June 29 – August 23
June 29 – August 23
Learn the basics of heating steel in a forge and shaping it with a hammer, anvil and chisel. You’ll master five basic smithing operations: drawing, shrinking, bending, upsetting and punching, and you’ll make several small pieces of your own. Advanced classes introduce you to the power hammer, bladesmithing, forge welding and ornamental ironwork.
Please see the Class Index page here.
Learn the art of forging and shaping steel, and gain a working understanding of blacksmithing tools and techniques including tapering, upsetting, flattening, dishing and bending while making several small projects, such as spoons, knives, forks and hooks.
Tasters are a great way to explore the myriad art disciplines we offer. Take a class with a friend, create a special gift to share. Not sure which of our incredible classes to take, want to introduce someone new to a craft, have an itch to just try something new without too much commitment. Try Blacksmithing, Enameling, Sand Casting, Glass Fusing, Jewelry, or Leather. What will you discover next?
End the workweek with flames, friends, and a toast. Join us for Friday Flame, a unique night out creating industrial art and enjoying good company. Enjoy a 2-hour workshop creating a work of art to take home. Then sip cocktails with the group and marvel at your new masterpiece.
Get a grip making your own unique metal handle. This class is a taste of blacksmithing where students learn the basic techniques to use a hammer and anvil to craft square metal into a decorative handle. Learn skills in tapping and fret sawing to make a pull handle that is ready to install.
Deepen your knowledge in this sequel to Blacksmithing I. This class is designed to develop your basic skills along with techniques including, scroll- making, collaring, basic tool-making, and heat-treating. You’ll gain the skills needed to move on to more advanced classes like Bladesmithing and Techniques in Ornamental Ironwork.
Learn an expert-level skill in this advanced blacksmithing class. For centuries, forgewelding was the only way to weld steel and iron, most commonly being used for pattern welding blades and knives. Now, you can deepen your skills in this 2-day class that covers all the fundamentals of this traditional craft. Learn the process of repeatedly drawing out a billet of steel, then folding it back and welding it upon itself. This class is also your introduction to the power hammer.
Youth Blacksmithing (Ages 12 – 17)
Learn to bend and shape steel in The Crucible’s smithy. Practice traditional blacksmithing techniques such as drawing, bending, twisting, punching, slitting and drifting using the forge and anvil. Students learn to forge with confidence and complete projects such as a bracelet, hook, fork, and spoon.
Women’s Blacksmithing I
This special workshop, taught by women just for women, teaches the fundamental steel forging techniques of tapering, upsetting, flattening, and twisting. You will have a chance to make a small project while learning the same skills and completing the same projects as the regular Blacksmithing Iclass, just with more woman power!
Techniques in Ornamental Iron Work
Take your skills to the next level and begin producing quality work that sells. This class covers traditional decorative ironwork methods and introduces the power hammer. You will learn and explore techniques including scroll work, hot chisel work, twisting, floral design and other form-shaping procedures.
Power Hammer I
The power hammer is a pneumatic or mechanical hammer used to shape metal. This workshop will focus on theory, safety, control and basic free-form and tooling techniques. Each student will learn and practice techniques in forging and heat treating a set of basic hammer tools which include: side sets, round-back flatter and a pair of tongs bringing students mastery skill level on the power hammer by the end of the class. Emphasis will be put on the effective and safe operation and maintenance of the hammer. This course is the first prerequisite for the Power Hammer in our CREATE program which gives students independent access to the tools and equipment in the smithy for developing skills and creating individual projects.
Power Hammer II
Building on the skills of Power Hammer I, students will break down large cross sections (2” square or round or better) of 4140 tool steel to make open and closed hand held dies. The open dies can make moldings from flat stock or textures for plate or bar stock. The closed dies can make balls, acorns or knobs of many different designs for the end or middle of a bar. Students will also learn to make various hand held punches, cutters and side sets for work under the power hammer. In addition to forging these tools, the class will learn the basics of simple heat treating. This course is the second prerequisite for the Power Hammer in our CREATE program which gives students independent access to the tools and equipment in the smithy for developing skills and creating individual projects.
Build Your Own Propane Forge
Need creative fire? Build your own forge. Guided by a professional blacksmith, you’ll build a basic forge from an efficient design using three types of refractory materials, and keep it to use for your own blacksmithing projects. The materials fee includes all parts and equipment costs except the propane tank. Welding experience is helpful, but not necessary.
This highly specialized course focuses on the forging techniques you need to produce sharp-edged tools of high-carbon steel. You will learn blade design, forging techniques for blade steels and controlling steel’s grain structure, as well as hardening and tempering methods, steel finishes and handle construction. We emphasize the fundamental skills you need to forge a good knife.
Forge Your Own Blacksmith Hammer
Learn how to make your own personal blacksmith tools. Make a punch and learn how to use it to punch the eye on a hammerhead. You will also learn techniques in double striking and heat treating, and be introduced to the power hammer. Come out of the class having made two essential tools of the trade for your personal use.
Forging Fire Eating Torches
Learn how to make your own personal fire eating performance tools, while practicing such basic forging techniques as tapering, flattening, twisting and finishing. Remove mill scale and add patinas to your pieces, and learn how sealants protect torches from rusting. Construction of kevlar heads will also be covered. You will come out having made two fire eating torches from beginning to end.