Middle Row Forge

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Middle Row Forge

Artisan Blacksmith & Master Tool Maker. Bespoke ironwork made in England.

25/12/2024

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!!!! 🎄🎁🎉🔥💪👍

09/12/2024

It's not too late to find the perfect gift for Christmas..

Learn to forge iron and steel with us and start your journey into the ancient craft of blacksmithing.

We offer several different packages so whether you are interested in making decorative work, forging tools or blade forging then we have the perfect experience for you

At Middle Row Forge we provide top tier, professional instruction, a well equipped workshop and a true love and enthusiasm for the craft.

New course dates for the first few months of 2025 have just been published over at www.middlerowforge.com where you can find information about our most popular courses, and either book directly onto an available date or purchase a voucher for later use (valid for 12 months)

Please don't hesitate to get in touch direct with any queries via Facebook or WhatsApp.

👍💪🔥

22/11/2024

A whole bundle of stuff heading off to it's new home in the Czech Republic - not often I send stuff outside of the UK so lovely to receive such an order.

06/11/2024

Took a bit of time to modify one of my hand forged axe heads - I usually leave them with a forge finish but this time I did some file and punch work because I had a little spare time to experiment. I also wet rubbed most of the forge scale off using some fine emery paper to give it the "old but well maintained" look.
Let me know what you think 👍👌🔥

03/11/2024

We have had lots of great forge days over the last few months with students from all walks of life and corners of the world.

It really is great to meet and teach so many keen and interested folk.

We have lots more courses scheduled right up until Christmas and will be publishing dates for next year in December - don't worry there will be plenty to go at.

We now have three one day courses to choose from:
The blacksmith experience, Axe making and
Knife making 101

More advanced/in depth/ bespoke courses can be arranged on demand.

For more information head over to www.middlerowforge.com or contact Richard on 07834206993

Vouchers and places can be purchased and booked through the website.

If you are in any doubt about booking onto one of our courses or purchasing a voucher for a loved one then please check out our Google reviews and see some of the testimonials other students have left for us

👍💪🔥

04/10/2024

NEW COURSE DATES!!!

Middle Row Forge offers three different one-day courses in forge work and blacksmithing aswell as several longer, more intensive programs and bespoke courses.

If you have ever dreamt of forging hot iron using nothing but fire and hammer and anvil or making your own tools, or creating beautiful objects then we are here to help make that a reality.

At Middle Row Forge you can expect expert level instruction, great facilities and a welcoming,relaxed environment for anyone wanting to learn the craft of blacksmithing.

For more information head over to www.middlerowforge.com where you can find out more information, buy course vouchers or book straight onto an available course.

You can also contact Richard, the blacksmith, direct via this page, WhatsApp or phone call

Course dates for the new year will be released in december.

03/09/2024

NEW COURSE LAUNCH!!!!!

I am happy to announce the launch of two new courses - knife making 101(by popular request) and the bushcraft tools course.

Knife making 101 is an intensive one day course and will take you through the forging, grinding, Hardening and tempering of your blade to produce either a yakut or puukko style bushcraft knife.
Course cost is £180 per person and can now be booked online

The Bushcraft Tools course is a 3 day affair that combines all three of our one day courses to produce a full set of woodsmans/bushcrafters tools - hand axe, knife, awl, firespoon, fire steel.
Course cost is £520 per person and is by special arrangement only.

If you are looking for a personal challenge, the perfect gift, or just fancy having your own hand forged tools and enjoying a fun day out then don't hesitate to head over to www.middlerowforge.com or contact us direct on here, WhatsApp or via phone call.

Course dates until the beginning of December have just been updated

I can't wait to teach you all in the newly refurbed teaching forge 👍

Please share and follow us on Instagram

👍💪🔥

26/08/2024

I am very happy to present the refurbished teaching forge.
The old double hearth forge has been taken apart and re-built into two single hearth forges with all new stainless hoods and flues.
I'm also very happy that I finally got the monster leg vice set up with its own little work table.
The wooden bench has also been removed and the floor Re sealed and years worth of detritus removed.
There are still lots of minor jobs to be done before it is finished but the bulk of the work is done and I'm very happy with the result.
The space is much more open and far easier to move around and work in.

15/08/2024

Last minute spot for Axe Making tomorrow available

Axe making on Fri 16th August.

Cost is £170-00 per person and runs 0930 till 1730

Come and learn how to forge, grind, heat treat and hang a small hand axe and finish the day with your very own hand made axe.

Contact Richard for more info on here or WhatsApp
Over 16s only unless accompanied by a participating parent/guardian

Please like and share
You can also find us over on Instagram 💪👍🔥

25/07/2024

Learn Blacksmithing at Middle Row Forge.

At Middle Row Forge we regularly run our popular one day classes and have lots of dates and places available over the next few months.

The "blacksmith experience" is a great way get into the craft and focuses on learning some of the essentials of forge work in the morning and then working on your own small project in the afternoon.

Our axe making course is for those looking to get stuck into something a bit more technical. You will learn how to forge, grind, heat treat and fit a handle to your axe all in one day and go home with your own small hand axe.

We can also offer bespoke courses for private bookings of two to four people covering things like hammer making, advanced axe making, tong making, firewelding, scroll work, animal heads,traditional joinery and just about anything you might want to learn about in the field of forge work.

All info is available to view over at Middlerowforge.com. There you can buy vouchers for gifts or book straight onto one of our scheduled courses.

Course attendees must be over 16 years of age
Under 16s can attend but must be accompanied by a participating parent or guardian

Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.

We look forward to seeing you at the forge 👍🔥💪

#

27/06/2024

A Lovely trio of 3lb forging hammers on their way out into the world.
Here we have a cross pein, chunky ball pein and a rounding hammer.
All forged from En9 medium carbon steel, hardened and tempered and fitted with 16 inch hickory handles.
The hammers are rough forged and punched on the power hammer before being fullered on the fly press and drifted via a combo of press and hand work before being ground and heat treated.
they then get their final grind and polish just before fitting the handles.
I think I'm going to have to make myself a matching set when I have the time as I'm very happy with these hammers - maybe I'll throw a straight pein in the mix for myself aswell.

20/06/2024

NEW COURSE DATES AVAILABLE!!!!!!

We have new dates listed over at middlerowforge.com

Whether you just want to dip your toes into the ancient craft of blacksmithing with our super fun and relaxed "blacksmith experience" or, quite literally, go for it hammer and tongs in our highly popular axe making day then the choice is yours.

Course costs are

Blacksmith experience £160 per person

Axe making £170 per person

Please don't hesitate to get in touch via email, WhatsApp or phone call if you have any questions.
We are also happy to provide bespoke courses for group bookings.

06/06/2024

Well.... It's been a while since any of these little critters have flown down the forge chimney and, quite honestly, here at the Dragon adoption agency we feared they might be headed towards extinction.
So imagine my surprise when two young males and a female turned up in the workshop - I found them all curled up on the hearth having a snooze after a rather heavy meal of coal and charcoal so they were quite easy to catch.
These are really lovely examples of Draconis Domesticus - or in normal speak - house dragons.
Once befriended, and to some extent tamed, they make excellent home companions and are known to be excellent pest controllers (they will hunt rats, mice, spiders, pixies, gnomes etc) and can even be trained to assist with chores such as lighting the fire and cleaning the chimney.
Just make sure they have a nice hot fire or stove to sleep beside in the winter.
The two males have already found fantastic new homes so are not available for adoption but the female has said she is looking for a home to look after and as such is now available.
For more information on how to care for a house dragon or to be added to the adoption list or enquire about adoption fees then please don't hesitate to get in touch.

*due to exceptional levels of interest I am struggling to keep up with messages
So here are the details - and please forgive me for breaking the immersion in the story

The dragons are entirely hand forged using hammer and anvil with copper wings and rivets.
All details are hand cut and punched while the metal is very hot using chisels and various other hand tools
The medium size as seen in the post are £600
I make a smaller size at £400
And larger can be made by special request
Shipping just about anywhere is no problem but costs can be unpredictable as every dragon requires custom packaging due to different shapes and poses

03/06/2024

Places available!!!

Come along and learn to forge iron and steel with fire, hammer and anvil.

We have places available on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th this week for both our blacksmith experience day and our super popular axe making day.

The blacksmith experience Fri 7th
£155 per person
And excellent and fun introduction to general and decorative forge work with a relaxed pace.

Axe making sat 8th
£165 per person
Focuses on all the essential technical processes needed to hand forge, grind to shape, heat treat and haft a small axe. Perfect for those looking for a challenging day out

Vouchers can purchased online at www.middlerowforge.com and you can book straight onto the date of your choice.

For more info contact Richard on here or via WhatsApp - or just call direct on 07834206993

22/05/2024

Newly forged and finished heavy bushcraft axe. Forged from a single piece of En9 steel and featuring (apart from the ground edge) a forge finish and some simple chisel work decorations. The head weighs in at a smidge over 3lbs.
This is the second of this model to be completed and I thought I would make it special as I intend to keep this one.
I have another 5 of these heads almost ready to go but for heat treat and blade covers.

Address

Middle Row, Low Row
Brampton
CA82LJ

Website

https://middlerowforge.com/

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Videos

Short video of two of my recent students on the axe making course doing a great job of punching the slot for the eye on an axe blank using smith and striker techniques. #middlerowforge #rwhalbertblacksmith #learnblacksmithing #smithandstriker #axemaking #traditionalcrafts #blacksmithing #handmadetools

Forging down some tool steel to make some blanks for tomorrow's axe making class on the Massey 2cwt hammer. Starting stock is 25 x 50 mm en9 medium carbon steel and it gets worked down to roughly 30 x 20 mm. (Ive gotten pretty good at measuring these by eye over the last year) The sound on the video makes the hits sound a bit tinny but believe me in real life this thing really thumps Axe making has proved to be a super popular course and I find myself making these blanks more often than I expected 😁💪🔥 #axemaking #learnblacksmithing #masseyhammer #middlerowforge #rwhalbertblacksmith #getithot #hititharder #handmadetools #traditionalskills

Just a little snippet from the beginners course today. Myself in the role of striker swinging the sledge for Ken who is using the flatter tool to flatten and smooth a section of bar in preparation for twisting. If you want to learn more about blacksmithing and the opportunities available to get your hands dirty down here at Middle Row Forge then please don't hesitate to get in touch via messenger or WhatsApp 👍💪🔥 #rwhalbertblacksmith #cumbrianblacksmith #middlerowforge #learnblacksmithing #traditionalcrafts #smithandstriker #sledgehammer #hititharder #getithotter

I have had this old Colchester lathe sat in the workshop for about 2 years and last week I finally got her up and running 😁 While it doesn't look the prettiest it is still sound as a pound (paint job is on the to do list) When I first got it home I spent quite some time taking bits apart, cleaning, oiling and putting back together to make sure it was all good-the keen eyed among you will notice that one of the levers from the front is missing - this was the original start/stop/forward/reverse. At some point in the future I may seek out this part and install it but to simplify the job of getting it running again I simply bypassed the old electrics and installed a new motor and control unit (I had help from electrician for this bit) As you can see it's running and cutting nicely and giving a great surface finish 😁👍👌 I have to say I'm looking forward to getting to grips with some turning projects and incorporating turned parts into some of my work #rwhalbertblacksmith #middlerowforge #blacksmith #colchesterlathe #oldmachines #restorationproject #turningmetal #machining #ItLives

This week on.. "Hitting things really hard with a huge hammer". 40mm solid Square bar #powerhammer #massey #madein1958 #bighitter #notevenclosetomaxcapability #blacksmith #forgework #getithot #ineedacamerastand