THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Spend a focused day at the forge learning to make a pair of Flat Jaw tongs in Hillsborough, NC. Small classes, all tools provided, and a strong link to the Piedmont craft tradition make this a hands-on, skill-forward experience.
Spend a focused day at the forge learning to make a pair of Flat Jaw tongs in Hillsborough, NC. Small classes, all tools provided, and a strong link to the Piedmont craft tradition make this a hands-on, skill-forward experience.
Book with Woodcrest Farm & Forge
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Woodcrest Farm & Forge · Hillsborough, North Carolina
Step into raw heat and ringing steel in Hillsborough, North Carolina, where a single-day blacksmithing class teaches you to forge a working pair of Flat Jaw tongs. Held in a hands-on workshop just outside town, the course runs six hours and is aimed at students with some prior blacksmithing experience. All tools, fuel and raw steel are supplied; participants bring a lunch to enjoy at picnic tables during a midday break. The experience sits within the Piedmont foothills, a landscape of red clay soils and scattered granite outcrops near the Eno River valley, which makes for a surprisingly pastoral backdrop to the glow of forge fire.
The day begins with safety orientation and a short refresher of basic hammer control and heat management. You'll move from drawing a hot billet to shaping jaws on the anvil, learning how to establish a secure pivot and temper for durable tongs. The forge is lit to coal temperatures that produce bright orange steel; the instructor demonstrates reheating cycles, upsetting, tapering and punching for a functional jaw geometry. The class size is intentionally small—maximum five—so you get real hands-on time and direct feedback while forging your own tool. Expect to stand for most of the session and to feel the heat; gloves, eye protection and closed-toe footwear are required.
What makes this offering special for Hillsborough visitors is its direct connection to the region’s working craft tradition. The workshop offers a tactile counterpoint to the area’s historic mills and county fairs: here you leave with both a skill and an object you made yourself. After forging, a short finishing session covers grinding and basic heat treatment so your tongs leave the shop ready for service.
Practical notes: the class is open to ages 16 and up; prior experience in basic forging is recommended. Bring a packed lunch for the picnic-table break, and plan for the forge’s heat when choosing layers. The instructor will point you to nearby trails on the Eno River and to the preserved historic district if you want to stretch your legs before or after the session.
Whether you’re a hobbyist expanding toolmaking skills or a curious traveler seeking a hands-on craft day, this Flat Jaw tongs class offers a clear, efficient entry into blacksmithing. You’ll walk away with a rugged, useful tool and a better understanding of metal behavior—plus a memorable day of smoky, rhythmic work in the Piedmont hills.
Classes run seasonally and can be scheduled through the booking link; space fills quickly so book early. Transportation options include a short drive from Durham or Chapel Hill, and nearby lodging ranges from B&Bs to inns. This course is a practical, gear-forward way to learn a core blacksmithing tool and equipment.
moderate.
6 Hours.
You should be able to stand and maneuver a hammer for long intervals and tolerate moderate heat; upper-body endurance helps.
Participants must be at least 16 years old.
Yes—this class is designed for students with some basic forging experience, though the day includes a brief skills refresher.
Yes. All tools, fuel and steel for a pair of Flat Jaw tongs are included.
Yes—students keep the tools they make after a finishing and heat-treatment session.
Instructors cover safety and PPE; small class sizes allow close supervision, but you should be comfortable handling hot metal and basic tools.
Refer to the Blacksmithing Classes page and the provider's cancellation policy linked on the booking page for full details.
Hillsborough is a Piedmont town with colonial-era roots and a long local tradition of practical crafts and small workshops.
The workshop follows safe metal handling and waste practices; students are asked to respect local waterways and dispose of scale and fluids responsibly.
Ages 16+ • 6 Hours • Max 5 People
Book with Woodcrest Farm & Forge