Prospect Hill Forge, Massachusetts, United States

5nyarasha 5:00 PM Jan 15, 2017

Learn to forge like a blacksmith
I took "A Taste of Blacksmithing" a few months ago, since I was given a gift certificate from a friend last holiday season. I've always wanted to try working with iron, since I feel that I'd be a blacksmith if we were back in the "good old days" when every town needed one. There is parking right next to the shop, which is nice. They had the garage door open into the studio for ventilation, since I went in the late summer. It was definitely necessary, with three forges firing away! Right away, they gave us aprons, eye protection, and hearing protection. That's a sign that they care about you! Next, they demonstrated how to do the first few steps of making an S-hook out of iron bar stock. Then, we were sized for each forge, since the height of your arms relative to the anvils matters. We were paired up with similarly gangly armed people, two people to a forge, and instructed in how to share a forge without risking burns or collisions. Next, they walked us through the first few steps of making the hook. All the steps for creating the S-hook were written out on a chalkboard, which was really helpful to me as I went through the steps. My partner and I helped each other remember what to do, and the instructors came around during each of our turns at the anvil to help us. They instructed me in how to stand at an anvil and hit the workpiece with effective force, which I had trouble with in the beginning. The two instructors made everyone feel comfortable and respected. Any questions were answered completely, and help was available all the time. Even though there were eight people in the class, I never felt rushed or neglected. I still don't know how they managed to keep up with all of us at once, but I felt almost like I was getting a private lesson the entire time! If you're nervous, these guys will allay your fears. Also, the class was made up of equal parts men and women, with a few parent-child pairs as well. I was completely impressed by the way the teachers instructed throughout the class. We all ended up with S-hooks that looked completely different, using the same set of instructions. Some folks even managed to get through one and start a second during the 3-hour course. I feel lucky to live really close to this forge, since some folks came from over an hour's drive to take classes here. It really is worth it! There are lots of classes, as well as open forge times where you can come in and work on your own pieces or learn from others. Prospect Hill Forge also shows their work at a lot of local events, including the annual Steampunk festival put on by the Charles River Museum of Industry, if you want to chat, sign up for classes, or view their work. SO MUCH FUN! You'll leave knowing you just worked with metal, which is a really powerful feeling. I'd love to come back when I get the chance!