Iron Osprey Designs, LLC

Add value and beauty to your blades with beautiful and functional 'furniture'. Sept 19 - 20, Iron Osprey Forge is offering a class under master silversmith and accomplished blade-smith James Worm where you will learn and apply various new skills to bring your knives to a new and higher level.

This is a two-day class and the cost is less than you would pay for a comparable knife on the market - but you will take a functional, heat-treated knife blank and add custom elements while learning the skills to take back to your home forges. The class is $350 and includes an EDC knife blank, all the materials for completing an enhanced guard and handle, plus lunch, snacks, and all PPE. The class is designed for two full days, but there will be a wait list option available for those who can only attend on Saturday. That can be discussed with Doug or James and is only an option if the class doesn't fill by Sept 10.

Class description:

In this class you will learn how to make functional yet decorative elements to really make your blades stand out.

There are so many Damascus knives flooding the market today, a cool pattern alone isn't enough to catch people's eyes or make the sale. Decorative furniture draws attention to your blades over those of your competition.

Adding elements to your guard and handle like a Habaki (the blade collar on top of the guard) and Seppa (metal sleeves under the guard) not only add bling but function to your blades. Handle caps add transitions enhancing the appearance and allowing people’s eyes to be drawn in.

James, from DuirGrove Forges, is a master silversmith as well as a skilled bladesmith. With 40 years of experience, his tutelage will teach you to saw and file pieces with precision, as well as forming and soldering fine parts of non-ferrous additions together. This is a true blending of jewelry and blade smithing techniques that will not only elevate your blades moving forward but also translate to other smithing projects.

Students will receive a modern steel, heat-treated blade and all materials necessary to complete a finished, decorative, and functional EDC knife. You not only keep the finished blade, but all the skills and knowledge passed on in the class.

Snacks, drinks, and a peasants lunch will be provided, as well as all PPE.

This class qualifies for FABA and ABANA scholarships if participant is a recipient.

Registration is available at https://www.iron-osprey-designs.com/ or by following this link: https://www.iron-osprey-designs.com/booking-calendar/add-beauty-and-function-to-your-blades-1

Add Beauty and Function to your blades.

FABA North Northeast meeting at Iron Osprey Forge (101/102 Marshall Circle St. Augustine) is this Saturday, August 8th at 9 a.m. We'll be working on individual items for the conference project for those who want to contribute, otherwise open forge time. Don't fret the dragon's breath - we can forge outside where the heat goes up and the fans cool the anvils. In other words - come and enjoy cool forging!! Pot luck brunch, maybe an Iron in the Hat. Hope to see you all there.

Chasing and Repousse Class May 16

Ever wanted to bring metal to life? Create a face, a creature, a design that almost leaps off the surface of the metal to capture your eye and imagination? Kirk Sullens is an accomplished artist who has been creating beautiful pieces with chasing and repousse for decades and is now offering a class (with a tooling set provided) in St. Augustine, May 16th at Iron Osprey Designs, LLC/ Iron Osprey Forge. The class will start with a small project and numerous templates to choose from, and then move into working with somewhat more substantial metal. You will learn how to lay out your pattern, the various tools and base substrates (resistant materials) used to bring a flat, two-dimensional drawing to life, capturing light and shadow, creating hollows, shadows and prominences on your piece. This is a great skill for anyone and a valued addition to any metalworker. Register at https://iron-osprey-designs.com under classes (Kirk Sullens Chasing and Repousse) or follow this link: https://www.iron-osprey-designs.com/booking-calendar/kirk-sullens-chasing-and-repousse

There are several spots remaining and this is a great opportunity to work with an outstanding artist. (see some of his work at www.kirksullens.com ) This is an all day class. Lunch, snacks, soft drinks are provided, as are all the tools you need.

No experience needed. Ages 15 and up (parent required for < 18 y.o.) . Class costs $120 for the entire day and you leave with two projects and tools* to work at home ( * for those who register at least 5 days prior to the class).

A great class on traditional joinery is coming up in April. Kirk Sullens - Artistry with Utility, an artist with 4 decades of experience will be teaching a one-day class on traditional joinery and participants will not only learn many new techniques but also craft several tools to keep as well as completing a beautiful item for their home.

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Lots of stuff happening at the forge. New forges, a new shop arrangement, and new classes. Plus, lots of activity with the Florida Artist Blacksmith FABA - Florida Artist Blacksmith Association N NE regional meetings each month. New class options coming including specialty classes with visiting instructors, more FABA related classes (a metal casting demo and workshop for the April 11th FABA meeting) and just lots of energy and fun.

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Welcome to Iron Osprey Forge. 2026 is starting off with a bang. Lots of great students from 10 to 82 years of age. And we are beginning to book specialty classes with other instructors (a colonial axe class, a metal casting workshop under FABA, with a repousse and chasing class to come soon). Also, Iron Osprey Forge is one of the few that includes both solid fuel and propane forges in the introductory classes, so students get to sample both.

Note: For ALL classes – The posted classes are for adults 18 and older. A sandwich lunch and soft drinks and snacks are provided in each class. There are class options for youth younger than 18 but these must be arranged directly with the blacksmith. Message him at [email protected] and register for classes on the Iron Osprey Designs website www.iron-osprey-designs.com
Intro to Blacksmithing (8 hours) This class gives you a thorough introduction to the blacksmith’s craft, including drawing, tapering, cutting, bending, scrolling, planishing, and more. You will also learn how to hammer effectively and safely. You work with both coal and propane forges and complete two projects to take home for immediate use. This class is a thorough introduction to the craft. THIS is a requirement before taking any other blacksmithing classes**
Full-Day Knife class (this is a FULL day, approx. 11 hours and does count as an Introductory Course** - not requiring the Intro To Blacksmithing). In the class you will learn the basic ways to move metal, hammer safely and effectively, learn basic heat treating and will be introduced to grinding your blades.
Introduction to MIG welding (not stick, not TIG). This class is designed to give a broad overview of what a typical hobby/blacksmith 110/220 V MIG welder can do. Students see the difference between a 110V and 220V machine, learn to see the puddle and run a bead and will work on samples based on their interests. I started this class as there were no other options available to folks but now there are a few other options available. Please call and discuss what you want to learn and I can help decide what works best for you.
Call/email to schedule
Level 1 and Level 2 Blacksmithing classes (assorted topics/projects). These are classes, typically one-on-one, where students build on the skills learned in the intro course. As they are individual, contact our blacksmith (Doug) to arrange time and projects. Classes range from 6 -9 hours.
Date Night Blacksmithing: Step into the world of smithing with what is guaranteed to be one of the hottest date nights you’ve ever had. This is a light taste of metalworking and you leave with almost a dozen items you have crafted. Part of the items involve food and you’ll use your project to eat a meat/cheese/fruit board with sparkling cider on the side. This typically lasts 4 hours although some couples have stayed for the entire evening!
Contact Doug to arrange.

We have had some impressive youth this month. One 10 y.o. who worked strong through a 6 hour day (planned on 3 and then kept going as he was able). He stayed focused and intent all day. I have worked with youth younger than 13 many times, but most start flagging after an hour or two. John was unique.

Yesterday I worked with a mom and son with a unique situation. Malakai lost his eyes around 6 years of age. His mother persuaded me to let him visit the shop and to see what we could do toward his desire to hit hot metal. He is 11 years old. We discussed the realities of his circumstance and the dangers in an unsighted person handling 2000 degree metal but then focused on what he COULD do.

He was able to shape a small letter opener sword by hammering on the anvil while I held the metal. Not every blow hit, but he could tell by feel and sound if he missed. He used a short grip to better feel where the hammer head was. He did all of the hammering and shaping of his 'sword', I only held it and moved it slightly. We then tried the leaf blank. He held the hot leaf with vise grips and resting the grips against the edge of the anvil was about 50 percent accurate with his blows. (I took the vise grips between hammering to hold in the torch).

Then we switched to cold work and he finished texturing the leaf holding the stem both with vise grips and with his fingers. He also was able to dish a small bowl and a scoop with copper.

Although he realizes he won't be forging hot steel independently, he and his mom are planning on setting up a small area at home to do copper and sheet metal work.

Hi Folks. I haven't posted in awhile. It's been a busy year with some travel to expand my skill set, attend to some family matters and so on. But I am back in the shop, the shop has been reorganized, I have a new hip and am hopping around quite easily now (yeah!) and new classes and projects are in the future. The Jan - April classes will post soon, with some new options as well.

Iron Osprey Forge is still the center of operations for the Florida FABA - Florida Artist Blacksmith Association North Northeast Region and we have monthly FABA meetings (typically the second Saturday of the month, with some variation at times) open to the public. These usually have a demonstration of a skill or project, some food and camaraderie and open forge time. You do not need to be a FABA member to attend or to play.

Our region also won the President's challenge at our annual conference in October (see below) with our floating city.

I hope to see some new faces and would love to see some others visit more often.

December Classes are now available on the Iron Osprey website.

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