Get Hooked: An Introduction to Blacksmithing

Students will forge a simple S-hook from a steel bar, and learn the joy of shaping glowing metal with a hammer. In this three-hour class, students will learn their way around a blacksmith’s shop, and forge, taper, scroll, bend and twist a rod of steel into a beautiful and useful hook for general use.

• . Students will learn the basics and see whether further blacksmithing classes are their cup of tea.
• . Students will gain Familiarity with the blacksmith shop's tools (Forge, Anvils, Hammers, Tongs, Hot Cut, Twisting Wrench, Vise)
• . Students will taper, dress, and scroll the end of a bar before bending it into a hook. Then they will use a hot cut to sever the material, flip it around, and do the same thing over again, but this time holding the work with a pair of tongs. Finally, they will use the vise and twisting wrench to put a decorative twist into the finished S-Hook.
• . The final result will be a hand-forged S-Hook from 3/4 square mild steel bar.
• . This class does not include tool testing.

• Students will be provided with 24" of 3/8" square mild steel bar, and the tools needed to forge it into a simple yet elegant S-hook.
• Access to A2's Metalshop and tools for the duration of the session.

Students should bring their beautiful selves, their sharp and inquisitive minds, and closed-toed shoes and natural fiber clothing, and PLENTY of water, it will be very hot work.

Willow is a blacksmith, bladesmith, Forged In Fire Champion and mom from Lunenburg, MA. She has taught at multiple craft schools around the US, and worked with blacksmiths as far away as Myanmar. If you take her classes, you must have a high tolerance for corny puns, and strange tangents and stories that are actually extremely relevant to the topic at hand.