The Bowie Knife Workshop
The Bowie knife is one of America's most famous knives steeped in history and legend. In this five day intensive students will learn the ins and outs of forging, grinding, and heat treating this iconic blade. Once the blades are ready students will create a guard and handle using steel and wood. Attention will be made to the feel and balance of these knives as well as the edge geometry and performance. 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.
Teen Blacksmithing: Session D
This class will teach teen students basic forging techniques. Students will learn how to build and maintain a coal fire, and use the new skills to make several small projects such as hooks, fire pokers, and hand forged jewelry. Students will need safety glasses, 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.
Open Forge: Session C
Open Forge offers the opportunity for Blacksmithing and Bladesmithing students to continue to work and refine existing forge projects they have started, or begin a new project under the guidance of a working smith. Instructors can help with ideas for new projects and can help tailor each one to individual student. Students will need safety glasses, 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. Pre-requisite of a beginner blacksmith or bladesmith class.
Open Forge: Session B
Open Forge offers the opportunity for Blacksmithing and Bladesmithing students to continue to work and refine existing forge projects they have started, or begin a new project under the guidance of a working smith. Instructors can help with ideas for new projects and can help tailor each one to individual student. Students will need safety glasses, 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. Pre-requisite of a beginner blacksmith or bladesmith class.
Open Forge: Session A
Open Forge offers the opportunity for Blacksmithing and Bladesmithing students to continue to work and refine existing forge projects they have started, or begin a new project under the guidance of a working smith. Instructors can help with ideas for new projects and can help tailor each one to individual student. Students will need safety glasses, 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. Pre-requisite of a beginner blacksmith or bladesmith class.
Forging Cooking Utensils:Spoons, Ladles & Bowls Workshop
We will start with basic forging techniques- shouldering, tapering, spreading and sinking to create spoons out of steel bar stock. Forge welding and upsetting will also be introduced. Next we will move on to making bowls out of sheet steel, using sinking and planishing.The workshop culminates in creating a useful and beautiful ladle.The bowl of the ladle will be hand hammered out of sheet metal. Several options and skills will be shown for forging the ladle handle, including shouldering, splitting, punching, twisting and braiding.The ladle bowl and the handle will be riveted together, just in time for soup season!Students will need safety glasses, leather work gloves,(welding gauntlets not needed) mask or respirator, 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.
ABANA Certification Level 1: Part 1
If you are interested in improving your forging skills in a more formal way, the Artist-Blacksmith’s Association of North America (ABANA) has developed a 3-level certification curriculum. This curriculum was created to develop the fundamental skills and techniques in blacksmithing using a series of projects which culminate to a final project at each level showcasing the student’s acquired skillsets.The Level One certification covers the most fundamental skills based on 16 separate elements. This class will focus on the beginning skills of the Level One projects, allowing the students to continue the curriculum on their own time and speed. Further information regarding the ABANA curriculum and list of projects is available on their website. Basic skills covered are safety, tool nomenclature and proper use, hammer control, tapers, forging to specific shapes and sizes, introduction to toolmaking and heat treatment. Greg AmEnde is a Level One certified instructor for. The Artist-Blacksmith’s Association of North America.
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.
ABANA Certification Level 1: Part 2
If you are interested in improving your forging skills in a more formal way, the Artist-Blacksmith’s Association of North America (ABANA) has developed a 3-level certification curriculum. This curriculum was created to develop the fundamental skills and techniques in blacksmithing using a series of projects culminating in a final project at each level showcasing the student's acquired skillsets. The level one certification covers the most fundamental skills based on 16 separate elements. This second part class will focus on the more advanced skills in the level one certification with a heavy focus on the final project. Upon completion of the project and satisfactorily meeting all the requirements, students will be able to earn their level one certification. Basic skills covered are forging to specific shapes and sizes, toolmaking and heat treatment, forge welding, and final project assembly. Greg AmEnde is a Level One certified instructor for The Artist-Blacksmith’s Association of North America. 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.
Forging a Pukko Knife
This class will focus on the form and function of a Finnish Pukko knife; a traditional hunting and utility knife favored in northern Europe. Students will understand many of the bladesmithing processes including forging, grinding, heat treating, and finishing. By the end of the course, one can expect to have a complete usable blade. 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.
Forging a Tomahawk Workshop
Students will forge a tomahawk using the slit and drift method. The instructor will also demonstrate the wrap and weld method and explain the variations. Blacksmithing topics covered will include forming the shape of the head, drifting the eye, fitting a handle, grinding and polishing the bit, heat treating, and sharpening. Students will need safety glasses, dust mask or respirator, leather work (fireplace) gloves, 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.
