Today we’d like to introduce you to Dylan Runnion.
Dylan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a metalsmith and woodworker. From an early age, I was passionate about building and creating objects. Some of my earliest memories consist of taking apart my toys to study the intricacies of their inner workings and challenging myself to reassemble them. Growing older I moved to dissembling large “toys”, taking apart the family lawnmower and other appliances. Though this drove my parents crazy, they understood the important lessons I was learning while making things from these random parts. I was interested in woodworking from an early age and grew my collection of tools and skills throughout the years. I really started to hone my craft at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts where I graduated from in 2016.
I initially entered school fascinated with printmaking but was encouraged to take a class outside of my comfort zone so I decided to take a small metals/ Jewelry class. This eventually led to metal sculpture and welding, before I finally was introduced to blacksmithing and was completely enthralled. I studied historical metalsmithing techniques, constantly checking out books from the library on old hardware and hand tools and trying to replicate these objects. After I graduated, I moved back to Topsfield MA, a historic and quiet little town north of Boston. I have since been recreating antique hardware for older homes and historic landmarks in the area, as well as creating custom furniture and other architectural elements for my clients. One of my favorites is a door handle for a local barber shop that looks like a pair of barbers shears. I use primarily hand tools in my work and many of the tools I use are antiques. The energy and feeling of a true craftsman live in these tools and the stories of the hundreds of things they have created are etched into every inch of them.
As of late I have a growing urge to create my own tools, such as draw knives, hammers, and hatchets, and then use them to carry out my furniture projects, to show the connection between tool and creation, and tool and creator, and how important this relationship is. I use quite a bit of reclaimed wood and recycled steel in my furniture, trying to not only be environmentally conscious, but to also honor these discarded and forgotten, yet still beautiful materials.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Blacksmithing is not a very high demand trade anymore, and there aren’t many of us around. While I do love doing restoration metalwork and recreating hardware for old houses and landmarks, jobs aren’t very consistent. I’ve learned to fill that time with custom furniture and other items that have a greater appeal to your normal homeowner.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Dylan Runnion Metalsmith and Woodworker – what should we know?
We specialize in remaking antique hardware, restoring antique metalwork, as well as creating modern yet rustic furniture and other items for the home. My favorite project was a door handle for a local barbershop that I forged out of steel by hand to look like a pair of barbers shears.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Hard work, but also knowledge. I am constantly learning in this trade, especially when it comes to restoration work, you never know the quality of the steel or the alloy when starting the project and you have to adapt as you go, and problem solve on the spot, but in the end, it always works out.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.runnionhandmade.com
- Email: Runnionhandmade@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/runnion_metalsmithing/
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