Blacksmithing

Forge your own eighteenth century style swivel toaster, a must-have utensil if you?re into down-hearth cooking or use it for camping! Different period methods of construction will be covered such as hot and cold hole punching, splitting, mortise and tenon work, rivet making and riveting, beveling, and right angle bending, as well as a discussion of welded methods and why. Learn these basic techniques of blacksmithing while bringing home a useful project.

Dates/Times

• Saturday, June 7, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Saturday, June 7, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Sunday, June 8, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Sunday, June 8, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Monday, June 9, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Monday, June 9, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Dick Sargent

Member Tuition: $390.00
Non-Member Tuition: $450.00

Material Fee: $75.00 Included in fee shown

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY

Special Notes: Hard shoes and long pants are required for student's safety.

If you've taken Taste of the Forge or another basic blacksmithing class at AFS, then you're ready for Taste of the Forge II! This class, taught by blacksmith Steve Gurzler, builds on the students' prior experience to bring them to the next level, pursuing more advanced skills. Like in Taste of the Forge, we will follow the Artist Blacksmiths Association of North America (ABANA) curriculum in a small class format. Students can expect to create 2 or more useful or decorative objects over the course of 3 weekday evenings.

Dates/Times

• Thursday, September 4, 2025 – 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
• Thursday, September 11, 2025 – 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
• Thursday, September 18, 2025 – 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Instructor: Steve Gurzler

Member Tuition: $130.00
Non-Member Tuition: $150.00

Material Fee: $50.00 Included in fee shown

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY

Special Notes: Hard shoes and long pants are required for student's safety. Students should be high school age and older. Parents must accompany children who are under 18 years of age.

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.

Dates/Times

• Thursday, May 1, 2025 – 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
• Thursday, May 8, 2025 – 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
• Thursday, May 15, 2025 – 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Instructor: Steve Gurzler

Member Tuition: $130.00
Non-Member Tuition: $150.00

Material Fee: $50.00 Included in fee shown

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY

Special Notes: Hard shoes and long pants are required for student's safety. Students should be high school age or older. Parents must accompany children who are under 18 years of age.

There are times when a blacksmith needs to assemble parts or make a tool when traditional joinery is inefficient. In this class we'll cover the basics of MIG and Stick Welding while fabricating a simple "Smoosh-O-Matic Guillotine Tool" with one or 2 sets of dies. This guillotine tool works well to complete the ABANA Level 1 and 2 tenoned joint requirements.

Dates/Times

• Saturday, March 29, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Colin Roy

Member Tuition: $130.00
Non-Member Tuition: $150.00

Material Fee: $25.00 Included in fee shown

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY

Special Notes: Hard shoes and long pants are required for student's safety.

One of the most interesting traditional joints in blacksmithing is the mortise and tenon joint. In this class the student will learn to forge a round tenon, punch and drift a mortise, and complete the joint. Participants will also make a Monkey Tool and learn to use a fuller or guillotine tool to forge tenons. This is a part of the ABANA Level 1 Curriculum.

Dates/Times

• Sunday, April 6, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Steve Gurzler

Member Tuition: $130.00
Non-Member Tuition: $150.00

Material Fee: $25.00 Included in fee shown

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY

Special Notes: Hard shoes and long pants are required for student's safety.

In this class, students with a basic class or a bit of experience behind them will learn to forge hooks and eyes, make a basic forge-weld, and create an attractive, functional Gate Latch. ABANA

Dates/Times

• Thursday, July 24, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Steve Gurzler

Member Tuition: $130.00
Non-Member Tuition: $150.00

Material Fee: $25.00 Included in fee shown

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY

Special Notes: Hard shoes and long pants are required for student's safety.

Dates/Times

• Friday, September 19, 2025 – 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Steve Gurzler

Member Tuition: $75.00
Non-Member Tuition: $85.00

Material Fee: $25.00 Included in fee shown

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY

Special Notes: Hard shoes and long pants are required for student's safety.

This course is designed for students who have completed a basic class or who have equivalent experience. We will cover the basics of forge-welding, learn to forge weld a loop on a bar, then will move on to forging a short length of chain. ABANA

Dates/Times

• Saturday, October 25, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Steve Gurzler

Member Tuition: $130.00
Non-Member Tuition: $150.00

Material Fee: $25.00 Included in fee shown

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY

Special Notes: Hard shoes and long pants are required for student's safety.

Taught by renowned instructor and winner of the History Channel's Forged in Fire, Mace Vitale. The Bowie Knife is America's most famous knife, steeped in history and legend. In this five-day class, students learn the ins and outs of forging, grinding and heat treating this iconic blade. Once the blades are complete, students will create a guard and handle using steel and wood. Attention will be paid to the feel and balance of these knives, as well as the edge geometry and performance.

Dates/Times

• Thursday, September 4, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Friday, September 5, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Saturday, September 6, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Sunday, September 7, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Monday, September 8, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Mace Vitale

Member Tuition: $650.00
Non-Member Tuition: $750.00

Material Fee: $125.00 Included in fee shown

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY

Special Notes: Hard shoes and long pants are required for student's safety.

Everyone likes a good meal, but you can't make a good meal without a good knife. The chef knife is an essential tool in any kitchen, used to slice, dice, and chop any number of different ingredients. In this class, students will forge, heat treat, grind, handle, and sharpen their own chef knives. Throughout the process, students will develop an eye for fit, finish, and symmetry. Special attention will be given to designing ergonomic knives with effective blade geometry.

Dates/Times

• Friday, May 16, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Saturday, May 17, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Sunday, May 18, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Jordan LaMothe

Member Tuition: $390.00
Non-Member Tuition: $450.00

Material Fee: $50.00 Included in fee shown

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY

Special Notes: Hard shoes and long pants are required for student's safety.