Classes Archives - Page 2 of 4 - Brown County Forge

Terran Marks teaches weekly blacksmith classes at Brown County Forge.

The classes come in two formats:

Beginners Class – This class focuses on five fundamental blacksmithing skills: drawing out, scrolling, quenching, bending, and twisting. The class is project-based meaning each student starts with a fresh piece of metal and forges it into a finished piece.
Knife Making Class – This class is also project-based, but it’s more specific that the Beginners Class. Each student takes a standard railroad spike and turns it into a functional knife.

When Are Weekly Blacksmith Classes?

The Beginners Class currently starts at 10 AM on Saturdays and wraps up between 12 and 1 PM.

The Knife Making Class begins at 2 PM on Saturdays and ends by 6 PM.

These are the set class times each week.

However, time during the week is available for private lessons/special appointments.

Terran would be happy to set up a class time Monday-Friday with you.

Classes run from early March through mid-December. (February in Indiana is usually just too darn cold.)

How Much Do Classes Cost?

The Beginners Class is $120 per person for the single session.

The Knife Making Class is $220 per person for the single session.

Can Beginners Take Either Class?

Yes! Absolutely.

Both classes are set up for complete beginners. No prior experience is required.

Out of the 581 student projects coming out of the shop, 98% of them were made by beginners.

How Old Do You Have to Be?

For safety reasons, the minimum age is 14 for both classes.

A parent or guardian must be present during the class. However, they are not required to participate.

How Dangerous is Blacksmithing?

On a scale from sitting on the couch to jumping out of an airplane:

Blacksmithing is less dangerous than using chainsaws.

It’s also not as dangerous as driving a car.

The biggest difference between driving a car and blacksmithing is the variability of other people.

In blacksmithing, at least at Brown County Forge, your environment is carefully controlled.

Terran takes great care in mitigating risks in the shop and explaining what can happen.

Where Can I Find Out More About Weekly Blacksmith Classes?

The Classes Page has more information and available dates.

Ready to dive into blacksmithing, but aren’t sure about how much blacksmith classes cost?

If you’re searching the Internet for classes near you, you might have a hard time finding class pricing.

Since Brown County Forge is in Indiana, I’ll use Indiana class offerings as the example.

Four Options for Blacksmith Classes in Indiana

There are four main options for blacksmith classes in Indiana, each with a different pricing structure and availability:

Conner Prairie
Indianapolis Arts Center
Indiana Blacksmithing Association
Brown County Forge

Conner Prairie offers a few single-day blacksmithing classes per year that last from 9 AM – 5 PM for $225-$235.

The Indianapolis Arts Center offers 8-week classes during the summer for $389 per person. Each class session is 3 hours long in the evening from 6:30 – 9:30 PM.

The Indiana Blacksmithing Association (IBA) is a not for profit organization started in 1981 “with the purposes of gathering and disseminating information about blacksmithing, exposing the public to blacksmithing, and encouraging the training of blacksmiths.”

The IBA holds meet-ups once a month at different locations around the state. During these meet-ups there will be a live demonstration and opportunities to swing hammers at no charge. Membership is $35 per year paid in June.

There are 14 IBA satellite groups around the state of Indiana.

Brown County Forge offers classes every weekend that range in price from $120 for a 3-hour Beginners Class to $220 for a 4-hour Railroad Spike Knife Making Class.

Because I focus solely on blacksmithing classes and there’s no coordination of locations, supplies, and demonstrators, I can offer classes this often.

The benefit to you is that you have the opportunity each week to learn more about blacksmithing. Even if a given weekend’s classes are full, you can always request an evening appointment.

The Price Range By the Numbers

Conner Prairie – $235/person for 8 hour day a few times per year
Indianapolis Arts Center – $389 over 8 weeks for 3 hours per session. A few offerings per year.
Indiana Blacksmithing Association – $35 for annual membership. Meet-ups once a month near you with 14 groups around the state.
Brown County Forge – $120-$220 for 3-4 hours every weekend and by appointment.

Why Does a Blacksmith Class Cost More Than $100

I can only speak from my personal experience running a business, but I would imagine that the following holds true for other organizations.

The price of a class includes these factors:

Materials – From the steel we hammer to the fuel we use to the consumables like wire brushes and grinding belts. Everything has a cost.
Overhead – I rent my shop space from a larger business to be able to host classes.
Liability Insurance – In order to keep everyone safe and covered, I carry $1,000,000 in liability insurance.
Expertise – There is value in learning from people who have extensively studied their field and put it into practice.

Here to Help!

I hope this post helps answer some questions about blacksmith class pricing. If you have other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me:

browncountyforge@gmail.com

Category: Classes

Weekly Blacksmith Classes