List of Blacksmithing Classes in Minnesota
Minnesota is a northern midwest state in America with a rich Scandinavian history and a diverse population that helps nurture the arts scene. The state was settled by immigrants from Norway, Sweden, Finland, and other northern European countries in the 19th century who relied on a local blacksmith for tools, horseshoes, and other necessities of the frontier.
The prevalence of Scandinavian heritage in Minnesota also means there is an interest in Viking history and culture. Blacksmithing, therefore, thrives in the state as hobbyists and professional blacksmiths explore the weapons and tools used by Vikings and seek to recreate them through forging.
The large Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are home to around a dozen museums of art, history, science, and culture and many smaller cities across the state of Minnesota also boast respected arts and culture institutions. The artsy vibe of the cities, coupled with a statewide interest in history and sciences, makes Minnesota a great place to learn an ancient craft like blacksmithing.
Below are some of the best blacksmithing and bladesmithing classes currently offered in Minnesota. With a range of locations, topics, and prices, you will be sure to find a class that is right for you.
- Powerful Dual Burners: Equipped with two high-efficiency burners for rapid heating, providing...
- Durable Construction: Made from heavy-duty steel and insulated with fire-resistant materials...
- Large Forging Space: Spacious work area accommodates larger projects, allowing blacksmiths to work...
1) Ken’s Custom Iron
- Type: Blacksmithing
- Classes: small group, full day, evenings, couples, parent/child
- Price: $150-$375
- Website: https://www.kensiron.com/
- Telephone: (320) 746-8161
- Location: 37634 County Road 9, Avon, MN 56310
Ken Zitur, the owner of Ken’s Custom Iron, began blacksmithing in 1974 and completed his apprenticeship with the Railway Education Bureau in Minnesota. His work has been featured in the Smithsonian and department stores across the country.
Ken offers blacksmithing classes for beginner and intermediate students that cover all the necessary techniques like drawing out, scrolling, bending, splitting, and more. All classes include materials and snacks.
A unique offering at Ken’s Custom Iron is his Viking Style Knife Class. Students learn to forge a blade step by step and create an artistic handle.
Unlike many other blacksmith shops, Ken offers classes for couples, children, and teens. If you love blacksmithing and want to introduce it to your family, these classes would be a great opportunity to do so.
2) Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center
- Type: Blacksmithing
- Classes: small group, multiple sessions over several weeks
- Price: N/A
- Website: https://www.cafac.org/
- Telephone: (612) 294-0400
- Location: 3749 Chicago Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55407
Founded in 2007, the Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center is a non profit organization dedicated to teaching art forms that use the flame including blacksmithing, glass working, jewelry making, and much more.
Classes at the Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center include Build Your Own Forge, Blacksmithing Basics, and Project Shop. Forge building at the Arts Center is offered twice per year and allows you to build a propane forge for your home workshop. Blacksmithing Basics classes are great introductions to the craft. Students learn all the essential techniques of blacksmithing and get to make hooks, utensils, and tools. Project Shop classes focus on specific projects like door knockers, and bottle openers.
Taking beginner classes at the Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center requires a larger time commitment than other offerings, as classes are up to ten sessions long. If you are serious about learning all the basics of blacksmithing and have the time to do so, this option may be a perfect fit for you.
3) VanMadrone MetalWorks
- Type: Blacksmithing
- Classes: small group
- Price: N/A
- Website: http://www.vanmadronemetalworks.com/
- Telephone: (612) 964-4037
- Location: 3555 5th Avenue South, Suite 109 Minneapolis, MN 55408
VanMadrone MetalWorks is owned and operated by Jef Van Syoc, who began blacksmithing in 1999. Jef is an artisan blacksmith who creates custom pieces for clients, and instructs students when he has time.
Classes at VanMadrone MetalWorks are beginner friendly and also suitable for more advanced blacksmiths. Students receive one-on-one instruction with Jef and get to make a hand forged item to take home.
4) North House Folk School
- Type: Blacksmithing
- Classes: small group, 1-4 days
- Price: N/A
- Website: https://northhouse.org/
- Telephone: (218) 387-9762
- Location: 500 W Hwy 61 PO Box 759 Grand Marais, MN 55604
The North House Folk School was founded in 1997 with the intention to teach locals traditional northern crafts. Learning for the sake of learning is one of the key principles of a folk school, and something that is emphasized in blacksmithing classes and the other offerings at North House. Students learn at their own pace in a cooperative, friendly environment.
The classes offered at North House Folk School are very unique and highlight traditional smithing methods. Examples of class offerings include Blacksmithing: The Basics and Beyond, Viking Fire Steels, Folding Knives, and Crafting Knives in the Finnish Style. Craftsmanship and intentional design are at the heart of these classes, and are useful elements to consider for your own projects.
Check out the Folk School’s website for a list of archived classes to get a better feel for offerings and call for information on current classes.
5) Tunnel Mill
- Type: Blacksmithing, knife making
- Classes: small group,
- Price: $90-$450
- Website: http://www.tunnelmillcrafts.com/Calendar/Calendar.htm
- Telephone: (507) 289-4189
- Location: 28036 County Highway 1 Spring Valley, MN 55975
Tunnel Mill is a historic mill and blacksmith shop purchased by John and Carol Adams 1982. Blacksmithing classes taught by guest instructors are offered at the Mill throughout the year and range in topic from beginner blacksmithing to Damascus knife making and more.
Beginner students learn drawing out, upsetting, bending, and twisting to create a fire poker. Knife making classes cover heating, treating, grinding, and handle making so students feel confident in the process from start to finish.
6) NorthStar Forge
- Type: Blacksmithing, Knife Making
- Classes: private, small group, full day
- Price: $325
- Website: https://www.northstarforge.com/classes-training/
- Telephone: (612) 597-5639
- Location: Carver, MN (30 miles southwest of Minneapolis)
Master bladesmith Jason of NorthStar Forge began making knives and swords in 2011 and opened NorthStar Forge in 2012. He is a member of the American Bladesmithing Society, was featured on the History Channel’s Forged in Fire series, and competed in Discovery Channel’s Master of Arms.
Jason currently teaches railroad spike knife making to students of all skill levels. Students learn to forge the blade and handle, profile, and refine the shape of the blade all in the full-day class session.
7) Raspberry Island Folk School
- Type: Blacksmithing, Knife Making
- Classes: small group, full day, 1-2 days
- Price: $40-$225
- Website: https://raspberryislandfolkschool.blogspot.com/
- Telephone: (218) 851-6085
- Location: 50569 218th Place McGregor, MN 55760
Raspberry Island Folk School is owned by Gary and Janet Hill and offers students a chance to learn traditional crafts through hands-on instruction.
The Hills offer a wide range of blacksmithing classes for beginner, intermediate, and advanced students. Beginning Blacksmithing covers all the basics of smithing like upsetting, tapering, hot cutting, fullering, swaging and more. Project specific classes allow students to make tongs, hooks, and hangers. Students interested in knife making will appreciate the Folk School’s Damascus knife making class, which teaches material preparation and forging.
An interesting offering at Raspberry Island Folk School is Frontier Blacksmithing. This class series teaches students how to make tools and weapons that would have been used by pioneers. Cooking tools, axe heads, and railroad spike knives and some of the projects completed in the Frontier Blacksmithing classes.
8) Strovig Forge
- Type: Blacksmithing, Bladesmithing
- Classes: small group, private, 1-2 days, full day
- Price: $175-$250
- Website: https://www.strovigforge.com/
- Telephone: (651) 470-7907
- Location: Vadnais Heights, MN
Strovig Forge is a small blacksmithing workshop that is veteran owned and specializes in providing custom Damascus and San Mei steel blades. The workshop will be offering a few beginner-friendly classes in the near future.
These classes are one to two day classes focusing on blacksmithing and bladesmithing fundamentals. Blacksmithing techniques covered include using propane and coal forges, twisting, upsetting, punching, bending, hot cutting, and more. Students learn to design and create a few small projects.
The bladesmithing course will cover forge safety, hamering, quenching, tempering, hand grinding, and creating handles. Students can choose from a few different blade templates to begin crafting their own knife.
Contact Strovig Forge for information on upcoming classes.
9) Community Education (Rochester Public Schools)
- Type: Blacksmithing, Knife Making
- Classes: small group, weekdays, weekends, mornings, afternoons, evenings, full day, 1-2 days, multiple week sessions
- Price: $19 to sign up plus $95-$125 supplies fee
- Website: https://rochester.ce.eleyo.com/search?q=blacksmithing&redirected_yet=true
- Telephone: (507) 328-4000
- Location: Multiple locations in and near Rochester, MN
Community Education is a program that is part of the Rochester Public School District. Community Education offers close to 700 programs for all ages annually and has some great blacksmithing options for adult learners.
All of the blacksmithing classes with Community Education are appropriate for beginner smiths. They are taught by a few different instructors. Mark Grimes is one instructor who is teaching several classes this spring. He has been living in the Rochester area since the 1980s and learned blacksmithing at the North House Folk School.
Classes teach students the fundamental techniques of blacksmithing. Projects include tools like tongs, chisels and punches, fire place tools, hooks, and railroad spike knives. Regardless of your interest, you will be able to plan and create several projects during class time.
Community Education’s blacksmithing classes take place in a few locations in the Rochester area. More information on class locations can be found in each class listing on the Community Education sign up page linked above.
Don’t forget The Guild of Metalsmith’s, a non-profit organization dedicated to keeping the metal working arts alive. Classes range from entry level to advanced.
You can find more about the organization and their class offerings at their website:
http://www.metalsmith.org
The Ely Folk School in Ely, Minnesota also has blacksmithing classes!
http://www.elyfolkschool.org
I am writing on behalf of the Faribault County Historical Society, located in Blue Earth, MN, in the hope that you may be able to offer some suggestions to us regarding the use of our blacksmith forge that we try to operate during the course of our county fair (running this year from July 26th-29th). The FCHS maintains seven buildings at the Fair Grounds, many of which are historic structures (a rural church, a one-room schoolhouse, a small village post office, and a log cabin that dates from the early 1860s) that were moved there from various other parts of the county; the blacksmith shop is actually a converted garage built around 1920, and we also operate a small general store and house a large collection of antique tractors and other farm machinery in a new metal pole building.
These building are typically open from around 11:00am until 7:00 or 8:00pm each day of the fair, and we have volunteers on hand in every building during these hours. Unfortunately, we no longer have anyone who can operate the small forge, so the past two summers the blacksmith shop’s front door has been opened, but we’ve strung a barrier across it to limit access. I know there is a stockpile of fuel for the forge, as well as metal of various sizes ready to be worked, but I don’t know much more about the specifics of the blacksmith shop (though I can surely take photos to send you).
I know there is a robust community of ’smithing enthusiasts in Minnesota, so I write to ask of you would be able to distribute an invitation to your membership to operate our blacksmith shop for 2-3 hours (or more, at their convenience) on any one of the four days of our fair (or multiple days of our fair – again, at your convenience). In the past I know that objects made during these demonstrations have also been sold to fairgoers, and you would be more than welcome to do that. We would be willing to cover the costs of transportation and other miscellaneous expenses as well – we can certainly make sure you eat well at the Fairgrounds! – so this could be a perfect opportunity for some of your members to share their passion for the craft of blacksmithing if they live reasonably close to Blue Earth (we are right on Interstate 90, or if you’re coming from the north US Highway 169). This may be an especially attractive opportunity for members who are new to the experience of teaching or demonstration how to work the hammer and anvil, as it is a very low-pressure environment with plenty of receptive spectators (the young kids are especially in awe when the sparks fly from the anvil).
Could you let me know if you could pass this invitation along to your membership (or if you have any other questions)? Even though I’m still looking out at a backyard of snow, the fair will be on top of us before we know it; if we could establish a partnership with some of your members our shop is yours to use as you see fit, and I know this would enhance the experience of folks who visit our other buildings along History Lane.
Many thanks,
Randy Anderson
507-525-0368