Classes

Summer 2013 July 15 to 19 or July 22 to 26 --Let me know if you could make one or the other ! When I have 2 students to commit to a class I will schedule it and then add up to 2 more for a max of 4 students. Please let me know As Soon As Possible if you can make a date and I will firm it up as I can. Give a call if you need more info. Thanks--Jim-417-865-5953 I anticipate giving engraving classes is Australia and Europe as we travel to one or the other continent each year. If you are from these regions and are interested in classes, please email or call !! Please let me know to add you to my "Class" E-mail list to keep you updated on new classes or Used Engraving Tools I come across Regular class are $950 and you need not bring a thing--I have5 benches of tools and every engraving tool known to man. Each class is limited to just 4 students (Minumum of 2) so reserve early. A deposit of $100 will hold your seat. Check my web site, Email or call me if you need more info. Private classes are available depending on schedules at $400 a day (4 days to cover what I would like). Thanks !!!---Jim


The New Shop with 4 work stations	I have always had an aptitude for teaching and conveying information well and have shared what I have learned over the years with many on an informal basis. In 1992 the old gentleman who taught me engraving, Tilden Swenson of Little Rock, died. Wanting to continue Tilden's legacy, I put a shop together for lessons and now offer them, on a regular basis, to others with the desire to learn this enduring craft.
I hold classes of one week with 2 to 4 students. Scheduling will be very flexible depending on both our commitments. The tools used are Steve Lindsay's Palmcontrol and Classic foot control handpieces , The Glendo Corporation's Gravermach as well as the new EnSet tool. All tools and equipment will be supplied for your use. Classes will generally be held Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm in my shop in Springfield, Missouri. The cost of a 5 day group class is $950. A deposit of $100 will reserve your seat with the balance being paid when you arrive. Motels and restaurants are very inexpensive in Springfield and are near by the shop, as is Branson for your evening entertainment. Additional information will be mailed to you when you reserve your seat.	Gregory, a student from New York in March 2008
Cathy, a student from Missouri in March 2008	The classes will cover in detail: Tools sharpening bits layout and design of script cutting script layout and design of scroll cutting scroll border design and cutting background work We will also touch on: Inlay bluing and plating push engraving metal preparation chasing (hammer and chisel) scrimshaw *Travel and hotel info for Springfield*can be found on-line www.springfieldmo.org/
Hi Jim, Just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you again for sharing your engraving techniques and experiences in class last week. I was pleasantly surprised by the wealth of information you were able to supply us with in such a short time frame. I had been a researching about a year for equipment, information and classes and had actually decided on a different course when I happened upon your website. I liked the fact that you offered multiple engraving systems so we could try each without a "hard sell, have to have" approach. I also liked the fact your classes were not more that four students at a time so I knew there would be plenty of one on one instruction. What I hadn't counted on was your ability to teach. After viewing your picture gallery I could see you are a very talented gun engraver but many times talented craftsmen are not good teachers. I was pleasantly surprised. You are a great teacher! You have a wonderful way of offering encouragement and constructive criticism at the same time. As a beginning student, those words inspire me to work harder for perfection. Your syllabus is also well suited for beginners. You introduce the concept, show us how, allow us to try, then built on that concept to the next. By the end of the week we have enough information and practice to move forward on our own. The rest is up to us. Thanks again! Tonya Mcfarland	Tonya, a student from Missouri
Jim O'Hanlon, A student from Florida in Nov. 2008	Dear Jim, First of all, thank you for your hospitality. I enrolled in your beginning engraving course several months ago, I knew you a little bit from meeting you at shows, but I really did not know what to expect. You created a warm atmosphere in your home and made all of us students feel welcome and relaxed. I have never touched engraving tools before this class. Your teaching skills used classic adult learning principles: first, you showed us how to do it and how to draw the design, then you had us do it and draw the design, then had us do it some more! Your style is encouraging, but realistic. If we did not get it right, you told us to ‘do it over’ and that after a few thousand times……. We all made mistakes and you helped us learn from them. I goofed on sharpening a tool with too much heel, saw the results, then you coached me on cutting it correctly and seeing the results. We all came away with examples of our work and I know that there is a lot of practice involved. The best part of your course was that you made us all do the basic cuts, letters, numbers, shapes, and then you took us to scroll. That put it all together on the last few days. In addition, I knew nothing about inlay, scrimshaw, and about transferring design. You taught it all in basic form. We even learned chasing and other techniques (which made us appreciate the modern equipment even more). I really enjoyed the range of equipment you had available: GRS's Gravermeister and Gravermax along with Lindsay's foot and palm control engraving tools. We got to try them all and decide which we liked the most. My personal thanks to you for selling me your used equipment at reasonable cost. That , in addition to your ‘real world list of what you need’, the reference materials, and the simple but most important drawings of scroll cuts, leaf cuts, and their order of cut really made it clear to me the ‘how to’s’. Thanks for offering to be a continuing coach and give honest feedback. I hope to practice a lot and send you some plates someday for your critique. Thanks again to you, Nancy, and Tater for the hospitality and good learning experience. Sincerely, Jim O’Hanlon

photo of Jim's workshop

The New Shop with 4 work stations

Class background

I have always had an aptitude for teaching and conveying information well and have shared what I have learned over the years with many on an informal basis. In 1992 the old gentleman who taught me engraving, Tilden Swenson of Little Rock, died. Wanting to continue Tilden's legacy, I put a shop together for lessons and now offer them, on a regular basis, to others with the desire to learn this enduring craft.

Details

I hold classes of one week with 2 to 4 students. Scheduling will be very flexible depending on both our commitments. The tools used are Steve Lindsay's Palmcontrol and Classic foot control handpieces , The Glendo Corporation's Gravermach as well as the new EnSet tool. All tools and equipment will be supplied for your use. Classes will generally be held Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm in my shop in Springfield, Missouri. The cost of a 5 day group class is $950. A deposit of $100 will reserve your seat with the balance being paid when you arrive. Motels and restaurants are very inexpensive in Springfield and are near by the shop, as is Branson for your evening entertainment. Additional information will be mailed to you when you reserve your seat.

Gregory

Gregory, a student from New York in March 2008

Cathy

Cathy, a student from Missouri in March 2008

The classes will cover in detail:

Tools
sharpening bits
layout and design of script
cutting script
layout and design of scroll
cutting scroll
border design and cutting
background work

We will also touch on:

Inlay
bluing and plating
push engraving
metal preparation
chasing (hammer and chisel)
scrimshaw

Travel and hotel info for Springfieldcan be found on-line www.springfieldmo.org/

Hi Jim,

Just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you again for sharing your engraving techniques and experiences in class last week. I was pleasantly surprised by the wealth of information you were able to supply us with in such a short time frame.

I had been a researching about a year for equipment, information and classes and had actually decided on a different course when I happened upon your website. I liked the fact that you offered multiple engraving systems so we could try each without a "hard sell, have to have" approach. I also liked the fact your classes were not more that four students at a time so I knew there would be plenty of one on one instruction. What I hadn't counted on was your ability to teach. After viewing your picture gallery I could see you are a very talented gun engraver but many times talented craftsmen are not good teachers. I was pleasantly surprised. You are a great teacher! You have a wonderful way of offering encouragement and constructive criticism at the same time. As a beginning student, those words inspire me to work harder for perfection. Your syllabus is also well suited for beginners. You introduce the concept, show us how, allow us to try, then built on that concept to the next. By the end of the week we have enough information and practice to move forward on our own. The rest is up to us.

Thanks again!

Tonya Mcfarland

Tonya

Tonya, a student from Missouri

Jim O'Hanlon, A student from Florida in Nov. 2008

Dear Jim,
    First of all, thank you for your hospitality. I enrolled in your beginning engraving course several months ago, I knew you a little bit from meeting you at shows, but I really did not know what to expect. You created a warm atmosphere in your home and made all of us students feel welcome and relaxed.
    I have never touched engraving tools before this class. Your teaching skills used classic adult learning principles: first, you showed us how to do it and how to draw the design, then you had us do it and draw the design, then had us do it some more! Your style is encouraging, but realistic. If we did not get it right, you told us to ‘do it over’ and that after a few thousand times…….
    We all made mistakes and you helped us learn from them. I goofed on sharpening a tool with too much heel, saw the results, then you coached me on cutting it correctly and seeing the results. We all came away with examples of our work and I know that there is a lot of practice involved.
    The best part of your course was that you made us all do the basic cuts, letters, numbers, shapes, and then you took us to scroll. That put it all together on the last few days. In addition, I knew nothing about inlay, scrimshaw, and about transferring design. You taught it all in basic form. We even learned chasing and other techniques (which made us appreciate the modern equipment even more).
    I really enjoyed the range of equipment you had available: GRS's Gravermeister and Gravermax along with Lindsay's foot and palm control engraving tools. We got to try them all and decide which we liked the most.
    My personal thanks to you for selling me your used equipment at reasonable cost. That , in addition to your ‘real world list of what you need’, the reference materials, and the simple but most important drawings of scroll cuts, leaf cuts, and their order of cut really made it clear to me the ‘how to’s’.
    Thanks for offering to be a continuing coach and give honest feedback. I hope to practice a lot and send you some plates someday for your critique. Thanks again to you, Nancy, and Tater for the hospitality and good learning experience.
Sincerely,
Jim O’Hanlon


Artist Bio	Gallery of Guns	Show Schedule	Pricing	Demos	Scrimshaw	Knives	Engraving Classes	Gunsmithing	Links	Contact

Artist Bio

Gallery of Guns

Show Schedule

Pricing

Demos

Scrimshaw

Knives

Engraving Classes

Gunsmithing

Links

Contact