Name: CLASS: Forging an Axe
Start: 2026-11-21T00:00:00-08:00
End: 2026-11-22T23:59:59-08:00
Location: Bridgetown Forge

Classes and Open Forge Calendar

Bridgetown Forge offers a variety of classes, for both a novice and the experienced smith: forging Japanese-style knives, tool-making, tong-making, and basic smithing. Heat-treatment, steel selection, and metallurgy are also extensively covered. Hofi’s ergonomic forging method, which allows for fast, accurate forging with reduced effort, is taught throughout, and the emphasis is on practical, straightforward, and effective shaping of steel. Our shop is well-equipped with multiple forging hammers, extensive grinding and polishing setup, gas and coke forges, and an individual forging station for every student. Nine students can be fully accommodated in any class.

New classes are being developed on a continuous basis, and classes to be offered in near future include: power hammer work, forging a cleaver, forging a sushi knife, hammer-making, and axe-making. The goal is to offer a complete curriculum covering the many different skills of a blacksmith.

CLASS: Forging an Axe

November 21 - November 22

Saturday and Sunday
9:30 am – 4:30 pm

In this class, we will forge an axe out of a square bar of high-carbon steel, stamp it with your initials, harden and temper it and grind and polish it to a razor edge. It will become your go-to axe to swing whenever chopping wood becomes necessary. The class incorporates both hand-forging and the use of a hydraulic press and a power hammer. The addition of power equipment adds another layer of skills, not to mention the sheer excitement of moving a lot of hot steel in a fast yet controlled manner.