Axe Making Course Cumbria

What Can I Expect

Axe forging in Cumbria - the course where you'll literally have an axe to grind! These intense one-day workshops will see you forging your very own axe under the watchful eye of expert blacksmith Richard.

Prepare to get properly stuck in and get your hands dirty on this axe forging course. Richard is a skilled and very creative blacksmith working out of his rural Cumbrian forge, nestled between the North Pennines and Kielder Forest Park, just north east of Carlisle.

The axe that you'll be fashioning will be Tomahawk-style, with a carbon steel axe head and wooden handle. These are the sort of axes you'd have for camping, bushcraft and backpacking and they are really useful. Richard uses an axe he made himself for chopping and splitting wood for the forge - and that must be such a satisfying feeling!

You too will be able to use your hand-crafted axe, as every pupil gets to take home what they've made. The axe isn't just for decoration, they are definitely meant to be used as tools. You'll be proud to use what you made and it'll be so much better quality than many of the ones you buy in DIY shops!

You do need to put some elbow grease into it though. Learning hand-forging techniques, heat treating, grinding the blade and fixing the handle makes for a challenging but very fascinating day out at Richard's forge.

Numbers are kept to just four pupils for these axe forging courses in Cumbria. All the raw materials are included, as is the protective ear and eye gear. You'll spend a superb day with Richard, whose enthusiasm for what he does is sure to rub off on you. He's also very good at teaching quite complex traditional hand-forging techniques, so get ready to throw yourself into making your axe! 

What's Included

• Design and create your own unique small axe suitable for bushcraft, camping and backpacking
• Work with punch tools and learn Smith and Striker techniques
• Learn how to harden and temper the blade of your axe, to make a strong and durable tool
• Refreshments are included
• A break for lunch (lunch not provided)
• You will take home your finished axe, made yourself using traditional techniques
• Please allow 8 hours for this experience
• Days generally start at 09.30 and finish around 17:30
• You will form part of a small group of up to 4 participants

When Is It Available

• Experiences generally operate on selected Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year
• Occasional Saturday dates may be available upon request
• Dates are subject to availability

Suitable For

• Minimum age 18
• This is an intense day and a good, general level of fitness is required
• Some experience of working with tools is recommended
• If you have any health or mobility conditions that may impede your ability to participate please advise this at the time of booking

Spectators

• Not suitable for spectators

Anything Else

• Experiences generally operate with a minimum of 2-3 participants.  In the unlikely event minimum numbers are not reached your date may be re-scheduled

General Forge Health & Safety

• Participants should wear old, sensible clothing (non synthetic), long trousers and sturdy leather boots or shoes
• The forge can be cold so wearing layers is ideal
• Long hair must be tied back
• Safety glasses (provided) must be worn at all times inside the workshop