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BUTTE — Hot forges, red-hot steel and the sound of hammers clattering will be present at Montana Tech’s 100-year steel program.
“And it’s good! It’s really fun and it’s a great opportunity for other students to meet,” said Montana Tech graduate student Morgan Ashbaugh.
Ashbaugh launched the Blacksmith and Caster Club in 2019 to give students the opportunity to apply what they have learned using high-heat, anvil and hammer tools. A group was hammering old railroad tracks to make knives.
“Your arm hurts after a day’s work. It’s definitely a workout,” Ashbaugh said.
Tech student Spencer Toomey said the blacksmith club convinced him to change his major.
“I originally came for mechanical engineering, but during the tour, they showed me this lab and I said, ‘You know what, I think metallurgy would be interesting.’ So, I decided to join metal, and a great decision so far. I like it,” said Tommy.
Web site extra: Tech students demonstrate and discuss blacksmithing.
WATCH: Student blacksmiths in action at Montana Tech.
Unlike a chess club, this club requires protective equipment from the forge at temperatures of up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit and striking the molten metal with heavy hammers.
“I dropped one of the knives earlier. If that hits me, it’s sure not going to be anything, it’s just going to come out, so you don’t want to do this with just a T-shirt,” Seager told Netvig.
“It’s also great as a great stress reliever, like you’ve had a really bad day in chem and then you come out here and hit some iron. Great! I love it,” added Tommy.
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