Been taking classes in Blacksmithing and today was the first hands-on lesson.
Very cool stuff -- I have always done a lot of woodworking but never got into metal very much until a couple years ago when I bought a small wire welder (MIG).
Been getting more into welding -- a larger MIG and then a Plasma Torch (which uses Nikola Tesla's work!) and a TIG welder.
Our county offers blacksmithing classes twice/year and I finally had the time to take one. Being able to move and shape a bar of metal with a few hammer-blows is a lot of fun.
Making things at a very primal level...
This of course could just be the latest bottom-feeding lawyer scam, but I'd be worried a bit about the welding gas/manganese/Parkinson's nexus.
Source:
http://www.scif.com/safety/losscontrol/Article.asp?ArticleID=315