Classes take place at my forge, located in SHELTON, WA roughly 1/2 an hour northwest of Olympia, WA.
***Please read all of this carefully before purchasing***
Bladesmithing classes cover these topics and more: Forge safety, tool terminology and use, how to swing a hammer and use tongs without injuring yourself, or others, basic forging techniques, basic grinding techniques. Heat treating, metallurgy, tempering, knife grinding, blade geometry, sharpening, handle construction, guards, and information on sheath construction.
Bring a friend or loved one to forge memories that will last a lifetime!
Most completed blade projects take one student one full day (8 hours) to complete. Two students SOMETIMES can complete their projects in one long day, 10-11 hours, but can take two. Three Students usually take two full days.
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Classes are by arrangement only.
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I Prefer to schedule for weekdays, but can do weekends with advance notice. If you're coming in from out of state or out of country, I am willing to be particularly flexible about timing.
Pricing: $65 per hour for intensive tutoring, $80 per hour for two people,
or $100 per hour for three people who come together. (This is actually the most cost effective option, as it comes out to $33 per hour per person, which is half of my one person base rate) Bring a couple friends!!!
I will teach you to forge and build whatever you want, let your imagination run wild! We can go as long as necessary. Pricing covers my expertise and time, equipment use, and consumables. If you want to be an expert, the best way is to learn from one!
I prefer cash, but can take credit/debit cards, checks and PayPal as well. Please contact me for scheduling a freeform class.
Class costs per hour cover my time and expertise, materials (Steel, wood, abrasives, oil, adhesives etc.) Fuel costs, wear and tear on equipment etc.
Gift Certificates: Instead of particular products, you get a block of my time and knowledge. I will help you create whatever you want!* I'm willing to be somewhat flexible and understanding with time if it will get your project done, but If we exceed the allotted time too much, I require compensation for the additional work.
I'm very willing to facilitate student designs in ways that fit their available timeline, as I strongly prefer folx to leave with a finished piece, when possible. No matter how much time you spend in my forge, you will walk away with more skills, and something awesome in your hand!
*I do not make folding knives
*Gift certificates are valid for one year after purchase*
Each gift certificate has what is usually the average amount of time it takes to complete a project. If your time with me exceeds the allotted hours for the certificate, I require compensation for however much over we go.
(Example: Johannes has an 8 hour certificate. He is with me for 10 hours, after we end, I will need an additional $130 for my time.)
When you purchase a gift certificate, I will directly email you a certificate with my authentication measures on it.
Forging is an incredible and intense experience. You will learn and grow through this process. I welcome any level of physical ability and can work to accommodate. Minimum age is 12, children under 16 Require an adult present. My oldest student was 82. No prior experience is required.
Forging Damascus Steel: Learn the ancient and beautiful art of pattern welding. You will take multiple pieces of steel, prep them, then get them to such a raging heat that you are able to combine them in to a single, solid billet of steel. In this class you will learn the ins and outs of basic Damascus and forge welding. You will create your own Damascus piece, and learn the basic patterns. This piece will be large enough that you can make a blade from it later if you choose.
If you want to learn Damascus, and how to make a blade from it, plan on spending two days. Just forging the billet will take one long, very strenuous day.
