26 Jun 19'
"Thank you so much for a wonderful day of Blacksmithing for my friends and I, all four of us had a fantastic time..we did not make a rose because we had our own ideas which the blacksmiths were kind enough to let us make.
I cannot recommend lessons at the Kingdom Forge highly enough.
While Paul and Elliot are both very skilled and knowledgeable Blacksmiths, they are also great teachers giving clear demonstrations & lots of encouragement. It is plain that they enjoy imparting craft skills to their students as they have great reserves of patience and good humour. Selflessly sharing the tricks of the trade they are as happy to explain why a thing is done in a particular way as they are teaching you how to do it.
Today Paul was teaching one kind of project to two of our party while Elliot was kind enough to show my friend and I the way to make some special hooks that she needs before teaching us, in his calm, clear style how to make a tricky piece ...step by step..while giving us the confidence to make our own.
We learned several techniques including the way metal should look when it is ready for different operations...how to swing the hammer higher than the head to get a good solid blow and ...fire welding! A difficult thing which I was happy to try ....even if it had it not worked out.
I enjoyed the whole day immensely and I am ridiculously chuffed with my lovely Ram's head poker..my family are suitably impressed too : )
Thanks again Elliot and Paul for such a very special day.
I shall return."
