
- Mon, December 4, 2023
- Buffalo, WY
Arrowhead Forge School of Blacksmithing is a working artist blacksmith shop owned by David Osmundsen.
David has been forging wrought ironwork and tools since the 1970s, and in 2004, started the school at the request of many people wanting classes to learn the skills of hand forging hot iron. Students have been coming to the blacksmithing school from all over America, Canada and even overseas to spend from one to four weeks learning blacksmithing at Arrowhead Forge.
Courses offered at the blacksmith school cover beginning blacksmithing, toolsmithing and traditional joinery, scroll and leaf work. Special classes are available upon request as well as off site demonstrations.
Learn MoreAs a beginning student at Arrowhead Forge School of Blacksmithing, you will learn by doing, the use of the coal forge, anvil, and hand tools.
You will have the oppurtinity to forge a cross pein hammer, tongs, hardy tools, spring swage and several other hand tools important in any blacksmithing kit.
The Journeyman Class focuses on classic joinery and scroll work. During this 10 day class you will learn how to design and build a small ornamental grille.
I highly recommend David W. Osmundsen’s Arrowhead Forge Blacksmithing Class. His overview of blacksmithing techniques is comprehensive but not overwhelming to students new to the craft. For intermediate students he will adapt the course to suit your needs, skimming over the material you are confident in and going in depth with the topics and techniques you want to learn more about.
I had previously taken a six day blacksmithing course at another well known school, before the Arrowhead Forge five day class. I can honestly state that I learned more the first two days of David’s class than I did in six days at the other class. David’s only focus during the entire week is making sure you and your one other classmate have a full comprehension of the materials and techniques covered. He won’t be working on his own professional projects or running errands. David is a natural teacher with a calm and attentive style that makes the learning environment ideal.
You will be using David’s own blacksmithing tools, in a functioning blacksmith shop, not the junky ‘student’ tools and equipment I found at the other class. His workshop is clean, well organized, and a good place to learn blacksmithing fundamentals.
I benefited greatly from taking the Journeyman Class at Arrowhead Forge. As a professional smith, David coached me in the techniques I had been too intimidated to explore on my own. He also helped me to improve the skills I already had. With his help, as a final project, I produced a very fine piece of work for my home in Chicago. I think that the experience of twelve full work days in a one-on-one environment will continue to stimulate my creativity for many years into the future! David is a courteous gentleman and a fine teacher—I enjoyed working with and learning from him immensely.
We didn't know what to expect taking the beginner class at Arrowhead Forge with David. Every day we left feeling excited and inspired to return the next day. David made learning fun and very interesting. He's a natural teacher, and gave his full attention to us and helped improve our technique. We came away from the class with a good feeling that we had learned enough to get us going in the right direction. We were excited to get home and put our newly learned knowledge to the hammer and anvil.
David and Debbie were wonderful hosts with providing us with a delicious and nutritious lunch each day.
Buffalo is a great little community, neat and tidy. We found the people there very hospitable. Our time at Arrowhead Forge was the highlight of our trip.
We can't say enough about the great experience we had with David. We are looking forward to taking more classes with him.