Classes
Students must be at least 18 years old.
Youth who are 16 & 17 may participate with an adult on site.
For students between 13 and 16 years of age, there is a Youth/Parent Class option.
For students younger than 13, please message at the email above. Parents, please message for options.
Please Read Safety Information Under "More" tab!
INTRODUCTION TO BLACKSMITHING
Mandatory - (students with prior experience please read as well)
The 'INTRODUCTION' course is mandatory for all new students. If you have prior experience, this is more of a get-to-know you assessment, safety brief and shop policy and then we move ahead to where you need to be. For students new to the craft, this course covers basic safety, shop procedures/policies, and then introduces many of the basic skills of the blacksmith: Drawing out, tapering, bending, twisting, cutting, punching and finishing. You will learn about different forges and fuels as well as hammer technique and a bit of metallurgy. Completing this course opens the way to the intermediate and advanced course options. AND you go home with two projects completed that you can used immediately!
LEVEL 1 Blacksmithing Classes
AFTER completing the Introductory course, you are ready to move on to the Level 1 Blacksmithing Classes - Build your skills while making individual projects of various types - decorative hooks, leaves, bottle openers, etc. Level 1 Blacksmithing is a group designation for the next series of classes for students to build upon the introduction. The student will register for a Level 1 class, and then via email let me know what subject they wish out of the Level 1 Blacksmithing topics. The student improves and strengthens their hammering techniques, learns and practices more ways to move, bend and twist metal, learn rivets, punching, drifting, is introduced to heat treatment and becomes familiar with more shop equipment.
LEVEL 1 CLASS Projects (sample):
Fire Tools (fireplace/campfire)
Tongs
Camp Cooking Tools
Kitchen Tools (simple)
Grilling Tools
RR Spike Knife
Garden Tools
Basic Knife Class
Simple Shop Tools (punches, chisels)
Decorative Hooks
Pendants & Keyrings
Bottle openers/corkscrews
Shelf brackets
​
​
Advanced Blacksmithing Projects
Prices vary by class
Advanced Classes require a moderate amount of experience to undertake.
​
​
​
Spear Forging - Forge a medieval style spear point
​
Damascus (Pattern Welded Steel) - Merge different steels together to create a unique pattern billet of steel suitable for future projects. Steel included in cost as well as intro to forge press and power hammer
Hammer Making - Learn the basics of creating your own hammer while crafting a keepsake tool
Wrought Iron Wood Chisel - Special class using historic (100 year old) wrought iron plus tool steel to create a functional and beautiful tool that you will cherish.
​
Advanced Artistic Expression (varied topics) ($180 - $400)
Level 2 Blacksmithing Classes
​
Level 2 Blacksmithing is a group designation for the intermediate classes requiring more skill and experience for the best results. As in the Level 1 classes, students register for the Level 2 class and we set the project or skill to work on. Level 2 classes are available once a student has completed the Intro class and 1 or 2 Level 1 classes (or with instructor consent). The student moves into forge welding (a major skill for pattern welded ‘damascus’ steel), uses fullers, swages, more shop equipment and advances their skill and knowledge base.
​
LEVEL 2 Projects/skills (sample):
​
Forge Welding
Tenons
Compound Projects like coat racks, simple tables/grates
Complex shapes
Shop tooling
Axes/tomahawks
Hammers
Hinges
Complex Knife making
More.....
​
​
​
_edited.jpg)
INTRODUCTION TO WELDING
Mandatory for all students
The 'INTRODUCTION' course is mandatory for all new students. NOTE: THE WELDING CLASSES ARE NOT (NOT) professional training nor certification courses. This course is intended for the hobbyist welder, someone who deciding what to buy as their first welder, or someone wishing guided practice. Students will learn basic concepts of welding, safety concerns, and learn the difference between a 110v and 240v welder. (If you have prior experience but are new to Iron Osprey Forge, this session will adjust to your skill level at the discretion of the instructor.) This course costs $80. After completing this course, students may return for additional practice while creating projects to take home.
MIG Welding Practice
$ Price Varies Depending on project/time
MIG Welding practice gives students more guided practice on running beads, improving penetration and appearance of welds and more practice with shop tools. Tips and tricks and welding theory will also be covered. This course/practice is NOT a program for certification but rather for the hobby welder.
Stick Welding
$ TBD
Beginning in the fall of 2020 we will be offering an introduction to stick welding for the hobbyist and blacksmith. As with our other classes, this WILL NOT be a certification or official training course.
All Day Introduction to Knife Making
Full day class, does NOT require the Intro to Blacksmithing as Safety and Orientation are included.
This full-day class introduces the student to the forge and shop, introduces basic blacksmithing techniques as they relate to knife making. Students will create a small cheese knife in the morning and a high-carbon steel knife in the afternoon. Heat treatment (hardening and tempering) will be covered and initial sharpening done in the session.
NOTE: This is a full-day (sometimes 10+ hours) class. I provide soft drinks, snacks and a sandwich lunch, BUT if you are not prepared to work in a hot environment for that long, I recommend doing the standard Intro to Blacksmithing class (5+ hours) and then the Level 1 Knife class (5-6 hours). Equivalent results (if not better), similar cost, and much easier on the body.