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Classes  >>  Blacksmithing


The art of blacksmithing has been practiced for thousands of years to manipulate metal into objects from horseshoes to swords to furniture. Blacksmiths heat iron in a forge and use tools such as a hammer and anvil to shape it to a desired form. 


Click on the course name to see all class meeting dates, times, and course fee.

If you're looking for a Reheater option, select the class you'd like to Reheat and choose the appropriate fee when registering.

Please read these FAQs for details about what to bring/wear, refund policy, age requirements and more. We've also compiled a sensory rubric with more information about what to expect in a particular type of class. 

Joining a waitlist? Before you add yourself to a waitlist for a class that's full, it helps us if you're pretty certain you'll be available. If a spot becomes available, you'll be automatically registered and given about 24 hours to confirm your registration by paying. If we have a long list of folks who are no longer interested, it can be time-consuming to fill that spot. Thank you!

Upcoming classes

  • Blacksmithing Basics 1 (SUN MORN)

    • Sun, July 13, 2025
    • Sun, September 07, 2025
    • 8 sessions
    • 3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
    • 1
    Register

    If you had a hammer, would you use it to drive a nail? Or would you rather use it to forge a nail from red hot iron? This course is designed to ignite your passion for blacksmithing and introduce you to the seemingly endless ways of expressing yourself by shaping iron with fire and hammer. You'll gain basic knowledge of iron and its characteristics, an understanding of the dynamics of forging, and the ability to safely shape iron with heat and a hammer.

    By the end of class, you'll have covered the basic forging processes, including drawing and tapering, splitting, cutting, drifting, punching, twisting, upsetting. You'll develop those skills through projects such as: hooks, utensils, bottle openers, trivets, and forging tools.

    $365 ($310 tuition + $55 materials)  |  8 weeks
    Open to ages 16 and up.

    Instructor: Lee Meilleur

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  • Blacksmithing Project Shop: Forged Flowers & Leaves

    • Wed, August 06, 2025
    • Wed, September 03, 2025
    • 5 sessions
    • 3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
    • 2
    Register

    Transform inorganic material into organic shapes in this hands-on workshop. You’ll learn how to manipulate metal into delicate, lifelike forms inspired by nature. Discover the intricate balance between strength and finesse as you hammer, bend, and texture steel to mimic the flowing lines of flower petals and leaves. By the end of the session, you’ll not only create a beautiful, hand-forged piece but also gain a deeper appreciation for the artistry and precision involved in blacksmithing while practicing essential forging techniques.


    $235 ($195 tuition + $40 materials)
    Open to ages 18 and up.

    Instructor: Sergey Vaynshenk


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  • Blacksmithing Project Shop: Hori Hori Garden Tool

    • Sun, September 07, 2025
    • Sun, September 14, 2025
    • 2 sessions
    • 3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
    • 0
    Join waitlist

    Hammer your way to a unique gardening tool to use for many summers to come! In this workshop, you'll make a unique, hand-forged hori hori garden knife.  This traditional Japanese hand tool (meaning dig-dig) can be used for all your digging, planting and weeding needs. You'll gain a solid understanding of blacksmithing basics by learning key forging techniques such as drawing out and tapering as you create the blade of your hori hori. This class is designed for enthusiasts of beginner to intermediate skill levels who are eager to learn the traditional techniques of metalworking.

    $150 ($115 tuition + $35 materials)
    Open to ages 18 and up.

    Instructor: Sergey Vaynshenk


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  • Coal Forge Blacksmithing Project Shop: Hooks

    • Sat, September 13, 2025
    • 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
    • 365 Marie Ave W, West St Paul, MN 55118
    • 8

    Join us for a one-day intro to the basics of blacksmithing at Dodge Nature Center's open-air smithy at Shepard Farm! 

    Register here through Dodge Nature Center.

    Questions? Get in touch with us at info@cafac.org.

    This workshop will get you hooked on blacksmithing! We'll focus on a fun and useful project: hooks. They’re quick to make and can incorporate all basic blacksmithing processes in one compact project. You'll learn about traditional methods and equipment, including coal forge, hammer, tongs, and anvil, which have been used to shape metal for ages. You'll be able to experiment with different sizes and shapes and leave with a few decorative hooks to hang your hat (or parka or bathrobe or...) that you made yourself! No experience necessary.

    $95 (includes all supplies and materials)
    Open to ages 16 and up.

    Instructor: Jim Ricci is a jack-of-all-trades with decades of experience in woodworking and construction, who discovered his passion for metalworking right here at CAFAC. Once a student under David Mariette, Jim has been independently metalworking ever since. Some of his work can be seen in the gardens of the Circus Juventas Big Top. Jim attributes his love for craftsmanship in part to his grandfather, whose favorite saying was: “you can learn something new every day of your life.”





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  • Coal Forge Blacksmithing Basics 1

    • Tue, September 16, 2025
    • Thu, October 09, 2025
    • 8 sessions
    • 365 Marie Ave W, West St Paul, MN 55118
    • 8

    Join us for a 8-session dive into the basics of blacksmithing at Dodge Nature Center's open-air smithy at Shepard Farm!

    Register here through Dodge Nature Center. 

    Questions? Get in touch with us at info@cafac.org.

    Please note: classes at Dodge are not eligible for CAFAC scholarship awards.

    This course is designed to ignite your passion for blacksmithing and introduce you to the seemingly endless ways of expressing yourself by shaping iron with fire and hammer. You'll gain basic knowledge of iron and its characteristics, an understanding of the dynamics of a coal forge, and the ability to safely shape iron with heat and a hammer.

    By the end of class, you'll have covered the basic forging processes, including drawing and tapering, drifting, punching, twisting, and setting shoulders. You'll develop those skills through projects such as: quick tongs, scribe/center punch, round punch/drift, basic heat treating, hooks, multi hook rack, trivet… and you'll know what a clinker is!

    $400 (includes all materials and supplies)  |  8 sessions 
    Open to ages 16 and up.

    Instructor: Dan Osadchuk

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  • Blacksmithing Basics 1 (WED EVE)

    • Wed, October 01, 2025
    • Wed, November 26, 2025
    • 8 sessions
    • 3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
    • 6
    Register

    If you had a hammer, would you use it to drive a nail? Or would you rather use it to forge a nail from red hot iron? This course is designed to ignite your passion for blacksmithing and introduce you to the seemingly endless ways of expressing yourself by shaping iron with fire and hammer. You'll gain basic knowledge of iron and its characteristics, an understanding of the dynamics of forging, and the ability to safely shape iron with heat and a hammer.

    By the end of class, you'll have covered the basic forging processes, including drawing and tapering, splitting, cutting, drifting, punching, twisting, upsetting. You'll develop those skills through projects such as: hooks, utensils, bottle openers, trivets, and forging tools.

    $365 ($310 tuition + $55 materials)  |  8 weeks
    Open to ages 16 and up.

    Instructor: Lee Meilleur

    Show details

  • Yakutian Knife Workshop

    • Fri, October 03, 2025
    • Sun, October 05, 2025
    • 3 sessions
    • 3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
    • 5
    Register

    Almost since the beginning of humankind the knife has been one of the most widely used tools. First versions were fashioned from stone, until humans discovered how to smelt ore and forge the resulting metal into workable billets, which could then be shaped with fire into the first knives. Over time, tribal cultures across the world adapted the knife into styles that reflected their traditions and that met their specific needs. Knife styles were also informed by the raw materials most abundant and easily obtained in their environment.

    This weekend workshop focuses on the Yakutian Knife from the Sakha Republic (or Yakutia) region of Siberia. You'll forge a minimum of three blades of various lengths, then heat treat and sharpen them. We'll also install handles so that you'll leave with a complete set of knives. You may find these smaller, handy knives become your “go to” for a variety of tasks.

    Prerequisite: Forging experience is required for this class. We recommend that you've completed at least Blacksmithing Basics 1, or have similar experience in the smithy.

    $460 ($420 tuition + $40 materials)  
    Open to ages 18 and up, or 17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

    Instructor: Dan Osadchuk & Jim Ricci

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  • Blacksmithing Basics 1 (TUE EVE)

    • Tue, October 07, 2025
    • Tue, December 02, 2025
    • 8 sessions
    • 3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
    • 2
    Register

    If you had a hammer, would you use it to drive a nail? Or would you rather use it to forge a nail from red hot iron? This course is designed to ignite your passion for blacksmithing and introduce you to the seemingly endless ways of expressing yourself by shaping iron with fire and hammer. You'll gain basic knowledge of iron and its characteristics, an understanding of the dynamics of forging, and the ability to safely shape iron with heat and a hammer.

    By the end of class, you'll have covered the basic forging processes, including drawing and tapering, splitting, cutting, drifting, punching, twisting, upsetting. You'll develop those skills through projects such as: hooks, utensils, bottle openers, trivets, and forging tools.

    $365 ($310 tuition + $55 materials)  |  8 weeks
    Open to ages 16 and up.

    Instructor: Becca Cerra

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  • Blacksmithing Project Shop: Penannular Brooch

    • Sat, October 11, 2025
    • 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
    • 3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
    • 3
    Register

    Want to pin your kilt or cloak, or add a clever brooch to your scarf? Have an appreciation for Celtic fashion? In this introductory blacksmithing workshop, you'll make a penannular brooch of your very own! Penannular refers to an incomplete ring, which when combined with a pin serves as a clothing fastener. You'll be introduced to and practice basics blacksmithing techniques while you twist and taper your penannular and sharpen its accompanying pin. No experience necessary. 

    $85 ($70 tuition + $15 materials)
    Open to ages 16 and up.

    Instructor: Gaea Dill-D'Ascoli



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  • Blacksmithing Basics 2

    • Sun, October 12, 2025
    • Sun, November 30, 2025
    • 8 sessions
    • 3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
    • 3
    Register

    For blacksmiths with experience, this class is aimed at continuing to develop your knowledge and skills. The approach will be less structured than Blacksmithing Basics 1 and more focused on your individual projects and exploration. You'll be able to take on new forging challenges including slitting, punching, and drifting as a lead in to forged joinery, along with variations on twists that require slitting and multiple passes. You'll practice drawing and tapering multiple splits in wider bar by making leaves. You'll leave this class able to design projects that combine multiple elements either in a single piece or multiple parts. Coming with a few design ideas will help you focus on skill development.

    Prerequisite: Blacksmithing Basics 1 (with gas forge) or equivalent experience/permission from instructor. 

    $365 ($310 tuition + $55 materials)  |  8 weeks

    Open to ages 16 and up. 

    Instructor: Brad Buxton


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  • Forged Wearables: Jewelry-Scale Blacksmithing

    • Wed, October 15, 2025
    • Wed, November 19, 2025
    • 6 sessions
    • 3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
    • 6
    Register


    Blacksmithing is not all swords and armor! It can also include making small forged objects that you can wear. In this class, we'll explore designing unique jewelry pieces, from bracelets and earrings to whatever you can imagine. You can expect to create at least three steel and/or copper jewelry projects. These projects will vary in size (from small to extremely small), allowing you to practice and gain skills in forging fine and detailed objects with a hammer and anvil. We'll practice delicate tapering, twisting, punching holes, chisel work, and finishes. Along with these traditional blacksmithing techniques, this class has a strong focus on learning problem solving, creative thinking, challenging perfectionism, and developing healthy posture and form while swinging your hammer.

    *Some* blacksmithing experience is recommended, but we can accommodate beginners.

    $270 ($235 tuition + $35 materials)  |  5 sessions
    Open to ages 16 and up.

    Instructor: Pete Gierzynski 


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  • Blacksmithing Project Shop: Charcuterie Set

    • Sat, October 18, 2025
    • Sat, November 01, 2025
    • 3 sessions
    • 3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
    • 6
    Register

    Combine your love of food and craft! Dive into the world of blacksmithing with our hands-on workshop in which you’ll create a stunning hand-forged cheese knife and fork set. This class is designed for enthusiasts of beginner to intermediate skill levels who are eager to learn the traditional techniques of metalworking and craft their own eating tools.

    In this class you will gain a solid understanding of blacksmithing basics by learning key forging techniques such as drawing out, tapering, twisting, and scrolling. You will start by forging a handle and blade to shape. Then, you will move on to making a unique twisted fork to complete your bespoke charcuterie set. On the last day of class, students are invited to bring their favorite meats and cheeses to share in a charcuterie potluck meal.

    $150 ($115 tuition + $35 materials)
    Open to ages 18 and up.

    Instructor: Sergey Vaynshenk


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  • Blacksmithing Project Shop: Pizza Rocker

    • Sat, October 18, 2025
    • Sat, October 25, 2025
    • 2 sessions
    • 3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
    • 8
    Register

    Combine your love of food with forging in this introductory blacksmithing workshop! You'll learn and practice basic blacksmithing processes while making a pizzeria-style curved pizza rocker with two handles, ideal for your pizza slicing needs. We'll start by covering safety in the smithy and then move on to manipulating metal with heat and hammer. Your pizza rocker will include twists, bends, and an edge bevel.

    Open to beginners, but this is a project that requires a significant amount of heavy hammering, so you'll be more successful if you have some blacksmithing experience.

    At the end of class, we'll order a couple pizzas from Jakeeno's and you can try out your new rocker! (Note: pizza time may run beyond class time, so plan on staying a bit later on the final day.)

    $140 ($105 tuition + $35 materials & pizza!)
    Open to ages 16 and up.

    Instructor: Sergey Vaynshenk



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  • Blacksmithing Basics 1 (TUE AFTN)

    • Tue, October 21, 2025
    • Tue, December 09, 2025
    • 8 sessions
    • 3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
    • 6
    Register

    If you had a hammer, would you use it to drive a nail? Or would you rather use it to forge a nail from red hot iron? This course is designed to ignite your passion for blacksmithing and introduce you to the seemingly endless ways of expressing yourself by shaping iron with fire and hammer. You'll gain basic knowledge of iron and its characteristics, an understanding of the dynamics of forging, and the ability to safely shape iron with heat and a hammer.

    By the end of class, you'll have covered the basic forging processes, including drawing and tapering, splitting, cutting, drifting, punching, twisting, upsetting. You'll develop those skills through projects such as: hooks, utensils, bottle openers, trivets, and forging tools.

    $365 ($310 tuition + $55 materials)  |  8 weeks
    Open to ages 18 and up, or 17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

    Instructor: Dan Osadchuk

    Show details

  • Yakutian Knife Workshop with Coal Forge

    • Fri, October 24, 2025
    • Sun, October 26, 2025
    • 3 sessions
    • 365 Marie Ave W, West St Paul, MN 55118

    Join us for weekend knife-making workshop at Dodge Nature Center's open-air smithy at Shepard Farm!

    Register here through Dodge Nature Center. 

    Questions? Get in touch with us at info@cafac.org.

    Please note: classes at Dodge are not eligible for CAFAC scholarship awards.

    Almost since the beginning of humankind the knife has been one of the most widely used tools. First versions were fashioned from stone, until humans discovered how to smelt ore and forge the resulting metal into workable billets, which could then be shaped with fire into the first knives. Over time, tribal cultures across the world adapted the knife into styles that reflected their traditions and that met their specific needs. Knife styles were also informed by the raw materials most abundant and easily obtained in their environment.

    This weekend workshop focuses on the Yakutian Knife from the Sakha Republic (or Yakutia) region of Siberia. Using a traditional coal forge, you'll make a minimum of three blades of various lengths, then heat treat and sharpen them. We'll also install handles so that you'll leave with a complete set of knives. You may find these smaller, handy knives become your “go to” for a variety of tasks.

    Prerequisite: Forging experience is required for this class. You'll be ahead of the curve if you've worked with a coal forge, but gas-powered forging experience will help too. We recommend that you've completed at least Blacksmithing Basics 1, or have similar experience in the smithy.

    $500  
    Open to ages 18 and up, or 17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

    Instructor: Dan Osadchuk & Jim Ricci

    Show details

  • Blacksmithing Project Shop: Forged Flowers & Leaves

    • Thu, November 13, 2025
    • Thu, December 18, 2025
    • 5 sessions
    • 3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
    • 8
    Register

    Transform inorganic material into organic shapes in this hands-on workshop. You’ll learn how to manipulate metal into delicate, lifelike forms inspired by nature. Discover the intricate balance between strength and finesse as you hammer, bend, and texture steel to mimic the flowing lines of flower petals and leaves. By the end of the session, you’ll not only create a beautiful, hand-forged piece but also gain a deeper appreciation for the artistry and precision involved in blacksmithing while practicing essential forging techniques.


    $235 ($195 tuition + $40 materials)
    Open to ages 18 and up.

    Instructor: Sergey Vaynshenk


    Show details

  • Blacksmithing Project Shop: Bottle Openers for Beginners

    • Sat, November 22, 2025
    • 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM
    • 3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
    • 5
    Register

    Build your blacksmith skills with a fun and useful project: making a bottle opener. They’re quick to make and can incorporate all basic blacksmithing processes in one compact project. We'll end class with a celebratory bottle-opening to try out your new tool - that means a beer or soda is included! No experience necessary.

    $90 ($65 tuition + $25 materials)
    Open to ages 16 and up.

    Instructor: John Hehre



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  • Build Your Own Forge (TBD)

    • Wed, December 31, 2025
    • 3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
    • 0
    Join waitlist

    This class is generally offered twice per year. Click on 'Join Waitlist' to be notified when we schedule it again. When the class is opened for registration, everyone on the list is notified at the same time.

    Build a propane blacksmithing forge of your own to take home! In this introductory course, we will begin by learning the metal fabrication and welding techniques needed to build your own propane forge. This process will provide you with an intimate understanding of the equipment and how to safely operate and maintain it, inspiring the confidence to use it on your own. All supplies and materials needed to build your own forge are included.

    Please bring or wear the following personal protective equipment to class: safety glasses, head covering, long sleeves and long pants. Loose-fitting welding gloves are optional. Open to ages 18 and up.  |  Fee: $595 ($265 tuition + $330 materials)  |  8 weeks

    Instructor: Jim Ricci is a jack-of-all-trades with decades of experience in woodworking and construction, who discovered his passion for metalworking right here at CAFAC. Once a student under David Mariette, Jim has been independently metalworking ever since. Some of his work can be seen in the gardens of the Circus Juventas Big Top. Jim attributes his love for craftsmanship in part to his grandfather, whose favorite saying was: “you can learn something new every day of your life.”

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CHICAGO AVENUE FIRE ARTS CENTER   3749 Chicago Avenue  |  Minneapolis, MN 55407  |  612-294-0400  |  info@cafac.org 

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