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Spend a focused day at the forge learning to make a pair of Flat Jaw tongs in Hillsborough, NC. Small classes, all tools provided, and a strong link to the Piedmont craft tradition make this a hands-on, skill-forward experience.
Spend a focused day at the forge learning to make a pair of Flat Jaw tongs in Hillsborough, NC. Small classes, all tools provided, and a strong link to the Piedmont craft tradition make this a hands-on, skill-forward experience.
Book with Woodcrest Farm & Forge
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Operated by Woodcrest Farm & Forge · Hillsborough, North Carolina
Step into raw heat and ringing steel in Hillsborough, North Carolina, where a single-day blacksmithing class teaches you to forge a working pair of Flat Jaw tongs. Held in a hands-on workshop just outside town, the course runs six hours and is aimed at students with some prior blacksmithing experience. All tools, fuel and raw steel are supplied; participants bring a lunch to enjoy at picnic tables during a midday break. The experience sits within the Piedmont foothills, a landscape of red clay soils and scattered granite outcrops near the Eno River valley, which makes for a surprisingly pastoral backdrop to the glow of forge fire.
The day begins with safety orientation and a short refresher of basic hammer control and heat management. You'll move from drawing a hot billet to shaping jaws on the anvil, learning how to establish a secure pivot and temper for durable tongs. The forge is lit to coal temperatures that produce bright orange steel; the instructor demonstrates reheating cycles, upsetting, tapering and punching for a functional jaw geometry. The class size is intentionally small—maximum five—so you get real hands-on time and direct feedback while forging your own tool. Expect to stand for most of the session and to feel the heat; gloves, eye protection and closed-toe footwear are required.
What makes this offering special for Hillsborough visitors is its direct connection to the region’s working craft tradition. The workshop offers a tactile counterpoint to the area’s historic mills and county fairs: here you leave with both a skill and an object you made yourself. After forging, a short finishing session covers grinding and basic heat treatment so your tongs leave the shop ready for service.
Practical notes: the class is open to ages 16 and up; prior experience in basic forging is recommended. Bring a packed lunch for the picnic-table break, and plan for the forge’s heat when choosing layers. The instructor will point you to nearby trails on the Eno River and to the preserved historic district if you want to stretch your legs before or after the session.
Whether you’re a hobbyist expanding toolmaking skills or a curious traveler seeking a hands-on craft day, this Flat Jaw tongs class offers a clear, efficient entry into blacksmithing. You’ll walk away with a rugged, useful tool and a better understanding of metal behavior—plus a memorable day of smoky, rhythmic work in the Piedmont hills.
Classes run seasonally and can be scheduled through the booking link; space fills quickly so book early. Transportation options include a short drive from Durham or Chapel Hill, and nearby lodging ranges from B&Bs to inns. This course is a practical, gear-forward way to learn a core blacksmithing tool and equipment.
Participants must be at least 16 years old.
Yes—this class is designed for students with some basic forging experience, though the day includes a brief skills refresher.
Yes. All tools, fuel and steel for a pair of Flat Jaw tongs are included.
Yes—students keep the tools they make after a finishing and heat-treatment session.
Instructors cover safety and PPE; small class sizes allow close supervision, but you should be comfortable handling hot metal and basic tools.
Refer to the Blacksmithing Classes page and the provider's cancellation policy linked on the booking page for full details.
Woodcrest Farm & Forge, located in Hillsborough, North Carolina, offers hands-on farm and blacksmithing experiences for children, teens, and adults. The farm runs multiple 12-week seasonal camps—including Monday Farm Camp and Wednesday Farm Camp—where children aged 6–11 and 9–14 meet and care for goats, rabbits, pigs, chickens, cats, and dogs, join farm chores, plant vegetables, explore ponds, hike, and learn about nature rain or shine. Teenagers can join Wilderness Skills Camp to develop fire building, shelter making, navigation, and first aid skills under expert guidance. Blacksmithing at Woodcrest combines beginner-friendly instruction and project-focused workshops. Offerings include youth and teen blacksmithing camps for ages 12–17, a Wednesday Teen Blacksmithing Camp, a Level 1 Barbecue Fork class, and the TONGS: Flat Jaw full-day forging workshop. The Garden Tools Series and Women/Non-Binary Beginner Forge Series provide multi-session skill progression in coal forge techniques with Angela Eastman leading several hands-on sessions. All classes supply tools, materials, and safety gear as listed in specific programs. Programs emphasize safety, skill development, and outdoor learning. Camp schedules include weekly sessions such as the Wednesday Farm Camp from 10am to 2pm and 12-week formats for multiple camps. Families and adult learners choose Woodcrest for its combination of traditional farm life, professional blacksmith instruction, and progressive skill-building designed for varying ages and experience levels. Workshops often include breaks such as the midday picnic during the TONGS: Flat Jaw full-day class, and several adult series are open to learners 18+, offering step‑by‑step progression and the opportunity to take projects home.
Book with Woodcrest Farm & Forge
