Blacksmithing
Blacksmithing is an essential part of the Tharwa Valley Forge. We have a well equipped smithy with anvils, forges, hammers, tongs, power hammers, presses and piles of rusty metal. We have a range of courses available to help people hammer hot metal. If you have no experience the Introduction to Blacksmithing or the Blacksmithing Foundations will help you get some. Some of the courses require prior experience working with hot metal.
Camp Axes
Learn how to make an axe that excels at bushcraft and woodcraft tasks. On this one-day course you’ll forge a high-quality Canadian Camp Axe while learning the theory and practice of designing and making bush axes.
You’ll go home with a superb axe that can be used for cutting, chopping, splitting, felling, hewing, or hammering. Best of all, you’ll leave with the knowledge and skills to go on and make your own general purpose bush axes.
Essential Blacksmithing
This course will teach you the essential blacksmithing skills you need to successfully learn by yourself at home.
Access to information about blacksmithing is easy thanks to forums, social media, and video tutorials. Getting hands-on experience under the guidance of an expert is harder to come by.
A lot of people want to get into blacksmithing - only a very small percentage are successful learning on their own.
Decorative Blacksmithing Introduction
Learn how to coax steel into organic shapes on this one-day course. Our experienced instructors will introduce you to using fullers and hammers to form organic shapes, culminating in the creation of a spectacular iron rose. This course is ideal for both absolute beginners looking to try blacksmithing and blacksmiths who are seeking to broaden their repertoire under the guidance of an expert.
Family Blacksmithing
Our Family Blacksmithing courses are a popular way for families to unplug from the digital world and spend quality time together. Experience the excitement of the traditional art of Blacksmithing and reconnect with the joy of making something with your own hands.
Teen Blacksmithing
This is a one day holiday class for younger people (12 - 16 years old) interested in reconnecting with their hands and learning some creative skills. This is an especially good course for younger people interested in blacksmithing or metalwork.
It is hard work and you need to be able to follow instructions and concentrate for the day. But it is very rewarding to learn new and exciting skills to make things and bring your creations home.
Blacksmithing Foundations
Want to get started in blacksmithing but not sure where to begin?
Learn everything you need to know and make all the equipment you need to start blacksmithing at home. This week long intensive helps you build your skills as you build your own tools. Learn to make your own hammers and tongs as well as other useful tools. Go home with a gas forge and all the hammers, tongs, and other tools you need to start blacksmithing at home.