Description

Blacksmithing 101 Introduction to Blacksmithing

November 2, 2024
9:00 am – 1:30 pm
Ticket Price $125.00 non-refundable
Minimum age 18 or by special permission from Banton-Smith Director, contact Michael at [email protected] if you want to sign up someone age 14-17 before purchasing a ticket
8 tickets maximum
Michael Gillespie and other instructors
Location: 2748 Dogtown Rd, Goochland, VA 23063

Whether you’re curious if blacksmithing is for you – or you want an introductory class and just want to expand your skills – or if you just want to play in the fire and make some useful items, this is the class for you!

Join us for our “Blacksmithing 101” class at the Banton-Smith Center for Blacksmith & Metal Arts. In this beginner-level class we’ll learn about basic safety and introduce some basic tools and techniques. This project will highlight some of the basic fundamentals of blacksmithing – hammer control, drawing out, tapering, twisting, bending/scrolling, hammer and tong selection, riveting are just some of the things we will cover. We will have several projects for you to complete during this class.

– Working with hot metal requires some precautions – substantial, closed-toed shoes are required. Cotton, wool, or other non-synthetic clothing is recommended – things like nylon or fleece can melt and stick to skin. We’ll teach ways to work with the metal that shouldn’t need gloves. Eye and Ear protection are required – we can provide it for $5.00 or you can bring your own.

– If you are buying a ticket for someone else, please let us know who will attend the class and provide contact information so we can best tailor the instruction for the class make-up or contact attendees in case of last-minute changes or cancellation.

– Bring your own lunch. We will take a mid-class break. We will have water.

– Masks are required for the unvaccinated, recommended for the fully vaccinated.

The Banton-Smith Center for Blacksmith and Metal Arts has established a “No-Show Policy” for our classes. When you sign up to take a class, you understand there are no refunds. There may be circumstances where we do not get sufficient enrollment to have the class take place. In this case you are given credit for the amount you paid and can apply that to a different class offering or we can issue you a refund. Should we have to cancel a class, we will advise you (normally several days in advance of the class) and ask what you prefer.

The second part of this policy is geared more towards those who have signed up to take a class and do not show up. We have seen several instances where people fail to contact us to advise they will not be at the class. We sometimes have folks on a waiting list to take a class, yet you fail to advise us in advance so we may offer the class to someone on the waiting list. We understand emergencies do arise but when you fail to notify us about your absence, we do not issue you any credit for the missed class. Oftentimes we have purchased and committed materials for a specific class, have hired an instructor and assistant, arranged for a forge master to be present, etc. These are fees we have incurred to provide this class and if you fail to show up we do not issue you any refund.