notes

Steps 7-9 of this session involve having the participants role-play local blacksmiths. An effective option to this role-play situation would be to invite a few local blacksmiths to observe the demonstrations and ask questions, make comments, etc.

Trainer Notes

* Circulate among the teams and offer advice and assistance whenever necessary.

* It is important to allow participants to work as independently as possible so that they can practice and sharpen their skills.

Trainer Notes

* Before beginning the demonstration, briefly explain the procedures to be followed and remind participants to observe carefully.

* During the demonstration, mention and point out the following important techniques:

- calculating materials necessary for eye hook and link
- forging a small eye by wrapping it around bar stock
- tapering the hook end
- bending of hook end to complete eye
- forging of lap joints on link stock
- bending of stock into link

* Following the demonstration, take a few minutes to ask participants to review and clarify the techniques which they observed.

Trainer Notes

Explain that each team in Group #1 should make one eye hook using one piece of straightened spring (or ½" round bar) and that each team in Group #2 should make one lap link using one piece of 3/8" or 5/16" round bar or spring.

Trainer Notes

Offer guidance whenever necessary and point out any potentially | I unsafe practices which may occur.

Trainer Notes

* Write their responses on posted newsprint

* Stimulate discussion and participation by asking:

- What kinds of communication aids would be appropriate for local blacksmiths (i.e., models, prototypes, pictures, etc.)

- What techniques could be used to stimulate the interest, cooperation, and participation of local blacksmiths?

- What techniques could be used to overcome cultural barriers which may exist between local blacksmiths and foreign development workers?

- How could local traders and farmers benefit from an availability of rings, hooks, or links?

Trainer Notes

* Explain that Group #1 will present a demonstration of the proper procedures for making an eye hook while Group #2 observes and takes the role of local blacksmiths. Then, Group #2 will demonstrate the proper method of making an overlap link while Group #1 observes and role-plays local blacksmiths.

* Point out that each demonstration should last approximately 20 minutes and should include time for questions from the observers.

Trainer Notes

As the groups are working, circulate among them and remind them | of the factors which they identified in Step 6.

Trainer Notes

During each demonstration, it is important that the trainer take the role of a local blacksmith and that he/she set the climate and tone of the role-play situation by asking questions which relate to the list of factors discussed in Step 6.

Trainer Notes

Stimulate discussion by asking:

- What aspects of the demonstrations were particularly effective? Why?
- How could those aspects of the demonstrations which seemed ineffective be improved?
- Which techniques seemed easy to demonstrate? Why?
- Which techniques seemed difficult to demonstrate? Why?

Trainer Notes

Explain that the rings forged during this session will be used to practice brazing in Session 11.

Trainer Notes

* As the teams are working, provide assistance when necessary by reminding them of the cold-cutting techniques demonstrated in Session 4.

* Again, stress the importance of the proper use of the cold cutter and cutting plate to protect the face of the anvil.

Trainer Notes

* During the demonstration, point out the following techniques:

- heating of stock to proper color/temperature forming of lap
- hammering
- use of anvil horn to form ring
- determining the proper length of the stock

* Have them identify and discuss those techniques which are common to the making of an eye hook or link.

Trainer Notes

* Provide assistance and suggestions whenever necessary.

* As teams finish forging their rings, have them assist others who may be experiencing difficulty.

Trainer Notes

Prior to this session, it will be necessary to assemble and prepare for distribution a collection of examples of various types of welds (see Trainer Notes, Step 2).

Trainer Notes

* Point out that there are several ways to weld but that, essentially, the process is one of bonding metal together using heat.

* Also, explain that brazing and soldering are welding methods that require the use of a third metal as a binder.

Trainer Notes

* Among the examples distributed, be certain to include demonstration samples of forge welding, gas and electric welding, brazing and soldering.

* In discussing each type of weld, ask participants who have had experience with welding to:

- identify and name the type of weld
- describe the process involved and the equipment necessary
- give examples of how and where each type is most often used:
- discuss fluxes, bonding metals and temperatures
- explain why one type of weld may be preferable to another
- Describe various kinds of joints (i.e., lap,, but, vee)

Trainer Notes

* Some questions to stimulate discussion include:

- What similarities/differences exist between processes used by local blacksmiths and those discussed here?
- What cultural and/or economic factors influence the welding practices of local blacksmiths?

Trainer Notes

* Remind participants of the discussion from the previous steps and have them describe and explain why braze welding could be a viable technique for local blacksmiths.

* Ask them to identify some local uses for braze welds (e.g., repairing).

Trainer Notes

* During the demonstration, it is important to point out and explain the following techniques:

- cleaning of joint with wire brush after heating and before fluxing
- proper control of heat
- placement of flux
- use of the flux spoon
- placement and handling of brass rod
- testing the weld for strength
- determining when brazing heat has been reached
- results of over-heating

* Before proceeding to the next step, be certain that participants understand the procedures and techniques involved.

Trainer Notes

Provide assistance and suggestions whenever necessary.

Trainer Notes

* Have work groups describe any difficulties which they experienced and share ideas about ways to overcome them.

* Depending on the amount of time remaining in the session, it may also be useful to demonstrate how forge brazing can be used to repair a broken tool or implement.

Trainer Notes

* Prior to this session, it will be necessary to:

- write on newsprint a list of the basic blacksmithing techniques practiced up to this point in the training (see Step 2)

- assemble an ample supply of the equipment and materials necessary to practice these techniques (see Step 4).

Trainer Notes

* Remind participants that this is the mid-point of the training and that it is useful to spend time reflecting upon and evaluating the effectiveness of the program to date.

* Explain that participants should take this opportunity to suggest ways in which the program could be improved so as to take better advantage of the days remaining.

Trainer Notes

* Post on newsprint a list of basic techniques practiced to date, including:

- fire building
- fire maintenance
- safety procedures
- heating
- hammering
- drawing out
- cutting (hot and cold)
- bending
- upsetting
- punching
- grinding
- tempering
- measuring
- annealing
- proper use of tools
- brazing

* Referring to the posted list, ask the following questions:

- With which skills do you feel most comfortable? Why?
- Which skills do you feel you would like to practice more? Why?

* Explain that these techniques will continue to be used and practiced during the remainder of the program and encourage those participants that are comfortable with certain techniques to offer assistance to others who are not.

Trainer Notes

* Stimulate discussion by asking:

- Do you feel that the training has been effective in bringing out the issues and complexities involved in working with local blacksmiths? Why?
- What training techniques has the trainer used that have been particularly helpful?
- What could the trainer do to improve his/her training techniques?
- Which sessions have been effective, ineffective - why?
- What are some things that the participants could do to improve the effectiveness of the training?

* Encourage participants to be specific in their responses.

* Record on newsprint some of their suggestions and explain how they can be implemented during the remainder of program.

Trainer Notes

* Allow participants the opportunity to finish projects or practice skills and techniques of their choosing.

* Circulate among the groups. Help to locate materials. Offer assistance whenever necessary, being careful not to intervene to the point of inhibiting the freedom of experimentation and/or independent problem-solving.

* For those participants experiencing particular difficulty with certain techniques, it may be useful to repeat some of the basic demonstrations done earlier in the training.