Using traditional forging techniques, students will forge a simple hatchet or tomahawk by hand. Students will leave the class with a fully completed ax, including a handle. Techniques including laying out stock for setdowns, forge welding, and drifting will be used. Prior forge welding experience is not necessary.

Students must be at least 18 years old.

Students need to bring lunch, drinks and snacks as desired, protective eyewear, leather gloves and earplugs (if needed) and should wear leather shoes and old clothes.

Todd Elder does his forging part-time at his shop in Upstate South Carolina. He has demonstrated for the Phillip Simmons Artist Blacksmith Guild, and at various festivals around the state. In January of 2016, Todd was awarded a scholarship from the Phillips Simmons Artist Blacksmith Guild for an ax forging class with blacksmith Justin Burke, where he learned to use traditional ax forging techniques to make axes and hatchets by hand.

$125.00 – $130.00