Bushcraft Blademaking Courses
Using the tools of the original Masters of
Iron, I invite you to my Bladesmiths workshop to make yourselves a sturdy,
functional knife, axe, adze or any bushcraft or woodworking tool you wish to make.
Why are forged blades better?
The shape of a cheap simple blade is achieved by grinding with a bench grinder or with a hand held angle grinder. This involves grinding
through or removing different layers of grain structure, therefore weakening the blade. The idea of fullering is to lighten and strengthen the blade at the same time. The majority of mass production knives have ground blades as they are generally easier, cheaper and quicker to produce.
A forged fullered blade is achieved by the process of forging, hence
the name blacksmith or smithy. Firstly the bar is heated in a forge until red
hot, removing it and striking it with a hammer on the anvil until it resembles a knife blade. This usually requires several heats. The fullers or grooves are made using tools called top and bottom fullers, During the forging and fullering process there is no material removed from the blade, it is only displaced, which is why a forged blade is superior to a ground blade. In theory the piece of steel that you start off with should still weigh the same when you have finished.
The blade smith course is set to firm those interested into serious tool making for Bushcraft and woodcraft. Become a true Bladesmith smith. Learn how to build a forge at home and practice the skills of the smith.
At the start of each course I introduce you to the tools and materials that will be used, followed by the health and safety talk (such as "don't touch metal from the forge it even when it’s black it WILL be hot and don't touch the edges of my tools as they WILL be sharp!).
If you would like to know more or book onto a course, please contact me, the price for the courses includes liquid refreshments during the course and all materials including a light lunch. Due to the increasing popularity of some courses, I ask for a none refundable £20 deposit to secure places.
Courses start at 9am and finish somewhere between 4:30 and 6pm, depending on the ability of the group. Unlike many bushcraft schools, I don't charge you ridiculous amounts of money for 4 hours of teaching and 4 hours of hanging around each day, this is why the groups are always small never more than four people. If you come on one of my courses you will be busy the whole time as I want you to feel that you have got value for money!
Day 1 (or a one day course)
If you intend to make a forged finished blade or adze, then you will be able to forge the blade and heat treat it with time enough to move onto the next step.
Once you have a finished tool you can fit a simple handle, such as a piece of antler or a rustic branch, and sharpen your knife up.
If your design has a more involved handle, that requires shaping, then you will be able to prepare the handle pieces and depending on the complexity of your design you should be able to glue the pieces together ready for shaping later at home or during the next day of your course if you opt for the second day.
Day 2
Prepare and glue the handle onto the blade, if this wasn't done by the end of day 1.Now it’s time for the second tool, Perhaps an Adze it’s entirely up to you, then shape handle to fit your hand and design, then finish it to a fine satin finish with hand abrasives and oil the wood to protect it.
So what’s the cost for the courses?
Some people just opt for the single day
Day 1
£ 90.00
Includes: all materials to make your Bushcraft Tool liquid refreshments Tea / Coffee squash or Water all day and includes
unlike similar courses a light lunch.
Day 2
£ 70.00
Includes:
all materials to complete your Bushcraft Tool liquid refreshments Tea / Coffee squash or Water all day and includes
unlike similar courses a light lunch.
LATEST COURSE DATES
TBC
These are just some of the blades made recently.
Your imagination is the limiting factor.
Iron, I invite you to my Bladesmiths workshop to make yourselves a sturdy,
functional knife, axe, adze or any bushcraft or woodworking tool you wish to make.
Why are forged blades better?
The shape of a cheap simple blade is achieved by grinding with a bench grinder or with a hand held angle grinder. This involves grinding
through or removing different layers of grain structure, therefore weakening the blade. The idea of fullering is to lighten and strengthen the blade at the same time. The majority of mass production knives have ground blades as they are generally easier, cheaper and quicker to produce.
A forged fullered blade is achieved by the process of forging, hence
the name blacksmith or smithy. Firstly the bar is heated in a forge until red
hot, removing it and striking it with a hammer on the anvil until it resembles a knife blade. This usually requires several heats. The fullers or grooves are made using tools called top and bottom fullers, During the forging and fullering process there is no material removed from the blade, it is only displaced, which is why a forged blade is superior to a ground blade. In theory the piece of steel that you start off with should still weigh the same when you have finished.
The blade smith course is set to firm those interested into serious tool making for Bushcraft and woodcraft. Become a true Bladesmith smith. Learn how to build a forge at home and practice the skills of the smith.
At the start of each course I introduce you to the tools and materials that will be used, followed by the health and safety talk (such as "don't touch metal from the forge it even when it’s black it WILL be hot and don't touch the edges of my tools as they WILL be sharp!).
If you would like to know more or book onto a course, please contact me, the price for the courses includes liquid refreshments during the course and all materials including a light lunch. Due to the increasing popularity of some courses, I ask for a none refundable £20 deposit to secure places.
Courses start at 9am and finish somewhere between 4:30 and 6pm, depending on the ability of the group. Unlike many bushcraft schools, I don't charge you ridiculous amounts of money for 4 hours of teaching and 4 hours of hanging around each day, this is why the groups are always small never more than four people. If you come on one of my courses you will be busy the whole time as I want you to feel that you have got value for money!
Day 1 (or a one day course)
If you intend to make a forged finished blade or adze, then you will be able to forge the blade and heat treat it with time enough to move onto the next step.
Once you have a finished tool you can fit a simple handle, such as a piece of antler or a rustic branch, and sharpen your knife up.
If your design has a more involved handle, that requires shaping, then you will be able to prepare the handle pieces and depending on the complexity of your design you should be able to glue the pieces together ready for shaping later at home or during the next day of your course if you opt for the second day.
Day 2
Prepare and glue the handle onto the blade, if this wasn't done by the end of day 1.Now it’s time for the second tool, Perhaps an Adze it’s entirely up to you, then shape handle to fit your hand and design, then finish it to a fine satin finish with hand abrasives and oil the wood to protect it.
So what’s the cost for the courses?
Some people just opt for the single day
Day 1
£ 90.00
Includes: all materials to make your Bushcraft Tool liquid refreshments Tea / Coffee squash or Water all day and includes
unlike similar courses a light lunch.
Day 2
£ 70.00
Includes:
all materials to complete your Bushcraft Tool liquid refreshments Tea / Coffee squash or Water all day and includes
unlike similar courses a light lunch.
LATEST COURSE DATES
TBC
These are just some of the blades made recently.
Your imagination is the limiting factor.
