Blacksmithing Classes in Virginia | Virginia Institute of Blacksmithing

Classes

Pick yourfire

Most classes run a Saturday and Sunday. You are at the forge and anvil from the first morning, with an instructor beside you, and the goal is always the same: go home with a finished piece.

0115 classes
Blacksmithing
Two-day weekend projects for beginners: hatchets, spears, leaves, hooks and hinges. Fire, hammer and anvil from the first hour.
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028 classes
Knife Making
Forge a chef knife, a chopper or a hunter from bar stock, then fit the handle. Guest bladesmiths teach the advanced sessions.
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033 classes
Welding
Learn to lay a bead and leave with something useful: a fire pit, a welding cart or a layout table.
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042 classes
Power Hammer
Build your own Clay Spencer style tire hammer, or learn the tooling that makes a power hammer earn its keep.
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057 classes
Guest Instructors
Nationally known smiths and artists bring sculpture, chasing and repousse, wearable art and the business of blacksmithing to Waynesboro.
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061 class
ABANA Curriculum
The Artist Blacksmiths Association of North America national curriculum, taught by an instructor certified for all three levels.
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071 class
American Bladesmith Society
The ABS two-week Introduction to Bladesmithing course, taught here by ABS Master Smith Scott McGhee.
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What you will make

Leave withthe proof

Hatchets, chef knives, fire pits, roses, spears, grilling tools. Every class is built around a real project, and tuition covers the materials.

ABANA National Curriculum training for All Levels, a class project — ABANA National Curriculum training for All Levels

ABS Intro to Knifemaking with Scott McGhee, a class project — ABS Intro to Knifemaking with Scott McGhee

Beginning Welding: Firepit, a class project — Beginning Welding: Firepit

Beginning Welding: Layout Table, a class project — Beginning Welding: Layout Table

Beginning Welding: Welding Cart, a class project — Beginning Welding: Welding Cart

Bird and Trout Knife Making Class for Beginners, a class project — Bird and Trout Knife Making Class for Beginners

Blacksmith Knife: Hunter/Utility Knife for Beginners, a class project — Blacksmith Knife: Hunter/Utility Knife for Beginners

Blacksmith’s Knife: Chef Knife for Beginners, a class project — Blacksmith’s Knife: Chef Knife for Beginners

Blacksmith’s Knife: Chopper Knife for Beginners, a class project — Blacksmith’s Knife: Chopper Knife for Beginners

Build a Clay Spencer Style Tire Power Hammer, a class project — Build a Clay Spencer Style Tire Power Hammer

Build a Flail, a class project — Build a Flail

Build a Hatchet, a class project — Build a Hatchet

Build a Spear, a class project — Build a Spear

Build a Sword, a class project — Build a Sword

Build a Warhammer, a class project — Build a Warhammer

Campfire Cookset, a class project — Campfire Cookset

Chasing and Repousse Tool Making and Introductory Techniques with Douglas Pryor, a class project — Chasing and Repousse Tool Making and Introductory Techniques with Douglas Pryor

Chef Knife class with Scott McGhee, a class project — Chef Knife class with Scott McGhee

Creating a Public Sculpture with Artem Marshak, a class project — Creating a Public Sculpture with Artem Marshak

Design, Pricing, and Marketing for Blacksmiths with Artem Marshak, a class project — Design, Pricing, and Marketing for Blacksmiths with Artem Marshak

Ellen Durkan: Ideas to Reality Through Wearable Art, a class project — Ellen Durkan: Ideas to Reality Through Wearable Art

Fall Leaves, a class project — Fall Leaves

Floral Forms: Rose & Iris, a class project — Floral Forms: Rose & Iris

Grilling Tools, a class project — Grilling Tools

Intermediate Knifemaking: Handles and Guards with Scott McGhee, a class project — Intermediate Knifemaking: Handles and Guards with Scott McGhee

Leaves & Twists, a class project — Leaves & Twists

Nails, Hinges, Hasps, and Handles, a class project — Nails, Hinges, Hasps, and Handles

Non-Ferrous Metal Forging for Beginners, a class project — Non-Ferrous Metal Forging for Beginners

Pattern Welded Damascus, a class project — Pattern Welded Damascus

Power Hammer Tools with Allan Kress, a class project — Power Hammer Tools with Allan Kress

Stone Carving Tools Workshop, a class project — Stone Carving Tools Workshop

Stone Carving with Bethany Lee, a class project — Stone Carving with Bethany Lee

Throwing Knife and Tomahawks, a class project — Throwing Knife and Tomahawks

Tips & Tricks of the Anvil, a class project — Tips & Tricks of the Anvil

A student forging a large scroll at the anvil in the VIB shop

A forged gate panel with scrollwork, made in the VIB shop

Age 9Dale's first forge

Meet your instructor

Taught bya master

Dale found the forge at nine years old, at the Booker T. Washington National Monument living history program, while his sister churned butter. He never left it. He set up a shop at Warren Wilson College, studied at Penland and the John C. Campbell Folk School, and trained in Europe under Manfred Bredohl in Aachen, Germany, and Gabriele Curtolo in Venice, Italy.

Today his railings, gates and lighting are in homes and businesses in the US and abroad. The Artisan Center of Virginia named him a Master Artisan, and he is one of the few instructors in the country certified to teach all three levels of the ABANA National Curriculum.

1976: First summer at the anvil
3: ABANA curriculum levels he is certified to teach
Master: Artisan, Artisan Center of Virginia

Read Dale's story

Why VIB

A real shop,not a demo

Coal and gas forges, a floor of anvils, power hammers, grinders and welders. You do the work yourself, with someone who has done it for fifty years.

Beginners welcome
Most weekend classes start from zero: safe shop practice, fire management, hammer control and basic forging.
Gear included
All safety equipment and materials are provided. Tuition covers materials and instruction for the weekend.
Guest masters
Internationally known guest instructors teach sculpture, chasing and repousse, bladesmithing and more.
A path forward
Go further with the Artisan Blacksmithing Certificate or the ABANA National Curriculum, all three levels taught here.

From the VIB shop

Iron thatoutlasts us

Coming from out of town

Make aweekend of it

Waynesboro sits where the Blue Ridge Parkway meets Skyline Drive, an easy drive from Charlottesville, Richmond and the Shenandoah Valley.

Main Street in downtown Waynesboro, Virginia

Where to stay

Negotiated rate for VIB students

The Best Western Plus Waynesboro Inn and Suites has a negotiated rate for students. Call the front desk at (540) 942-1100 and tell them you are attending the Virginia Institute of Blacksmithing.

More places to stay Things to do in Waynesboro

Good to know

Before youlight up

More on what to wear, age limits, transfers and getting into the shop on Things to Know.

Do I need any experience?

No. The two-day blacksmithing, knife making and welding classes are written for beginners: safe shop practices, fire management, efficient hammer technique and basic forging. Advanced and guest instructor classes say so in their description.

What is included in the price?

All safety equipment and materials are provided, and tuition covers materials and instruction for the class. The price at checkout is the class tuition plus a $15 booking fee. Gift cards and coupons cover tuition and add-ons; the booking fee is always paid by card.

How old do students need to be?

Knife making classes are open to students 18 and older only, and ID may be required. Other classes accept younger smiths, but we do not recommend the project classes for ages 10 to 14 unless the student is ready for serious physical work. A parent, guardian or responsible adult must stay on site for any student under 18, and is welcome to take the class too.

Can I transfer or cancel?

Call (434) 960-9718 to make any change to a registration. Transfers and cancellations must be made more than 14 days before class to receive a refund, and there is a $75 fee for any transfer, cancellation or refund. The $15 booking fee is not refundable.

What should I wear, and how do I get in?

Registration is complete once payment is complete. We then email you what to wear and how to get into the industrial complex, so please double check your email address when you book.

Hot iron.Real anvils.Your hands.

Pick yourfire

Blacksmithing

Knife Making

Welding

Power Hammer

Guest Instructors

ABANA Curriculum

American Bladesmith Society