Please contact us to set up the time and date before paying for your class!

This is eight one-participant, one-hour sessions over a span of eight weeks

Course Goals

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Safely operate a forge, anvil, and basic hand tools.

• Understand and practice fundamental techniques including drawing out, tapering, bending, and punching.

• Complete several simple, functional iron projects.

Required Safety Gear

• Natural-fiber clothing (cotton, denim, wool)

• Long pants

• Closed-toe, sturdy leather shoes or boots

• Safety glasses (provided, if needed)

• Work gloves (provided, if needed)

Eight-Week Course Curriculum

Week	Topic	Techniques Covered	Project(s)
1	Introduction & Safety	Shop safety, fire management (coal or gas), hammer selection and control, basic body positioning, and proper use of anvil.	Learn to manage the fire; practice basic hammering on a piece of scrap metal.
2	Drawing Out & Tapering	Drawing out (lengthening and thinning metal), tapering, hammer control.	Forging a Pointed Scribe or Fire Poker tip.
3	Bending & Shaping	Bending (using the anvil's horn and bending forks), creating smooth curves and angles.	Completing the Fire Poker by adding a bent handle.
4	Punching & Drifting	Punching holes (while hot), drifting (shaping and enlarging a punched hole).	Forging a Bottle Opener, using punching and bending skills.
5	Upsetting & Shouldering	Upsetting (thickening metal by hammering the end), creating shoulders in the stock.	Forging a Wall Hook with a shouldered and possibly a scrolled end.
6	Twisting & Texturing	Twisting for aesthetic effect, basic decorative texturing using hammer peens and chisels.	Creating a decorative Key Fob or a small S-Hook with a twist and scrolled ends.
7	Riveting & Assembly	Hot cutting, basic joinery using rivets.	Beginning work on a small, riveted Camp Spatula and BBQ Fork.
8	Finishing & Review	Review of all techniques, finishing techniques (filing, wire brushing, applying protective finish), final project assembly, and presentation.	Completing and finishing the Camp Spatula and BBQ Fork.