This immersive and exciting workshop will introduce you to the fascinating world of knifesmithing, a practice combining the art, science, and practical application of using controlled heat and specialized hammers, along with other essential metalworking tools, to shape raw steel into functional and beautiful blades. You and your buddy will work collaboratively to transform a piece of ordinary rebar (steel reinforcing rod) into a beautiful knife of your own joint design and shared vision. Rebar is an excellent material for learning knifesmithing, offering the same fundamental working principles as premium steels while being economical and accessible for practice.
The first portion of this workshop focuses on the essential and rewarding process of heating and shaping the rebar using fundamental hammer and anvil metalworking techniques. You and your partner will heat up your steel in our professional propane forge until it reaches perfect red-hot temperatures for working, then use a hammer and an anvil to methodically create the profile and outline of your knife blade design. This heating and hammering cycle repeats multiple times until you achieve the exact shape and proportions you both want for your collaborative knife. This process provides a fantastic physical workout and gives you hands-on understanding of how steel behaves and responds under heat and pressure, developing real metallurgical knowledge and skill.
After you and your buddy have created the rough shape of your knife, you will use a professional angle grinder to carefully refine the blade shape and form the critical bevel of your knife. The bevel is the angled edge surface that creates the functional cutting edge of your blade. Forming a proper and sharp bevel is absolutely the core of creating a functional and effective cutting tool. Our experienced instructors will guide you both through proper grinder technique and critical safety practices, teaching you how to produce a quality, sharp blade edge together.
Next in the exciting process, you will heat the knife one final time and quench it in specialized oil to dramatically harden the blade completely. This involves beautiful glowing red-hot metal and typically produces an exciting burst of flame when you carefully dunk your hot knife into the quenching oil. It is the ultimate Instagrammable and unforgettable photo or video moment that you and your buddy will definitely want to capture on camera for memory. Ever seen the television show Forged in Fire? That is exactly the spectacular experience you will be having.
We will take a well-earned break while your knife cools safely after the quenching process. During this rest and social time, feel free to grab a delicious slice from the excellent pizza restaurant around the corner called Table 87. You are also welcome to utilize our comfortable and inviting lounge area to relax with your pizza slice, enjoy a refreshing drink, and socialize with your workshop buddy and other crafters. Take full advantage of your time out of regular life and make a fun evening of it together with your friend.
Once we reconvene after the break, you will work together to put the finishing touches on your collaborative masterpiece. You will wrap your knife handle with quality material for a comfortable grip and lasting durability, and sharpen the blade to an extremely sharp, razor-sharp edge using our professional grinding and sharpening equipment. You and your buddy will leave the workshop with a stunning, functional piece of metalwork artistry that you created together, slightly sore arms from the rewarding physical effort and hammering involved, and a great newfound pride in your collaborative craftsmanship and shared accomplishment.
Buddy Up Option: You and a friend will design and make one beautiful knife together as a collaborative team. At least one person must be 18 years of age or older to participate.
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What You Will Be Making Together: Your own custom forged knife from rebar steel
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What You Will Be Doing Throughout the Workshop: Shaping your blade collaboratively with copious amounts of heat and hammer work, plus professional assistance from a grinder
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Skill Level Required: Beginner level; no previous metalworking or knifesmithing experience is required to participate
Other Available Versions and Formats of This Workshop
Click here if you prefer the Single Guest version. You will design and make one knife independently at your own pace. Guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult supervisor.
Click here if you prefer the Date Night version. You and your guest will design and make one knife together as a team, and get a delicious pizza and a bottle of wine to share and enjoy during the workshop. At least one person must be 18 or older.
