All classes are taught at the new Damselfly Forge shop in Whiteford, Maryland.
We are conveniently located within an hour drive of York, Pennsylvania - Baltimore, Maryland - Wilmington, Delaware. Within a 2-hour drive of Washinton D.C. - Philidelphia, Pennsylvania - Federick, Maryland.
Since I started teaching Blacksmithing classes in 2008, I’ve enjoyed helping students reach their goals within the craft. With a lot of experience under my belt, I have found that it is beneficial to the students that class sizes are kept small, so students are able to have the best experience possible and gather as much information from the class as they need. I look forward to helping you start your blacksmithing adventure!
We are excited to be welcoming guest teachers to the shop as well!
- Derick Kemper, Owner and Blacksmith of Damselfly Forge Inc.
A Hands-on Experience
As a group class, or one-on-one instruction.
Age restrictions -
For safety reasons we cannot accept students under 13 years of age.
If a student is under 18 years of age, we encourage the guardian to take the class alongside them.
If a student is under 18 years of age a guardian must be present for the entirety of the class.
Forging Concepts: Ideas to Reality Workshop – Taught by Ellen Durkan.
No prior Blacksmithing experience necessary. Open to all skill levels.
Group class, up to 6 people - Cost $600 per person, materials included. No hidden fees.
We are very excited to welcome Ellen Durkan as a guest teacher this coming March!
Ellen Durkans Bio.
I am an artist Blacksmith from Wilmington, Delaware. I create wearable “Forged Fashion” art that I present through performance runway shows. I teach blacksmith classes, art related workshops and present forging demonstrations for conferences and events. I received my Graduate Degree in Fine Arts in sculpture and then got into Blacksmithing and have been working in metal for around 15 years. My current body of work is inspired by the human body, it is created to be worn; it embraces physical and emotional vulnerability. I enjoy creating pieces to fit the complex forms of the figure and how each piece takes on a new presence with a new wearer. I create forged work to decorate the body as visual and metaphorical armor. The metal forging and forming process constantly inspires me to build challenging new creations.
Ellen is @ironmaidenforge on Instagram.
For more info and to purchase this workshop click the listing below -
Pattern Welded Seax Class - Taught by Emiliano Carrillo
Some prior forging experience strongly suggested. If you have any questions or concerns about your prior experience, please get in contact with Derick Kemper.
A link to our contact page is here.
Group class, up to 6 people - Cost $650 per person, materials included. No hidden fees.
3 Day Class - Dates April 4th-6th, 2025
We are very excited to welcome Emiliano as a guest teacher in April of 2025!
We hope you will join us for this unique class.
Emiliano’s Bio.
Emiliano began making knives in 2014 at Hampshire College where he quickly became enamored with Viking Age pattern welding and Japanese swordsmithing. There he focused on historical pattern welding and using artifacts to reverse engineer the forging techniques used on those pieces. He has had the opportunity to study many original artifacts in museums as well as private collections and this study influences every aspect of his work. In order to more closely copy and learn about the ancient work he began making bloomery iron and steel. Currently Emiliano creates Japanese style pieces out of his own smelted sand iron tamahagane and oroshigane as well as Viking spears, swords, and seaxes from the same period accurate materials.
Emiliano is @sunandstarsforge on Instagram.
Website emilianocarrillo.com
For more info and to purchase this class click the listing below -
Basic Axe Making Class - Taught by Derick Kemper
No prior Blacksmithing experience necessary. Open to all skill levels.
Group class, up to 6 people - Cost $300 per person, materials included. No hidden fees.
One on One - Cost $700, materials included. Limited availability for one-on-one classes on weekends.
If you would like to book a one-on-one class, please fill out the contact form farther down on this page, and we will happily book you a private class.
Description of class -
In this class students learn the wrapped eye technique to make a tomahawk/camp axe.
Process of construction - students will forge a pre-form then wrap and forge-weld the pre-form before forging the axe to shape.
The axe will then be prepared for heat treatment, hardened, tempered then taken to the grinder to make the final edge bevel, then the handle will be attached.
This class will cover an array of different construction methods historically used and the tooling needed to make them.
The student will also be introduced to the skills of proper heat treatment.
Student will complete an axe head with a tomahawk style handle.
For more info and to purchase this class click the listing below -
Blacksmithing Basic Intensive class - Taught by Derick Kemper
No experience required to take this class.
Group class, up to 6 people - Cost $275 per person, materials included. No hidden fees.
One on One - Cost $650, materials included. Limited availability for one-on-one classes on weekends.
If you would like to book a one-on-one class, please fill out the contact form farther down on this page, and we will happily book you a private class.
Description of class -
This is a class designed to give the student a strong foundation for pursuing the craft of blacksmithing.
In this class students will be learning the fundamental skills of blacksmithing, including how to work safely and efficiently, with an emphasis on hammer control and body mechanics.
The student will learn appropriate use of the various parts of the anvil, the use of top and bottom tools, drawing and tapering, scrolling and forge welding.
Part of the student’s development within the class will include an exercise in using the horn to create different shapes.
Students will complete 2 projects in this class, a series of hooks and finally, a fire hook (can be used in your home forge, fire pit or fireplace).
This class is only being held twice in 2025, hit it while it’s hot!! (Blacksmith joke)
For more info and to purchase this class click one of the available dates listed below -
Hidden-Tang Gyuto Class - Taught by Andrew Flores
Prior forging experience is required.
If you have any questions or concerns about your prior experience, please get in contact with Derick Kemper.
A link to our contact page is here.
Group class, up to 6 people - Cost $650 per person, materials included. No hidden fees.
2 Day Class - Dates June 21st-22nd, 2025
We are very excited to welcome Andrew as a guest teacher in June of 2025!
We hope you will join us for this unique class.
Andrews Bio:
My name is Andrew Flores and I have been making knives for 5 years. I currently work at Baltimore Knife and Sword as a Bladesmith. As a lot of artists my creative career has not been a straight line but more of a journey. I went from music to culinary and now to knife making. As much as traditional techniques are valuable, I like to incorporate modern techniques and technology into my work as much as possible. I believe the choices we make in our art is where the joy is.
Andrew is @jovianforge on Instagram.
Website JovianForge.com
For more info and to purchase this class click the listing below -
Practical Tong Making Class - Taught by Derick Kemper
Some Blacksmithing experience is strongly suggested.
If you have any questions or concerns about your prior experience, please get in contact with Derick Kemper.
A link to our contact page is here.
Group class, up to 6 people - Cost $300.00 per person, materials included. No hidden fees.
One day class - June 28th, 2025.
Description of class -
In this class we will be diving into Blacksmith tongs as a practical skill.
As a Blacksmith you will need to have tongs that fit the specific stock you are working.
If you can’t hold your work confidently you cant forge it confidently.
Since there are such a large variety of shapes, sizes and tasks that require tongs, knowing how to forge a set will help you grow as a smith and will give you the ability to be more self-sufficient in your shop.
Students will complete two sets of tongs in this class, a set of practical flat jaw tongs and a set of bolt jaw tongs.
We will be starting with bar stock that has the reins drawn to length, so we can focus on the working portion of the tongs.
Next, we will cover the different styles of tongs and their uses, construction techniques, how to correctly fit them so they function properly and make them a pleasure to use.
For more info and to purchase this class click on the listing below -
Blacksmithing Basic Intensive & Basic Knife Making Weekend Class - Taught by Derick Kemper
No experience required to take this class.
Group class, up to 6 people - Cost $480.00 per person, materials included. No hidden fees.
Two-day class - Dates July 12th – 13th, 2025
Description of class -
Spend a Weekend at the forge with a Blacksmithing Basic Intensive class on Saturday, and a Basic Knife making class on Sunday.
Students will complete 2 projects on Saturday, a series of hooks and finally, a fire hook (can be used in your home forge, fire pit or fireplace).
Students will complete a hand-forged knife on Sunday.
Further description is in the class listing below
This class is only being held once in 2025, hit it while it’s hot!! (Blacksmith joke)
For more info and to purchase this class click on the listing below -
Mosaic Damasus Class: Pattern Development.
It doesn’t matter where you start, it matters where you finish -
This is an intermediate class. Participants should have some forging experience and have forge welded before. Power hammer experience is beneficial.
If you have any questions or concerns about your prior experience, please get in contact with Derick Kemper.
A link to our contact page is here.
Group class, up to 6 people - Cost $800 per person, materials included. No hidden fees.
Two Day Class - Dates August 9th – 10th, 2025
We are very excited to welcome JJ as a guest teacher in August of 2025!
We hope you will join us for this unique class.
JJ Simons Bio.
JJ Simon is a journeyman bladesmith in the American Bladesmith Society. He has been smithing since 2007. His interests in smithing are fine tools, both Japanese and European historic weapons, Damascus production and engraving.
For more info and to purchase this class click on the listing below -
Hidden Tang Knife Making 101 - Taught by Jarrett Cieslak
Prior forging experience is required.
If you have any questions or concerns about your prior experience, please get in contact with Derick Kemper.
A link to our contact page is here.
Group class, up to 6 people - Cost $700 per person, materials included. No hidden fees.
2 Day Class - Dates August 23rd-24th, 2025
We are very excited to welcome Jarrett as a guest teacher in August of 2025!
We hope you will join us for this unique class.
Jerretts Bio:
My name is Jarrett Cieslak, I am the owner of Fire Beard Forge, a local Harford County Maryland Bladesmith/Blacksmith. I've been forging for about 10 years. I started out making bottle openers and metal novelties but quickly moved towards making knives and anything sharp.
Knives became my main focus as I moved from hobbyist to official business in 2019 and become an American Bladesmith society journeyman smith in 2022.
Jarrett is @firebeardforge on Instagram.
For more info and to purchase this class click on the listing below -
Blacksmithing Project Class - Taught by Derick Kemper or Ellen Durkan (specified in each listing)
No prior Blacksmithing experience necessary. Open to all skill levels.
Group class, up to 6 people - Cost $175 per person, materials included. No hidden fees.
These shorter classes are created to give someone an experience in blacksmithing.
Each class has a different project that is designed to be completed in a 4-5hour timeframe.
Come and spend a morning/afternoon making a piece of art for yourself, or as a gift for a loved one!
For more info and to purchase a class from the available dates click one of the listings below -
We are currently gathering even more projects and dates to be offered very soon for 2025!
Interested in booking for a private group, Birthday or Bachelor/Bachelorette party, please use the form below.
Interested in a class that we don’t have any dates showing on this page, or just have questions, please use the form below.
Full payment due prior to class via online payment or check.
A Gift Certificate for A Blacksmithing Class Taught at Damselfly Forge Inc.
Thank you for your consideration of giving the invaluable gift of a new skill!
A fantastic gift to give to a loved one for any occasion, as they may choose which type of class, and from the available dates that will suit them best.
Please take a moment to read over the description of the classes currently offered, we have set specific denominations for gift certificates so it may cover the full purchase price of a class that the recipient wishes to take.
Please choose the denomination you are purchasing wisely.
There are NO hidden fees or additional material costs with our classes.
In purchasing a Gift Certificate, you can be assured that it will cover the total cost of a class in that denomination.
Once a gift certificate is purchased the recipient may schedule a class from the list of classes offered.
Please Note: This item is Non-Refundable for any cash amount.
Terms and conditions -
- Certificate valid for one year from purchase date.
- Valid only for booking blacksmithing classes.
- Not valid on any other product sold by Damselfly Forge Inc.
- Non-refundable for any cash amount.
- Damselfly Forge Inc. reserves the right to change the class lineup at any time.
Our Refund/Re-schedule Policy pertaining to booking a class is available to read in the description of each class.
Each gift certificate has to be purchased on a separate transaction, due to delivery of the certificate.
The website will not allow you to purchase multiple certificates at one time.
Thank you!
Instructor - Derick Kemper, or guest teachers as the class description will provide.
Location - Damselfly Forge Inc. Located in Whiteford, MD. The location is just over the line into MD.
Address - 2737 Whiteford Rd. Whiteford, MD 21160
Age restrictions for classes -
For safety reasons we cannot accept students under 13 years of age.
If a student is under 18 years of age, we encourage the guardian to take the class alongside them.
If a student is under 18 years of age a guardian must be present for the entirety of the class.
We are conveniently located within an hour drive of York, Pennsylvania - Baltimore, Maryland - Wilmington, Delaware. Within a 2-hour drive of Washinton D.C. - Philidelphia, Pennsylvania - Federick, Maryland.
Photos and video by Valune Media - Valune Media | Photographer in York Pa | York, PA, USA