McLellan Blacksmithing

Beginners I
2022-09-10 09:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | McLellan Blacksmithing, 6961 Horseshoe Bar Road, Loomis, CA, 95650, United States
Class to cover basic techniques of forge work, with projects to practice those techniques.
We will discuss:

Equipment and fuels.
The proper way to use a coal fire.
Basic operations of getting a proper heat, tapering, twisting, punching, bending, and welding.

Project: Tent stake that incorporates tapering, twisting, and forming a shoulder.

Beginners II
2022-10-08 09:00 - 17:00, 2023-10-14 09:00 - 17:00
Class to cover the considerations of shop layout and anvil tooling.
Project: Set of fire tools for the forge. Pieces to include a poker, and a shovel. You can make a fire poker and water can if you have time.

Kitchen Utensils
2022-11-05 09:00 - 2022-11-06 17:00
McLellan Blacksmithing welcomes Francis Leidinger of Straight Line Forge for the weekend of Nov. 5th & 6th!
Francis will teach how to forge kitchen utensils ; ladles, spoons, spatulas, and forks. Cost is $100 for Sat only or $150 for Saturday & Sunday (Sunday only is not an option). Students must have coal forge experience. Class size is limited to 25 students.
Contact Francis@straightlineforge.com for information.

Toolmaking
2022-11-12 09:00 - 17:00, 2023-11-11 09:00 - 17:00
Class to cover basic techniques of hardening and tempering in a coal forge, with projects to practice those techniques.
We will discuss:

Basic Metallurgy of iron and its alloys
Heat Treating
Tool Steel Classifications
Tool Design

Project: Round punch, hot cut chisel, and cold chisel.

Tongs
2022-12-10 08:00 - 17:00, 2023-12-09 09:00 - 17:00
Class will cover basic styles of tongs and methods to make them.
We will discuss:

Shapes of tongs
Materials to use for tongs
Methods of forging tongs
Demonstration of forging basic styles of tongs.

Project: Set of flat jaw tongs for 1/4″ material.

Forge Welding
2023-01-14 09:00 - 17:00, 2024-01-13 09:00 - 17:00
Class will cover how to join metal with the use of heat and pressure.
We will discuss:

The fire
Weld preparation
Fluxes
Different weld configurations

Demonstration of different types forging welding with the project to be to weld some rings and make a chain. Other types of welds can be tried also as time permits.

Advanced Tongs
2023-02-11 09:00 - 17:00
Various methods for forging tongs with tips and techniques to make reliable and functional tongs.
Project: Set of bolt tongs or box jaw tongs with welded handles

Leaves
2023-03-11 09:00 - 17:00
Techniques for making various types of basic leaves. From basic to lobed and complex.
Project: Forge basic leaves from round and square bar.

Basic Knife Making
2023-04-22 09:00 - 17:00
Discussion of the intricacies of forging and finishing blades of all sizes. We will cover some of the popular steels for forging blades and their idiosyncrasies.
Project: Forge a “low tech” knife with an integral handle.
This is an advanced class. Knowledge of operating a coal forge, basic forging processes, and hardening and tempering are required.

Beginners I
2023-09-09 09:00 - 17:00
Class to cover basic techniques of forge work, with projects to practice those techniques.
We will discuss:

Equipment and fuels.
The proper way to use a coal fire.
Basic operations of getting a proper heat, tapering, twisting, punching, bending, and welding.

The project will be a tent stake that incorporates tapering, twisting, and forming a shoulder.

Roses
2024-02-03 09:00 - 17:00
Just in time for Valentine’s Day…The mystery of the rose that never dies. Forge roses from steel, copper, brass, etc. How to form lifelike flowers.

Animal Heads
2024-03-09 09:00 - 17:00
Make basic tools for animal heads. Then make a ram’s head from 1⁄2” round bar. Same technique can be used for many types of heads…steer, antelope, gazelle, etc.

Basic Knife Making
2024-04-13 09:00 - 17:00
Discussion of the intricacies of forging and finishing blades of all sizes. We will cover some of the popular steels for forging blades and their idiosyncrasies.
Project: Forge a “low tech” knife with an integral handle.

Beginners I
2024-09-28 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-09-13 09:00 - 17:00
Class to cover basic techniques of forge work, with projects to practice those techniques.
We will discuss:

Equipment and fuels.
The proper way to use a coal fire.
Basic operations of getting a proper heat, tapering, twisting, punching, bending, and welding.

The project will be a tent stake that incorporates tapering, twisting, and forming a shoulder.
Classes Require:

Safety glasses or sunglasses.
Gloves can be useful, but not necessary.
Cross Peen hammer, about 2 to 2½ lbs. Sometimes called a blacksmiths hammer.
Ball Peen hammer, about 1 lb. (16 oz. as they are usually marked). Vaughn has very good ones…Harbor Freight…usable and much cheaper.
Tongs, Vise Grips or large pliers can be handy…you can get by without for now.
Matches or a lighter
Newspaper to light your fire is a good idea.
And if you’re sensitive to dust…a dust mask doesn’t hurt.

We have tool kits available if you need

Beginners II
2024-10-19 09:00 - 17:00
Class to cover the considerations of shop layout and anvil tooling.
Project: Square, octagon, round chisel point, and diamond tapers for the Level 1 certification. A simple leaf for Level 1 can also be done if there’s time.
Classes Require:

Safety glasses or sunglasses.
Gloves can be useful, but not necessary.
Cross Peen hammer, about 2 to 2½ lbs. Sometimes called a blacksmiths hammer.
Ball Peen hammer, about 1 lb. (16 oz. as they are usually marked). Vaughn has very good ones…Harbor Freight…usable and much cheaper.
Tongs, Vise Grips or large pliers can be handy…you can get by without for now.
Matches or a lighter
Newspaper to light your fire is a good idea.
And if you’re sensitive to dust…a dust mask doesn’t hurt.

We have tool kits available if you need

Toolmaking
2024-11-23 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-11-08 09:00 - 17:00
Class to cover basic techniques of hardening and tempering in a coal forge, with projects to practice those techniques.
We will discuss:

Basic Metallurgy of iron and its alloys
Heat Treating
Tool Steel Classifications
Tool Design

Project: Round punch, hot cut chisel, and cold chisel.
Classes Require:

Safety glasses or sunglasses.
Gloves can be useful, but not necessary.
Cross Peen hammer, about 2 to 2½ lbs. Sometimes called a blacksmiths hammer.
Ball Peen hammer, about 1 lb. (16 oz. as they are usually marked). Vaughn has very good ones…Harbor Freight…usable and much cheaper.
Tongs, Vise Grips or large pliers can be handy…you can get by without for now.
Matches or a lighter
Newspaper to light your fire is a good idea.
And if you’re sensitive to dust…a dust mask doesn’t hurt.

We have tool kits available if you need

Tongs
2024-12-14 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-06 09:00 - 17:00
Class will cover basic styles of tongs and methods to make them.
We will discuss:

Shapes of tongs
Materials to use for tongs
Methods of forging tongs
Demonstration of forging basic styles of tongs.

Project: Set of flat jaw tongs for 1/4″ material.
Classes Require:

Safety glasses or sunglasses.
Gloves can be useful, but not necessary.
Cross Peen hammer, about 2 to 2½ lbs. Sometimes called a blacksmiths hammer.
Ball Peen hammer, about 1 lb. (16 oz. as they are usually marked). Vaughn has very good ones…Harbor Freight…usable and much cheaper.
Tongs, Vise Grips or large pliers can be handy…you can get by without for now.
Matches or a lighter
Newspaper to light your fire is a good idea.
And if you’re sensitive to dust…a dust mask doesn’t hurt.

We have tool kits available if you need

Forge Welding
2025-01-11 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-01-10 09:00 - 17:00
Class will cover how to join metal with the use of heat and pressure.
We will discuss:

The fire
Weld preparation
Fluxes
Different weld configurations

Demonstration of different types forging welding with the project to be to weld some rings and make a chain. Other types of welds can be tried also as time permits.
Classes Require:

Safety glasses or sunglasses.
Gloves can be useful, but not necessary.
Cross Peen hammer, about 2 to 2½ lbs. Sometimes called a blacksmiths hammer.
Ball Peen hammer, about 1 lb. (16 oz. as they are usually marked). Vaughn has very good ones…Harbor Freight…usable and much cheaper.
Tongs, Vise Grips or large pliers can be handy…you can get by without for now.
Matches or a lighter
Newspaper to light your fire is a good idea.
And if you’re sensitive to dust…a dust mask doesn’t hurt.

We have tool kits available if you need

Monkey Tool
2025-02-08 09:00 - 17:00
Monkey tools are used to square up the shoulder on tenons. Part of Level 1 requirements.
Project: A slot punch and hammer eye drift which will be used to make the monkey tool.
Classes Require:

Safety glasses or sunglasses.
Gloves can be useful, but not necessary.
Cross Peen hammer, about 2 to 2½ lbs. Sometimes called a blacksmiths hammer.
Ball Peen hammer, about 1 lb. (16 oz. as they are usually marked). Vaughn has very good ones…Harbor Freight…usable and much cheaper.
Tongs, Vise Grips or large pliers can be handy…you can get by without for now.
Matches or a lighter
Newspaper to light your fire is a good idea.
And if you’re sensitive to dust…a dust mask doesn’t hurt.

We have tool kits available if you need

Slit Drifting Holes
2025-03-08 09:00 - 17:00
Go over the theory of producing accurately sized holes.
Project: Forge slitting punches and drifts, then punch some holes to Level 1 specifications
Classes Require:

Safety glasses or sunglasses.
Gloves can be useful, but not necessary.
Cross Peen hammer, about 2 to 2½ lbs. Sometimes called a blacksmiths hammer.
Ball Peen hammer, about 1 lb. (16 oz. as they are usually marked). Vaughn has very good ones…Harbor Freight…usable and much cheaper.
Tongs, Vise Grips or large pliers can be handy…you can get by without for now.
Matches or a lighter
Newspaper to light your fire is a good idea.
And if you’re sensitive to dust…a dust mask doesn’t hurt.

We have tool kits available if you need

Basic Knife Making
2025-04-26 09:00 - 17:00
Discussion of the intricacies of forging and finishing blades of all sizes. We will cover some of the popular steels for forging blades and their idiosyncrasies.
Project: Forge a “low tech” knife with an integral handle.
Classes Require:

Safety glasses or sunglasses.
Gloves can be useful, but not necessary.
Cross Peen hammer, about 2 to 2½ lbs. Sometimes called a blacksmiths hammer.
Ball Peen hammer, about 1 lb. (16 oz. as they are usually marked). Vaughn has very good ones…Harbor Freight…usable and much cheaper.
Tongs, Vise Grips or large pliers can be handy…you can get by without for now.
Matches or a lighter
Newspaper to light your fire is a good idea.
And if you’re sensitive to dust…a dust mask doesn’t hurt.

We have tool kits available if you need

Beginners II
2025-10-11 09:00 - 17:00
Class to cover the considerations of shop layout and anvil tooling.
Project: Square, octagon, round, and chisel tapers for the Level 1 certification. A simple leaf for Level 1 can also be done if there’s time.
Classes Require:

Safety glasses or sunglasses.
Gloves can be useful, but not necessary.
Cross Peen hammer, about 2 to 2½ lbs. Sometimes called a blacksmiths hammer.
Ball Peen hammer, about 1 lb. (16 oz. as they are usually marked). Vaughn has very good ones…Harbor Freight…usable and much cheaper.
Tongs, Vise Grips or large pliers can be handy…you can get by without for now.
Matches or a lighter
Newspaper to light your fire is a good idea.
And if you’re sensitive to dust…a dust mask doesn’t hurt.

We have tool kits available if you need
