Blacksmithing courses offered:
- FUNdamental Forging 1 & 2: Learn basic blacksmith skills in a hands-on course. The course includes an overview of safety, tools, and forge management. You will go home with at least one finished project. This is a great opportunity for you to be creative and learn a heritage skill.
- Beyond Beginner Blacksmithing: This two-day format will allow the individual that has either completed the FUNdamental Forge course or has done forging on his/her own to step into the next phase. Participants will build multiple tools to use in the creation of a more complex design. (ie various punches, chisels etc and other projects). This course will include discussion of techniques, demonstration and lots of practice in front of the forge. Come ready for a workout, with great tangible results.
FUNdamental Forging
What can you expect from this program/course?
Learn basic blacksmith skills in a hands-on course. The course includes an overview of safety, tools, and forge management. You will go home with at least one finished project. This is a great opportunity for you to be creative and learn a heritage skill.
Fundamental Forging Dates:
- Level 1 FUNdamental Forging - Shepherd's Hook: TBD
- Level 2 FUNdamental Forging - Basic Tool Making: February 25, 2023
Costs: $199 + GST
Level 1 Fundamental Forging: Key Holder
Skills learned:
- learn to draw out , flatten, and make small J hooks
- punching holes, forming scrolls
- possibly chiseling
- you will be completing a key chain holder
Credentials: Non-credit
Program Dates: TBD
Length of Program: 1 Day (7 Hours)
Delivery Method: Olds Campus
Applications Deadline: Minimum enrolment requirements must be met 1-week prior to class date.
Costs: $199 + GST
Required Text & Materials:
- Safety boots
- Cotton clothing (heavy jeans or fire retardant coveralls are best)
- High Temperature resistant gloves
- Safety glasses
- Ear plugs
- Cross pein or ball pein hammer & forging tools such as tongs (if you don't have a hammer and tools, some will be available for use.
PPE MUST BRING SAFETY GLASSES, leather shoes, long hair should be tied back and NO HAIR SPRAY, a bandana is recommended to cover your hair.
Level 1 Fundamental Forging: Shepherd's Hook
Learn basic blacksmithing in a 1-day course. In this class, you will learn how to make a half shepherds hook for the garden with a leaf on the end. Skills learned:
- safety
- tools and forge management
- drawing out, flattening
- punching holes
- forming scrolls and a leaf leaf
Credentials: Non-credit
Program Dates: December 17, 2022
Length of Program: 1 Day (7 Hours)
Delivery Method: Olds Campus
Applications Deadline: Minimum enrolment requirements must be met 1-week prior to class date.
Costs: $199 + GST
Required Text & Materials:
- Safety boots
- Cotton clothing (heavy jeans or fire retardant coveralls are best)
- High Temperature resistant gloves
- Safety glasses
- Ear plugs
- Cross pein or ball pein hammer & forging tools such as tongs (if you don't have a hammer and tools, some will be available for use.
PPE MUST BRING SAFETY GLASSES, leather shoes, long hair should be tied back and NO HAIR SPRAY, a bandana is recommended to cover your hair.
Level 2 Fundamental Forging: Basic Tool Making
Learn basic Blacksmithing in a 1-day course FUNdamental Forging II, Expand your basic blacksmith tools for future projects. You will have a chance to make a third hand, fullering tool, fire poke/rake, watering can handle, s-hook to hang on your forge. You DO NOT NEED to have completed level one, but some experience will make your day go smoother, or just be super adventurous and jump right in!
Skills learned:
- Learn to rivet two pieces of forged material together,
- learn chiseling to make the split scroll ends
- Twisting joinery,
- riveting and or collaring ( connecting several pieces together)
- Rasping and filing
- Some experience is helpful but not required to enroll.
Credentials: Non-credit
Program Dates: TBD
Length of Program: 1 Day (7 Hours)
Delivery Method: Olds Campus
Applications Deadline: Minimum enrolment requirements must be met 1-week prior to class date.
Costs: $199 + GST
Required Text & Materials:
- Safety boots
- Cotton clothing (heavy jeans or fire retardant coveralls are best)
- High Temperature resistant gloves
- Safety glasses
- Ear plugs
- Cross pein or ball pein hammer & forging tools such as tongs (if you don't have a hammer and tools, some will be available for use.
PPE MUST BRING SAFETY GLASSES, leather shoes, long hair should be tied back and NO HAIR SPRAY, a bandana is recommended to cover your hair.
Beyond Beginner Blacksmithing
What can you expect from this course?
Beyond Beginner- This intense two-day format that builds on the skills learned in the fundamental forging courses. Although there is not a formal prerequisite to this course, this 2-day course is intense and you are in for a workout and steep learning curve if you haven't done any forging, but if you like a challenge and are up for it, jump in. The following weekend projects will help you get your own tools made for you to build your toolbox. These courses include discussion of techniques, demonstrations and lot of practice in front of the forge. You will go home with the tools that you made.
Punches, Riveting Tools and Tongs
Date: TBD
Cost: $399+ GST
This intense two-day class builds on the skills learned in the fundamental forging courses. The following weekend projects will help you in making your own tools for you to add to your toolbox. This course includes a discussion of techniques, demonstrations, and lots of practice in front of the forge. You will go home with the tools that you made. skills learned:
- learn how to make tongs
- learn how to make riveting tools
- learn how to make 2 chisels from 3/8 square stock
Required Text & Materials:
- Safety boots
- Cotton clothing (heavy jeans or fire retardant coveralls are best)
- High Temperature resistant gloves
- Safety glasses
- Ear plugs
- Cross pein or ball pein hammer & forging tools such as tongs (if you don't have a hammer and tools, some will be available for use.
PPE MUST BRING SAFETY GLASSES, leather shoes, long hair should be tied back and NO HAIR SPRAY, a bandana is recommended to cover your hair.
Scrolls, Circles and Rivets - Garden Trivet
Date: TBD
Cost: $399+ GST
This intense two-day class builds on the skills learned in the fundamental forging courses. You will be creating a small ornamental trivet, learning about collaring, making leaves, riveting, manipulating metal into a circle, (a lot harder than it sounds), and creating scrolls. You do not need to have taken fundamental forging but some experience will make your day go smoother or just be super adventurous and jump right in. You do not need to have taken earlier forging courses, but be aware these are more advanced skills. Skills learned:
- collaring
- leaf making
- riveting
- scrollwork
- working with a circumference PPE
Required Text & Materials:
- Safety boots
- Cotton clothing (heavy jeans or fire retardant coveralls are best)
- High Temperature resistant gloves
- Safety glasses
- Ear plugs
- Cross pein or ball pein hammer & forging tools such as tongs (if you don't have a hammer and tools, some will be available for use.
PPE MUST BRING SAFETY GLASSES, leather shoes, long hair should be tied back and NO HAIR SPRAY, a bandana is recommended to cover your hair.
Campfire Set
Date: TBD
Cost: $399+ GST
This intense two-day class builds on the skills learned in the fundamental forging courses. This course includes a discussion of techniques, demonstrations and lots of practice in front of the forge. You will go home with a portable pot hanger and frying pan holder camp fire set, with potentially some S hooks (depending on the time).
You DO NOT NEED to have completed fundamental forging but some experience will make your day go smoother, or just be super adventurous and jump right in!
Required Text & Materials:
- Safety boots
- Cotton clothing (heavy jeans or fire retardant coveralls are best)
- High Temperature resistant gloves
- Safety glasses
- Ear plugs
- Cross pein or ball pein hammer & forging tools such as tongs (if you don't have a hammer and tools, some will be available for use.
PPE MUST BRING SAFETY GLASSES, leather shoes, long hair should be tied back and NO HAIR SPRAY, a bandana is recommended to cover your hair.
