The 8th Annual Combo-Demo: Blacksmithing Demonstration & Metal Arts Exhibition

All-Day Demonstrations

  • Kelly Kring and John Haskins, Brookhaven College, Dallas, 18th century meat roaster and bowl ring                                                                                                                         Wayne Phifer, Maurice Louisiana. See Irontonforge.com. Dragon Head Tongs and braided flat bar       
  • Mark Ling and Thomas Shumate College Station, TX  Hand forgings and Striking for Hot Cut Hardy and cupping tool.                                                                                                       
  • Richard DelaHoussaye- Iron Smelt- Louisiana Metalsmiths Asso. Carencro, La.
  • FINAL DEMONSTRATOR LINEUP 
  • 2018 COMBO-DEMO February 17, 2018
  • Steephollow Forgeworks  Bryan, Tx

  • The Combo-Demo will feature 3 smiths in the morning and 3 after lunch.

  •     The morning session will showcase Wayne Phifer from Maurice, Louisiana. Learn more about Wayne at irontonforge.com or Ironton Forge on Facebook. Wayne started his career as a farrier who supplemented his income forging decor for restaurants. One thing led to another and he now specializes in High End Residential Lighting and Fireplce accessaries. Wayne will forge his signature dragon head tongs and the flat bar braid. He'll do a little work with the Nazel 3B power hammer.
  •      Sharing the stage will be Mark Ling from College Station, Teaxs. Mark is a 15 year old high school student whose hand hammer skills exceed his age by several years. Mark will hand forge several small natural elements demonstrating many forging processes and techniques. Then Mark will be assisted by Thomas Shumate, of College Station, who will strike for him as they make a hot cut hardy and a cupping tool. These two are fun to watch.
  •       After lunch, well known Kelly Kring from Brookhaven College in Dallas with two of his teaching assistants, John Haskins and Sarah Ross, will forge a meat skewer on a 3 leg stand with a bowl ring below. This will involve a lot of traditional joinery. The 3 of them will work on diffrent parts to complete the project by the end of the day. Kelly Kring hosts a number sites on Facebook including;
  •              Hot off the Anvil
  •              Blacksmith's Tongs
  •              Inspirational Blacksmithing
  •              Hardies. stakes, Top & Bottom Tools

  •     Not to mention the Iron Smelt outside next to a tent that will have volunteer blacksmiths doing short demos for those that can not squeeze inside.

  •      Several Forged in Fire Winners and contestants will at this year's event. They may do a brief demo and a panel discussion for those interested in sharp pointy things. Come meet these Texas Knife makers who  have participated in one of the most watched shows on TV.

  •         9:00 am Announcements will be begin
  •         9:30-11:30am   Demos begin
  •         11:30am Live auction
  •          !2-1:30pm lunch
  •          1;30-4:00pm  Demos begin
  •          4:00pm  Bloom comes out of smelt

  •    Spread the word. The 2018 Combo-Demo is going to be a good one.

Artist Gallery

    Metals artists are welcome to participate by bringing their artwork for exhibition!  Some of our exhibitors include:
K Alexander​
Suraiya Howerter

Competition Item

    This year’s competition item is a "Champagne Cork ". Champagne corks have a distinctive shape. The cork can be any size.  Start now and create your masterpiece! Enter it before noon February 17th at Steephollow Forgeworks. This friendly competition is always incredible for its varied entries. The winner will be crowned “The Best of the Best (for one year)."
​Past Competition Items
When: Saturday, February 17, 2018 at 8 AM - 5 PM
​Where: Steephollow Forgeworks
      The Event is FREE to all attendees but book your classes before they fill up!
The 8th annual Combo-Demo will be February 17, 2018 at Steephollow Forgeworks in Bryan, Texas. This celebration of Blacksmithing…….a combined meeting of all the clubs in Texas and Louisiana, will feature “up and comers” and old reliable smiths.  This one-day event free-of-charge will also include an iron smelt, tailgating, vendors, live music, food, art displays, live and silent auctions. Come early or stay late. Artists are welcome to display, sell, or promote their work. The public is invited to come see what Blacksmithing is all about. Blacksmithing is not dead it’s ALIVE at Steephollow Forgeworks February 17, 2018
     An iron smelt led by Richard DelaHoussaye from Louisiana will begin on Friday with the construction of the furnace. The smelt will be scheduled to be finished by 4pm Saturday. If you would like to be involved, just let us know.
     Vendors like James Johnson with Anyang Hammers will have one of his hammers available for a test drive (he is also a Chili Forge dealer) and Richard Epting- knife maker. Eptingknives.com.  Also, www.texasfarriersupply.com
There will be a large amount of used blacksmithing equipment available by dealers from Austin and Kansas. There will be dozens anvils and vices, hundreds of tongs and hardy tools, and several mechanical hammers. Forges and blowers, swage blocks and hammers. 

February Blacksmithing Classes

Day-long classes with Lyle Wynn and Stan Bryant
                                          Mississippi Forge council
Monday  2/12/18 -- Friday 2/16/18 will be hammer making classes. Make a 2-3 pound rounding forging hammer. Participants will work in pairs, striking with sledge hammers for each other to forge a hammer. Lyle Wynn and Stan Bryant are full time teachers from "The Tools to Make the Tools Blacksmithing School" in Mendenhall, Mississippi. They come to Steephollow Forgeworks once a year to offer these classes. Don't miss this oppurtunity to learn from 2 of the best instructors in the United States.

​All classes are $175 plus tax/student.  The hammer classes are going fast. Reserve your spot here or call us at 979-776-2864.

Live Music @ Noon

This year we're going Country & Western with live music by Brice Woolard of the Brice Woolard Band!  Brice is a farrier and musician based in the Brazos Valley (Texas).  Check out their website and come see them Feb. 18th.
Special Thanks to Joey McGee for his music at last year's event.  Check out his latest music and events on his website or facebook page.

Blacksmith Classes Taught by Jeff Lee
Interested in learning how to forge!?
                       Follow this link
                               to book a                                           class------>
   Visit the online store to sign up and pay for classes.  Find your class, enter your info and we will see you soon!

 Call us at 979-776-2864 or email us at classes@steepforge.com for all other inquiries

     There are very few places in Texas to learn the art of blacksmithing.  We look forward to hosting you in our shop to pass on the knowledge we have gained through our study and practice.  
    
Classes Coming Up!
         March 2018          April 2018      May 2018                                                                                                                      
    Beginner Class Descriptions

     Cost $150 plus tax
     8am-5pm
Basics:
     Holding Hammer
     Standing at anvil  
     Swinging hammer 
Techs:    
     Long and short tapers
     Two-sided taper
     Slitting
     Drifting
     Chisel work
    
These techniques will be used to make leaf shapes and a horsehead bottle opener.  Materials provided and we will take a one hour break for lunch.
Class Requirements
  • Closed-toe boots or shoe, boots especially steel-toe are preferred
  • Full length pants or durable cotton or denim material
  • Polyester & Synthetic clothing materials are easily damaged and flammable.  Wear fiberous and cotton materials to class
  • Safety glasses (provided)
  • Gloves optional
  • Be ready to work Hard, Get Dirty and Have Fun!