Differential Hardening with Clay Tempering Lab (Two Days)

Course Description:

This is a two-day private hands-on lab. The focus will be on actually doing the work but also on understanding the processes involved.
The student(s) will forge a selected knife blade from one of two precut blanks. The choices available are a Japanese-style kitchen knife or a hunting knife. The course covers two days. The student will leave with a single blade.
We will prepare two blades up through heat treating so that in the event of failure of the blade there will be a second blade available for the student to finish the course.  Failure is not expected, but is also not uncommon during this type of heat treatment process.


Course Objectives:
The purpose is to create a knife blade and then differentially harden the blade using the clay coating method developed in ancient Japan. The student(s) will receive an understanding of the processes involved, the reasons for this method, and the actual experience of making the blade.

This blade making process includes is a high-stress form of heat treating steel so there is no guarantee that the student blade will survive the process. In the event of a failure a premade replacement blade will be made available for the student(s) to finish the course. Student(s) will leave with a finished blade.

Course Prerequisites:
Student(s) will need to provide leather work gloves and wear closed toe shoes. Long pants of a cotton or cotton blend material (jeans are optimal) and a cotton or cotton blend shirt are required.
Safety glasses are strongly recommended.
Accommodations and meals are the responsibility of the student(s).

Cost, Scheduling:
$1600 per student.  Classes are private and can accommodate only a small number of people per workshop.
Scheduling is limited to spring and fall months.