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 on checkout page

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 on checkout page

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.

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 on checkout page

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

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

This 4 hour class is ideal for the beginner blacksmith with little to no experience. We'll explore basic techniques first, then move on to forging leaves to create a decorative leaf keychain. ABANA

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 on checkout page

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 on checkout page

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 on checkout page

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

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

This basic class will give you the foundation needed to start out on your journey of blacksmithing. You'll learn fire management, hammering methods, drawing out, upsetting, cutting, splitting, twisting, and convenience bending along with a demo of forge welding. Make punches and chisels and learn to harden and temper them. Heating material and heat management will be taught and much more.

Dates/Times

• Friday, September 12, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Saturday, September 13, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Sunday, September 14, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Monday, September 15, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Dick Sargent

Member Tuition: $520.00
Non-Member Tuition: $620.00

Material Fee: $100.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

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

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

In this course, using a Damascus billet you have previously forged or can purchase in this course, students will forge a full tang style EDC knife. Students will heat treat and bevel their knives in preparation for fitting the handle. We will discuss and implement etching processes to reveal the beautiful pattern welded steel, then finish the handle making an eye catching and functional tool. I this course we will discuss in detail forging processes, grinding techniques, fit & finish and etching procedures.

Dates/Times

• Saturday, August 23, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Sunday, August 24, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Cody Csontos

Member Tuition: $260.00
Non-Member Tuition: $300.00

Material Fee: $50.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

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

Special Notes: Students who do not have their own Damascus billet may purchase one from the instructor for an additional charge of $80. Hard shoes and long pants are required for student's safety.

In this dynamic two day class students will forge a billet of pattern welded damascus, then forge heat treat, grind polish and etch several 2-3" bladed all steel paring knives. These little knives though relatively quick to make, are extremely useful in the kitchen and a wonderful platform to explore how thickness and geometry of the edge contribute to a knife's cutting abilities. Most students complete at least two knives in the class. This repetition is essential to cementing the skills learned in the class, allowing students to truly learn from mistakes and reinforce the lessons learned. Skills covered include: basic forge welding of damascus steel, pattern development in damascus steel, forging blades to shape, basic heat treating of knives, grinding and finishing of knives, etching damascus steel and sharpening knives.

Dates/Times

• Saturday, September 27, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Sunday, September 28, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Matthew Parkinson

Member Tuition: $270.00
Non-Member Tuition: $310.00

Material Fee: $100.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

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

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