Surface Grinder Workshop

Description

This class will be held on September 19th, 2019 from 5:30-9 PM.

This course will start by reviewing what a surface grinder is, and how to safely operate and use one. We will then cover how to operate and use PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) when grinding metal. Materials will be provided for practice grinding. If you have any Damascus billets or knife blanks that need to be ground, feel free to bring them with you!  (Everyone gets a turn on the machine, so please limit the number of items you bring to be ground.)

All materials will be provided.

This class is non-refundable.

About the Instructor

Steve Hawkins

Like most of you, Steve started watching Forged in Fire, thinking, “boy that looks like fun!”.

Steve started in automotive racing, building high performance racing engines with his father and brother. They designed, fabricated, and built most of the components used in their engines. He then moved into parts manufacturing, making medical and lithography components along with plastic forming and fabrication. When he moved to Arizona in 2008, he shifted to the Aerospace industry as a sheet metal mechanic. He progressed up the ranks to shop supervisor leading the team that machined the Apache and Chinook helicopter transmissions and components. In 2015, he took the role of Shop Foreman leading 100+ team members in a dynamic and exciting manufacturing environment.

With a little prodding from his wife, Steve took a knife making class at Grizzly Iron back in August of 2018. Since that fateful day, there’s been no looking back. He particularly fell in love with the process of making Damascus steel and working with other materials to craft Mokume Gane. Steve continues to learn from others on his journey down the forging road and now looks forward to the opportunity to pass on some of his knowledge he has gained during his 28 years in the manufacturing world.