Door County Forgeworks

An Ancient Tradition Alive in the Modern World

2024 Classes below
Bottom of the page has travel information as well as class payment policy,
refund policy and safety information.

Full Payment required to reserve space. No experience required.
All students must sign waiver and be at least 16 years old to participate and Minors must be accompanied by an adult (adult not required to take the class, but must be onsite).

I am open for private classes. Contact me if interested.
Click on class heading for more information



2024
Two Day classes are for Damascus Knife making unless otherwise stated.
Any of these weekend dates can be for an axe class or a spear.
I would prefer if BOTH students in the class make the same object…i.e both a knife or a spear or an axe.
Jumping between and axe and a knife blade really slows the pace of the class.

Date unscheduled (J and H Hopkins)


April
3-7
Batson's Blade Symposium Alabama "Dirt to Dagger"
15-19 Week Wootz Crucible Steel class One Open space (Josh F., Russell P., G.deVaal) ..contact me for details. Price is $1,000 Per Person.
26,27, and 28 Is the Japanese sword show in Chicago…It has been years since I went and I think it time again. http://www.chicagoswordshow.com

May
4/5 Damascus Knife Full (Mike D and Friend)
11/12 Damascus Knife Open
18/19
Damascus Knife Full (Bloom Forging A Lee)

June
1/2 Spear class…Contact me for details
4/5 JMmainstreets
17-21 Sword Class Full (M. Peters Father and Son)

22/23 Damascus Knife Open
29/30 Damascus Knife Full (S. Melarvie and Son)

July
6/7 Damascus Knife Full (D. Ives and Son)
13/14 Damascus Knife Full (D. Ribbins and Sons)
20/21 Damascus Knife Open
27/28 Damascus Knife One Space Open (Andrea)

Aug
16-18 Tunnel Mill Craft Center in Rochester, MN (not in Sturgeon Bay)
24/25 Damascus Knife Open

Sept
9-13 Five Day Sword class Full (S. Melarvie and M. Finck)
21/22 Damascus Knife Open

Oct
5/6 Axe Making Full (J & K Nemmer)
12/13 Damascus Knife Open
26/27 Hunting Season KNIFE Open

Nov
2/3 Damascus Knife Open
9/10 Hunting Season KNIFE Open
16/17 Hunting Season KNIFE Open
22-25 Hunting with Henry

Dec
Frost Brothers (Cool Secret Stuff) AKA The Frost Brother’s manic frenzy/The Frost Brother’s Berzerker Full

Five Day class (Mokume/Damascus simple folding knife with David Barnhill) Open to six students




Student work 2017
Student Work 2019
Student work 2020
Student work 2021
Student work 2022
Student work 2023
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NOTE:
In 2017 I made a few changes to the classes:
--The class size smaller. In the past I have had four people for the weekend classes and that works fine for groups of friends as they seem to mesh as a group, but I will only do groups of friends for more than two students so contact me about that and we can book a time.
--I will also be limiting the sword classes to two students for the week. I want to have people relax and enjoy the work and a larger class size seems to make for a manic time on the last few days.
--One-on-one (private) weekend and week long classes available. Contact me with what you have in mind for projects.
--Veterans and Current Military (US Armed Forces, Secret Service, FBI and CIA) will receive a 10% discount on any class taught by Ric in his shop (not other instructor's classes nor away classes). Door County Forgeworks is a veteran owned business and I happily extend this courtesy to others who have served.


Below is travel information as well as class payment policy, refund policy and safety information. Contact me with any questions.

NOTE:
All students must be at least 16 years old to participate and Minors must be accompanied by an adult (adult not required to take the class, but must be onsite).
All Students must sign liability waiver to participate in class. Waiver can be seen here.
Price does not include food, travel, or lodging

What to Bring:
Bring cotton cloths (Jeans, T-Shirt etc) as they do not burn like synthetics
Closed toe shoes or better yet steel toe.
Safety glasses, ear protection and gloves if you have them
Drinking water.
Dress appropriately for Wisconsin weather that month...we get all four seasons



Local airports are:

Airline information:
The closest airport is Austin Straubel in Green Bay, WI  50 miles away
http://www.co.brown.wi.us/departments/?department=2f6d7cc8e7df
Connecting flights are a simple matter from Chicago, Minneapolis, Detroit and other hubs in the Midwest.
Code "GRB"

There are car rentals at the airport from the major companies:
http://www.co.brown.wi.us/departments/page_a1fdf3a1bad4/?department=2f6d7cc8e7df&subdepartment=0b1a72f8f956

other airports:
Madison, WI 190 miles
http://www.msnairport.com/

Milwaukee 200 miles
http://www.mitchellairport.com/

Local Hotels:
Holiday Music Motel
http://holidaymusicmotel.com/fr_home.cfm
Ask for the "Blacksmith Class" Discount.

Also:
http://www.comfortinn.com/hotel-sturgeon_bay-wisconsin-WI040
http://americinn.com/hotels/WI/SturgeonBay

CAMPING
http://www.campjellystone.com/find-a-park/1-sturgeon-bay-wi-door-county/
http://wisconsinstateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/potawatomi-state-park/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=WI&parkId=60036

Payment information:
Full Payment is required for classes.

Bank Transfer
Postal Money Order (in US dollars)
Western Union (in US dollars)
Personal checks (In US dollars drawn on US bank and item held till check clears)
and on rare occasions
Paypal (plus 4% handling fee)

Door County Forgeworks
3179 May Road
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
(608) 852-5226 cell



here.

Refunds:
If the class is cancelled you receive a full refund. 
The most likely situation would be an ill Instructor. I have never cancelled a class in all the years I have been blacksmithing and will endeavor not to do so.
If you cancel 45 days before class you will receive a full refund.
If you fail to show for your class the class fee is non-refundable so be sure to mark your calendars.

There is a minimum number of students required for the class to run. 
That number is listed in the class information, usually two students. If the minimum number is not met then the class is cancelled and a full refund is issued to all who have registered.
Due to the possibility of short enrollment (not meeting minimum student enrollment) I suggest you get travel insurance for your air flight as the school is not responsible for costs incurred for cancellation.


Photography is allowed, but no video taping without permission. The reason is that in the past I have been filmed and these films have been sold and I was not compensated for the sales...this is not a friendly thing.