Courses & Workshops

Below you can find a list of the blacksmithing courses and standard workshops that we offer on a regular basis.

Courses

• Introduction to Blacksmithing

Workshops

• Pendant Forging
• Firestriker Kit
• Skeleton Bottle-Opener

Introduction to Blacksmithing

The aim of the introduction is to help a complete beginner learn some essential blacksmithing skills and get their first experience of working in a forge. For those who are more experienced, this allows them to hone those skills that may not have been used for a while.

Once you arrive, the Vanguard Centre tutor will take the time to explain each part of the process. Starting first with basic forge safety, through to taking a piece of solid metal, heating and hammering it, to help you turn it into a unique and useful item that can be used in your home.

Each session lasts for 2-4 hours and can be attended by up to two people, 16 years and over, to ensure that you receive an appropriate amount of the instructor’s time and attention.

Price: Please see our prices page for details about the “Introduction to Blacksmithing” course, and remember that we can offer you a discount if you buy all four sessions at the same time.

Session 1 – Coat-hook

In the first part of our introductory sessions you will learn the following aspects.

• Health and safety in the forge and workshop
• Basic tools used to forge this project
• Understanding the order of forging
• Heating the metal to a workable temperature
• Drawing out the metal to the size and shape needed
• Bending the metal into the required shape
• Punching a hole to fit a nail for hanging
• Checking the profile of the item and correcting any mistakes

Session 2 – BBQ/Toasting fork

In the second part of our introductory sessions you will build upon the skills learned in the first session, along with a few additional aspects listed below.

• Additional tools used to forge this project
• Cold and Hot chiseling to mark and split the metal
• Tapering methods
• Scrolling a section into a desired shape
• Decorative twisting

Session 3 – Bottle-opener (church key style)

With the third session the following aspects will be added to your existing skills.

• Additional tools used to forge this project
• Slot punching
• Drifting a punched hole
• Fullering a handle
• Texturing for decoration and utility

Session 4 – Letter-opener

In the final session you will build upon the skills learned in the previous three parts, along with a few additional aspects listed below.

• Additional tools used to forge this project
• Shaping, bevelling and curving a knife shape
• Utilising previous session skills to form your own usable handle
• Forming a leaf into the handle and applying decoration

Pendant/Key-ring Forging

Come along to these forging sessions and our resident smith, Paul, will help you forge your very own pendant or key ring.  Once complete, the item will be given a protective coating and a waxed cord will be attached so you can leave the centre wearing your newly forged goodie.  This is a great session to do a bit of metal work and have an awesome handmade piece to keep for yourself or give as a gift!

This session is for 16 years and over, lasts around 3-4 hours and all safety equipment will be provided along with tea and coffee.

Price: Please see our prices page for details about the “Standard Workshops”.

Leaf Pendant

In this session a simple leaf will be forged by hand and then patterned with a variety of chisels and punches into a pendant or key-ring. If time permits, more than one can be made at the discretion of the blacksmith.

Firestriker Kit

How do you take a chunk of metal, hit it with a rock, and light a candle? This is fantastic the first time you see it!, but it does take a little knowledge, the right tools, and a little preparation.

In early times percussion firemaking was regularly used to start your fire. From the iron age onwards, until the invention of friction matches, the flint and steel was the most usual method and prevalent in Europe during ancient times, the Middle Ages and the Viking Age.

In this workshop our resident blacksmith will help you forge your own firestriker, assemble a firemaking kit and then attempt to light a small candle. The firestriker will be made in a Roman ‘R’-style and the kit you assemble will contain everything you need to continue practicing this very basic skill. As well as forging your firestriker, you will also make your own char-cloth tinder and waterproof a patch of cloth to protect it using a traditional and natural mixture.

The kit is comprised of the following items:

• Your hand-forged firestriker, hardened and created in your style
• A small metal tin to store everything in and protect it
• Piece of locally sourced beeswax for weatherproofing
• Patch of waxed cloth to keep everything dry
• Char-cloth tinder to turn the sparks into embers
• A technologically advanced tool for making kindling, also known as a pencil sharpener
• A sharp piece of Scottish flint
• Kindling

This workshop is for 16 years and over, last for 3-4 hours and can be attended by up to two people, this ensures that you receive an appropriate amount of the instructor’s time and attention. All safety equipment will be provided along with tea, coffee and biscuits.

Please note, that while attempting to light your candle, there will be some smoke involved. If your going out on a date afterwards, your smoky scent may attract some extra attention, just saying.

Price: Price: Please see our prices page for details about the “Firestriker Kit”.

Skeleton Bottle-Opener

“Darkness falls across the land
The midnite hour is close at hand
Creatures crawl in search of blood
To terrorize y’awls neighbourhood”
Vincent Price – Thriller

This isn’t your usual Church-key style bottle-opener. This version employs a small array of punches and chisels to sculpt out the skeleton’s skull and rib-cage, with the use of fullering dies in the guillotine to define the overall shape. This is finished up by punching and drifting the opener section before giving it a protective finish. It’s a unique looking item that would be perfect for giving to someone as a gift or as a voucher for them to make themselves.

This workshop is for 16 years and over, last for 3-4 hours and can be attended by up to two people, this ensures that you receive an appropriate amount of the instructor’s time and attention. All safety equipment will be provided along with tea, coffee and biscuits.

Price: Please see our prices page for details about the “Standard Workshops”.