03/06/2024
Bridgetown Forge is happy to announce the summer class schedule.
To sign up, please visit www.bridgetownforge.com
AXE-MAKING CLASS
Saturday and Sunday
9 am – 4 pm
In this class, we will forge an axe out of a square bar of high-carbon steel, stamp it with your initials, harden and temper it and grind and polish it to a razor edge. It will become your go-to axe to swing whenever chopping wood becomes necessary. The class incorporates both hand-forging and the use of a hydraulic press and a power hammer. The addition of power equipment adds another layer of skills, not to mention the sheer excitement of moving a lot of hot steel in a fast yet controlled manner.
The price is $580, which includes all steel, safety equipment, and an axe handle.
FORGING A CHEF’S KNIFE
June 22 - June 23
Saturday and Sunday
9 am – 4 pm
A knife is perhaps the most basic, elemental tool, and a good chef’s knife will make a big difference in the kitchen. Forged properly from a good carbon steel and ground and honed to a razor edge, the Japanese-style blade will give many years of reliable, versatile service.
This will become the blade your hand will automatically reach for when you need to prepare a meal. In this class, you will forge a 7-inch, Japanese-style chef’s knife out of a high-carbon steel bar, stamp it with your initials, differentially harden it to produce a Japanese-style heat treatment, temper it, attach a handle, and hand-hone it to a razor sharpness on a water stone. The photo represents the knife you will be making. The class will also cover the ergonomic forging method, and the theory and practice of heat-treating steel. The knife, and anything else you make in this class, are yours to take home with you.
TOOL-MAKING
July 6 - July 7@
Saturday and Sunday
9 am – 4 pm
The making of tools has always been one of the mainstays of a blacksmith’s set of skills. Not only is the smith expected to make most of their own tools — traditionally, a smith would make the tools for every other trade and craft, from a nail to a sword. In this class, we make a varied set of tools, and learn the simple, logical, no-nonsense ways in which steel bars can be turned into sturdy, useful and beautiful hand tools. In this class, you will forge a center punch, cold chisels, screwdriver, pry bar, hammer head, and blacksmith’s tongs. The photo represents the tools you will be forging. You will also learn how to heat-treat tools, how to identify the various tool steels, and how to use recycled items in tool making. Throughout the class, you will learn and practice Hofi’s ergonomic forging technique. All the tools made are yours to take home.
Class fee is $380, inclusive of all the materials and safety equipment.
This class is limited to 8 students.
FORGING A CLEAVER
July 20 - July 21
Saturday and Sunday
9 am – 4 pm
In this class, we will forge an 8-inch blade cleaver out of a bar of high-carbon steel, stamp it with your initials, harden and temper it to have a tough back and a hard, durable edge, attach a hickory handle to it and hone it to razor sharpness. This cleaver will feature a progressive bevel, which allows it to handle both tough jobs like cutting through bones, and yet makes it possible to easily slice ripe tomatoes and chop and dice vegetables. It’s weight and size are perfect for almost any task in the kitchen. In fact, a good, properly designed and forged cleaver is a wonderful tool to have in your kitchen — I’m still using the one I’ve inherited from my grandmother! This class incorporates both hand forging and the use of a power hammer, the latter being an exciting and crucial skill for any modern blacksmith. It is also a necessary procedure in this class, as the cleaver we will be making is quite substantial.
The class fees are $580, which includes all materials and safety supplies. The knife, and anything else you might make, are yours to take home with you.
Forging a camping/utility knife
August 10 - August 11
Saturday and Sunday
9 am – 4 pm
In this class we will forge a 4-inch blade, camping/utility knife from a single bar of high-carbon steel. This type of knife is very solid and versatile, and can be used while camping, for daily use, or in the kitchen. Skills learned include hand-forging a blade and heat-treatment. Students will gain a solid understanding of proper steps in designing a knife, choosing the right steel, shaping it with a hammer, and the steps necessary for creating a tough knife with a keen cutting edge.
