Classes
Throughout the year, we offer classes on “the old ways,” providing training in unexpected skills. Over time, these classes have gained popularity and sell out swiftly. To secure your spot, simply click the appropriate button below, which will redirect you to our Eventbrite page for registration. We apologize in advance if the class you desire is already sold out.
Blacksmithing
Unleash your inner craftsman with an immersive introductory blacksmith experience class at The Old Fort. Master traditional techniques and learn the rich history of metalworking.
The experience classes are geared toward first time smiths and beginner level, focusing on getting the students into the forge and working safely. Students will learn how to light and operate a traditional hand-cranked forge and how to properly work steel over the anvil.
To see what we’ll be making in each class, scroll down below for a list.
Getting deeper into the world of blacksmithing? These advanced skill classes aim to raise the precision and focus of the beginning blacksmith. Each of these classes have a slightly different focus as the main skill that we will be looking at. Some blacksmithing experience is required.
In these advanced skill classes, we will build on the basics and focus on the importance of fire and heat control. We’ll cover forge safety and talk about colors, temperatures, and types of steel.
Previous Forge Experience is Required to Take an Advanced Skill Class.
To see what we’ll be making in each class, scroll down below for a list.
What We’re Making
To help you with choosing a class date, these are the things that we will be making in the classes:
| 11/08/25: Wall Hook | 02/07/26: Tongs | |
| 11/22/25: Bottle Opener | 02/14/26: Leaf Pendant or Interlocking Hearts | |
| 12/06/25: Blacksmith Knife | 02/28/26: Punches and Drifts | |
| 12/20/25: Punches and Drifts | 03/07/26: Blacksmith Knife | |
| 01/10/26: Wall Hook | 03/14/26: Tongs | |
| 01/17/26: Bottle Opener | 03/21/26: Smash It! | |
| 01/24/26: Blacksmith Knife | 03/28/26: Blacksmith Knife |
Experience Classes in blue Advanced Skill Classes in orange
If you have questions about these classes, contact the instructor Ramon at forged.and.fab.metalworks@gmail.com or call him at 702-816-7767. You must have completed an experience class to participate in a skill class.
Class Descriptions
Wall Hook, Bottle Opener, Letter Opener/Blacksmith Knife
Working in mild steel, these classes will cover some of the basics of blacksmithing. After talking about forge safety and the tools and techniques we use, we will learn how to set and maintain a solid fuel fire and begin our journey into the flames and hot metal. Each student will share a forge area with a friend and will alternate work times so each can create their own piece of forged work. Processes we will be working with include: drawing out a taper, twisting, punching, scrolling, shouldering, as well as some file work and finishing techniques.
Punches and Drifts
Building upon the basics, this hand-tool class focuses on the importance of fire and heat control. Using high carbon steel (tool-steel), we will use simple tapers, filing/grinding to make a cold-use center punch, as well as a hot-use punch. We will talk about forge safety at our forge, colors-temperatures and types of steel. Previous forge experience required.
Tongs
Prepare for a day of swinging a hammer. Continuing to build upon the foundations of previous classes, this class focuses on hammer technique, efficiency and precision. We will build a set of simple tongs from scratch. We will talk about safety at our forge, styles and parts of tongs and some forge theory/technique. Previous forge experience required.
Leaf Pendant or Interlocking Hearts
The traditional leaf pattern dates back at least several hundred years to England and Europe. It is a technically difficult project that will challenge many students. This project takes all other lessons and ties them together into the most difficult and smallest project offered at the Old Fort. As a Valentines Day special option, we will offer couples the option to work together to create a memorable piece of art.
Each person will forge their own heart out of steel and then when both are complete, they will be linked together. With a generally easy forge level, the focus is for the students to imagine and create their own piece that represents themself and work together as a team to build and link the hearts together.
“Smash-It”
Partially inspired by the traditional “blacksmith hammer-in” this class has no particular end project as a goal. This is a class for students to explore more on their own how metal moves under the hammer. We will focus on trying to move various sizes of steel in different and creative ways while talking about the specific metal moving processes that are involved in higher level blacksmithing. Students need to have previous class experience and an amount of curiosity and willingness to experiment.
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