Events and Exhibitions
Requests from craft fairs and our desire to share these vanishing skills has lead us to offer on-site demonstrations and teaching programs. Please talk to us about special projects and events or view our videos online (coming soon)
Schedule of Events for 2019
Woodworking Meeting
2nd Tuesday of the month from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Location: Various locations
Monthly meeting of the Southwest Michigan Woodworking guild.
Open Forge Night
3rd Tuesday of the month from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Location: Tillers International
Jim Slining hosts this event. You can bring a project or glean information from other blacksmiths.
Annual Plow Day Open House
May 4
Location: Tillers International
Tools for Coopering
April 25-26 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Tillers International
Many of the specialty tools of the cooper are hard to find, new or used. Learn to make your own using basic blacksmithing and machining skills.
Coopering Piggins
June 1-2 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Tillers International
Using hand tools only, the student will make a piggin using a shaving horse, draw knife, croze, inshave, hollowing knife, floor jointer, and hoop driver.
Northern Ohio Blacksmiths (NOB)
May 4-6
Location: Auglaise Village in Defiance, Ohio
Early American Industries Association (EAIA)
May 15-18
Location: Lowell, Massachusetts
This meeting is held in different locations each year.
Vicksburg Car Show
June 8
Location: Downtown Vicksburg, Michigan
Not only is there a display of antique cars, there is also a bean pot off the main street. Bean soup is served around 11:00-11:30 a.m. Donations are welcomed.
Coopering Barrels
June 19-23 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Tillers International
In this class students complete a 5 gallon barrel (Pin Keg) with white oak. The student needs to take a coopering buckets or piggin class as a prerequisite.
Kalamazoo Valley Antique Engine/Machinery Show
June 14-16
Location: Tillers International
There is a different “feature” tractor every year but all makes and models are welcomed. This year’s “feature” tractor is the doodlebug. The show features tractor machinery displays, small engine displays, vintage garden tractors, large flea market, daily tractor parade, children’s play area and much more.
Horse Progress Days
July 5-6
Location: Arthur, Illinois
This year the show will be held in . Horse-drawn machinery is featured at this show. There is also a flea market.
Midwest Tool Collectors Assoc. Meet & Auction
July 14
Location: Tillers International
ODPC Funfest
July 18-20
Location: Evart, Michigan
This is the largest hammered dulcimer festival in Michigan. The Original Dulcimer Players Club (ODPC) sponsors this event. Workshops are being held every day with well-known players teaching them. There is jamming all hours of the day and night along with concerts, and a vendor area.
Indiana State Fair
August 2-18
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
At the fair there is an area called the pioneer village. Crafts of old times are presented here. There is music, candle making, wooden bowl making, blacksmithing, coopering, and wheelwriting among other activities.
Allegan County Fair
September 6-14
Location: Allegan, Michigan
Even though this is a relatively small fair there is an area called the historical village which includes an old church brought down from the upper peninsula, an old school house, doctors office, blacksmith shop and more.
Southern Ohio Forge and Anvil (SOFA)
September 21-22
Location: Tip City, Ohio fairgrounds
There are blacksmithing demonstrations by famous blacksmiths, a flea market selling all kinds of blacksmithing equipment and more.
Coopering Buckets
October 11-12
Location: Tillers International
The student will learn to make a bucket with hand tools only. The student will use a shaving horse, draw knife, croze, inshave, hollowing knife, floor jointer, and hoop driver.
Coopering Tools II
October 10-11
Location: Tillers International
Many of the specialty tools of the cooper are hard to find, new or used. In this class the student will make tools for making barrels which include floor jointer, hoop driver, froe, and rivet set.
Production Barrel Making – CANCELED
October 24-28 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Tillers International
Make barrels using machinery such as power joiners, planers, table saws, band saws, and routers. Each student will leave with a 15 gallon barrel. This is an excellent class for the small-size artisanal cooper. PREREQUISITE: coopering barrels or equivalent experience.