Blacksmith’s Knife

August 28-30, 2026

Instructor: Lashen Orendorff

In this three day workshop students will learn to forge the traditional blacksmith’s knife, a 4” blade with an integral forged handle made from carbon steel. We will be working at the anvil, forging the shape, and then move to the bevels of the blade. 

After forging, we will walk through the concepts and practice of hardening and tempering to preserve the cutting edge and toughness to the blade. This class is designed as an introduction to forged cutting tools and offers students a project that promotes hammer control and a keen eye for detail, all while creating a functional hand-forged knife.

Draw Knife

September 11-13, 2026

Instructor: Lashen Orendorff

In this class, students will forge and finish a draw knife and a carpenter's bench chisel.

Focusing on forging at the anvil and carving the handles by hand, students will leave this class knowing how to harden and temper, and will have a pair of these old-school tools that are ready to be put to work and will last for years to come. Hand forging techniques as well as symmetrical forgings will be the main focus. Shaping the handle for the tools will be done with a spoke shave.

Smith’s Tool

September 18-20, 2026

Instructors: Haley Arbour & Lashen Orendorf

Need a tool? Make a tool!

Much of the work that blacksmiths and metal artists do requires the use of specialized and custom tooling. Whether creating sculpture with hand held chisels or laying out and forming architectural joinery pieces, knowing how to make your own tools is an essential skill for the blacksmith. Punches, chisels, stamps, and tongs are the basis for this class. 

Learn the process of working with high-carbon tool steel and the procedures of hardening and heat treating the material to make functional tools that will last.

Flat Jaw Tongs

September 25-27, 2026

Instructor: Haley Arbour

In this class, students can expect to become comfortable working at the anvil and with a power hammer. Tong geometry and forging efficiency will be discussed. Working at the anvil, we will develop the ability to execute clean, intentional isolations of mass. Half-faced hammer blows, symmetrical forging, as well as tapering and riveting are all techniques that will drive this class. The challenge will be to forge two identical tong blanks that we will assemble and use! Students will leave this class with a set of flat jaw tongs and the ability to make more.

October 9-11, 2026

Instructor: Haley Arbour

In this class, students can expect to learn how to punch and drift a hammer's eye by hand and with the aid of strikers. Striking etiquette and form, as well as safety will be high priority, and a major topic of discussion. Types of hammers, balance, and tool usage will be discussed. Heat treating experience is preferred but not required. Students will forge and handle a forging hammer that they can take home and use.

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.

October 28-30, 2026

Instructor: Lashen Orendorff

Just in time for Hallows Eve! Explore mask-making using forged steel. Students will design and create a sculptural mask using steel flatstock and will learn techniques similar to repousee and chasing, for shaping and texturing the masks by hand. This class introduces the sculptural use of different punches and chisels as well as swages and dishing forms to bring depth and detail to the features of the masks. Each student will create a one-of-a-kind sculptural mask and learn how to form, texture and finish hot plate steel to bring a sense of life and presence to their works.

Circles, Layout Tools, Dividers, Compass and Scribes

November 13-15, 2026

Instructor: Lashen Orendorff

Students will learn the basics of forging layout tools; our project for this workshop will be the blacksmith compass. Students will be guided through skill-building exercises and will forge the components of the compass by hand at the anvil. We will cover tapers, rivets, mass isolation and hardening and tempering of tool steel. As well as some of the many applications of the compass scribe.

Bushcraft Knife

November 20-22, 2026

Instructor: Lashen Orendorff

In this workshop we will make a full tang bushcraft knife. Students will be shown the process of designing a blade and will work through the steps to complete this knife using hand tools at the anvil. We will forge the shape and punch the rivet holes to attach the handle scales. Hammer control, tapering and forging the bevels will be discussed, as well as the hardening and tempering processes to maintain a keen edge. 

Our focus will be on forging the knife to shape, while using minimal grinding to refine and sharpen the cutting edge. Participants can expect to leave this class with a completed knife and the knowledge to turn recycled tool steel into a solid tool that is ready to be put to daily use.

Box Jaw Tongs

November 27-29, 2026

Instructor: Haley Arbour

In this class, we will forge a pair of box jaw tongs. Starting at the anvil and moving through the steps of making a pair of flat jaw tongs, we will work through the process of forging two diverse halves to one whole. The challenge here is to forge two pieces that are different, but still fit and work together. Students can expect to leave this class with the knowledge of how to make a pair of box jaws and the ability to make more.