Meet the blacksmithing expert behind Sentinel Forge
When I started blacksmithing more than 30 years ago I was working for museums and historical reenactments. I love exploring the historical aspect of the practice but wanted to bring it into modern life. Nearly a decade ago I started the Sentinel Forge blacksmithing classes to teach the historic craft to anyone who wanted to take on a new craft. It's been a long ten years of growing and creating blades, hatches, and forged hooks but now we are offering monthly classes and custom ironworks. It's not easy to achieve your dreams, but it sure feels good! Sentinel Forge was created out of my passion for history and blacksmithing and here's how we got here and where we plan to go.
How I got started in blacksmithing
My blacksmithing began in 1988 working at Historic Fort Snelling in St. Paul Minnesota. While there I learned a lot about traditional methods of forging. Since then I’ve worked at several other historical blacksmith shops.
The most common questions asked by visitors to these shops had to do with horseshoeing, so I became intent on learning that trade. After attending the Montana State University Horseshoeing School in Bozeman, MT in 2004, I started Black Mountain Farrier Service in the Missoula, MT area. In addition to horseshoeing, I continued my work in traditional blacksmithing and that part of my life has morphed into Sentinel Forge. Our latest chapter brings us to Garden Valley, California where we will continue to provide quality blacksmithing classes of all skill levels for a new group of interested, aspiring smiths.
Being an avid student of history and having worked at many museums and historical sites over the years, I have a very keen interest in the reproduction of historical objects however, I will produce just about any item or design a customer might want.
A big part of the museum blacksmithing experience was education. With that in mind, I began teaching smithing classes at our shop in 2017. These classes cover the basics up to intermediate and more advanced aspects of the trade.
Begin blacksmithing with Sentinel Forge
There are several ways to get started in blacksmithing. You can start with books or videos, I have my favorites listed in my beginner's guide. If you want to learn the easiest way, start with the experts and take a class.
Start with a basic class
Starting with a class is one of the most cost-effective ways to learn. In our one-day basic class, you can learn the basic processes from an expert blacksmith while making hands-on projects. Project-focused learning is one of the best ways to teach blacksmithing. Taking our Sentinel Forge basic blacksmithing class will get you started before spending a lot of money on your own anvil, forge, or tools.
Learn advanced metal-working skills in a knife-making or hatchet-making class
Once you have the basics of blacksmithing down like tool handling and forging techniques you can move on to a project-based class to build on those new skills. These are particularly fun classes to learn techniques to make cutlery, hatches, or blacksmithing tools.
Who should take a blacksmithing class?
You don't have to want a career in blacksmithing to enjoy our classes. With our weeknight classes come to learn the basics of blacksmithing as a fun date idea. Or Give your kids a new skill to learn with a weekend basics class. We accept kids as young as 6th grade with a parent taking the class as well. High school-age kids can attend class on their own.
“My husband and I took a beginner blacksmithing class. We enrolled for the intermediate class before we even left. The teaching was top notch as was the facility. We are hooked!” — JOANNE J.
If you're interested in the historic process of blacksmithing, farrier work, knife making, hatchet making, or just a fun weekend activity blacksmithing might be for you! Almost anyone can take our classes to learn the basics of blacksmithing. You can even dive in a little deeper on your own schedule and start with our free Beginner's Guide to Becoming a Blacksmith.
We hope to see you at the forge!