Forge welder enthusiasts came together for a night of forge welding. Junior Industrial Technology major (left) heated up his rod to the correct temperature  to properly weld.
The Lion's Roar/William Schmidt

Forge welding enthusiasts came together with the purpose of having an opportunity to take a hand at what some consider a dying art. 

The student chapter of the American Welding Society, Baton Rouge chapter of the American Welding Society and Gulf Coast Blacksmith Association met in Fayard Hall Room 107 on Apr. 19 at 5 p.m. to hear a presentation by junior industrial technology major Austin Magee before heading to the east side of the Anzalone Hall to get a first-hand experience at forge welding. 

“I first started talking to the students and trying to find out what their interest was,” said Instructor of Computer Science and Industrial Technology Anthony Blakeney. “We had a few of the guys that were really getting into the forging. I spoke to Austin Magee, who is our presenter tonight, I asked if he could give a presentation and once he agreed to that, he proposed it to the Baton Rouge part of the welding society. They loved the idea. They wanted to have a meeting here in Hammond rather than Baton Rouge.”

The Baton Rouge section of the American Welding Society was pleased that a student was going to lead the evening’s affairs.

“They were excited that a student was giving the presentation,” said Blakeney. “They like to see the student involvement. The students participating and not just going over there and watching.”

Though the university does not focus primarily on forge welding in the Industrial Technology Department, it is still an important concept for people pursuing an IT degree.

“The American Welding Society, one of their national movements is to push the knowledge of welding,” said Blakeney. “That is not to say here at Southeastern that we are trying to put out only welders. The vast of what I teach in IT 256 is that I teach them going into management and supervisor positions. But they still need to know the welding procedure.”

Though forge welding may be outdated due to modern technology, it is still an important concept for today. 

“People think it is something that is old and gone and there is no need for it anymore,” said Magee. “Truth is, go look under your car, go look under your truck and see how many parts there are. Most of the stress-bearing parts under your vehicle are forged because forging is still one of the best ways to save metal, because of the way it moves the grains.”

Other forge welders at the event believe that the past is extremely important to remember. 

“For me personally, I enjoying forging because it is the old way we did things,” said junior drafting and design technology major Thomas Smith. “We won’t have technology forever and if people don’t get their hands dirty, that art will be lost. It is up to people like us to get out there and keep it alive.” 

The night of forging gave a chance for a younger generation to learn from elders who were eager to pass on their knowledgeable skill as forge welders. 

“The people that are aging are passing their skills to us at these kind of meetings,” said Smith. “We aren’t going to get this kind of learning at the university. We don’t have the facilities to. We don’t have the budget. We do forging in here for only a week. This is beneficial for the students. This is beneficial for those needing to get their name out there for who may be hiring us; so it is a win-win for everybody.”

Even if forge welding is not something everybody may be interested in, Smith wanted the students of Southeastern to know that it is okay to try something new, experience a lost art that you may know nothing about or seek out a hobby that isn’t sitting behind a computer.

“Get your hands dirty,” said Smith. “Life is too short to be staying clean all the time. This isn’t going to hurt you. Do anything in moderation, under the right safety guidelines, just like this.”