Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Hi I'm David Burress, owner and headsmith of Calerin Forge and just wanted to introduce
myself to you and tell you a little bit about our business. I was born at the base of Cold
Mountain in Haywood County North Carolina. Grew up around the metal working shop with
my Dad and brothers. We had a welding shop right near the house. Been working with metal
about as long as I can remember. I studied fine arts at Western Carolina University,
had to turn to welding to support the family and later on got into blacksmithing as a way
to indulge my creative nature and still be working with metal. Been working..been smithing
for over 20 years. I've been, I was one of the first blacksmiths hired for the Biltmore
House historic horse barn when they opened that up. I've been the blacksmith for the
Village of Yesteryear at the state fair in Raleigh and my son and I teach at John C.
Campbell Folk School every year for their Scottish heritage week. A blacksmithing course
out there. My heritage may not stretch back to Tubal-cain but my Grandfather was the smith
for the Pine Log community. He was the blacksmith, coffin maker and cabinet maker. So let's go
inside and we'll get you started smithing.