Questions? Call or text: 717-989-6965
Chapel Hill Forge is a small family business in Lancaster County, PA. We are a
modern blacksmith, metal fabricator and sign carver.
Our website is a customized experienced for you. If you can't find what you're looking for, please email, text or call us. You can also reach us on social media. We are happy to entertain custom orders.
Thank you for supporting our little family!
Our story
Chapel Hill Forge started in 2016 as a result of a job loss. Zad was a State Constable, and after some restructuring within the County, it was time to move on. They took a leap of faith, Zad started the business at home, and Mandy stayed at her full time job.
After a year, Mandy decided she couldn’t homeschool, work full time, commute, help run a household and do the marketing/bookkeeping for the business all at once. She left her job in 2017, and the Leggetts were really living on a wing and a prayer at that point.
When they started, it was mostly metal and leather jewelry. Zad made some carved signs in their tiny Manheim Township yard, and he tinkered on the anvil. He had some experience from being a farrier previously, and him and Mandy had made knives from a horseshoe on their honeymoon in Pigeon Forge.
Moving to Conestoga opened up all new doors. They had a barn to work in, which allowed for expansion of their metal and wood products. They started doing live edge wood signs, Zad took some more blacksmith classes and they got a welder.
They describe themselves as a modern blacksmith and sign carver. They use a hybrid of blacksmithing and welding to create products that last. Jewelry is still made in their basement workshop, too.
In 2017, Bud, their then 7 year old decided he wanted to get involved. He first sold some old toys at a yard sale to get a bunny. Once he was out of that money, he wanted to make firestarters. He just exploded from there. He’s since made PVC games, learned to sew felt animal ornaments and started sewing on the sewing machine. He is saving his money for a truck when he’s 16. Because of his business, Bud has learned to track income and expenses, he pays income tax, tracks sales tax and is setting himself for a great future.
Zad, Mandy, Bud and Jamey work as a unit. They enjoy being home, building their homestead, homeschooling and they especially love the ability to dictate their life’s schedules and follow their dreams.