Blacksmithing Classes
Brand New for Fall 2024
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Forge a Wall Sconce
With our newest instructor Bradley Schwarz. In this 5 hour class students will forge and assemble a decorative wall sconce for candles. Instructors will demonstrate drawing out, forge welding, chisel work, riveting, and more. Advanced beginniner and intermediate students welcome, aged 15 and up.
Saturday, 10/5, 10am - 3pm
$200
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Garden Tool Series
Led by instructor Angela Eastman, this 3-part series takes students through the process of making their own garden trowel, digging tools, and hand hoe. Ages 15 and up, all levels welcome.
3 Classes: Sundays, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3
1pm - 5pm
$280
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Multi-craft: Hearth Brooms
In this multi-discipline craft class students will be using traditional blacksmithing and broom making techniques to create their own hearth broom. Spend the morning forging your handles in our Blacksmith shop, and the afternoon constructing your finished brooms. Instructors Angela Eastman and Becky Juliette will guide students through each step of the process,. We will break at midday so pack a lunch and snacks, and a desire to learn alongside others! Materials fee is included in tuition price.
Saturday, 11/30
10am-5pm
$200
Friday Forge Series
Brandon Wilson leads this 4 part series for beginner blacksmithing students. Each class will teach fundamental blacksmithing techniques, shop and tool safety, and coal forge and fire maintenance. Attend 4 Friday evenings this Fall, complete a new project each week based on our single class projects, and build on your skills with time in the forge. No experience required, returning students are welcomed. All materials and PPE provided.
Fridays from 6pm - 8:30pm
September 6th through 27th
$280
Sunday, October 13th
10am - 5pm
Forge a Rail Spike Knife
Forge a knife from a railroad spike. Design a blade and handle style, forge them out from a single spike, heat treat, grind, and temper a finished knife.
All levels welcome!
Ages 15 and up, $200
Women/Non-Binary Classes
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Beginning Blacksmithing Series
A beginning blacksmithing series designed for women and non-binary folks ages 18+. Students attend one class every week for 3 weeks and will have the opportunity to work in a fully stocked professional forge with instructor Angela Eastman as they work in an open and non-competitive environment.
Each session will teach fundamental blacksmithing techniques, shop and tool safety, and coal fire maintenance as students complete a project each week: hooks, fireplace tools, decorative work, and more. No experience required, all materials and PPE provided.
Wednesdays, October 16th, 23rd, and 30th
$215
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Intermediate Series
Taught by Angela Eastman, this is a 3-part series builds on the fundamental blacksmithing techniques learned in our Beginner Series, designed for women and non-binary folks ages 18+.
Each session will teach fundamental blacksmithing techniques, shop and tool safety, and coal fire maintenance as students complete a project each week: hooks, fireplace tools, decorative work, and more. No experience required, all materials and PPE provided.
Wednesdays, November 6th, 13th, and 20th
$215
Single Classes
$75
For all adults, or teens accompanied by an adult. (Minimum age is 12)
All new students begin with LEVEL 1.
The next few classes for which they choose to return should be scheduled as LEVEL 2.
Once a student has completed those prerequisites we offer sessions of Intermediate blacksmithing with LEVEL 3.
For information about our weekday HomeSchool Teen Blacksmithing Series please visit our Homeschool Classes Page.
For information about our Teen Blacksmithing Summer Camps please visit our Summer Camps Page.
Level 1
Forge Basics - Penny Hook
Awl
Candle Holder
Introductory courses in blacksmithing. Learn how to build a coal fire, forge mechanics, basic tools, and simple techniques of drawing out, forging square to round and vice-versa, metal working, points, finials, bends, twists, and half-blows. Students will make decorative work which they can finish and use at home. Class length 2.5 hours.
Level 2
(Requires a Level 1 class as a prerequisite, can be taken in any order.)
Barbecue Fork
Leaf Keychain
Bottle Opener
Cheese Knife
Learn and practice splitting, forming, drifting, spreading, upsetting, heat treating, chisel work and decoration, and other techniques as students craft items to take home with them.
Level 3
(Requires 2 Beginning Blacksmithing classes as a prerequisite.)
Wolf’s Head Poker
Spoons
Learn forge welding, upsetting, isolating, spreading, and other advanced smithing techniques in these classes. Experienced students can opt for Open Forge and work on personal projects with the guidance of instructors during all class offerings.
Upcoming Classes
Choose the appropriate level, and book yours below or purchase a Gift Certificate - good for all class levels. Contact us for group or private classes.
Blacksmithing Class FAQ’s
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
Closed-toe shoes, leather boots are best
Clothes made of cotton, wool, or other natural fibers
Long Pants
A hat or other means of restraining long hair
Warm clothes for cold days; we do a lot of our work open to the elements
WHERE/WHEN ARE THE CLASSES HELD?
All classes take place at The Forge at Woodcrest Farm
Most classes are 2.5 hours long.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
If you have them, bring eye and ear protection, and thin work gloves that you don’t mind getting dirty
Water, and snacks as needed (extra snacks for instructor optional)
Old newspapers if you have them (for starting the coal fires)
A willingness to do sustained physical work!
WHAT IS THE MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT?
Students must be at least 12 years of age. Students aged 12-16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult, who may also register for the class but is not required to do so
Class Change/Cancellation Policy
If your plans change please notify us as soon as possible. In many cases rescheduling is possible at the discretion of management.
No refunds will be granted.
Clients may reschedule with no fee via their original confirmation email up to 7 days before the start of the event.
Credit in the amount of the original purchase will be granted for cancellations made up to 14 days prior to the scheduled event. There is no refund or credit for cancellations made in the 14 days prior to the start of an event.
Instructors
Allan Green
Allan built the forge at Woodcrest in 2006 and has been teaching classes here for many years. This jack-of-all-trades teaches all levels of smithing, with a concentration on historic methods and techniques.
Angela Eastman
Angela Eastman is an artist and teacher residing in Hillsborough, North Carolina. She holds an MFA in Sculpture from Cranbrook Academy of Art and completed the Core Fellowship program at Penland School of Crafts, and has participated in residencies at MASS MoCA (MA), Vermont Studio Center (VT), the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild (NY), Sitka Center for Art and Ecology (OR), Talking Dolls (MI), the Ragdale Foundation (IL), and SIM and Nes residencies in Iceland.
In addition to sculptural work, Angela creates jewelry, baskets, furniture, and other home goods through her design business Flag Mountain Studio. Angela also teaches art workshops to adults and youth. She is an advocate for craft education as a vital component of understanding the material world we live in.
Dan Green
Dan has been blacksmithing since 2006, and teaching at Woodcrest since 2016. Dan specializes in creating modern forms and finishes and especially enjoys teaching students of all ages. Dan is a recipeient of the 2020 Ruell Wright Scholarship from NESM, and a 2022 Artist Support Grant from the Durham Arts Council. He is grateful to both organizations for the support.
Brandon Wilson
Brandon started blacksmithing in Arkansas in 2014 after serving 6 years in the U.S Army. There, he learned the basics under the tutelage of some great folks with the Blacksmiths of Arkansas (BOA). In 2016, he moved back to North Carolina, where he joined NCABANA, with the Triangle Blacksmiths Guild. In 2018, he volunteered as Vice President of NCABANA. Later that year, he attended a formal week long class on 18th century colonial hearth equipment at John C Campbell Folk School, taught by Jerry Darnell. In 2021, he moved shop from Creedmoor to Raleigh, opening a business as Reaver Forge, with a focus on architectural and decorative iron. In 2022, he stepped down as Vice President of NCABANA to focus on his shop, where he did custom work as well as taught beginner blacksmithing classes. In 2023, he became the first President of the Triangle Blacksmiths Guild, and since has been devoting his time and energy on further opening the craft of blacksmithing to the public.
