Course Information
Blacksmithing - Heritage Hand Tools
Shape red hot metal to make the tools that your ancestors relied upon, using the heat of the forge and the strike of the hammer to work steel.
In our new expanded classes on primitive blacksmithing, you'll work the "black metals" (iron and steel) just like the smiths of old. No propane. No power tools. No experience required. We'll show you all of our tricks and tips to set up your own forge and start working. Whether you plan to build a forge in the backwoods or in your own backyard, you'll be amazed at the minimal amount of gear it takes to start smithing, and you'll love our "dirt cheap" method of building a forge.
Each of our blacksmithing classes will cover the basics of safety and smithing, and make a different knife style, plus several other items. The subjects of this class include:
• Forge safety
• Building your own forge
• Sourcing abundant local fuels and their suitability to different tasks
• Hammer techniques (you won't believe all you can do with just a hammer!)
• Sourcing safe metal (some scrap metal gives off deadly fumes)
• Shaping and hardening a chisel
• Working steel into a turnscrew (old fashioned screw driver)
• Making your own chopper knife for baton work
• Shape a froe (a splitting tool for woodworking)
• Decorative embellishments, to make your work really stand out
The Saturday October 17th 2020 class is now full. Please look for this one again next year.
Two quick notes for students:
1) Space is limited to 8 students per class, so claim your spot now!
2) Due to material costs and start-up cost for this class, we cannot accept BOGO credits for Blacksmithing classes at this time. Sorry.