FOOTSCRAY WORKSHOP FIELD GUIDE
Forge A Fire Poker: A Hands‑On Blacksmithing Workshop in Footscray
A 3.5‑hour, no‑experience‑required session at Waterside Metal Art Studio where tutors guide you through forging, finishing and taking home your own fire poker.
Forge A Fire Poker: A Hands‑On Blacksmithing Workshop in Footscray.
In a compact Footscray studio, aspiring smiths learn basic blacksmithing techniques at a traditional coke‑fired forge. Under the direction of experienced tutors, each participant moves from a short safety induction to a dedicated forging station to shape, finish and leave with a personally forged fire poker—an intensive introduction designed to teach core hammer‑and‑anvil skills and spark further interest in the craft.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Hands‑on forging at a coke‑fired forge
You’ll work at your own station using a traditional coke‑fired forge, learning hammer and anvil technique under the guidance of skilled tutors—practical, focused instruction that emphasizes safe, fundamental blacksmithing skills.
A finished fire poker to take home
At the end of the session each poker is hot‑brushed and waxed so it’s ready to go home the same day—an immediate, tangible result of the workshop.
A starting point for further study
The class is framed as an entry‑level experience—no prior experience required—and aims to equip students with core techniques and a motivation to pursue more advanced courses.
What the day feels like
What the workshop feels like
The session unfolds with a brief safety induction before participants are assigned their own forging station. From there, tutors demonstrate and coach while you heat steel, shape it with a hammer and finish the piece at the anvil; final steps include hot‑brushing and waxing so the poker is complete and portable by the end of the 3.5‑hour class.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this workshop suits—and when to think twice.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The workshop runs for 3.5 hours.
All necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided by the studio.
The meeting location is Waterside Metal Art Studio in Footscray.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Forge A Fire Poker workshop?
The session runs for 3.5 hours.
Do I need prior blacksmithing experience?
No experience is required; the workshop is designed as an entry‑level introduction.
What is the minimum age to participate?
The minimum age is 12; students under 15 must be accompanied by an adult who is also enrolled in the course.
Will I be able to take my finished fire poker home?
Yes—once forged, the poker is hot‑brushed and waxed and ready to be taken home the same day.
Is protective equipment required or provided?
All necessary PPE is provided by the studio as part of the workshop.