October 23-25, 2026
Instructor: Lashen Orendorff
Come make an axe by hand! Students will work in teams of smith and striker to forge an axe. We will learn to use hand help top tooling, how to punch and eye, and how to drift a hole to dimension, all with the use of sledgehammers. Sledgehammer safety and form, as well as how to work in a team effectively, will all be major topics of discussion. Students will be guided through hardening and tempering the cutting edge, shaping the wedge and handle, and assembling the axe to be fully functional. Expect to leave this class with a forged axe, and the ability to make more.
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Personal Protective Equipment
All Students attending workshops are required to have the appropriate PPE while working in the Nearside shop:
Eye Protection Safety Glasses
Hearing Protection either Safety Certified Ear Muffs or Ear Plugs
Closed Toe shoes or preferably CSA Steel Toe Safety Footwear
Gloves - Heavy leather gardening gloves or welding gloves
We strongly encourage:
Wearing clothes you can work in - Cotton or natural fibers - non melting fabric choices
Nothing too loose or with dangling strings that could get in the way, or caught in machinery
Bringing a notebook and a writing utensil, a water bottle, and a good attitude!
Lunch:
Baker street and its amenities as well as local cafes and restaurants are all within walking distance of the shop. You can bring a packed lunch and eat on campus or in the park across the street
If you have any questions, just reach out: info@nearsidearts.org