Joshua Swalec has literally forged his own career path. As proprietor of FerroMorphics Blacksmithing, Swalec's creations span both the pragmatic and imaginative, from customized designs for construction, including railings and gates, to swords that reflect the utmost in craftsmanship.
Swalec's fascination began on a tour of Worcester Vocational High School, where he studied welding. Last year, Swalec installed decorative pillars at the entrance of the Worcester Center for Crafts, funded by a grant, and a representation of public art. Now, Swalec has over 20 years of experience and affiliations with blacksmithing professionals, continuing an age-old profession that maintains a place of evolution in the modern world. fastners
Tell me more about FerroMorphics.
So, we specialize in custom metal work of all types ... we do a lot of custom architectural metal work, railings, that sort of thing, for local builders and homeowners. And I also have my bladesmithing divisions, where I have gotten into knives and swords and that sort of thing as well ... I did some high-end craft shows in the past, but I've kind of moved away from that since COVID.
My passion is custom chef's knives ... Damascus steel, pattern-welded steel, hand-forged goods. I have a few employees, I have interns from the Dynamy program (a gap year program).
I went to Worcester Vocational High School and studied welding there. Ever since, I've been trying to make this into a real business.
What was it that attracted you to this kind of work?
Well, I really wanted to learn ... useful skills, like how to make tools, how to be able to make whatever I want, and welding seemed like a good avenue for that. Really, when I was touring the voke school, it seemed the most fun. You get to work with fire and metal, and I wanted to do something creative, not the normal kind of work.
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What for you is the artistic part?
Well, you know, being able to be on my own ideas, and design with all the technical aspects, is pretty interesting to me. Last year, we put on a bladesmith show at the Worcester Center for Crafts. (Another show is set for April.) I feel part of our job is to inspire people by making cool stuff. Basically, there will be eight or 10 other local bladesmiths in this gallery show, all from Massachusetts and Rhode Island, of Blackstone Valley. There was one last April as well. It's all swords and knives, all custom made.
For swords and knives, what are some of the things you make?
Well, I'm a little new to the swordsmithing. It's a whole other level from knife making ... I'm really inspired by the geometric design that is inherent in it, from medieval times, even. It's like its own real art form. To me, it's the highest level of making things. It has to be proportional. It has to be functional, and it has to be beautiful. So, this is where I am really interested in where the art and craft intersect.
Is your business your full-time endeavor?
That is mainly building railings and architectural metal work (with) custom builders, high-end landscapers, that kind of thing, final design and build. My real-life goal is to have all those kinds of standard contracts pay for my shop, and the tools, so I am able to do art.
We know the real estate and construction market can go up and down. Does that have impact on the ability to keep business stable?
It does, a bit. It really depends on my client base. I've been really trying to stay on my high-end client base ... they always have money to build some kind of out-there railing, that the average homeowner would not be building. I like to build some nice railings for my friends in Worcester. It's nice to do both.
Tell me about safety. What is involved?
Well, I will say that I have mostly transitioned to burning propane instead of coal. It is a lot cleaner. Coal is pretty outdated now. So we need a lot of ventilation, for all the dust. I wear prescription safety glasses all the time ... so I am definitely aware of the need for the safety gear.
Have you ever had any accidents?
injection moulding I have, actually, most from the same die-grinder tool. Twice, I've had a chip of metal stuck in my eye, and I had to have it removed at the hospital. We always have a lot of orientation on that.