An Introduction to Blacksmithing

Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about this class:

For the Introduction to Blacksmithing class, we’ll be working in a coal forge. We’ll forge a fire tool that will teach you fundamental forging skills and leave you with a tool you can use in a home forge, or in a fireplace or fire ring.

You’ll learn the fundamental forging processes of drawing out, bending, and twisting, which you’ll use more than any other blacksmithing processes. You’ll also learn fire management and ergonomic hammer technique.

This is the ideal class for those who have never hit hot metal before.

Next Class:

Please contact me to schedule class dates that fit your schedule.

Weekday and weekend class dates are available.

Private classes are available.

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (or till we’re done) with an hour lunch break.

Maximum N. Students per Class: 2
Level: Beginner
Price: $220 per student

GIFT CERTIFICATES ARE AVAILABLE!

Please contact us about customized scheduling.

Come learn blacksmithing in our open-air shop in Central Florida. We’re conveniently located between Orlando, Daytona Beach, and Ocala. We’re about an hour from the Disney and Universal theme parks. If you have family who’d rather do something else, Mount Dora has a quaint shopping district downtown, as well as chain stores and a movie theater.

Basic Bladesmithing

Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about this class:

For the bladesmithing class, we’ll be working in a propane forge. We’ll forge, profile, rough grind, and harden a ‘blacksmith’s knife’ similar to the attached photo.

You’ll get a basic understanding of forging principles, an overview of heat treatment, and throughout the day we can discuss what you need and what you don’t to get started at home. You will be instructed how to temper your knife at home; this is not done in class due to the (hands-off) time it takes. After that, you can hand polish and sharpen your blade at home. Instruction for that is also provided. Some students are unable to finish their knives in a single day. For those students, we’ll arrange a date to come back for a few hours to finish up. That extra time is included in the class cost.

Next Classes:

Please contact me to schedule class dates that fit your schedule.

Weekday and weekend class dates are available.

Private classes are available.

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (or till we’re done) with an hour lunch break.
Maximum N. Students per Class: 2
Level: Beginner
Price: $220 per student

GIFT CERTIFICATES ARE AVAILABLE!

Please contact us about customized scheduling.

Come learn blacksmithing and bladesmithing in our open-air shop in Central Florida. We’re conveniently located between Orlando, Daytona Beach, and Ocala. We’re about an hour from the Disney and Universal theme parks. If you have family who’d rather do something else, Mount Dora has a quaint shopping district downtown, as well as chain stores and a movie theater.

Forging Blacksmith’s Tongs

Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about this class:

This class will expand on the skills of the beginning class to forge one of the most useful blacksmithing tools, tongs. You’ll learn to correctly forge all sections of a pair of tongs, punch a rivet hole, and adjust the tongs to make a functional, comfortable tool you’ll use for years. This class is NOT recommended for people who have never hammered hot steel before.

Classes are avaiable by request, we don’t have a set schedule.

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (or till we’re done) with an hour lunch break.
Maximum N. Students per Class: 2
Level: Intermediate
Price: $250 per student

Contact me to sign up for Forging Blacksmith’s Tongs

Don’t see a date that works for you? Looking for a weekday class? Please contact us about customized scheduling.

Come learn blacksmithing in our open-air shop in Central Florida. We’re conveniently located between Orlando, Daytona Beach, and Ocala. We’re about an hour from the Disney and Universal theme parks. If you have family who’d rather do something else, Mount Dora has a quaint shopping district downtown, as well as chain stores and a movie theater.

Forging an Octopus

Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about this class:

An octopus needs to look dynamic. It needs to look like it is going somewhere, or like it just stopped on purpose. It really won’t look right if the legs are all just randomly wiggly. People looking at it might not be able to articulate what they see wrong about it, but they’ll see it. Throughout this process look at lots of photos and videos of octopuses to understand how and why they move! In the end, that is what will really make a good octopus!

For beginners, this is a three day class. More advanced smiths may finish in a day.

Next Date: TBA (Please inquire if interested)
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (or till we’re done) with an hour lunch break.
Maximum N. Students per Class: 2
Level: Intermediate
Price: $400 per student

Contact me to sign up for Forging an Octopus:

Don’t see a date that works for you? Looking for a weekday class? Please contact us about customized scheduling.

Introduction to Chasing & Repoussé

Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about this class:

This class provides an introduction to the techniques of Chasing & Repoussé–raising and sinking sheet metal to create texture and volume.
We will work in thin tin, without heat, using plastilina clay as a resist. This class is suitable for anyone with reasonable eye/hand coordination–no strength or prior forging experience is required. We’ll discuss the basic tools and techniques, and you’ll apply them to chase and raise a simple design in the lid of a small box.

Next Date: TBA (Please inquire if interested)
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (or till we’re done) with an hour lunch break.
Maximum N. Students per Class: 3
Level: Intermediate
Price: $200 per student

Contact me to sign up for an Introduction to Chasing & Repoussé:

Don’t see a date that works for you? Looking for a weekday class? Please contact us about customized scheduling.

Making Punches and Chisels

Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about this class:

One of the most unique and useful aspects of blacksmithing is that you can make your own tools. In this class you’ll learn the vital basics of making punches and chisels–choosing the right stock, shaping it to suit your needs, and achieving the right hardness for utility, safety, and lasting service.

Next Date: TBA (Please inquire if interested)
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (or till we’re done) with an hour lunch break.
Maximum N. Students per Class: 2
Level: Intermediate
Price: $250 per student