Past Events Hightlights

UPDATED September 19, 2019.

Iron rose carving demonstration October 5th, 2002. At this event, our team of blacksmiths carved a wrought iron rose from a single bar of iron 1-1/2" round, using traditional methods taught to European blacksmiths for centuries. The event was filmed for an amateur video entitled Fire & Roses.

Fire & Roses ~ Forging a Queen's Rose, is now available on DVD. More information can be found on the ironrose page by clicking on the picture at left or follow this link: http://www.beautifuliron.com/events_zarchive_demonstration_iron_rose_video_forging.htm

Tongs forging classes. The light tongs class has always been very popular and we will continue to offer this class in the future. At left are some of the light tongs from a recent tong making class. Every tong demonstrated one step at a time in front of student smiths - demonstrated in an 'I do, you do' format.

The light tongs class is often the first tongs making class for new smiths. The same principles are used later in the heavy tongs classes. Light tongs are much easier work than heavy tongs, so they make for a fast and easy way to learn the overall principles of tongs making.

This class is for serious students of blacksmithing only! Materials are inexpensive and total time is under 4 hours for most beginners. Students take their tongs home with them when finished.

Gargoyle dagger classes. This is one of the most popular classes we have ever had. We will continue to offer this class in the future. This class is offered to beginners and experienced blacksmiths alike. At left is a dagger from a recent class on forging flat style gargoyles.

Future classes will include a larger variety of gargoyle and animal heads based on examples from Swedish medieval ironwork.

Old photos of the shop

November 30th, 2005. The floor along the south side of the shop was torn out and replaced with a roughly level surface. Much of the equipment and horse related gear that once cluttered every available bench top, was moved to another harness room. There is much more space available and some of the trip hazards in the floor have been eliminated by the replacement of the south floor. There is however still some equipment that needed to be removed.

Old photos of the blacksmith shop as it was during October 2005 - shortly before repairing the floor on the south side of the shop. Most of this equipment has been moved or upgraded. The reason that the air hammer is seen so imposing in these photos is because there was little floor space available in the shop at the time. Every available table and bench was covered with tools and horse gear or something and the reduced work space pushed everything and everyone (including the cameraman) closer together.