FAQ

The short answer is yes, but with training the risk is minimal.

The long answer is it certainly can be, but with proper training and experience it can be a fulfilling and perfectly safe hobby or even career. Nothing worth doing is without risk, and the risks of blacksmithing are quite apparent. As a smith, you are near a fire, are handling hot metal and wielding tools that can be dangerous if used improperly.

However, the first of the classes is all about safety and proper use of equipment. I do not let anyone come close to the tools or forge without having been trained in appropriate safety measures. I have been doing this for years after all, and I still have all my fingers!

Not right off the bat, but eventually, with practice and plenty of training, it is certainly possible! I don't allow any knife-making in the first six classes (the first entire course), as it adds an additional risk and requires extensive training to get right. Once the first course has been completed, and you are 18 or over, blades can be a great teaching tool in many respects.

Smithing is a time-honored tradition that has been used for thousands of years, stretching across different eras of human knowledge and using many different metals and alloys (enough that it became its own last name in many regions!).

It is not as widely used today as is was even 100 years ago (not counting on an industrial scale), but there are still those who continue to practice independently to make hand-forged items.

As a history major myself, I find the historical aspect fascinating, and I strive to keep those traditions alive by teaching methods used in the 19th and 20th centuries as well as the 21st.

I am willing to teach anyone as young as 16, though if you are under 18 you must have a parent or guardian sign your paperwork on your behalf. 

In addition to PPE (personal protective equipment) like aprons and gloves, please see the recommendations below on what to wear and what to avoid.

DO Wear:

• natural fabrics

• cotton

• denim

• linen

• leather

• comfortable, close-toed shoes

• long hair tied up

DO NOT Wear:

• synthetic fabrics

• polyester

• nylon

• acrylic

• open-toed shoes

Classes for adults (non-students age 18 or older) cost $25 per class, or $125 for six classes if paid up front.

Classes for students (either high school ages 16+ or college) cost $15 per class, or $75 for six classes if paid up front.

Purchasing all six classes (for a total of one full course) saves you the cost of a full class, so I highly recommend it!

Yes! Although I would love to see you at the class, you are more than welcome to donate to the effort! We have a GoFundMe going (link below), so feel free to donate yourself, or you can share the link on social media and have others donate. The more funds we can raise, the better equipment we will have for the classes!

GoFundMe Link: https://gofund.me/6df91285

I recommend bringing any tools that would be helpful, though I will provide what tools I can for class use. As the class progresses, there will be more opportunity to purchase more classroom materials, such as hammers, aprons, gloves, and even forges, but I still suggest you buy at least one cross-peen hammer and a pair of leather or Kevlar gloves for yourself.

No, you are more than welcome to stop on by and observe the classes. All ages are welcome to observe, so bring your family and listen to the music the hammers make as they strike the anvils and metal!

While you are there, feel free to also visit the Handy House proper! The Westport Historical Society provides tours of the 18th century homestead every Wednesday and Saturday over the summer. Take a look at https://wpthistory.org/handy-house/.

You must complete at least one full course (six classes) to be able to use the equipment outside the basic curriculum. Class fees still apply (see "How much do classes cost?" in the FAQ), but you will have access to the materials available as well as consultation from me!

Chances are, it will rain at some point or other during our class time. A light rain will not hinder a class (nor will you melt in it!), though living in New England means we could go from a drizzle to a downpour and back with little warning. I will use my best judgement to determine whether or not to cancel a class based on the weather.

If class is not cancelled, you are not obligated to attend. Your sessions need not be consecutive, so skipping a week does not count against what you paid for. Just remember that we only have a limited time to hold classes, so every potential class you skip is an opportunity to learn lost!