3 Day Damascus and knife-making course

 

 

Previous forging experience highly recommended

In this class, you will learn how best to prepare, construct and forge your very own pattern welded (damascus) steel billet. This will be done by using 2 different grades of carbon steel.

You will create 4 billets of steel stacked with 2 steel types. Next you will fire-weld these together using the forge and anvil.  At that point, we will flatten them out and begin to combine these initial billets together to create more layers.

The 4 starting billets will eventually become 1 single billet.  This can be hammered, drilled and twisted to create a variety of patterns within your steel.

Next, you will forge your billet to the shape of your blade.  The design of this blade can be entirely up to you or designed around an existing template.  The blade will, of course be yours to keep along with any leftover steel from your billet.

18+ only

 

Day 1

  • 9am Start.  Introduction, coffee/tea and a brief overview of the day.
  • 9:15 Fire up the forge
  • discuss plans and potential patterning
  • fireweld and flatten billets
  • Lunch – 30-40min
  • cut & stack
  • Close 5:30pm

There is extra time if required during certain steps and for additional breaks

Day 2

  • finish any remaining stack & cut
  • Begin forging your blade to shape
  • 12:30 Harden & temper (1H lunch)
  • 2pm grind & polish blade
  • 5:30pm close

Day 3

  • grind blade, sand/polish
  • work on the grip towards completion
  • etch and clean the steel to reveal final pattern
  • final assembly
  • 5:30pm close

 

What to bring

I ask that you wear old clothing that is not flammable and that you don’t mind getting dirty.  No fleeces should be worn in the workshop nor jogging bottoms or clothing made from a similar material.  Footwear will ideally be steel toecap boots, leather boots or robust footwear. No sandals or open-toed shoes will be allowed in the working area as no alternative can be offered and you would run the risk of serious injury.  Trousers should cover any top opening of the footwear to avoid any hot steel or shrapnel falling into your shoes and causing injury.

There are shops and cafes in the immediate area that serve good food at reasonable prices, as well as a small corner shop and a small Sainsbury’s store.

Social Media

I would of course like to promote images and videos of the courses in action. If you are not comfortable with this or have any concerns then we will of course be happy to address any questions you have, or omit you from the media on your chosen course dates. We want you to be safe and comfortable whilst having fun on the course!

Any images taken on the course will be used for the purposes of a teaching portfolio on my website and social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) unless otherwise specified.

Please send all booking enquiries to bookings@glitteringedge.com