By merely watching videos, what are you missing out on?
What things can you learn by experiencing the guidance of a Live Expert Instructor?
This is learning that engages the whole you.
The MO School of Blacksmithing is in its 7th year. We believe the teaching and practicing blacksmithing is the only real way to learn blacksmithing. Please see below our skill levels as well as our Course Offerings.
All Classes consist of hands-on learning with instruction by Matthew Burnett or guest instructors. Most classes are 3 days long, typically on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Classes run from 8:30 to 4:30 each day, with a break for a home-cooked lunch.
Classes are kept small (6 students), ensuring plenty of attention for each student. Each student is provided with their own forge, anvil and all necessary hand tools and materials. Classes are open to minors, usually to about 13 or older, provided they are mature, and accompanied by an adult.
A $75 non-refundable deposit is due at enrollment and secures your place in the class (will be subtracted from the total class cost).
The balance is due upon arrival at the class.
We also have coal for sale too. $18 for a 50 lbs. Bag.
YOUR SKILL LEVEL
It is very important for instructor and student alike to be able to identify skill levels. The following is meant to help place you in a class with the greatest comfort and potential for your success. These skill levels are preferred for classes to function at their best. Thank you.
Beginner
Little to no experience. Having never lit a fire or hit hot steel.
Seasoned Beginner
Having basic working skills under your belt, competent and fairly proficient with all basic forging processes and the use and operation of the standard tools and equipment of the trade.
Intermediate
Proficiency in all forging processes and clean forging of tapers, shoulders, drawing stock down to dimensions, spreading stock, and a good working knowledge of joinery, forge-welding, layout and design.
Advanced
Proficiency in all major forging processes with work and completion of small to medium size projects, with a working skill base
of joinery, forge-welding, layout and design.
Classes are organized for the student to progress through each one, increasing his knowledge and skill. The skill level and prerequisite classes are listed with every class description.
Blacksmithing 102- Cooking Utensils
Skill Level: Seasoned Beginner and up Prerequisite: Blacksmithing 100
Cost: $525
Who doesn’t enjoy a good meal whether from the kitchen, the barbecue grill, or over the campfire? Using many of the forging operations covered in Blacksmithing 100, such as drawing down, cutting with a chisel, bending, punching, and twisting, you will be making some useful new utensils to cook with. Come and enjoy this opportunity to be creative. These would be great to use yourself, or to make some as unique gifts. Depending on time and skills, projects will include: a meat fork, spoon, cheese slicer, ladle, steak turner, and a frying pan.
Blacksmithing Sampler
Skill Level: Beginner Prerequisite: None
Cost: $200
This is a shorter, less in-depth class for those of you that may not have time for Blacksmithing 100. This one-day course will introduce you to basic blacksmithing tools, their uses, essential safety practices, and the terminology of blacksmithing. We will touch on the operations that comprise all forging: bending, cutting, drawing, punching, upsetting and twisting. Your project for the day will be a simple three-hook wall rack. Making the hook is a perfect foundational project, yet it is simple enough and small enough that you can complete it quickly. There will be ample time for you to repeat the process several times, in order to gain confidence through practice and repetition. Splitting and scrolling the ends of the wall plate is a rewarding challenge—blacksmithing requires some accuracy! Then you will finish by riveting your hooks to the wall plate. You will take home a handsome piece for your home or shop, ready to hang up your coat and go to work on your next project!
Blacksmithing 100 - An Introduction
Skill level: Beginner Prerequisite: None
Cost: $525
This course will introduce you to basic blacksmithing tools, their uses, essential safety practices, and the terminology of blacksmithing. It will cover the operations that comprise all forging: bending, cutting, drawing, punching, upsetting and twisting. This class will emphasize not merely performing these operations effectively, but the completion of several small projects. Focus will be directed on fire management, as heat is the primary tool of the blacksmith. Depending on time, you can expect to complete several of the following projects: J hook with spike, wall hook with punched hole, letter opener, heart hook, leaf key chain, S hook, and a shovel, rake and watering can for the forge.
Special Father and Son Class
Skill level: Beginner Prerequisite: None
Cost: $775 total for both father and son (typically $1050 total)
This 3-day class, just prior to Father’s Day, will be a great opportunity for fathers and sons to enjoy time together, along with other fathers and sons. As with Blacksmithing 100, you will learn 6 of the 7 basic forging operations; drawing out, upsetting, punching, twisting, cutting, and bending. The two of you will share one forge and anvil to complete different components of the same project. Projects will be for beginners, but still different from those in Blacksmithing 100. Some joinery will be used. Leaves and twists will be incorporated as decorative elements. Come and experience making challenging but rewarding projects, building camaraderie, and learning new skills.
Blacksmithing 200 - Introduction to Heat-Treatment and Toolmaking
Skill level: Beginner Prerequisite: Blacksmithing 100
Cost: $525
This course begins where the Blacksmithing 100 classes leave off. You will gain first hand experience with how steels can by altered by heat-treatment for different applications. Making knives, axes, and useful other tools that need to retain a sharp edge, all require heat-treatment. In this class, you will be forging, grinding and heat-treating in making tools to equip your own shop. Focus will be given to two of the most important factors for making a good tool: selecting an appropriate steel, and heat-treating that steel, for its particular application. Topics for discussion will be different tool steels, quench mediums, and new versus scrap steels. Possible projects that you will complete include: chisels, cold chisels, punches, slot punches, drifts, center punches, fullers, and a cut-off hardy.
Blacksmithing 103- Railroad Spikes and Other Pointy Objects
Skill Level: Seasoned Beginner and up Prerequisite: Blacksmithing 100
Cost: $525
In this class you will learn how to utilize one of the most common recycled materials used by blacksmiths: the railroad spike. These ordinary items, 6 inches of 5/8 square steel, can be made into a very wide variety of both decorative and practical things. Railroad spikes have enough carbon content to make them useful for tool making, but not so high that it makes forging difficult. Frequently abundant and available, you will transform them into unique items to use around your house or shop. You will also explore the potential uses of other pointy objects like horseshoe nails, harrow teeth, and various sized nails. Depending on time, projects will be a bottle opener, garden trowel, coat hooks, spice spoon, and puzzles. Come with some creativity and enjoy yourself.
Tongs on the Power Hammer
Skill Level: Intermediate Prerequisites: Blacksmithing 100, Blacksmithing 200
Cost: $525
While many things can be forged with hammer and anvil, the increased power and consistency of a power hammer has obvious appeal. In this class, you will be producing tongs for your own use, using one of three 70 pound Tire Power Hammers and some basic forging operations. Safe and proper operation of the power hammers will be emphasized. A good pair of tongs that will hold the hot steel properly will not only make your work more efficient, but safer as well. This course will teach you how to make three types of tongs: twist jaw, standard or bar tongs, and bolt tongs. You will leave the class with finished tongs and the knowledge needed to make more. Whether you have a power hammer or not, this class will be fun and educational.
Introduction to Knife Making
Duration: 3 Days
Skill Level: Seasoned Beginner
Prerequisites: Blacksmithing 100, Blacksmithing 200
Cost: $525
Regardless of where you want to go with knifemaking, this class is the best place to begin. You will learn knife design, including the different parts of the knife and the functionality of various blade shapes. The projects will be functional knives, with a 4 to 6 inch blade, of your own design. We will discuss various steels, whether new or used, the metallurgy and heat-treatment of these different steels. This class will begin with forging the basic shape of your knife, a superior process to stock removal, allowing much more freedom in the shaping of your blade. Moving on to the belt grinders, you will learn to both watch, and more importantly to feel the correct position for grinding your blade. Your next step will be the critical heat-treatment of your knife. Handles will then be made and fitted; using both full tang and hidden tang construction. The solutions to common problems will be discussed, and safety throughout the process. You can expect to leave with finished knives, and the knowledge on how to make more. Even if you have made a few knives before, this class will help you with those problem areas you have had trouble with. Whether it is the forging, grinding, heat-treatment or fit and finish, you will learn something new.
* For an additional fee, you can also make a leather sheath for you knife.
Introduction to Bronze Casting with Thomas Mark Sampsel
Duration: 3 Days
Skill level: Beginning
Prerequisite: None
Cost: $600 Class Limit: 8
Are you interested in learning about casting molten metal? You will begin
that journey here! This class will introduce you to the basic process of lost
wax, high temperature solid investment casting. The projects are up to you; a
sculpture, a handle, a knife guard or pommel, or a paperweight. Come with
an idea, (subject to instructor approval) or open to inspiration. The basic
terminology of bronze casting will be discussed and you will learn the whole
process from idea to finished project. As always safety will be emphasized.
You will begin by carving your project from wax, and then preparing it with
sprues for pouring the molten bronze. Next, you will create the mold from
investment material that will make for a highly refined casting. Then, the
wax will be burnt out of the investment molds, at around 1,000 degrees, then
molten bronze between 1,950 to 2,150 degrees poured into them. After the
bronze has cooled, the molds will be broken, and the projects cleaned and
finished. This class will be limited to 8 students and will cover a great deal in
a few days. Come prepared to get dirty and experience this fascinating and
exciting process from start to finish.
About Thomas Mark Sampsel
Art had a hold on Mark from a young age. He has experience in
architectural detailing, fabrication, blacksmithing, toolmaking, foundry
work, wood, stone, ceramics, and bronze. Working for over 35 years with
Professor Elden Tefft, founder of International Sculpture Research and
Development Center, he began teaching art in 1993, as an instructor at the
Kansas Sculpture Assoc. His many works include the bronze sculptures
“The Guardian of the Grove”, and Maj. Gen. Frederick Funston, and a
group carving project,a stone Maple Leaf, designed for the Kansas State
Association on display in Baldwin City, Kansas
