Damascus RING Making
For Two

On arrival, you will sign in, meet your smith and discuss the course step by step, including the design and fit you want to achieve. After being given protective equipment and a safety briefing, you will learn how to control the forge and bring the steel to forging temperature. You will then heat and clean the billet, apply borax and use heat and pressure from the power hammer to weld the layers into one piece. You may manipulate the pattern by twisting the steel before moving on to ring making. Each ring is punched, drifted to the correct size, ground, cleaned and polished using belt grinders and Dremel tools. Once both rings are finished, there is time for photographs with your creations before you take them home. You will also receive aftercare guidance to help protect the steel from rusting.

Make a day of your visit and enjoy everything Oldfield Forge has to offer. Our brand-new café is the perfect place to relax before, during or after your experience, serving freshly prepared refreshments, delicious locally sourced Herefordshire food, homemade cakes and traditional afternoon teas.

Friends and family are always welcome, whether they’d like to watch the action from nearby, unwind in the café or enjoy the peaceful surroundings of our woodland seating area. With children’s games, a dedicated play area and plenty of space to relax, it’s the perfect place for visitors of all ages.

Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, meeting up with family or simply enjoying a great day out in the Herefordshire countryside, our café offers the perfect place to eat, relax and make even more memories together.

Wear long trousers and suitable sturdy, closed-toe footwear for both days. Choose practical clothing that is comfortable for a working forge, avoid loose items, and remember that the workshop can be chilly during colder months despite the forge fires. Oldfield Forge provides the specialist tools and protective equipment needed for the course. After booking, you will receive an email containing the details for your visit and an important form to complete. Arrive in good time for sign-in, design discussions, fitting of protective equipment and the safety briefing. Follow the advance guidance and your instructor’s directions throughout the course.

The £495.00 booking price covers two people making two Damascus rings over two full-day sessions. Each day lasts approximately 6hours, although timings may vary depending on your chosen designs and the pace of your progress.

The experience includes expert tuition, all 1095 and 15N20 steel required to make your rings, use of the forge, power hammer, grinders, and other professional workshop equipment, as well as all necessary protective equipment. At the end of the second day, you will take home your two completed Damascus rings.

Please note that this experience is not recommended for anyone with a nickel allergy, as the 15N20 steel used in the Damascus contains nickel.

Damascus steel rings are renowned for their unique beauty but do require regular maintenance to keep them looking their best. If preferred, you can choose to have the inside of your rings plated, helping to reduce ongoing maintenance.

E-vouchers are available, remain valid for 18 months, and entitle the recipient(s) to the same two-day course for two people.

This course is suitable for couples or any two people who want to create something meaningful together, and groups of friends can also book by adjusting the number of participants. The work is physically demanding and involves standing, using workshop equipment and working around hot metal, so participants should be comfortable with an active two-day forge experience. The experience page does not state a minimum age; anyone unsure about age, medical conditions, mobility or accessibility should contact the Oldfield Forge booking team before booking. Most importantly, these rings are not suitable for anyone with a nickel allergy because the 15N20 steel contains a high level of nickel. Oldfield Forge cannot accept responsibility for allergic reactions.