Private Lessons
I offer several different one-on-one private lessons. These lessons focus on the proper and safe use of many shop tools, and cover everything from basic metalworking to more advanced forging technique. I do not claim to be a master, but I do have a great deal of tips and tricks to share, and a well stocked workshop for you to take advantage of.
For all questions regarding lesson content, availability, or to schedule yours, use our email form or call Nate at (262) 510-3563
Lessons are to be paid in full at the time of scheduling, and may be rescheduled at any time with reasonable notice.
For *all* lessons, proper shop attire and etiquette is expected. Safety is our primary concern. Students showing improper attire will be asked to change, students not following safety instructions will be immediately asked to leave with no refunds given.
Intro to Blacksmithing - $350
Beginner Level
This lesson begins the students journey into the world of moving steel with heat and pressure. A student will learn to light a forge, use hammers, tongs, and forging terminology. The student would use skills such as tapering, punching, and planishing to forge some useful things like a bottle opener and a few leaves. Emphasis on planning your forging, proper hammer and heat control, using the different heats you have when forging, and SAFETY. The student will take home some cool items to show/gift to friends and family.
Expect a 3 hour forging session.
Intro to Knifemaking - Stock Removal $450
Beginner Level
This lesson is the jumping off point for a proper knifemaking education. The student will make a stock removal petty chef or utility knife from a bar of carbon steel. This lesson is for someone who is looking to begin their knifemaking journey the proper way, by learning all the boring essential parts first. Cutting, Grinding, Heat Treating, Finishing, and Sharpening are the focus. The student will leave with a fully functional heat treated all-steel knife. There is no forging in this class, but there will be the use of an electric kiln to heat treat the knife. Emphasis on safe operation of shop tools, proper order of operations, and the thought process behind everything.
A second day of class may be added if the student wishes to add a handle to their knife for $150.
Expect a 5 hour lesson
Intro to Knifemaking - Forging $450
Beginner Level
This lesson is for a student who wishes to forge a knife to shape and learn all the processes, but stick to a shorter class that is less strenuous and a bit easier in difficulty than a full bladesmithing lesson.. The student will make a forged, all steel, petty chef or utility knife from a bar of carbon steel. Student and teacher will forge a knife using the striker and director method, quench and temper the blade, then the instructor will grind the bevels, and teach the student to sharpen the blade. The student will leave with a finished and fully functional forged knife.
A second day of class may be added if the student wishes to add a handle to their knife for $150.
Expect a 5 hour lesson.
Forge a Blacksmith's Knife - $550
Novice Level
In this one day lesson the student will learn to forge, grind, and heat treat a simple blacksmith's knife. It is recommended that the student have some experience forging, such as one of our beginner level private lessons. In this lesson, the student will expand on the previous lessons and learn hammer and tong control, heat control on oddly shaped objects, how important the order of operations is in forging, and the nuances of thermal cycling and heat treating. The knife will be forged and normalized in the morning, annealed at lunch, ground and heat treated in the afternoon, and sharpened as the final step. The student will leave with a fully finished and functional knife!
Expect a 5-8 hour lesson depending on students skill.
Forge and Finish a Hunting Knife - $1250
Intermediate Level
This lesson expands on the Blacksmith's Knife curriculum. The student will learn to forge a hidden tang hunting knife with a 4" blade, a hot fit guard, and a pinned micarta or wood handle. Emphasis on forging the knife close to shape, keeping things clean and straight through the forging, and forging to a design. This class will expand into the realm of woodworking, covering how to design, plan, and create a comfortable and functional handle for a hard use knife.
Due to the construction methods, and more advanced heat treating techniques, this class is taught over three days which must be scheduled individually.
Forge a Chef Knife - $1750
Skilled Level
In this lesson, the student will learn to forge one of the most difficult styles of knife. Forging a chef knife has a great deal of nuance, and many tips and tricks that will aid in success. This lesson is for those who have experience forging knives, and want to add a new skill to their arsenal. The knife will be forged and heat treated on the first day, ground on the second, finished and fit up on the third, and completed on the fourth or fifth if needed. Everyone works at a different pace, and a chef knife is a large undertaking. The student will leave with a fully finished, functional chef knife with a pinned micarta or wood handle.
Due to the construction methods use, and the difficulty of forging and grinding chef knives, this class is taught over 4-5 days which must be scheduled individually. The length of this class may vary depending on the student.