LARGO - Bend steel with your bare hands! Ken Straight, Heritage Village's volunteer blacksmith, will lead a series of classes on the basic skills of blacksmithing. Classes will be held 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturdays, Jan. 21 and Feb. 4, 11 and 18. Heritage Village is located at 11909 125th St. N., Largo.
Students will learn beginning blacksmithing techniques, actively participating in the "tricks" of the trade. Topics included will be blacksmithing safety, lighting and maintaining an efficient coal fire, working the bellows, heating and shaping the metal and designing an ornamental piece. Participants will be amazed at what heat, iron and a few simple tools can produce!
The program series fee is $100 for members of the Pinellas County Historical Society and $120 for non-members. Prepaid registration is required. Classes are open to adults only.
For further information, call (727) 542-2426 or e-mail heritagevillage@pinellascounty.org.
Instructor Ken Straight has been blacksmithing since 1993 and has completed coursework in bladesmithing offered by the American Bladesmithing Society and Texarkana College. He regularly gives demonstrations at many of Heritage Village's special events and festivals and has a working knowledge of the history of this traditional craft.