Strike While the Iron is Hot - Shane Brown

The Arts Strike While the Iron Is Hot

Blacksmithing with Shane Brown

Rabun native, Shane Brown won’t call himself a blacksmith, but he is blacksmithing. “I think that’s a title you earn, and I still have a lot to learn,” Shane told me during an interview. “This is a hobby for me. It’s a lot of fun and I am just piddlin’ with it. I am working in a traditional way. I use a hammer and anvil and a forge that I fabricated. I knew what I wanted so I designed it on a piece of paper, cut it out and took it to a friend to weld, and my forge works right well.” He continued, “I make one thing and another, for my wife Lisa.” It was something he made for Lisa that got my attention. A single rose for Valentine’s Day. “I knew he was working on something for a few days, but I didn’t know what it was,” Lisa said, “not until he walked in and gave it to me. I love it!”

Many people today are teaching themselves through YouTube and that is where Shane is learning blacksmithing techniques. Blacksmithing was a common practice before the industrial revolution when most towns had their own town blacksmith shop. In the late 1800s, factories and mass-production reduced the demand for smithed tools and hardware. It is regaining popularity, changing from a necessary skill to an artisanal craft. Today’s blacksmiths create works of art with hammer and fire, and men like Shane are keeping traditional techniques alive. The fundamentals of blacksmithing have remained greatly unchanged in the last 200 years. Of course today there are gas powered and electric tools but Shane prefers the original way. When you forge metal, you heat it in the forge to hammer and bend it into your desired shape. Forging temperature and hammering processes depend on the type of material you are working with and the object you plan to create. “Depending on what I am making I adjust the way I do it to move the metal. There is a different process for making hinges than making a knife. I made a knife just because I had an interest in it. I showed it to my mom, Mary Brown, and she examined it and said ‘thank you son’ and that was that.” he said with a chuckle. When Shane is not working at his job or around the house he tries to find time to spend in the shop “piddling”. He and Lisa have two daughters, Zöe and Caroline and two sons Levi and R.C.. Both of the boys are married and the Browns have five grandchildren. A couple of the kids like to “hang out” with Papaw in the shop and seem to exhibit some interest. Shane’s oldest daughter Zöe is very artistic as well. As life slows down and the kids grow up, we find time to explore hobbies and things we want to do. That’s exactly what is happening and even though Shane says it is often trial and error, he sure is enjoying it. Shane is available to chat about a project or idea you might have and is willing to tackle commissioned pieces. He continues to learn and develop his techniques. I think great blacksmiths would agree that you never stop learning. If you’d like to speak with Shane please call 706-982-0202.