Railroad Spike Knife: Foundations of Bladesmithing

Area Featured: Metal Shop

Minimum Age: 18 Years Age

Come learn the basics of bladesmithing in this class and make your very own knife! In this class, you will learn the foundations of bladesmithing in a single 4 hour session and turn a railroad spike into a knife. We will cover how to safely go through the forging process and hammering techniques to get started with manipulating your metal. You'll learn how to draw and bend your metal to create a blade shape from your railroad spike. Once you've shaped your blade you'll then learn how to grind and finish it sharpen it to perfection! This class will give you the perfect foundation for any future bladesmithing classes!

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please wear a shirt that is of natural fibers, jeans, and shoes that completely cover feet. Safety gear will be supplied. Bringing sunscreen and a water bottle is also recommended. Please note this class will include long periods of hammering and proximity to fire. 

Lead by: Thaddeus Prevette (he/him)

Thaddeus Prevette is a sculpture artist who began working with three dimensional objects back in 2016. He graduated from Western Carolina University in 2020 with a BFA in studio art and graduated from East Carolina University with an MFA in sculpture in May of 2023. He participates in public art exhibitions and was commissioned for the design of the ECU 911 Memorial sculpture back in 2021. He works with recycled and repurposed material to create narrative artwork that is influenced by historic and modern mythologies.

This meet up is for makers 18 years old and older. All makers ages 16 years old and under must be accompanied by an adult.  Please email workshops@wsmixxer.org for any questions.

Workshops must meet a minimum number of registrations.  Mixxer may cancel the workshop 2 days prior to start time, if the minimum is not met. Should you need to cancel your registration, 2 days notice is required to request a cancellation, refund or credit to a future workshop date.