Blacksmithing

Would you like to try blacksmithing, and get a taste of the craft? Join instructor Steve Gurzler for 3 weekday evenings to learn how to operate a coal forge to bring metal to incandescent heat and shape it with hammer in hand. This class will use the Artist Blacksmiths Association of North America (ABANA) curriculum to teach the basics of blacksmithing. Students can expect to create 2 or more projects during the 3 evenings. Class size is limited to ensure all can advance at their own pace.

This 4-hour class is ideal for the beginner blacksmith with little to no experience. We will start with the basics, and within the first hour students will be forging their own nails. From there, students will forge hooks with a decorative twist.

Would you like to try blacksmithing, and get a taste of the craft? Join instructor Steve Gurzler for 3 weekday evenings to learn how to operate a coal forge to bring metal to incandescent heat and shape it with hammer in hand. This class will use the Artist Blacksmiths Association of North America (ABANA) curriculum to teach the basics of blacksmithing. Students can expect to create 2 or more projects during the 3 evenings. Class size is limited to ensure all can advance at their own pace.

In this 2-day class students will learn basic sheet metal forging and riveting while creating a small camper's frying pan. We’ll start with a disk of heavy – guage sheet metal and forge a frying pan suitable for campfire or stove top use with a decorative forged handle. This class is recommended for students who have taken a basic course or who have some blacksmithing experience. Quality hearing protection is recommended, along with leather gloves.

In this 2-day class students will learn basic sheet metal forging and riveting while creating a small camper's frying pan. We’ll start with a disk of heavy – guage sheet metal and forge a frying pan suitable for campfire or stove top use with a decorative forged handle. This class is recommended for students who have taken a basic course or who have some blacksmithing experience. Quality hearing protection is recommended, along with leather gloves.

Bob Valentine has over 45 years of experience blacksmithing, often making tongs, punches, bottom tools, jigs and fixtures to accomplish many forging projects. In this three-day class learn the anatomy of tongs and their construction, by making various sizes, shapes and styles useful for many forging projects. Most importantly, these tongs will hold your work firmly, making the process of forging as easy as working directly from the bar. Hand held punches are required to complete many projects. The basic process of forging, dressing and heat-treating will be explored, and each student will have an opportunity to make hot and cold punches of various shapes and sizes. When forging items, it is often helpful to have bottom dies that fit your hardie hole to either speed the forging process or refine your forgings after they are rough forged. Students will make bottom hardie tools and explore customizing them for their specific project. Lastly, explore the possibilities of making jigs and fixtures to make your forging process more efficient, uniform and take less time. Students should have a working knowledge and ability to manage a coal forge, basic hand forging knowledge and the ability to forge weld.

Bob Valentine has over 45 years of experience blacksmithing, often making tongs, punches, bottom tools, jigs and fixtures to accomplish many forging projects. In this three-day class learn the anatomy of tongs and their construction, by making various sizes, shapes and styles useful for many forging projects. Most importantly, these tongs will hold your work firmly, making the process of forging as easy as working directly from the bar. Hand held punches are required to complete many projects. The basic process of forging, dressing and heat-treating will be explored, and each student will have an opportunity to make hot and cold punches of various shapes and sizes. When forging items, it is often helpful to have bottom dies that fit your hardie hole to either speed the forging process or refine your forgings after they are rough forged. Students will make bottom hardie tools and explore customizing them for their specific project. Lastly, explore the possibilities of making jigs and fixtures to make your forging process more efficient, uniform and take less time. Students should have a working knowledge and ability to manage a coal forge, basic hand forging knowledge and the ability to forge weld.

Bob Valentine has over 45 years of experience blacksmithing, often making tongs, punches, bottom tools, jigs and fixtures to accomplish many forging projects. In this three-day class learn the anatomy of tongs and their construction, by making various sizes, shapes and styles useful for many forging projects. Most importantly, these tongs will hold your work firmly, making the process of forging as easy as working directly from the bar. Hand held punches are required to complete many projects. The basic process of forging, dressing and heat-treating will be explored, and each student will have an opportunity to make hot and cold punches of various shapes and sizes. When forging items, it is often helpful to have bottom dies that fit your hardie hole to either speed the forging process or refine your forgings after they are rough forged. Students will make bottom hardie tools and explore customizing them for their specific project. Lastly, explore the possibilities of making jigs and fixtures to make your forging process more efficient, uniform and take less time. Students should have a working knowledge and ability to manage a coal forge, 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).