Nature has been a source of artistic inspiration for thousands of years. Leaves have been a part of decorative blacksmithing for a long time, and there are many different types of leaves one can make. This class is intended for students who have taken a basic/beginner class and who understand the basic techniques and concepts. We will start by making leaves with just the hammer and anvil, and then begin using tools like chisels and decorative punches.

This class will focus on the proper making of mortise and tenon joinery for gate and railing construction. You'll make the tooling, punches, drifts, monkey tools and more. Special tools used by professional smiths to increase consistency of dimension will be shown and made. The secret of forging angled tenons easily and accurately will also be taught.

Take that next step in your blacksmithing journey by learning traditional joinery work. The project is a fun, simple forgiving project where students will learn several processes: traditional corners, collars, tenons, rivets, slitting/drifting, beveled scrolls, fish-tail scrolls and regular scrolls where you will also learn how to determine the lengths of steel required to achieve a finished dimension. Learning these processes will enable you to move forward to projects limited only by your imagination!

Take that next step in your blacksmithing journey by learning traditional joinery work. The project is a fun, simple forgiving project where students will learn several processes: traditional corners, collars, tenons, rivets, slitting/drifting, beveled scrolls, fish-tail scrolls and regular scrolls where you will also learn how to determine the lengths of steel required to achieve a finished dimension. Learning these processes will enable you to move forward to projects limited only by your imagination!

Take that next step in your blacksmithing journey by learning traditional joinery work. The project is a fun, simple forgiving project where students will learn several processes: traditional corners, collars, tenons, rivets, slitting/drifting, beveled scrolls, fish-tail scrolls and regular scrolls where you will also learn how to determine the lengths of steel required to achieve a finished dimension. Learning these processes will enable you to move forward to projects limited only by your imagination!

Forging a bar of stock into a particular shape, be it a cooking utensil, latch or other items requires two things. First, you need to know how much material is necessary to create the shape, the "set-up", and second, how to forge out that shape, the "transition", ensuring that they are both graceful and structurally sound. This class will explore traditional 18th century forging techniques with an emphasis on set-ups and transitions by forging a smiple spatula for hearth cooking as well as a more complicated key-hole spatula. Later we will explore latch making with the same emphasis. And lastly, finishing of your work by filing it to bring out its beauty and add details. Many examples of latches and hearth cooking utensils will be available for students to examine. Students should have a wrking knowledge and bility to manage a coal fire, basic hand forging knowledge and the ability to forge weld.

Forging a bar of stock into a particular shape, be it a cooking utensil, latch or other items requires two things. First, you need to know how much material is necessary to create the shape, the "set-up", and second, how to forge out that shape, the "transition", ensuring that they are both graceful and structurally sound. This class will explore traditional 18th century forging techniques with an emphasis on set-ups and transitions by forging a smiple spatula for hearth cooking as well as a more complicated key-hole spatula. Later we will explore latch making with the same emphasis. And lastly, finishing of your work by filing it to bring out its beauty and add details. Many examples of latches and hearth cooking utensils will be available for students to examine. Students should have a wrking knowledge and bility to manage a coal fire, basic hand forging knowledge and the ability to forge weld.

Forging a bar of stock into a particular shape, be it a cooking utensil, latch or other items requires two things. First, you need to know how much material is necessary to create the shape, the "set-up", and second, how to forge out that shape, the "transition", ensuring that they are both graceful and structurally sound. This class will explore traditional 18th century forging techniques with an emphasis on set-ups and transitions by forging a smiple spatula for hearth cooking as well as a more complicated key-hole spatula. Later we will explore latch making with the same emphasis. And lastly, finishing of your work by filing it to bring out its beauty and add details. Many examples of latches and hearth cooking utensils will be available for students to examine. Students should have a wrking knowledge and bility to manage a coal fire, basic hand forging knowledge and the ability to forge weld.

Interested in blacksmithing but unsure how to start? Open Forge Night is the place for you! Every third Wednesday of the month during our blacksmithing season, come see demonstrations by expert blacksmith Steve Gurzler. Observing the demonstration is free and open to the public. If you want to try your hand at blacksmithing there is a $20 fee to cover the cost of materials. Safety precautions must be followed - including hard shoes with no open toes, long pants, goggles (supplied) and gloves (supplied).

Forging a bar of stock into a particular shape, be it a cooking utensil, latch or other items requires two things. First, you need to know how much material is necessary to create the shape, the "set-up", and second, how to forge out that shape, the "transition", ensuring that they are both graceful and structurally sound. This class will explore traditional 18th century forging techniques with an emphasis on set-ups and transitions by forging a smiple spatula for hearth cooking as well as a more complicated key-hole spatula. Later we will explore latch making with the same emphasis. And lastly, finishing of your work by filing it to bring out its beauty and add details. Many examples of latches and hearth cooking utensils will be available for students to examine. Students should have a wrking knowledge and bility to manage a coal fire, basic hand forging knowledge and the ability to forge weld.

Forging a bar of stock into a particular shape, be it a cooking utensil, latch or other items requires two things. First, you need to know how much material is necessary to create the shape, the "set-up", and second, how to forge out that shape, the "transition", ensuring that they are both graceful and structurally sound. This class will explore traditional 18th century forging techniques with an emphasis on set-ups and transitions by forging a smiple spatula for hearth cooking as well as a more complicated key-hole spatula. Later we will explore latch making with the same emphasis. And lastly, finishing of your work by filing it to bring out its beauty and add details. Many examples of latches and hearth cooking utensils will be available for students to examine. Students should have a wrking knowledge and bility to manage a coal fire, basic hand forging knowledge and the ability to forge weld.

In this 3-day class students will learn how to forge a 10” chopping knife. Blades will be heat treated and sharpened, then a wood handle with a steel ferrule will be crafted and fit to the blade.

In this 3-day class students will learn how to forge a 10” chopping knife. Blades will be heat treated and sharpened, then a wood handle with a steel ferrule will be crafted and fit to the blade.

In this 3-day class students will learn how to forge a 10” chopping knife. Blades will be heat treated and sharpened, then a wood handle with a steel ferrule will be crafted and fit to the blade.