In this class, students will create a small kitchen utility knife. Starting with a section of flat 1080 steel bar, the class will cover forging, grinding, heat treatment, handle fitment and finishing techniques. Students will leave with a finished, full-tang blade, ready to prep a meal. There will be opportunities for additional forging as time allows. Beginner blacksmithing experience is strongly recommended but not required.

Must bring:

1. Work boots/shoes. No sneakers
2. Long pants, no shorts
3. Clothing must be cotton/denim/wool, no synthetics
4. Comfortable safety glasses
5. Notepad
6. Water bottle

Class size is limited to 6

Materials fee: $25

Zach is a welder by trade with experience in a wide range of industries. Based in rural NY, he is an ABS bladesmith who creates custom, heirloom-quality, hand forged kitchen cutlery and edged tools. He strives to blend traditional and modern techniques and materials to create quality tools to be used for decades in the kitchen. After teaching welding for Monroe Community College and at the Arc + Flame Center for seven years, Zach now runs his own company where, in addition to blades, he manufactures tooling and machines for blacksmiths and metalworkers. He is passionate about collaborating with other local artisans, makers, and tradespeople. In his classes, Zach seeks to inspire students by sharing the functional artistry of modern bladesmithing. https://tarbellindustries.com/

Over the course of four full days, participants will explore the techniques and aesthetics that define Japanese-style kitchen blades. Students will use Blue #2 zenko (mono steel) stock to forge a chef’s knife by hand. The class will focus on the basics of forging, heat treating, grinding, and sharpening our blades. In addition to forging and finishing the blade, the class will emphasize traditional Wa handle making and fitting, demonstrating how to achieve the clean, functional designs characteristic of Japanese knives. Whether you are new to bladesmithing or looking to expand your skills, this workshop offers a comprehensive introduction to Japanese forging techniques while encouraging experimentation and personal expression in your work. Each student will leave with a fully finished blade, ready for use.

Class fee: $500

Materials fee: $50

Class size limited to 6

Kiran Chapman (he/they) is a blacksmith based in Maine. They became fascinated by blacksmithing after moving to Maine from NYC and meeting a local knife maker. They went on to work for Wick’s Forge, a third-generation blacksmith shop, for two years. In addition to their own studio where they teach blacksmithing classes, they run the sharpening department at Strata Portland, which offers endless learning and practice on a wide range of blades. Their experience working at Strata and visiting makers in Japan has had a big impact on the type of blades they make and their understanding of metallurgy and blade geometry.

Learn the fundamentals of blacksmithing while forging your own pendulum from start to finish. This 2-day introductory workshop is open to beginners and experienced blacksmiths.

On day 1, you’ll learn fundamental blacksmithing skills including precise hammer control, tapering, upsetting, punching, and riveting connections. 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. We will explore the plasticity of hot steel using different texturing tools. We’ll talk about pendulum designs and kinetic art and after seeing several design inspirations, you’ll sketch and design your own artistic pendulum.

On day 2, you will use your new forging skills to create, shape, balance, and finish your own unique pendulum. There will be brackets and stands to allow you to create a wall-hanging or free-standing pendulum and if time allows you can create your own stand.

Students will leave with a completed pendulum of their design—whether it’s kinetic art, a wall-hung piece, a decorative desk object, or a simple functional pendulum with artistic flair.

Class fee: $250

Materials fee: $50

Class size limited to 6

Mark Teece is an artist blacksmith near Syracuse, NY, with over 10 years of experience running his own blacksmithing business. He is passionate about teaching this ancient craft, offering blacksmithing classes to students of all ages—from youths to retirees—ensuring each student enjoys a hands-on, personal experience in a small class setting. Mark specializes in creating custom ornamental ironwork for homes and gardens, blending traditional techniques with artistic craftsmanship. Mark's work is deeply influenced by his upbringing in Britain, where he was surrounded by historical ironwork, as well as the rich legacy of colonial blacksmiths in New England. Instagram: @TheBritishBlacksmith

Create a unique and classically sophisticated house plaque using steel and brass. Students will shape sheet steel and brass though cutting and piercing to create a personalized contrasting layered design to reveal home address numbers or monogram. Chased decorative elements may also be added. Students will learn to use jewelry saws to cut accurate and intricate lettering, hand riveting, an introduction to steel chasing, and finishing techniques. Methods of designing to tools and processes will be discussed.

Class fee: $250

Materials fee: $50

Class size limited to 6

Brian took his first blacksmithing class in 2005 under local smith Richard Rightmyer to learn how to make his own woodworking tools. Captivated by the feel of hot metal under the hammer, Brian poured all his free time into advancing his smithing skills taking classes whenever he could. Brian began teaching blacksmithing and coppersmithing in 2012 and has demonstrated at many public events and conferences. Recently, he has focused on the art of copper chasing, finding the meticulous attention to detail it requires to be a form of meditation in motion. Brian is an electrical engineer by day and holds a 6th Degree black belt in Aikido. He finds many commonalities with the efficient body movements of martial arts and the proper ergonomics for blacksmithing and coppersmithing. Brian has blended the arts to create effective and safe hammering techniques for people of all sizes. s an engineer, he is fascinated by the science of blacksmithing, specifically the metallurgy that goes into tool making. He firmly believes that true learning happens when you are having fun.

This workshop focuses on the ideation process for designing and fabricating a steel table lamp. Students will each design their own lamp from a set of parts and materials provided for them and then learn essential skills in cutting, hot and cold forging, welding, and finishing to craft their own unique lamp. The class will begin with an introduction to working with mild steel followed by a prototyping session and demonstrations of key metalworking techniques. It concludes with open studio time for executing each design. By the end of the workshop, students will have completed a functional, handcrafted steel table lamp. This class is suitable for both beginners and those with some experience in metalworking, offering practical skills and a solid foundation in forming steel.

Students should bring:

1. Steel, aluminum, or composite toe leather boots. No mesh or open toed shoes.
2. Cotton pants and cotton long sleeve shirts. No shorts or short sleeves.
3. Drinking bottle
4. Notepad and pencil
5. Leather work gloves
6. Material to pack up your project

Class fee: $500

Materials fee: $50

Class size limited to 6

Annalisa Barron is an interdisciplinary artist based in New York City and Rochester, NY. She graduated from Penn State University with a BFA in painting and drawing in 2013 and with an MFA in sculpture from the Pratt Institute in 2017. Her work has been exhibited at the Cooper Union, University of Rochester, Southern Oregon University, BunkerPROJECTS Gallery (Pittsburgh, PA), U.S. Embassy in Nicaragua, NO/GLOSS film festival (UK), and the Anthology Film Archives (NYC). The Kingdom of Back (2017) was featured in Berlin, Germany, as part of GRRL HAUS Cinema’s 2018 European tour. She served as a panelist for the 2020 NYFA Craft and Sculpture Fellowships and is a recipient of NYSCA’s 2021 DEC Regrant Program/Individual Artist Grant. She has received support from the New York Foundation for the Arts, the New York Film and Video Council, the AAUW, the New York State Inspire Grant, Penn State University, and the Simmons-Jansma Project Renew Grant. Currently, Annalisa teaches in the College of Art and Design at the Rochester Institute of Technology. http://www.annalisabarron.com

Chasing is the art of using specialized hammers, punches, and chisels to emboss images into the surface of metal. From simple to complex, adding chased elements to a metal's surface softens and dignifies its appearance. This class will introduce you to the various tools and techniques to create images and patterns on any metal. You'll use these techniques to create a one of kind Reuleaux triangular vessel that can be used as a planter, vase, pencil holder or be an objet d'art on its own. A Reuleaux triangle is a curved triangular shape that has a constant width like a circle has, leading to a pleasing shape both visually and tactilely. Reuleaux polygons have endless uses in architecture and machine design. Other topics covered include annealing, work hardening, patination, and silver soldering.

This class is open a to all experience levels. Students with a meticulous eye for detail will love this class.

Student tips: Bring your glasses or best magnifying readers. Your noise cancelling earbuds or headphones can make many simultaneous hammers more pleasant.

Class will make use of hand tools, torches, and mild chemicals for cleaning and patination.

Class fee: $275

Materials fee: $75

Class size limited to 6

Brian took his first blacksmithing class in 2005 under local smith Richard Rightmyer to learn how to make his own woodworking tools. Captivated by the feel of hot metal under the hammer, Brian poured all his free time into advancing his smithing skills taking classes whenever he could. Brian began teaching blacksmithing and coppersmithing in 2012 and has demonstrated at many public events and conferences. Recently, he has focused on the art of copper chasing, finding the meticulous attention to detail it requires to be a form of meditation in motion. Brian is an electrical engineer by day and holds a 6th Degree black belt in Aikido. He finds many commonalities with the efficient body movements of martial arts and the proper ergonomics for blacksmithing and coppersmithing. Brian has blended the arts to create effective and safe hammering techniques for people of all sizes. s an engineer, he is fascinated by the science of blacksmithing, specifically the metallurgy that goes into tool making. He firmly believes that true learning happens when you are having fun.

There is no satisfaction like making something with tools that you've made. This workshop will focus on forging functional tools for use in the woodshop. Students will start by learning about appropriate steels and how to process them to bring out the desired qualities in hand tools such as durability, edge retention, and sharpenability. Students will then forge a large scorp for chairs an bowls and a some smaller scorps for detail carving. Tools will be forged, filed, and rough ground prior to heat treat. After heat treating tools will be finish ground and sharpened as time allows.

This class is open a to all experience levels but prior forging experience is recommended. This is an interactive, hands on course where you will be forging tough materials. Some project modifications may be made for those with less experience. Class will make use of hand and some power tools (grinders).

Class fee: $275

Materials fee: $50

Class size limited to 6

Brian took his first blacksmithing class in 2005 under local smith Richard Rightmyer to learn how to make his own woodworking tools. Captivated by the feel of hot metal under the hammer, Brian poured all his free time into advancing his smithing skills taking classes whenever he could. Brian began teaching blacksmithing and coppersmithing in 2012 and has demonstrated at many public events and conferences. Recently, he has focused on the art of copper chasing, finding the meticulous attention to detail it requires to be a form of meditation in motion. Brian is an electrical engineer by day and holds a 6th Degree black belt in Aikido. He finds many commonalities with the efficient body movements of martial arts and the proper ergonomics for blacksmithing and coppersmithing. Brian has blended the arts to create effective and safe hammering techniques for people of all sizes. s an engineer, he is fascinated by the science of blacksmithing, specifically the metallurgy that goes into tool making. He firmly believes that true learning happens when you are having fun.

In this class, students will create a 6-7" European-style chef knife. Starting with a section of flat 1080 steel bar, the class will cover forging, grinding, heat treatment, handle fitment and finishing techniques. Students will leave with a finished, hidden tang blade ready to take home and prep a meal. There will be opportunities for additional forging as time allows. Beginner blacksmithing experience is strongly recommended but not required.

Course fee: $500

Materials fee: $50

Class size limited to 6

Zach is a welder by trade with experience in a wide range of industries. Based in rural NY, he is an ABS bladesmith who creates custom, heirloom-quality, hand forged kitchen cutlery and edged tools. He strives to blend traditional and modern techniques and materials to create quality tools to be used for decades in the kitchen. After teaching welding for Monroe Community College and at the Arc + Flame Center for seven years, Zach now runs his own company where, in addition to blades, he manufactures tooling and machines for blacksmiths and metalworkers. He is passionate about collaborating with other local artisans, makers, and tradespeople. In his classes, Zach seeks to inspire students by sharing the functional artistry of modern bladesmithing. https://tarbellindustries.com/