{"id":"mdj00ei7","organisation":"gp6xuk2s","title":"2 Day Axe-Making Course","description":"Two-Day Axe Making — Traditional Forged Axe\nA two-day immersive axe making course focused on forging, handling, and finishing a functional axe entirely by hand using traditional blacksmithing methods.\nThis is a physically demanding course, involving heavy forging and team work at the anvil, and is suited to those who enjoy hard, practical making.\n

\nDay One — Heavy Forging & Shaping\nYou’ll arrive at the forge at 10am and begin with a welcome, safety briefing, and introduction to the tools, fires, and materials. Together with the blacksmith, you’ll discuss the intended use of your axe — carving, splitting, chopping, or throwing — and agree the design within practical limits for the time available.\nOnce the design is set, you’ll light and manage a traditional forging fire using hand-blown bellows, learning to control heat and work efficiently at the anvil.\nThe first day is focused on heavy forging. You’ll punch and drift the eye, a process that requires accuracy, timing, and sustained effort. Much of the forging is carried out using sledge hammers, working in pairs or small teams, learning how to swing effectively, strike accurately, and work in rhythm.\nYou’ll use traditional tooling — including fullers, drifts, and sledges — to draw out the blade, shape the cheeks, and form the bevel, carefully controlling the steel while maintaining the integrity of the eye. This is physical, demanding work, and central to understanding how axes have been forged for centuries.\nBy the end of the first day, the axe head is fully forged and ready for refinement.\n

\nDay Two — Heat Treatment, Handling & Finishing\nThe second day begins with refining the axe profile and edge. Using hand- and foot-powered grinding wheels, wet stones, and files, you’ll define the bevel and prepare the edge for heat treatment.\nHardening and tempering are carried out using traditional methods only. Temperature is judged by eye, magnetic properties of the steel, and temper colours before quenching in oil. There are no kiln ovens or digital temperature controls — the process relies on observation, timing, and experience.\nOnce heat treated, you’ll move on to handling. Using drawknives and hand tools, you’ll shape a wooden handle for comfort, balance, and control, before carefully fitting it to your forged axe head. The axe is then sharpened and finished, ready for use.\nBy the end of the second day, you’ll leave with a fully finished, functional axe, forged, handled, and sharpened by hand.\n

\nWhat you’ll make\nA complete, functional axe, designed for its intended purpose and finished during the course.\n

\nWho it’s for\n

\nThose looking for a physically demanding, hands-on craft experience\n
\nParticipants interested in traditional tool making\n
\nAnyone wanting to forge and finish a working axe by hand\n

\nNo previous experience is required, but a reasonable level of physical fitness is recommended.\n

\nWhat’s included\n

\nAll forging tools and safety equipment (excluding footwear)\n
\nSteel and handle materials\n
\nExpert tuition in a small-group setting\n
\nTea, coffee, water, and light refreshments\n

\nWhat to wear & bring\n

\nLong sleeves and long trousers (cotton or denim recommended)\n
\nSturdy boots (no open-toe footwear)\n
\nWarm layers — the forge can be cool away from the fires\n
\nLunch and snacks for both days\n
\nLong hair must be tied back\n

Please speak to your doctor before booking if you have concerns about physical activity.

","pricing":{"id":"standard","currency":"gbp","tickets":[{"id":"tk_0uzm5ysd","name":"Adult Only (17 years +)","price":370,"resources":[{"id":"6aaqrjjz","quantity":1}],"attendees":1,"limit":null,"bookingFee":6,"displayPrice":376}],"dependencies":[],"discounts":[{"min":2,"percentage":5,"type":"group"},{"min":4,"percentage":10,"type":"group"}],"addons":[{"id":"ad_coievwry","name":"Booking protection","price":6,"bookingFee":0.29,"displayPrice":6.29}]},"bookingProtectionAddonId":"ad_coievwry","location":{"timezone":"Europe/London","name":"Old Pound Smithy, Woolfardisworthy, Bideford, England, EX39 5QA, United Kingdom","point":{"coordinates":[-4.3701850214621345,50.95812760129098],"type":"Point","zoom":17}},"capacity":{"maxBookingsPerTimeslot":null,"minAttendeesPerBooking":1,"maxAttendeesPerBooking":null,"maxAttendeesPerTimeslot":6,"availabilityIndicators":{"enabled":false,"threshold":75}},"media":[{"path":"experiences/image_g7sjv9o8zrzx5vo2.jpeg","mimeType":"image/jpeg"},{"path":"experiences/image_9rq5zp3x9z0prigr.jpeg","mimeType":"image/jpeg"},{"path":"experiences/image_oag4ihpt40os5iis.jpeg","mimeType":"image/jpeg"},{"path":"experiences/image_1dkvkc6m7zcogp4g.jpeg","mimeType":"image/jpeg"},{"path":"experiences/image_1gvtd4uxhy6mxmmi.jpeg","mimeType":"image/jpeg"},{"path":"experiences/image_gde7e8wk407rsse3.jpeg","mimeType":"image/jpeg"}],"arrivalWindow":null,"flags":{"firstAvailableOccurrence":"2026-11-27T10:00--PT1860M","nearestScheduledOccurrence":"2026-11-27T10:00--PT1860M","hasInstantBook":true,"hasExclusiveBookings":false,"hasDiscounts":true,"hasVariablePricing":false,"promotesPriceVariations":true,"hasRecurringSchedule":false,"hasSlotBasedSchedule":false,"isOneOffEvent":true,"hasAddonsAvailable":false,"hasBookingProtection":true,"selfServe":{"cutoff":{"value":7,"unit":"day"},"canCancel":false,"canReschedule":true},"bookingCutoff":{"duration":{"unit":"hours","value":0},"before":"start"}}}