kitchen KNIFE
DAY Experience
Under the guidance and instruction of Toby, you’ll take a piece of cold flat steel and forge it into something your family and friends will talk about for generations. You’ll make a beautiful heirloom kitchen knife with your own 2 hands in just one day. This day is specially designed so that any complete novice can arrive and find themselves next to an experienced fabricator or metal worker and both will leave at the end with something amazing. Toby will do as much or as little as required for each student to walk away not only proud, but the owner of a beautiful hand made knife.
Day Course
While the days primary function is to make your very own knife, you will also learn a great deal about the ancient process of knife making. For 1000’s of years the creation of knives were believed to be shrouded in myth and magic. In some circles, novices still believe many of them to be true; like ‘a blade must be quenched while facing due north to become hard and stay straight’, and ‘the quench is where a knife gains a soul.’
As you go through the process you learn why our forge needs to burn at near 1000c, what actually happens to the steel when it’s quenched, and why that makes it hard, and why it must be tempered back to stop the blade snapping in half.
And the best bit is, even if you forget all that you learnt, the prettiest and best performing knife in your kitchen will have been made by you, and will be used for years to come!
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You’ll take a blank of steel that has been prepped ready for you and pop it into our 1000c forge. When it’s nice and hot, you’ll hit the steel with a hammer (forging), establishing the bevels and shape into the steel, which is the start of the classic knife shape.
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Once the steel has cooled down, you will do some preliminary grinding to start refining your cutting edge profile and bevels. Then it’s back in the fire and then a dunk into a special quenching oil to harden the steel. This is followed by a bit more heat for a flame temper.
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Then it’s back to the grinder to finish the bevel shape off, to allow your blade to fly through vegetables and proteins like a laser. Then it’s time to pick the handle you want and fit to the tang of your knife.
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Last of all, but definitely not least, you will buff up your beautiful creation to make it super sexy. Your instructor will then give it a final sharpen to make it a destroyer of all carrots! Then it’s time for the photo shoot and to let the world know via social media how awesome you really are.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
Take a look at what the course will consist of with our handy overview:
Best day of your life, making an astonishing hand made Kitchen knife that you’ll love for years to come.
TAKING A FRIEND?
Want to watch a class but not take part? Buy our spectator pass to watch a friend or family member take one of our courses from within the workshop.
Please be aware there are no designated seating areas as we move around the different workspace during the day. We will make sure you’re in a safe space and do supply you a seat and of course tea and coffee.
We generally only allow a maximum of 2 spectators per class so in the very unlikely event you’re are the 3rd you’ll be contacted by email or phone you (if you provided a phone number) to explain and a refund will be issued.
