Prospect Hill Forge

I’ve now completed two courses here: A Taste of Blacksmithing and Wrought Iron Bracelets. Now, I no longer want use any tool, wear any ornament, or eat with utensils that I haven’t forged with my own brawn, because if I haven’t forged it, IT’S CRAP. This new way of being is the direct result of my awesome experiences at Prospect Hill Forge.
Admittedly, my first S hook turned into a J hook because (to my chagrin) I hammer like a blind, palsied drunkard who has alien hand syndrome. But, I am determined to go from sad J hook to dragon armor, and I believe Carl and Mike can help me unlock this achievement. My bracelet came out much better. Progress!
Here’s what to expect:
— Show up dressed appropriately. Jeans and boots! This isn’t a beach holiday, fool. And be on time, because the whole class gets held up if one person is fashionably an asshole.
— Gear up: leather aprons, glasses, and ear protection are all provided.
— Heed Carl’s preliminary safety bit: It covers what to do if you get burned, what to do if you drop stuff, etc. Luckily, I have not been burned yet, but it is destined to happen sooner or later. Many aloe plants are on hand in case of an emergency.
— Watch Carl forge something. No need to take copious notes; he has them written on a blackboard.
— Go to your forge, put your iron in the fire, and start hammering away. Be generally disappointed in yourself once you realize Carl only makes it look easy because he’s been doing this since the 70s. Don’t let your tears hit the hot iron because it will cool it down faster.
— Expect either Carl or Mike to check on you numerous times to 1.) correct your stance, 2.) correct your grip, 3.) offer helpful pointers, 4.) salvage the piece of slag you just totally mangled in your ignorance.
— Miraculously, end up with a finished piece of work! Be the envy of all of your friends. Impress your grandmother.
Some cautionary words:
— If you have OCD, this place would most likely give you a brain aneurysm. The forge is kind of chaotic, much like my dad’s garage. And if you are afraid of dirt or fire, this is probably the wrong skill for you to learn.
— Don’t ever show up wearing white. Before or after Labor Day.
— Drink plenty of water. They have a water cooler there should you need some.
— While I’m on the subject of hydration, the bathroom is guaranteed to terrify you. But don’t let that deter you from keeping yourself properly hydrated. And don’t hold it either. You’ll get a bladder infection.
Other helpful info:
— I was able to successfully navigate my way to this place from the Waltham commuter rail stop. It was roughly a 10 – 15 minute walk.
— If you drive, there seems to be adequate parking.
— I personally found that my experience was better during the day rather than in the evening. You really need to be awake and alert, or else you will make stupid mistakes, and probably kill someone.

I took «A Taste of Blacksmithing» a few months ago, since I was given a gift certificate from a friend last holiday season.
I’ve always wanted to try working with iron, since I feel that I’d be a blacksmith if we were back in the «good old days» when every town needed one.
There is parking right next to the shop, which is nice. They had the garage door open into the studio for ventilation, since I went in the late summer. It was definitely necessary, with three forges firing away!
Right away, they gave us aprons, eye protection, and hearing protection. That’s a sign that they care about you!
Next, they demonstrated how to do the first few steps of making an S-​hook out of iron bar stock.
Then, we were sized for each forge, since the height of your arms relative to the anvils matters. We were paired up with similarly gangly armed people, two people to a forge, and instructed in how to share a forge without risking burns or collisions.
Next, they walked us through the first few steps of making the hook. All the steps for creating the S-​hook were written out on a chalkboard, which was really helpful to me as I went through the steps.
My partner and I helped each other remember what to do, and the instructors came around during each of our turns at the anvil to help us. They instructed me in how to stand at an anvil and hit the workpiece with effective force, which I had trouble with in the beginning.
The two instructors made everyone feel comfortable and respected. Any questions were answered completely, and help was available all the time. Even though there were eight people in the class, I never felt rushed or neglected. I still don’t know how they managed to keep up with all of us at once, but I felt almost like I was getting a private lesson the entire time!
If you’re nervous, these guys will allay your fears. Also, the class was made up of equal parts men and women, with a few parent-​child pairs as well.
I was completely impressed by the way the teachers instructed throughout the class. We all ended up with S-​hooks that looked completely different, using the same set of instructions. Some folks even managed to get through one and start a second during the 3-​hour course.
I feel lucky to live really close to this forge, since some folks came from over an hour’s drive to take classes here. It really is worth it!
There are lots of classes, as well as open forge times where you can come in and work on your own pieces or learn from others. Prospect Hill Forge also shows their work at a lot of local events, including the annual Steampunk festival put on by the Charles River Museum of Industry, if you want to chat, sign up for classes, or view their work.
SO MUCH FUN! You’ll leave knowing you just worked with metal, which is a really powerful feeling. I’d love to come back when I get the chance!

I took the same Taste of Blacksmithing class and was impressed by the teachers and the set-​up. The teachers learn and use every student’s name from the beginning of the class and the attention is personal and dedicated and patient (I can’t emphasize patient, enough…). They are also funny and accessible and non-​judgmental. I appreciated this environment and the very salt-​of-​the-​earth forge away from the discomforting atmosphere of some art and metal classes. I would recommend a week-​end class if you work a day-​job and aren’t going to be in your best form, you will enjoy it more if you are rested and alert. I would recommend it to anyone, it’s a fascinating place.

For our sixth anniversary, the iron anniversary, my wife and I took the beginners A Taste of Blacksmithing.
We both had a great time hammering, twisting and bending the iron into beautiful ‘S’-hooks that we will have for a lifetime.
The instructors were fun and patient with lots of insightful tips and tricks.
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a blacksmith this is definitely the place to go!
Note: The attached pics are from the PHF website, not the hooks we made! ;)