Students will create a functional lightweight American Belt Axe using the punch and drift method. These simple but versatile tools are excellent for heavy yard work and camping/survival use. Topics covered will include drifting the eye, forming the shape of the head, hanging a handle, grinding and polishing the bit, heat treating, and sharpening. Each step will include detailed demonstrations by the instructor. Students will need safety glasses, dust mask or respirator, leather work gloves, (welding gauntlets not needed) and should wear jeans, a non-flammable cotton shirt and/or jacket, and closed-toed boots or leather shoes. Our forge is an outdoor building that is only semi-enclosed; please dress accordingly. For full-day workshops, please bring a lunch to be on the safe side, as there may or may not be time to get food during a lunch break.