Overview
Half-Day Blacksmithing Experience
A focused half-day introduction to traditional blacksmithing, offering enough time to learn core forging techniques and then apply them independently at the anvil.
This course is ideal if you want a more complete experience than a short taster, without committing to a full day.
What you’ll do You’ll begin with a welcome to the forge, safety briefing, and an introduction to the tools, fires, and materials. You’ll learn how to light and manage a traditional forging fire using hand-blown bellows before moving to the anvil. The first part of the session focuses on learning the fundamentals. Working step by step with the blacksmith, you’ll forge a bottle opener, learning essential techniques such as drawing out, tapering, bending, twisting, and controlling hot steel under the hammer. Once these techniques are established, you’ll move on to a simple forged hook. The blacksmith will demonstrate the process from start to finish before you forge your own hook independently, applying what you’ve learned with guidance as needed. All work is carried out using traditional hand tools only. There are no power hammers or grinders.
What you’ll make
Who it’s for
How this differs from other blacksmithing experiences
What’s included
What to wear & bring
What you’ll do You’ll begin with a welcome to the forge, safety briefing, and an introduction to the tools, fires, and materials. You’ll learn how to light and manage a traditional forging fire using hand-blown bellows before moving to the anvil. The first part of the session focuses on learning the fundamentals. Working step by step with the blacksmith, you’ll forge a bottle opener, learning essential techniques such as drawing out, tapering, bending, twisting, and controlling hot steel under the hammer. Once these techniques are established, you’ll move on to a simple forged hook. The blacksmith will demonstrate the process from start to finish before you forge your own hook independently, applying what you’ve learned with guidance as needed. All work is carried out using traditional hand tools only. There are no power hammers or grinders.
What you’ll make
- A forged steel bottle opener
- A simple forged hook, made independently from start to finish
Who it’s for
- Complete beginners
- Those choosing between a short taster or a fuller half-day experience
- Anyone wanting more time at the anvil without a full-day commitment
How this differs from other blacksmithing experiences
- The Two-Hour Forge Taster focuses on a single guided project.
- The Half-Day Blacksmithing Experience includes guided learning followed by independent making.
- The One-Day Blacksmithing Experience includes everything in the half-day course, with additional time in the afternoon for a larger project, usually using heavier stock.
What’s included
- All forging tools and safety equipment (excluding footwear)
- Steel and materials
- Expert tuition and demonstrations
- Tea, coffee and water
What to wear & bring
- Long sleeves and long trousers (cotton or denim recommended)
- Sturdy boots (no open-toe footwear)
- Warm layers — the forge can be cool away from the fires
- Long hair must be tied back
Please speak to your doctor before booking if you have concerns about physical activity.