SIBLING CLASSES

Learn the fundamentals of blacksmithing while crafting your own pair of BBQ tongs in this introductory workshop. Perfect for use at the grill or the dinner table, these tongs will be a functional and impressive addition to your cooking tools.

During this class, you’ll transform a flat bar of steel into a set of beautiful BBQ tongs through precise hammer control and various forging techniques. You’ll learn how to isolate material, forge specific shapes, and move metal in different ways using the hammer peen. We’ll also introduce top tools and fullers for accurate material isolation, working with a striker and partner to achieve the desired results.

Additionally, you’ll use bottom swages to shape the handles, opening up new possibilities for your future blacksmithing projects. By the end of the class, you’ll have a deeper understanding of how to work with hot steel and form shapes from simple materials—all while leaving with a handcrafted pair of BBQ tongs you can be proud of!

In this one-day introduction to forging workshop, you’ll create your own garden hose holder while learning essential blacksmithing techniques. In this beginner-friendly workshop, you’ll master key skills such as tapering, hot punching holes, and forging a traditional fish-tail scroll.

Once the hanger and steel plate are forged, you’ll use rivets to assemble the pieces into a functional and decorative garden hose holder, perfect for displaying in your outdoor space. Whether you use it to hang a garden hose, air compressor hose, or lasso, this project is designed to give you a solid foundation in blacksmithing.

Ideal for those at the start of their blacksmithing journey, this workshop will equip you with the basic techniques needed for future projects while providing a unique, handcrafted piece to take home.

Forge a continuous bar of steel into a dynamic spring action set of tongs for serving salad, your favorite side dish, or hot stuff off the grill! In this class we will work at the anvil and focus on isolating, tapering, and spreading. This project is filled with key fundamentals that will serve students in future projects! Designed as an introduction to blacksmithing, come challenge yourself to find the rhythm in your hammer swinging.

In this workshop we will cover the aspects of forging a 2″ slick and a 1.5″ socketed framing chisel as well as a draw knife. If time allows or if the student excels and finishes the 3 main items we might be able to get started on a small carving or hewing axe.

This workshop is for the person, new or with a lot of experience, that is looking for more intimate knowledge on the forging of timber framing tools. This will be a decent paced class with lots of personal attention and guidance.

In this hands-on forging workshop, with the use and understanding of fundamental forging mathematics we will forge a collaborative sculpture based off of a maquette. Students will learn how to measure from the maquette, multiply scale, and calculate volume to make a scaled up version of the sculpture. Sculptural forging theory will also be discussed and considered. As a group we will converse about art vs craft, how the two blend, how important is process vs concept and what makes forging an exciting medium for sculptors in the 21st century.

Some of the mathematical concepts covered will include calculations for forging stock, various styles of tapers, and tenons. Students can expect to become familiar with and learn the formulas to calculate the volume of an existing shape (from a drawing or maquette) and figure out how much stock is needed to create this shape from different starting stock dimensions, with the additional challenge of changing the scale.

Time will be spent in the mornings learning and practicing geometry and algebra related to the process of forging followed by time spent in the shop executing your calculations. The creation of a truly scaled up sculpture will rely on your understanding of these concepts.

‌This valuable and underutilized skill set will have you forging much more efficiently and confidently on your own projects. Knowing you have the right amount of material for your project is empowering and allows you to focus much more on the physical proceeds of forging and significantly limits material waste and guess work. Forging mathematics is just another tool in your tool box and the understanding of these formulas has had a more positive impact on my work than any other tool.

In this workshop students will complete one 7-8” pattern welded western style chef knife from start to finish. Every aspect of the process will be covered in detail such as material selection, pattern welding (Damascus), chef knife design theory, hidden tang handle construction and much more. This workshop will be equally helpful to intermediate makers seeking to streamline their process and design as well as seasoned beginners with some forging experience who want to try something new. Prior forging experience is recommended.

Tong making is what I consider the most valuable forging exercises for both developing and refining skills all the while building your tool set. Whether at the anvil or the power hammer, forging tongs teaches you volumes about the forging process through the skills and understanding it takes to make a strong pair.

This workshop will be spent learning the process of forging tongs at the power hammer and we will cover all the steps involved to create strong and functional flat jaw tongs and all the necessary geometry to be mindful of during the process. Students will start out forging basic flat jaw tongs and later in the week will cover the steps to forge a box bottom jaw.

Part of the philosophy behind the research of this process is that a bigger starting stock can yield a taller boss (your hardest dimension to achieve) allowing the smith to think more reductively which is the powerhammer’s best attribute. The proportions of these simple steps can be altered to make any style flat bit tong. i.e. pickup, tong tools, hammer billet, etc…

Seasoned beginners are welcome but some experience at a power hammer is helpful.

Come have fun at the forge and learn the foundations of forging as well as ergonomics to continue to grow your skills on your own. Students will learn the 5 basic forging techniques and how to apply them to their creative or utilitarian practice. With guided projects we will cover tapers, upsetting, twisting, hot cutting and scrolling/bending. Students will also have the option of a fun forging challenge open for all to try! If you have experience and would like to use this workshop to try out some ideas and expand your skills, come join us! This workshop is open to all levels and all folx!

Candlesticks are a great way to explore the sculptural potential of ironwork while keeping a toe in the functional world. This workshop will walk students through forging botanical-style candlesticks that take advantage of the organic qualities of forged iron. Along the way we’ll get comfortable with using forge-welding to make visually exciting pieces from simple parts. This workshop will be of use to beginners looking to develop their technique as well as experienced students interested in pushing their design skills.

The objective of this workshop is to develop and refine the skills necessary to make one of the oldest measuring tools. Students can expect to learn as much at the forge as the bench, in order to leave with a brightly finished tool with subtle decoration. Starting at the coal forge, we will cover making multiples, forgewelding, and hot fitting at the anvil, then continuing at the bench with filing, riveting, and adding personal decorative flair to leave with at least one finished pair of dividers/calipers. Students should expect to have multiple attempts under their belt before moving forward on a pair to completion, repetition is going to be of paramount importance.

Forge welding experience preferred but not necessary.

Come make your own custom hammers that you can use for a lifetime! In this intensive workshop students will be guided through making multiple sizes and styles of blacksmith forging hammers. We will cover forging different types of hammers, grinding and heat treating, and the shaping and fit up of your own hammer handles. Expect lots of striking with sledgehammers, power hammer forging, and bad puns. ​ Intermediate ​

This is a combination blacksmithing and green woodworking class: students will learn both how to turn bowls on a pole lathe, and how to forge and heat treat the specialized tools needed. Pole lathes use human leg power to turn wood- it's slower, safer, quieter, portable. This class will be about evenly split between learning to turn bowls (including axing a blank, shaping inside and outside, and finishing) and learning to forge the unique hook tools used (including basic forging methods, heat treating, sharpening, and how to improvise a forge and anvil). Folks completing this class will have all the knowledge needed to continue on their own! Historic Eastfield Village is only accessible as a learning space- we will be working in historic buildings, and you have the options to stay (for free) in one of their old taverns (and live by candle light for a week)! Co-taught by the lovely Eric Goodson.

Explore historic blacksmithing methods and hammer out cookware, hardware, lighting, tools, and more. Gain inspiration from archaeology finds of Europe, the Near East, and the Viking world. Make period-appropriate gear, from fire steels and belt buckles to trivets, shears, and chest hinges. Woodworking tools are cool, but no weapons or knives in this class. SCA-ers, historic food fanatics, and other nerds welcome -- come flesh out your kit! I'll ask about what you want to make, and tweak the class accordingly. Open to all skill levels- expect a beginner project each morning, and a demo on a more advanced skill or two in the afternoon.

Make your own, custom hammers you can use for a lifetime! In this intensive workshop students will be guided through making different sizes and styles of blacksmith, forging hammers. Forging, grinding, and heat treating of hammers, and the shaping and fit-up of your own hammer handles will be covered. Expect lots of striking with sledgehammers, power hammer forging, and long days in the shop. Intermediate to advanced students welcome. ​ Intermediate, Advanced ​

Throughout this workshop, students will learn to make their own functional and decorative spoons, spatulas, and more with a focus on refinement, design, and delicate forging. The class will cover the basics of forging, forming, bending, and file work to make single piece steel and iron utensils. Students will be encouraged to push themselves on accurate forging and explore their own unique details and designs. Class will start with demos and projects, aiming to build technique and introduce process. Then class will expand to encourage more independent designing and challenge precise forging skills. This class is great for those new to blacksmithing or for people with prior experience who want to build their forging accuracy and design skills. Come learn to make your own unique hand-forged utensils in a fun, enthusiastic, and inclusive environment! ​ All Levels

Learn the art of toolmaking and boost your skills and self-sufficiency as a blacksmith! In this workshop students will be guided through making many fundamental tools of the trade. We will cover everything from forging punches, tongs, and hammers to heat treating, grinding, and handling. Leave with your own hand forged tools and the skills to make more on your own. Expect lots of striking with sledgehammers, long days in the shop, and bad puns. ​ Seasoned Beginner - Intermediate

The class will cover design and layout through forged wearable art. Students will learn how to forge their ideas into a reality, while the added challenge of fitting it to the body. Class will begin with the demonstration and practice of various forging methods. Short forging assignments will help students to build the skills needed to construct an individual piece.

Candle holders are classic blacksmithing projects! But forging a candle cup from bar stock requires you to really know how to use your peen… In this class, you’ll learn to forge some great candle holders, including wall-mounted and hanging designs. But we’ll also work on building some serious skills, focused around using the cross-peen to thin and shape the metal, and controlled scrolling by hammer and eye. We’ll forge lots of sockets- a skill that translates well to tool making (from chisels to spears) and anything circular (penannular cloak pins, perhaps?). This class is geared to students who’ve taken at least a couple weekends of basic classes. Minimally, you should be able to draw a controlled taper, S-O-R, scroll an eye, hot cut, and be able to avoid cold-shuts. Sanborn Mills Farm has a cozy, well-appointed forge for 4, so classes include lots of one-on-one. There's very nice "dorm" housing and great farm-to-table meals available, too!

Bottle openers, anyone? Forging tools for fine craft brews opens up a wealth of opportunities for learning. We’ll make “working ends” with lots of different styles and techniques: classic & modern; big BBQ- sized & small pocket-sized; scrolled, punched, and sheared! Each style leaves room for your artistic handle designs. Folks with more experience can branch out into forged corkscrews (with minimal tooling!). Bottle openers are a nice blank slate for artistic riffing- come ready to experiment. Open to folks with at least a few days of blacksmithing under their belts (adv. beginner to intermediate). Sanborn Mills Farm blacksmithing classes are capped at only 4 students, for lots of individual attention. They have good "dorm" housing, and offer farm-to-table meals, too!