SIBLING CLASSES

Learn to make unique jewelry in a unique way from forged steel. This class will teach you hand forging techniques to transform steel into rings, necklaces, cuffs that can be as delicate or "statement" as you want. No experience necessary!

Going back centuries, forging nails has been one of the first duties for the apprentice blacksmith seeking to improve their craft. Nail making requires less physical force or prior blacksmithing experience. This three-hour taster course is the perfect starting lesson for absolute beginners with zero experience. In this course, you’ll make a variety of nails in a variety of sizes (as time permits).

This is the perfect class for the aspiring smith and avid foodie! By making a variety of kitchen implements from barbecue forks to bottle openers you will gain a thorough grounding in basic blacksmithing techniques!
Students will learn blacksmithing techniques such as tapering, scrolling, bending, punching, drifting, shouldering, dishing, slitting, hot cutting, riveting and so much more! Using these techniques, students will leave with a barbecue skewer, chopsticks, kitchen hooks, forks, a bottle opener, a forge welded spatula, a lobster cracker and a forged and riveted ladle.
Open studio hours to work on projects during the course are included. Open studio runs Monday (3-6pm), Thursday (3-6pm) and Sunday (5-8pm). Students will have access to 6 open studio sessions during their course.
This course welcomes all skill levels!

Hooks are a great beginner blacksmithing project and they’re immediately useful! In this three-hour taster class, we’ll focus on J-hooks and S-hooks of different styles. We’ll aim to send you home with two or three functional hooks. In this class, you’ll learn basic blacksmithing skills such as tapering, punching, drifting, bending, and twisting.

Learn the fundamentals of blacksmithing while crafting your own pair of BBQ tongs in this introductory workshop. Perfect for use at the grill or the dinner table, these tongs will be a functional and impressive addition to your cooking tools.

During this class, you’ll transform a flat bar of steel into a set of beautiful BBQ tongs through precise hammer control and various forging techniques. You’ll learn how to isolate material, forge specific shapes, and move metal in different ways using the hammer peen. We’ll also introduce top tools and fullers for accurate material isolation, working with a striker and partner to achieve the desired results.

Additionally, you’ll use bottom swages to shape the handles, opening up new possibilities for your future blacksmithing projects. By the end of the class, you’ll have a deeper understanding of how to work with hot steel and form shapes from simple materials—all while leaving with a handcrafted pair of BBQ tongs you can be proud of!

In this workshop students will complete one 7-8” pattern welded western style chef knife from start to finish. Every aspect of the process will be covered in detail such as material selection, pattern welding (Damascus), chef knife design theory, hidden tang handle construction and much more. This workshop will be equally helpful to intermediate makers seeking to streamline their process and design as well as seasoned beginners with some forging experience who want to try something new. Prior forging experience is recommended.

Be the envy of everyone at dinner! This course will teach you how to forge and finish your own set of mild-steel chopsticks. Students will forge two pieces of thin, round-stock into a long, faceted square chopsticks with a round taper at the end. In addition, each student will add a decorative twist to the tops of their chopsticks.
Forging one of something is relatively easy. This course will focus on forging two pieces that are the same width, length, and feel natural and symmetrical when using them to grip and eat food.
Forging in mild steel (rather than stainless) makes this process more forgiving for beginners. The instructor will provide instructions on how to clean and care for your mild-steel chopsticks.

In this one-day introduction to forging workshop, you’ll create your own garden hose holder while learning essential blacksmithing techniques. In this beginner-friendly workshop, you’ll master key skills such as tapering, hot punching holes, and forging a traditional fish-tail scroll.

Once the hanger and steel plate are forged, you’ll use rivets to assemble the pieces into a functional and decorative garden hose holder, perfect for displaying in your outdoor space. Whether you use it to hang a garden hose, air compressor hose, or lasso, this project is designed to give you a solid foundation in blacksmithing.

Ideal for those at the start of their blacksmithing journey, this workshop will equip you with the basic techniques needed for future projects while providing a unique, handcrafted piece to take home.

This 7-week course is for students who want to take a deeper dive into the fundamentals of forging different decorative and practical items. We’ll focus on the basic processes of blacksmithing: (1) drawing down, (2) upsetting, (3) bending, (3) twisting, (5) spreading, (6) punching, (7) slitting, and (8) forge welding. That’s eight processes covered in seven weeks! This will be a faster-paced class where each week focuses on projects that combine one or more process in the final piece. Objects you forge will include nails, hooks, firepit pokers, eating utensils, bottle openers, leaf pendants, and perhaps more ambitious projects depending on our progress!
Open studio hours to work on projects during the course are included. Open studio runs Monday (3-6pm), Thursday (3-6pm) and Sunday (5-8pm). Students will have access to 5 open studio sessions during their course.

Come have fun at the forge and learn the foundations of forging as well as ergonomics to continue to grow your skills on your own. Students will learn the 5 basic forging techniques and how to apply them to their creative or utilitarian practice. With guided projects we will cover tapers, upsetting, twisting, hot cutting and scrolling/bending. Students will also have the option of a fun forging challenge open for all to try! If you have experience and would like to use this workshop to try out some ideas and expand your skills, come join us! This workshop is open to all levels and all folx!

This three-hour taster class shows you how to forge an eye-catching two-piece hairpin for you or to give as a gift! Learn basic blacksmithing skills such as tapering, scrolling, bending, twisting, and finishing. This project is a great entry to blacksmithing while introducing you to wearable forged art. The skills you learn in this class will carry over to other forging projects. No prior experience is needed. You will learn basic blacksmithing techniques including tapering, scrolling, bending, twisting, and finishing.

So, you want a hand-forged firepit poker, but without the nuisance, mess, or added complexity of forge welding a “turkey foot” poker. We’ve got you! In this class, you’ll forge a rake-style or “shepherd’s hook” poker that is very common and highly functional. While there’s no forge welding, this class will delve into tapering, twisting, and bending steel. This class is intended for advanced beginner students.

Steel is typically seen as a rigid, industrial material – steel girders support vast roofs, steel automobiles are stamped out with machine precision, and even mundane items such as food cans and kitchen appliances are created with straight, exact lines. In this class we’ll be exploring how we can change this rigid material into a graceful, organic shape using both new and old techniques. We’ll use a blend of modern and ancient techniques to shape mild steel and add character and fluidness to what will ultimately become a tentacle-shaped keychain.
Students will learn blacksmithing techniques that reach back as far as the 14th century such as drawing, tapering, and bending in addition to modern techniques such as MIG welding to create additional features on our tentacle. Particular attention will be paid to hammer technique while blacksmithing as this class serves as an introduction to blacksmithing. Students will also be introduced to basic shop techniques and safety including the use of belt sanders, angle grinders, and drill presses. A small amount of introduction to MIG welding will be provided but this course will not cover MIG welding techniques in depth.

Come make your own custom hammers that you can use for a lifetime! In this intensive workshop students will be guided through making multiple sizes and styles of blacksmith forging hammers. We will cover forging different types of hammers, grinding and heat treating, and the shaping and fit up of your own hammer handles. Expect lots of striking with sledgehammers, power hammer forging, and bad puns. ​ Intermediate ​

In this course, you will be introduced to the craft of bladesmithing. Students will forge, file, heat treat and sharpen a simple all-steel blacksmith’s knife. This class is open to intermediate and advanced blacksmithing students who have knowledge of tapering round stock, basic hammer control and fire control.
Open studio hours to work on projects during the course are included. Open studio runs Monday (3-6pm), Thursday (3-6pm) and Sunday (5-8pm). Students will have access to 3 open studio sessions during their course.

This course will explore basic blacksmithing techniques and serve as an introduction to a centuries-old art. Starting with copper (which can be worked cold) students will explore smithing skills such as tapering, drawing, and bending using a series of hammers and an anvil as they create a rose using the “Imperial Rose” technique.
Once students have familiarized themselves with these basic skills we’ll move to steel. Students will be able to use their newly-acquired smithing skills to forge and shape steel to create a steel rose, changing a rigid piece of industrially-created metal to create an organic, individual shape.
No prior blacksmithing or metalworking experience is necessary.

Hooks are a great beginner blacksmithing project and they’re immediately useful! In this three-hour taster class, we’ll focus on J-hooks and S-hooks of different styles. We’ll aim to send you home with two or three functional hooks. In this class, you’ll learn basic blacksmithing skills such as tapering, punching, drifting, bending, and twisting.

This holiday season, you can hang your stockings on the fireplace mantle in style! In this 3-hour blacksmithing “taster” course, you’ll forge a sturdy hook-under stocking hangar that relies on gravity and weight to keep the hangar in place. You’ll learn to forge a taper, a hook, and then metal bending to form the corners. We’ll also cover some decorative metal texturing and finishes to make your stocking hangar really pop. Also, these hangars can be used all year round to hang different seasonal or year-round decorations from your mantle. This class is intended for complete beginners.

This course will explore basic blacksmithing techniques and serve as an introduction to a centuries-old art. Starting with copper (which can be worked cold) students will explore smithing skills such as tapering, drawing, and bending using a series of hammers and an anvil as they create a rose using the “Imperial Rose” technique.
Once students have familiarized themselves with these basic skills we’ll move to steel. Students will be able to use their newly-acquired smithing skills to forge and shape steel to create a steel rose, changing a rigid piece of industrially-created metal to create an organic, individual shape.
No prior blacksmithing or metalworking experience is necessary.

The bottle opener … it’s everyone’s favorite tool and a great conversation starter at a party! In this workshop, students will learn the fundamentals of blacksmithing, while focusing on forging their own handmade bottle openers. A perfect introduction to the craft of forging, this course teaches the basics of heating, hammering, and shaping steel.
In three hours, we will cover techniques such as punching, drifting, tapering, and more. This class focuses on forging techniques for small pieces; think less brute force and more precise detail. No need to be big and burly!
No previous experience necessary; all tools and materials are provided.

This three-hour taster class shows you how to forge an eye-catching two-piece hairpin for you or to give as a gift! Learn basic blacksmithing skills such as tapering, scrolling, bending, twisting, and finishing. This project is a great entry to blacksmithing while introducing you to wearable forged art. The skills you learn in this class will carry over to other forging projects. No prior experience is needed. You will learn basic blacksmithing techniques including tapering, scrolling, bending, twisting, and finishing.

Hooks are a great beginner blacksmithing project and they’re immediately useful! In this three-hour taster class, we’ll focus on J-hooks and S-hooks of different styles. We’ll aim to send you home with two or three functional hooks. In this class, you’ll learn basic blacksmithing skills such as tapering, punching, drifting, bending, and twisting.

This course will explore basic blacksmithing techniques and serve as an introduction to a centuries-old art. Starting with copper (which can be worked cold) students will explore smithing skills such as tapering, drawing, and bending using a series of hammers and an anvil as they create a rose using the “Imperial Rose” technique.
Once students have familiarized themselves with these basic skills we’ll move to steel. Students will be able to use their newly-acquired smithing skills to forge and shape steel to create a steel rose, changing a rigid piece of industrially-created metal to create an organic, individual shape.
No prior blacksmithing or metalworking experience is necessary.

Be the envy of everyone at dinner! This course will teach you how to forge and finish your own set of mild-steel chopsticks. Students will forge two pieces of thin, round-stock into a long, faceted square chopsticks with a round taper at the end. In addition, each student will add a decorative twist to the tops of their chopsticks.
Forging one of something is relatively easy. This course will focus on forging two pieces that are the same width, length, and feel natural and symmetrical when using them to grip and eat food.
Forging in mild steel (rather than stainless) makes this process more forgiving for beginners. The instructor will provide instructions on how to clean and care for your mild-steel chopsticks.

The bottle opener … it’s everyone’s favorite tool and a great conversation starter at a party! In this workshop, students will learn the fundamentals of blacksmithing, while focusing on forging their own handmade bottle openers. A perfect introduction to the craft of forging, this course teaches the basics of heating, hammering, and shaping steel.
In three hours, we will cover techniques such as punching, drifting, tapering, and more. This class focuses on forging techniques for small pieces; think less brute force and more precise detail. No need to be big and burly!
No previous experience necessary; all tools and materials are provided.

Steel is typically seen as a rigid, industrial material – steel girders support vast roofs, steel automobiles are stamped out with machine precision, and even mundane items such as food cans and kitchen appliances are created with straight, exact lines. In this class we’ll be exploring how we can change this rigid material into a graceful, organic shape using both new and old techniques. We’ll use a blend of modern and ancient techniques to shape mild steel and add character and fluidness to what will ultimately become a tentacle-shaped keychain.
Students will learn blacksmithing techniques that reach back as far as the 14th century such as drawing, tapering, and bending in addition to modern techniques such as MIG welding to create additional features on our tentacle. Particular attention will be paid to hammer technique while blacksmithing as this class serves as an introduction to blacksmithing. Students will also be introduced to basic shop techniques and safety including the use of belt sanders, angle grinders, and drill presses. A small amount of introduction to MIG welding will be provided but this course will not cover MIG welding techniques in depth.

One of the great tricks of blacksmithing is making a non-organic material (steel) look like something living. In this class, students will learn to forge one of the most common organic forms in blacksmithing: the leaf.
During this class, you’ll learn about tapering, isolating, spreading, shaping, and texturing steel, but at a small scale. This class focuses on forging pieces that are closer to jewelry size as compared to many traditional blacksmithing products. As a result, these small pieces present their own set of interesting challenges and specific processes.

The class will cover design and layout through forged wearable art. Students will learn how to forge their ideas into a reality, while the added challenge of fitting it to the body. Class will begin with the demonstration and practice of various forging methods. Short forging assignments will help students to build the skills needed to construct an individual piece.

Candlesticks are a great way to explore the sculptural potential of ironwork while keeping a toe in the functional world. This workshop will walk students through forging botanical-style candlesticks that take advantage of the organic qualities of forged iron. Along the way we’ll get comfortable with using forge-welding to make visually exciting pieces from simple parts. This workshop will be of use to beginners looking to develop their technique as well as experienced students interested in pushing their design skills.

Explore historic blacksmithing methods and hammer out cookware, hardware, lighting, tools, and more. Gain inspiration from archaeology finds of Europe, the Near East, and the Viking world. Make period-appropriate gear, from fire steels and belt buckles to trivets, shears, and chest hinges. Woodworking tools are cool, but no weapons or knives in this class. SCA-ers, historic food fanatics, and other nerds welcome -- come flesh out your kit! I'll ask about what you want to make, and tweak the class accordingly. Open to all skill levels- expect a beginner project each morning, and a demo on a more advanced skill or two in the afternoon.

Make your own, custom hammers you can use for a lifetime! In this intensive workshop students will be guided through making different sizes and styles of blacksmith, forging hammers. Forging, grinding, and heat treating of hammers, and the shaping and fit-up of your own hammer handles will be covered. Expect lots of striking with sledgehammers, power hammer forging, and long days in the shop. Intermediate to advanced students welcome. ​ Intermediate, Advanced ​

$60 material/studio fee.
Beginning session for folks to try out blacksmithing with an experienced smith in a small (1-2 person) class. Make a wall hook, learn to swing a hammer, and have fun.

Tong making is what I consider the most valuable forging exercises for both developing and refining skills all the while building your tool set. Whether at the anvil or the power hammer, forging tongs teaches you volumes about the forging process through the skills and understanding it takes to make a strong pair.

This workshop will be spent learning the process of forging tongs at the power hammer and we will cover all the steps involved to create strong and functional flat jaw tongs and all the necessary geometry to be mindful of during the process. Students will start out forging basic flat jaw tongs and later in the week will cover the steps to forge a box bottom jaw.

Part of the philosophy behind the research of this process is that a bigger starting stock can yield a taller boss (your hardest dimension to achieve) allowing the smith to think more reductively which is the powerhammer’s best attribute. The proportions of these simple steps can be altered to make any style flat bit tong. i.e. pickup, tong tools, hammer billet, etc…

Seasoned beginners are welcome but some experience at a power hammer is helpful.

Forge a continuous bar of steel into a dynamic spring action set of tongs for serving salad, your favorite side dish, or hot stuff off the grill! In this class we will work at the anvil and focus on isolating, tapering, and spreading. This project is filled with key fundamentals that will serve students in future projects! Designed as an introduction to blacksmithing, come challenge yourself to find the rhythm in your hammer swinging.

The objective of this workshop is to develop and refine the skills necessary to make one of the oldest measuring tools. Students can expect to learn as much at the forge as the bench, in order to leave with a brightly finished tool with subtle decoration. Starting at the coal forge, we will cover making multiples, forgewelding, and hot fitting at the anvil, then continuing at the bench with filing, riveting, and adding personal decorative flair to leave with at least one finished pair of dividers/calipers. Students should expect to have multiple attempts under their belt before moving forward on a pair to completion, repetition is going to be of paramount importance.

Forge welding experience preferred but not necessary.

Throughout this workshop, students will learn to make their own functional and decorative spoons, spatulas, and more with a focus on refinement, design, and delicate forging. The class will cover the basics of forging, forming, bending, and file work to make single piece steel and iron utensils. Students will be encouraged to push themselves on accurate forging and explore their own unique details and designs. Class will start with demos and projects, aiming to build technique and introduce process. Then class will expand to encourage more independent designing and challenge precise forging skills. This class is great for those new to blacksmithing or for people with prior experience who want to build their forging accuracy and design skills. Come learn to make your own unique hand-forged utensils in a fun, enthusiastic, and inclusive environment! ​ All Levels

All Levels $100-$150 Materials and Studio Fees*

Let’s bring observation of the natural world into the studio, inspiring the creation of a small-scale botanical sculpture with an array of metalsmithing techniques. Combining visual thinking strategies with sheet metal forming, non-ferrous forging, Little Torch welding, and bronze brazing, we will consider the many ways to represent organic forms through material. We will explore the direct casting of natural forms using investment molds, as well as combining steel and non-ferrous metals. Come prepared to experiment, explore, and dive deep into the possibilities of using our artistic practice as a vehicle to expand our understanding of the natural world.

*Materials and studio fees are charged to students based on studio usage and materials Touchstone is providing at the request of the instructor. Additionally, some instructors may also require that you bring certain materials and tools with you, in which case a list will be provided. Final cost of these fees will be posted at least two weeks ahead of the workshop to be paid in full prior to check-in.

The bottle opener … it’s everyone’s favorite tool and a great conversation starter at a party! In this workshop, students will learn the fundamentals of blacksmithing, while focusing on forging their own handmade bottle openers. A perfect introduction to the craft of forging, this course teaches the basics of heating, hammering, and shaping steel.
In three hours, we will cover techniques such as punching, drifting, tapering, and more. This class focuses on forging techniques for small pieces; think less brute force and more precise detail. No need to be big and burly!
No previous experience necessary; all tools and materials are provided.

Candle holders are classic blacksmithing projects! But forging a candle cup from bar stock requires you to really know how to use your peen… In this class, you’ll learn to forge some great candle holders, including wall-mounted and hanging designs. But we’ll also work on building some serious skills, focused around using the cross-peen to thin and shape the metal, and controlled scrolling by hammer and eye. We’ll forge lots of sockets- a skill that translates well to tool making (from chisels to spears) and anything circular (penannular cloak pins, perhaps?). This class is geared to students who’ve taken at least a couple weekends of basic classes. Minimally, you should be able to draw a controlled taper, S-O-R, scroll an eye, hot cut, and be able to avoid cold-shuts. Sanborn Mills Farm has a cozy, well-appointed forge for 4, so classes include lots of one-on-one. There's very nice "dorm" housing and great farm-to-table meals available, too!

Bottle openers, anyone? Forging tools for fine craft brews opens up a wealth of opportunities for learning. We’ll make “working ends” with lots of different styles and techniques: classic & modern; big BBQ- sized & small pocket-sized; scrolled, punched, and sheared! Each style leaves room for your artistic handle designs. Folks with more experience can branch out into forged corkscrews (with minimal tooling!). Bottle openers are a nice blank slate for artistic riffing- come ready to experiment. Open to folks with at least a few days of blacksmithing under their belts (adv. beginner to intermediate). Sanborn Mills Farm blacksmithing classes are capped at only 4 students, for lots of individual attention. They have good "dorm" housing, and offer farm-to-table meals, too!

The hammer is, along with the anvil, the most iconic of the blacksmith’s tools. Forging an anvil is a bit much, so in this class we’ll stick to hammer smithing. Over four classes, students will learn the basics of striking (teamwork with a sledgehammer) and forge their hammers and hammer eye punches through the power of friendship. Students will grind, harden, temper, and handle their hammers for use as they continue on their smithing journey.
This course is open to intermediate and advanced blacksmithing students who have knowledge of basic tapering, forging tapers in round bar, simple heat treatment and hole punching.
Open studio hours to work on projects during the course are included. Open studio runs Monday (3-6pm), Thursday (3-6pm) and Sunday (5-8pm). Students will have access to 3 open studio sessions during their course.

This is a combination blacksmithing and green woodworking class: students will learn both how to turn bowls on a pole lathe, and how to forge and heat treat the specialized tools needed. Pole lathes use human leg power to turn wood- it's slower, safer, quieter, portable. This class will be about evenly split between learning to turn bowls (including axing a blank, shaping inside and outside, and finishing) and learning to forge the unique hook tools used (including basic forging methods, heat treating, sharpening, and how to improvise a forge and anvil). Folks completing this class will have all the knowledge needed to continue on their own! Historic Eastfield Village is only accessible as a learning space- we will be working in historic buildings, and you have the options to stay (for free) in one of their old taverns (and live by candle light for a week)! Co-taught by the lovely Eric Goodson.

Throughout this 30-hour, five-day class, you’ll be challenged physically as you build the skills and knowledge to forge tools with advanced blacksmithing techniques.

The axe you’ll be forging is commonly referred to as a Woodland, Hunter’s, or Ranger Hatchet. It will be made of 1066 steel with an ash handle and have a custom leather sheath. The overall length will be 15-1/2 to 16 inches. The hatchet head will have a four-inch cutting edge and a width of about six inches. It’s just the right size for the adventurer, camper, or hunter.

You'll learn how to forge large volumes of steel while keeping good grain structure. You’ll learn to use fullers, punches, and other hand tools to shape the hatchet heads. There will be an in-depth lecture on heat treatment and how to develop proper tool steel. You’ll also be guided through shaping and fitting the ash handle to fit your hands.

Materials
A materials fee of $120, included in the price of the class, covers everything you will need.
Prerequisites
You must have completed at least one forge class or have recent forge experience.
BARN Policies
View BARN's Cancellation and Refund Policy.
Tuition Assistance is available. Fill out the application before registering.
BARN is committed to accessibility. We try to make accommodations when requested; the earlier you contact us, the more likely we can help. Fill out the Accommodation Request Form before any class for which you require an accommodation. Email accessibility@bainbridgebarn.org if you have any questions.
Sensory Statement: Makerspaces like BARN can be noisy and cluttered, smell strongly, and have bright or flickering lights. BARN is not an allergen-free facility. If you have concerns, please email info@bainbridgebarn.org.
Instructors or Guides
Yori Seeger

Yori is a sculptor and a blacksmith who trained in Florence, Italy, and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the San Francisco Art Institute. He cofounded an art school called Visual Philosophy where he created and taught the curriculum for both blacksmithing and sculpting programs. He has worked in sculpture studios, foundries, and blacksmith shops for 20-plus years. He specializes in large-scale, figurative sculpture; ornamental ironwork; and forging woodworking tools. He's also very passionate about teaching these trades and traditions.