COURSE DESCRIPTION: 

Blacksmiths have historically been the source of tools, from ploughshares to knives and axes to tableware. More importantly, blacksmiths have always made and altered their own tools to suit the job at hand. In this class we’ll make a blacksmith’s round punch and chisel out of high-carbon steel – two hand tools used regularly by blacksmiths.

You’ll learn how to work with high-carbon steel, how to temper it for regular use, and some options for other shapes and hand tools. Students should have had at least one other blacksmithing class and should know how to draw and taper steel. Students should also be able to start, tend, and break down a coal forge fire.

INSTRUCTOR BIO: Mark Oribello is an artist / blacksmith / fabricator / carpenter / firefighter / paramedic whose main interests lie in making new blacksmiths, fabricators and useful objects, which are very often the same thing. In addition to teaching at the Yard he is also an instructor at the RI Fire Academy and occasional helper / instructor at Prospect Hill Forge in Waltham, MA.

COURSE WITHDRAWAL AND TRANSFERS: All enrollments are subject to our REGISTRATION & ENROLLMENT POLICIES. 

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Hooks are a great beginner blacksmithing project – and they’re immediately useful! In this three-hour class, we’ll focus on J-hooks and S-hooks of different styles. In this class, you’ll learn basic blacksmithing skills such as tapering, punching, drifting, bending, and twisting. We’ll aim to send you home with two or three functional hooks.

INSTRUCTOR BIO: John D. Harvey caught the blacksmithing bug at The Steel Yard (Providence, RI) in 2014. His work leans heavily towards organic shapes and designs as well as household products. Currently, he forges out of his own shop (JDH Metalcraft) in East Providence, RI, and teaches at The Steel Yard.

COURSE WITHDRAWAL & TRANSFER: All enrollments are subject to our REGISTRATION & ENROLLMENT POLICIES.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This three-hour taster class shows you how to forge an eye-catching two-piece hairpin for you or to give as a gift!  Learn basic blacksmithing skills such as tapering, scrolling, bending, twisting, and finishing. This project is a great entry to blacksmithing while introducing you to wearable forged art. The skills you learn in this class will carry over to other forging projects.

No prior experience is needed. You will learn basic blacksmithing techniques including tapering, scrolling, bending, twisting, and finishing.

INSTRUCTOR BIO: John D. Harvey caught the blacksmithing bug at The Steel Yard (Providence, RI) in 2014. His work leans heavily towards organic shapes and designs as well as household products. Currently, he forges out of his own shop (JDH Metalcraft) in East Providence, RI, and teaches at The Steel Yard.

COURSE WITHDRAWAL & TRANSFERS: All enrollments are subject to our REGISTRATION & ENROLLMENT POLICIES.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Be the envy of everyone at dinner! This course will teach you how to forge and finish your own set of mild-steel chopsticks. Students will forge two pieces of thin, round-stock into a long, faceted square chopsticks with a round taper at the end. In addition, each student will add a decorative twist to the tops of their chopsticks.

Forging one of something is relatively easy. This course will focus on forging two pieces that are the same width, length, and feel natural and symmetrical when using them to grip and eat food.

Forging in mild steel (rather than stainless) makes this process more forgiving for beginners. The instructor will provide instructions on how to clean and care for your mild-steel chopsticks.

INSTRUCTOR BIO:  John D. Harvey caught the blacksmithing bug at The Steel Yard (Providence, RI) in 2014. His work leans heavily towards organic shapes and designs as well as household products. Currently, he forges out of his own shop (JDH Metalcraft) in East Providence, RI, and teaches at The Steel Yard.

COURSE WITHDRAWAL & TRANSFERS: All enrollments are subject to our REGISTRATION & ENROLLMENT POLICIES.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: 

Steel is typically seen as a rigid, industrial material – steel girders support vast roofs, steel automobiles are stamped out with machine precision, and even mundane items such as food cans and kitchen appliances are created with straight, exact lines. In this class we’ll be exploring how we can change this rigid material into a graceful, organic shape using both new and old techniques. We’ll use a blend of modern and ancient techniques to shape mild steel and add character and fluidness to what will ultimately become a tentacle-shaped keychain. 

Students will learn blacksmithing techniques that reach back as far as the 14th century such as drawing, tapering, and bending in addition to modern techniques such as MIG welding to create additional features on our tentacle. Particular attention will be paid to hammer technique while blacksmithing as this class serves as an introduction to blacksmithing. Students will also be introduced to basic shop techniques and safety including the use of belt sanders, angle grinders, and drill presses. A small amount of introduction to MIG welding will be provided but this course will not cover MIG welding techniques in depth.

No prior experience is needed. You will learn basic blacksmithing techniques including tapering, scrolling, bending, twisting, and finishing.

INSTRUCTOR BIO: 

Mark is an artist / blacksmith / fabricator / carpenter / firefighter / paramedic whose main interests lie in making new blacksmiths, fabricators and useful objects, which are very often the same thing. In addition to teaching at the Yard he is also an instructor at the RI Fire Academy and occasional helper / instructor at Prospect Hill Forge in Waltham, MA.

COURSE WITHDRAWAL AND TRANSFERS: All enrollments are subject to our REGISTRATION & ENROLLMENT POLICIES. 

COURSE DESCRIPTION: The bottle opener … it’s everyone’s favorite tool and a great conversation starter at a party! In this workshop, students will learn the fundamentals of blacksmithing, while focusing on forging their own handmade bottle openers. A perfect introduction to the craft of forging, this course teaches the basics of heating, hammering, and shaping steel.

In three hours, we will cover techniques such as punching, drifting, tapering, and more. This class focuses on forging techniques for small pieces; think less brute force and more precise detail. No need to be big and burly!

No previous experience necessary; all tools and materials are provided.

INSTRUCTOR BIO: John D. Harvey caught the blacksmithing bug at The Steel Yard (Providence, RI) in 2014. His work leans heavily towards organic shapes and designs as well as household products. Currently, he forges out of his own shop (JDH Metalcraft) in East Providence, RI, and teaches at The Steel Yard.

COURSE WITHDRAWAL & TRANSFERS: All enrollments are subject to our REGISTRATION & ENROLLMENT POLICIES.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will explore basic blacksmithing techniques and serve as an introduction to a centuries-old art. Starting with copper (which can be worked cold) students will explore smithing skills such as tapering, drawing, and bending using a series of hammers and an anvil as they create a rose using the “Imperial Rose” technique. Once students have familiarized themselves with these basic skills we’ll move to steel. Students will be able to use their newly-acquired smithing skills to forge and shape steel to create a steel rose, changing a rigid piece of industrially-created metal to create an organic, individual shape. No prior blacksmithing or metalworking experience is necessary.

No prior experience is needed. You will learn basic blacksmithing techniques including tapering, scrolling, bending, twisting, and finishing.

INSTRUCTOR BIO: Mark Oribello is an artist / blacksmith / fabricator / carpenter / firefighter / paramedic whose main interests lie in making new blacksmiths, fabricators and useful objects, which are very often the same thing. In addition to teaching at the Yard he is also an instructor at the RI Fire Academy and occasional helper / instructor at Prospect Hill Forge in Waltham, MA.

COURSE WITHDRAWAL & TRANSFER: All enrollments are subject to our REGISTRATION & ENROLLMENT POLICIES.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This holiday season, you can hang your stockings on the fireplace mantle in style! In this 3-hour blacksmithing “taster” course, you’ll forge a sturdy hook-under stocking hangar that relies on gravity and weight to keep the hangar in place. You’ll learn to forge a taper, a hook, and then metal bending to form the corners. We’ll also cover some decorative metal texturing and finishes to make your stocking hangar really pop. Also, these hangars can be used all year round to hang different seasonal or year-round decorations from your mantle. This class is intended for complete beginners.

INSTRUCTOR BIO: John D. Harvey caught the blacksmithing bug at The Steel Yard (Providence, RI) in 2014. His work leans heavily towards organic shapes and designs as well as household products. Currently, he forges out of his own shop (JDH Metalcraft) in East Providence, RI, and teaches at The Steel Yard.

COURSE WITHDRAWAL AND TRANSFERS: All enrollments are subject to our REGISTRATION & ENROLLMENT POLICIES.