Upcoming classes
Basic Bladesmithing (2 Days)
Dates: February 19th and 20th, 2022 (Saturday and Sunday / 10am - 6pm)
Location: Wrought Academy / 2440 Adeline Street / Oakland CA 94607
Level: Beginning / Intermediate
Maximum Class Size: 4
This class will run if at least 3 students are enrolled by the Sunday, January 16th. Otherwise the class may be cancelled with full refunds to enrolled students.
Class Description: This class will focus on the forging skills essential for producing medium-sized, utility knife blades. As students gain experience they will each start working in high-carbon steel and forge a knife blade which they can grind and heat treat. Emphasis will be placed on proper working temperatures at all stages of production as well as efficient and accurate hammer work. The skills learned will be directly applicable to the more advanced classes we offer in pattern-welded and laminated knife forging.
Class space is very limited! Students will be registered in the order that their payments are received.
See you at the Forge! James Austin
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Class Set-Up and Safety Considerations:
At the time of this writing, due to the ongoing pandemic students need to arrive vaccinated, and we will practice distancing and masking inside the shop. Students must bring their own face masks.
All necessary tools and materials will be provided for the students.
Students must bring their own safety glasses and work gloves, and wear them at all times in work areas.
Students must wear snugly fitted, long-sleeved work shirts and long pants of cotton or wool (no nylon or polyester allowed) and firm, leather work-shoes.
Hearing protection is required and is provided in the shop in the form of foam ear-plugs. Students who need over-ear protection must provide their own.
Forge Welding Norwegian Style Laminated Knife Blades (3 Days)
Dates: March 4th, 5th and 6th, 2022 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday / 10am - 6pm)
Location: Wrought Academy / 2440 Adeline Street / Oakland CA 94607
Level: Intermediate
Maximum Class Size: 4
This class will run if at least 3 students are enrolled by the Sunday, February 27th
Class Description: In this class students will learn how to laminate traditional, Norwegian knife blades by forge welding high carbon steel between two layers of soft steel, then forging out the blanks so produced into traditional, Scandinavian style knife blades of the type traditionally worn on the belt.
Class space is very limited! Students will be registered in the order that their payments are received.
See you at the Forge! - James Austin
*****************************
Class Set-Up and Safety Considerations:
At the time of this writing, due to the ongoing pandemic students need to arrive vaccinated, and we will practice distancing and masking inside the shop. Students must bring their own face masks.
All necessary tools and materials will be provided for the students.
Students must bring their own safety glasses and work gloves, and wear them at all times in work areas.
Students must wear snugly fitted, long-sleeved work shirts and long pants of cotton or wool (no nylon or polyester allowed) and firm, leather work-shoes.
Hearing protection is required and is provided in the shop in the form of foam ear-plugs. Students who need over-ear protection must provide their own.
Private Instruction
Private instruction with James Austin is available for 1 student, or a pair of students, for 4, 6 or 8 hour sessions. After discussion, the projects can be tailored to the students interests and experience or picked from standard class projects ranging from beginning to advanced skill levels. The costs for these sessions are as follows:
1 Student: 4 hours / $400 6 hours / $520 8 hours / $640
2 Students 4 hours / $540 6 hours / $720 8 hours / $880
Please contact James at hotsteel@sbcglobal.net to discuss possible projects, scheduling and payments.