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 a Sushi Knife

    Bridgetown Forge 1812 N. Columbia Blvd. Building A-2, Portland, Oregon, United States

    Saturday and Sunday 8:30 am – 3:30 pm The traditional Japanese sushi knife is constructed of two layers of steel — a soft, low-carbon body fused to a very hard, […]

  • CLASS: Forging a Japanese Carpenter’s Hammer

    Bridgetown Forge 1812 N. Columbia Blvd. Building A-2, Portland, Oregon, United States

    Sunday 8:30 am – 3:30 pm In this class, we will forge a Japanese carpenter’s hammer, a very handsome and handy implement, found in the toolbox of every carpenter in […]

  • CLASS: Forging Spoons

    Bridgetown Forge 1812 N. Columbia Blvd. Building A-2, Portland, Oregon, United States

    Sunday 9:30 am – 4:30 pm in this class, we will forge various spoons out of a stainless steel bar, creating unique, beautiful and useful kitchen tools. We will employ […]

  • CLASS: Forging a Chef’s Knife

    Bridgetown Forge 1812 N. Columbia Blvd. Building A-2, Portland, Oregon, United States

    Saturday and Sunday 8:30 am – 3:30 pm A knife is perhaps the most basic, elemental tool, and a good chef’s knife will make a big difference in the kitchen. […]

  • CLASS: Forging a Sword

    Bridgetown Forge 1812 N. Columbia Blvd. Building A-2, Portland, Oregon, United States

    Saturday-Sunday 8:30 am - 3:30 pm In this class, we will forge a double-edged sword, using a combination of hand-hammering, striking with a sledgehammer, and pneumatic power hammer work. In […]

  • CLASS: Forging a Sword

    Bridgetown Forge 1812 N. Columbia Blvd. Building A-2, Portland, Oregon, United States

    Saturday-Sunday 9:30 am - 4:30 pm In this class, we will forge a double-edged sword, using a combination of hand-hammering, striking with a sledgehammer, and pneumatic power hammer work. In […]

  • CLASS: Tool Making

    Bridgetown Forge 1812 N. Columbia Blvd. Building A-2, Portland, Oregon, United States

    Saturday and Sunday 9:30 am – 4:30 pm The making of tools has always been one of the mainstays of a blacksmith’s set of skills. Not only is the smith […]

  • CLASS: Forging an Axe

    Bridgetown Forge 1812 N. Columbia Blvd. Building A-2, Portland, Oregon, United States

    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 […]