Whether camping, hiking, hunting, or foraging, a knife is one of the most important tools to carry in the wilderness. In this two week class, students will have the opportunity to forge a variety of knives for use in the field, including a hunting knife for everyday tasks and skinning game, a camp knife for […]

Mentoring Center Event – Open Forge for NWBA at the Mentoring Center (1900 7th Ave, Longview, WA 98632). There will be a $20 charge to assist with shop expenses, supplies, and MC operations for the event.

One could argue that all art and craft has its origin in the natural world around us. Inspiration from nature is part of the human experience, and the craft of blacksmithing is uniquely poised to translate impressions from nature into objects of both function and whimsy. In this class we will begin at the source, […]

In what has become a foundational workshop for this school, here we will indulge in the design, forging, and heat treating of all manner of hand tools for use in the garden or small farm. Here we can make tools of the highest quality, exactly as we want them, and disregard the pile of poorly […]

This class will focus on the question why. Why in concept, and why in process. Through instructor led assignments we will cover a variety of techniques and design methods to ask the question, why are you doing that?  To find the most direct way to construct and articulate our ideas. We will be using hand forging techniques […]

Come and join us for a week with the prolific and well- known teacher, Mark Aspery.  Mark has been a force in blacksmithing education for many years throughout the West, and in this class he will build on the ABANA national curriculum to cover an array of essential techniques.  “Forge welding, punching and drifting, tool-making […]

Throughout this workshop, students will learn to make their own functional and decorative spoons, spatulas, and more with a focus on refinement, design, and delicate forging. The class will cover the basics of forging, forming, bending, and file work to make single piece steel and iron utensils. Students will be encouraged to push themselves on […]

Mentoring Center Event: Derek Lanhart Topic: Fundamental techniques for the beginner All participants at the sessions are asked to contribute $20 to assist with the supplies for the session and MC operations. The Registration Table will be open to process New and Renewing Members immediately prior to the start of the demonstrations.  

This class will explore the history, design, forging, and use of axes for felling timber and working wood. Before the advent of the chainsaw spelled the end of the axe as a primary tool for felling trees in America, this ancient tool reached its most effective forms for use by both the woodsman and the […]

Mark your calendar! Swaptoberfest 2025 will be held from October 3rd through the 5th at the Cowlitz County Fairgrounds. More details to come soon!

John Winer will be holding a 3-day long workshop from April 7th through April 9th at the NWBA Mentoring Center just before the Spring Conference. Each day will be 8 solid hours of hands on instruction. The cost for all three days is $500 for members and $550 for non-members (membership in the NWBA is […]