We run a variety of courses and workshops from both our own workshop and other venues. If you would like more details about a course, or to discuss the possibility of arranging one of our courses near you, please get in touch
STRAWBALE BUILDING COURSE
Why straw bales?
Straw bale construction has many advantages.
Straw is widely available and a by- product of crop production. It’s affordable and renewable, and carries a far smaller carbon footprint than more commonly used building methods.
Straw bales are incredibly insulating and make exceedingly energy efficient buildings. A straw bale construction will save you money not only in the initial building costs, but year after year with its insulating properties.
Straw is also a beautiful and versatile building material. Allowing for the incorporation of curves and shapes, and deep window recesses.
Ironshirt Straw bale Course
An exciting and hands on course to equip you with the knowledge and experience to build with this ecological and versatile resource. Covering aspects including;
*Foundations
*Wall raising, pinning, and roof plates
*Electricity and plumbing
*Windows and doors
*Plastering and rendering using lime
The course venue is in the beautiful countryside of North Devon, close to both beaches and the moors.
The full 3 day course is £230, with an option to do just one or two days at £85 for one day or £160 for two days.
Our next course will be 22nd -24th Feb. please contact us for more information.
There is also the possibility of courses for groups in other areas. Please contact us for more information on this.
TWO DAY STOVE BUILDING COURSE DESIGNED FOR THE COMPLETE BEGINNER OR NOVICE.
Design your own stove (or we can do that for you using our basic template), and we will supply and prepare materials to your specifications.
The course will cover a basic introduction to cutting and grinding steel, introduction and instruction in simple MIG welding, and tuition and assistance in the building of your wood burning stove.
By the end of the course you will have a fully functional stove designed to meet your personal needs and aesthetic.
Most of all however, you will have a fantastic stove that can be used for generations, built by you.
Classic stove with extra special legs!
We also offer stove building kits tailored to your requirements. These may include; stove body with door hole cut out, baffle, hot plate, flue outlet collar, door with or without small window, air inlet of your choice, legs of your choice, door hinges and latch. The kits offer would be metal workers the opportunity to purchase in kit form all the components to assemble their own wood burning stove to a tried and tested design without having to find the steel stock, or have access to sophisticated cutting equipment.
INTRODUCTION TO WOOD AND METAL SCULPTURE
A one or two day course designed for the novice or beginner, giving you the opportunity to experiment with a varied range of materials in a professional workshop.
With tuition from Grant Oatley, an accomplished sculptor and craftsman, you will be shown how to cut, bend, weld and join steel, and how to cut, shape, join and finish wood.
You will be encouraged to develop the necessary skills to create your own unique piece using a huge scrap store of varied and interesting materials.
Available equipment includes plasma cutter, mig welder, angle grinder, drill press, rivet guns, chainsaws, bench saw, hand saws, jigsaws, sand blaster, blow torch, carving tools, routers, belt sanders and disc sanders.
Grant Oatley has worked as an artist and fabricator for 30 years, and has designed and produced many works of art and buildings. Over the last ten years Grant has run many successful courses in stove building, carpentry and straw bale building.