Intro To The Hand Forged Blade Workshop: Session A
This workshop will cover the basics of forging, grinding, heat treating, and sharpening of a small utility knife. The instructor will discuss fit and finish, overall knife design, how to sharpen and care for knives, and how to begin making knives on your own. Students should expect to forge several blades over the weekend, and get at least one to the point of a usable knife. 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.
Introduction To Blacksmithing: Session B
Come learn the basics of forging steel in the GAC blacksmith forge. Geared towards the absolute beginner, this workshop is designed to be educational and enjoyable for everyone. Learn techniques to build confidence in the forge under the guidance of experienced instructors. Students will shape and forge hot steel using a hammer and an anvil to complete a variety of projects.
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
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.
Frontier Knife & Hatchet Workshop
In this 5 day intensive workshop, students will make a frontier style knife with a wood handle. Next steps are to hot punch a hole through 1/4" round stock to forge a hatchet that will then be fit with a hickory handle. Students must be able to swing a sledge hammer.
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. 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 Tongs Workshop
In this workshop, students will learn the basic techniques of forging blacksmiths’ tongs. Every smith needs and being able to make and adjust tongs to fit the needs of the work is important. We will go through the basic process and explore different jaw styles that will enable you to hold multiple projects and stock configurations: flat, round, square and irregular pieces. This class will teach students the skills to make this crucial smith’s tool. This workshop is intended for students who have some forging experience and good hammer control but beginners are also welcome. We will concentrate on the forging of smaller tongs and students can expect to bring home 2 or 3 pairs.
Forging Skulls & Faces Workshop
Students will make new tools to use in the forge, such as punches and chisels. Thin it’s time to use them to create iron skulls and face. Creative expressive faces and detailed skulls in metal is a great way to explore both the technical and creative sides of forging.
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 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.
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.
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.
