The excitement and joy of forging objects from hot steel is not something confined to the past, nor is it the sole bastion of large, strong, bearded blacksmiths
This fun activity involves forging a fire poker from red hot steel using a hammer and anvil. Participants undertake a safety induction and are provided with all personal protective equipment necessary. Each participant is allocated their own forging station equipped with an anvil, tongs, and hammer. A demonstration is then be provided on how to light/maintain the fire and use it to heat steel to a temperature suitable for forging. The demonstration will cover each progressive step required to forge a functional fire poker and highlight that successful blacksmithing does not require brute strength.
Participants will then proceed to light their fires and begin to forge their poker under the guidance of an experienced instructor/s. A short 15min break is generally undertaken after 1.5hrs for participants to relax and enjoy complimentary hot beverages and biscuits. At the end of the class, completed fire pokers are hot waxed in preparation for taking away. during the tour, you eill enjoy the refreshment such as soda water, tea, coffee, and biscuits.
