Small Groups and Private Classes
If you have a group of friends or a team interested in exploring some new challenges together, you can sign up for a small private session to complete a project of your creation! Prices vary based on group size and project type. Email us at info@desertmetalcraft.org to organize your custom event.
Classes are grouped below into:
- Open Events
- Bladesmithing
- Blacksmithing
- Welding
- Jewelry/Metal Art/Science
If you can’t find what you are looking for, please email us at info@desertmetalcraft.org and we’ll be happy to help.
OPEN EVENTS
Community Open Forge
Free and Open to the community! Come check out the shop space while you watch demonstrations and talk with instructors, students and other people in the metal arts community!
Community Open Forge Dates
- Saturday, 7 September 2024⋅9:00am – 1:00pm
- Saturday, 25 January 2025⋅9:00am – 1:00pm
- Sunday, 27 April 2025 ⋅9:00am – 1:00pm
- Saturday, 24 May 2025 ⋅9:00am – 1:00pm
Our Instructors:
Please take a minuet to look over our community page to see who your instructors are. Most of our instructors have been with us since the beginning and we believe this speaks to our commitment to the artist community here in the southwest. Also if you are an artist/instructor and would like to teach a class with us at Desert Metal Craft please contact us and let us know how we can work together to serve the community better.
Calendar of classes
To access the store at anytime just press any of the “Enroll” buttons
Bladesmithing and Knife Making
Power Hammer Basics
Instructor: Rich Greenwood
This class focuses on power hammer techniques as you learn to forge a set of basic hammer tools, side sets, and a round-back flatter. The emphasis of this class is on the safe and effective operation and maintenance of the power hammer.
Come down and move some metal with the Saymak! $150
Integral Pairing Knife
Instructor: Nick Rossi
In this 4 day workshop students will complete one paring knife with an integrated bolster. While this class is focused on small kitchen knives, these techniques will be applicable to larger kitchen knives and hunting knives as well. Material selection, integral forging techniques and handle fitting to an integral bolster will all be covered in detail. Some experience is recommended but adventurous beginners are welcome.
- Mar. 22nd – Mar. 25th 2025 9am -5pm EACH DAY
This is another not to be missed class by the amazing Nick Rossi! $1250
Chef Knife Master Class
Instructor: Don Nguyen
Learn from Master Chef Knife maker, Don Nguyen, to make a stock removal style chef knife. The class start with a heat treated blank and cover basic geometry of knifemaking, grinding, heat treating, handle making and sharpening. Get the secrets to a perfect fit and finish for a chef’s knife from the master!
- Oct. 24th – Oct 27th 2024 9am – 5pm EACH DAY
Come and learn from the best in the business! $2000
San Mai Throwing Bowie Knife
Instructor: Logan Hemingway Lichtenhan
In this intermediate level 3 day class students will learn to forge a throwing knife from a SanMai Billet of 5160 Spring Steel and Mild SteeI. Students will learn to forge weld the billet, shape the billet using traditional forging techniques and the assistance of our power hammer, as well as basic heat treatment and differential tempering to produce a durable knife. Students will also learn how to do basic grinding. The goal will be to produce a Brut De Forge all steel thrower. We will discuss blade balance and overall shape to produce a capable throwing knife and on the final day of class we will go over the basics of throwing technique.
- Nov. 8th – Nov. 10th 2024 (9am-5pm EACH DAY)
- Feb. 21st – Feb 23rd 2025 9am to 5pm EACH DAY
Warm up that shoulder to start your career as a world renowned knife thrower! $425
Canister Damascus
Instructor: Rich Greenwood
In this 14 hour class you will learn to construct and forge weld your very own canister Damascus billet for your own use at a latter date. We will start by learning to choose the right materials (provided in the class), construct the canister, fill the canister with all the right materials, forge weld the canister into a solid billet and finally remove the canister to reveal your vey own creation. this class will use the hydraulic press, power hammer and conventional hammer and anvil to complete the project. No prior experience necessary but basic blacksmithing knowledge is encouraged.
- Oct 19th – Oct. 20th 2024 9am to 4pm (EACH DAY)
Come and get your can on! $500
Forged Herb Chopper
Instructor: Pablo Martinez
Come learn how to hand forge an herb chopper from high-carbon steel with Forged in Fire contestant, Pablo Martinez!! (S8E6) Class will consist of forging herb chopper to shape, flat grinding, hardening, tempering, finishing touches and sharpening, to produce a fully functional herb chopper ready for the kitchen! Beginners and Intermediates welcome!
- Sept. 20th 2024 9am – 5pm
- Mar. 1st 2025 9am -5pm
Come and chop it up with Pablo in his premier class! $425
Youth Knife Making
Instructor: Logan Hemingway Lichtenhan
In this one-day class, youth (12-15 yrs) will experience what its like to safely forge, grind, heat treat and finish their very own knife just like they do on the hit television show Forged In Fire! This class is hard work but well worth it and will teach a little of all we offer here at Desert Metal Craft. Be sure to pack a lunch and drink plenty of water since class runs from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
- Mar. 15th 2025 (9am-5pm)
- Nov. 30th 2024 (9am-5pm)
Your road to Mastersmith begins here! $450.00
Bladesmithing 100
Instructor: Mario Hernandez and Rich Greenwood
Students meet twice a week for 2.5 hours per session on this 6-week course that introduces the fundamentals of bladesmithing. Begin with shop safety and an overview of tools, and move on to basic forging techniques to create your own knife. Students learn the techniques needed to forge, grind, heat treat, polish and sharpen knives.
- Sept. 10th 2024 – Oct. 17th 2024 6pm-8:30pm (EACH T/TH)
- Nov. 5th 2024 – Dec. 19th 2024 6pm-8:30pm (EACH T/TH)
- Mar. 18th 2025 – May 8th 2025 6pm-8:30pm (EACH T/TH)
Try your hand at being the bladesmith you know you are! $750
Intermediate Bladesmithing/Knife Making
Instructor: Mario Hernandez
Rich Greenwood former forged in fire two time runner up (s1e1/s3e2) is back teaching this class that was formerly Bladesmithing 200, in this class students meet twice a week for 2.5 hours per session on this 8-week intermediate course that focuses on fit and finish of chef Knives and hunting style knives. Students should already have a good grasp of basic blade forging and finishing techniques, so Bladesmithing 100 or equivalent is a prerequisite for this class.
- Jan 6th – Feb. 26th 2025 6pm-8:30pm (EACH M/W)
Brush up on what you’ve learned in the 100 class while learning some new tricks! $850
Blade-Sharpening Workshop
Instructor: Rich Greenwood
In this three hour class, You will receive a free Japanese kitchen knife (a $125 value) which you will sharpen during the class. Once sharp, you get to take it home! Aaannnddd, of course, you will learn how to make a new edge on a dull knife and to maintain it at home, and much more.
- May 17th 2025 (10am-1pm)
Get the edge you’ve always wanted! $290
Bladesmithing 100 Intensive
Instructor: Rich Greenwood
Taught by Forged in Fire star Rich Greenwood (S1E1 and S3E2), this intensive class covers almost all the material from our 8-week entry-level course, Bladesmithing 100, and does it in 32 hours over four days!
- Jan. 30th-Feb. 2nd 2025 (9am-5pm Each Day)
Come and make the knife of your dreams! $850
Damascus workshop
Instructor: Rich Greenwood
With instruction by Forged in Fire finalist Rich Greenwood, make a modern pattern welded version of the Damascus steel highly prized for millennia by swordsmiths of the ancient world, now used by skilled bladesmiths and jewelers to make collectible knives and other artworks. Steel provided. Each student will have the opportunity to construct a billet of pattern welded steel (about 2 pounds) and learn the process for future use in a project of their liking.
- Dec. 14th – Dec. 15th 2024 (9am-2pm, 9am-1pm)
learn to diffuse steel into steel! How darn cool is that!?! $445
Knife in a Day
Instructor: Rich Greenwood
Hand-forge a basic knife from high-carbon steel. Spend the day hammering a blade to shape, flat grinding and beveling, hardening and tempering, and finishing and sharpening, to produce a one-piece blacksmith’s knife.
- Nov. 17th 2024 9am-5pm
- Jan. 18th 2025 9am-5pm
Make it, Don’t buy it! $395
BLACKSMITHING
Spoon Making
Instructor: Logan Hemingway Lichtenhan
Students will learn the basics on how to forge a mild steel scoop and spoon handle for a Copper scoop and spoon bowl and then learn how to rivet the two pieces together as well as knowledge about the tools used to perform these tasks. The forging aspect will cover drawing out and shaping hot steel as well as cold working copper into shape. The class will also address minor clean up of profiles using files and/or belt grinders.
- Oct. 18th 2024 9am-5pm
- Jan. 20th 2025 9am-5pm
Scoop this one up before it’s gone! $175
Blacksmithing for Beginners
Instructors: Sean Lindsay (Nights) and Logan Hemingway Lichtenhan (Days)
If you’ve never heated metal in a forge and swung a hammer to shape it on an anvil, this is the class for you! Learn the absolute basics of blacksmithing on our half-day course. Get an introduction to the safety, tools and techniques of this ancient art. Leave the shop confident in your abilities, and holding your first forged steel creation.
Class Dates
- Sept. 13th 2024 5pm-9pm (Ages 12-17)
- Sept. 14th 2024 9am-1pm
- Sept. 30th 2024 9am-1pm
- Oct. 4th 2024 5pm-9pm (Ages 12-17)
- Oct. 5th 2024 9am-1pm
- Oct. 31st 2024 9am-1pm Halloween Theme.
- Nov. 11th 2024 9am-1pm
- Dec. 2nd 2024 9am-1pm
- Dec. 6th 2024 5pm-9pm
- Dec. 7th 2024 9am-1pm (Ages 12-17)
Please select your preferred class when you get to our online store. $250
Tongs and Tools
Instructor: Sean Lindsay
Come learn how to make your first set of tongs and punches plus a few other tools for your bucket! Beginners and intermediates are welcome in this class to start or grow your bladesmithing or blacksmithing tool collection!
- Nov. 22nd – Nov. 23rd 2024 (5pm-9pm, 9am-2pm)
Get a grip with a pair of tongs you made yourself! $345
Intermediate Blacksmithing
Instructor: Sean Lindsay
Now that you’ve learned the basics of blacksmithing, set off your journey with this class and learn your next set of fundamentals in the trade; upsetting, punching, drifting, drawing, scrolling and others to get you ready to forge anything you can imagine. This class will help improve techniques useful in Botanical Forms, Tongs and Tools and Bladesmithing if you want to continue to practice and build proficiency in these intermediate skills!
- Sept. 27th 2024 5pm-9pm
- Jan. 17th 2025 5pm-9pm
- April 5th 2025 9am-1pm
Hone those skills with Sean! $250
Intermediate Blacksmithing: Botanical Forms
Instructor: Sean Lindsay
Forging leaves, flowers and other natural forms is very detail-oriented work and the results can be spectacular when done right. Use all of your beginner and intermediate skills in the course together to produce shapes and curved one with nature to add to your repertoire.
- Dec. 20th-21st 2024 (5pm-9pm, 9am-2pm)
Get your leaves and flowers on! $310
WELDING
Welding for Beginners
Instructor: Liz Cameron
Learn the basic procedures and techniques of gas metal arc welding (GMAW). Class includes safety and environmental practices, welding terminology, GMAW equipment, proper welding procedures, welding positions, five weld joints, joint preparation, welding equipment operation and welding techniques, shielding gases, and mild steel welding.
- Sept. 28th 2024 (8am -4pm)
- Dec. 8th 2024 (8am -4pm)
- Nov. 16th 2024 (8am-4pm)
Familiarity with power tools and shop procedures recommended. $510
TIG 100
Instructor: Liz Cameron
Have you ever wanted to learn how to TIG weld? Thinking about getting into projects with Aluminum, Stainless Steel or Specialty Steels? This is where you want to start! This class will cover multiple types of machine set ups, safety, fusion welding technique and how to add filler rod to your welds. *This class is a prerequisite for the TIG 200 class*
- May 25th 2024 (8am – 4pm)
Tungsten inert gas, yup thats what it stands for! come and TIG in to some welding! $575.00
Intermediate Welding
Instructor: Liz Cameron and Rich Greenwood
Apply the basic procedures and techniques of gas metal arc welding (GMAW) to fabricate the perfect square. Class includes safety and environmental practices, welding terminology, GMAW equipment, proper welding procedures, welding positions, weld joints, joint preparation, welding equipment operation and welding techniques, shielding gases, and mild steel welding all to apply your skills to your first fabrication project. You will be able to make the perfect squares and rectangles for your home projects whether it is a door frame, planter box, table, bed frame, squat rack or a simple stand.
- March 29th 2025 8am – 4pm
Put those beginners skills to the test! $510
Dia De Los Muertos Luminarios
Instructor: Rich Greenwood and Liz Cameron
In this four hour class you will learn to weld your very own luminary like the one pictured to display at your own home. the class will consist of a short safety briefing, overview of the equipment to be used and demonstrations on how to properly weld the box. We also may have extra boxes available for purchase if you’d like more than one to take home. No prior experience necessary.
- Oct 12th 2024 (10am -5pm)
Light up your neighborhood with this cool box!! $275
Welding for Women
Instructor: Liz Cameron
Two-day skills-based course for women only. Students work 4 hours a day on their custom design for a fabricated metal sculpture. The course covers basic concepts in design, fabrication, cutting, shaping and MIG welding. Students are welcome to bring scrap metal for their sculpture.
- April 12th 2025 8am -4pm
Women, trans & femme welcome. $510
METAL ART/SCIENCE
Silversmithing 100
Instructor: Jonathan Wick
Similar to the weekend long class, this 4-week long class includes; introduction to silver, tool safety overview, learn to use gas torch to make earrings, simple wire rings, stone setting, soldering, make pendants with cup bezel, then advanced pendant with pierced work and custom bezel. Class will meet every Monday and Wednesday for 4 weeks either in the mornings or evenings.
- Sept. 9th – Oct 7th 2024 6pm-8pm (EACH M/W)
- May 5th – May 28th 2025 6pm-8pm (Each M/W)
Mix it up with Jonathan! $455
Bench top Lost Wax Investment Casting
Instructor: Jon Wick
Have you ever wanted to learn how to alloy and cast precious metal jewelry?! If yes, this is the class for you. Suitable for beginners and intermediates in silversmithing. This class will cover the basics of alloying your metal, preparing a custom wax carving, preparing a mold, burning out the wax, and casting your metal into the custom molds!
- May 3rd – May 4th 2025 9am-5pm EACH DAY
Learn to pour MOLTEN METAL! $325
Mokume-Gane Ring Class
Instructor: Rich Greenwood
Suitable for beginners or intermediates to jewelry making and Mokume-Gane, this class will start with a premade Banha Billet (15 alternating layers of Sterling Silver, Copper, and Shibuichi) and students will learn to roll, and pattern their billets then form and solder into beautiful unique rings!
- Aug. 24th – Aug 26th 2024 (10am-6pm, 10am-2pm)
This stuff is just to cool, No two rings are ever the same! $450
Heat-Treatment Fundamentals
Instructor: Liz Cameron
This lecture is included in all Bladesmithing 100 classes
Smiths heat-treat steel to change its microstructure and to bring out the physical and mechanical characteristics they desire in their metal. Little frustrates smiths more than a quench that ruins hours or weeks of forging.
Guesswork is not enough. An understanding of steel microstructures and heat-treatment processes gives smiths a detailed inside look at the metal they are working, and helps them master their steel and predict how it will behave. This is truly where art meets science.
Lecturer Liz Cameron worked in the steel industry and has a master’s degree in materials science and engineering. She has an expert-level knowledge of heat-treatment and how it affects steel’s strength, hardness, toughness and ductility.
- Dates to be determined
The Fine Print
No refunds will be issued for purchases older than 60 days, you can still have credit if the following criteria are satisfied. Four or more weeks before class begins, the class fee is 100% refundable or 100% of the fee paid can be used as credit toward future classes (pending availability and excluding master classes). The fee is 50% refundable if cancellation occurs 2-4 weeks before class begins, and 50% of the fee paid can be used as credit toward future classes (pending availability and excluding master classes). If you cancel less than 2 weeks before class begins, we regret that the fee is not refundable and cannot be used as credit toward future classes. This ensures we have time to fill last-minute course vacancies. Cancelation fees may apply. All refunds will be subject to a 6% processing fee deducted from the refund amount.
Check “Spam Folder” in your email account for class emails to make sure you are getting class correspondences.
Past Classes
Bowie Knife Class with Jon Wick
Instructor: Jon Wick
Accomplished bladesmith Jon Wick, who forged a claymore sword in S2E3 of Forged in Fire, leads this master class on making a Classic Bowie Knife with a forged guard.
Forged Fighting Knife
Instructor: Nick Rossi
In this 4 day workshop students will complete a 7-8” camp/combat knife in the spirit of the Randall model 1, Ka Bar and the Moran ST 23. These knives will be full tang construction with an integrated finger guard. This project features some fun intermediate level forging including material management and tooling. Come make a razor sharp fighter ready for use in the service, field or camp! Familiarity with shop tools and power hammer recommended.
Principles of material flow and reverse engineering Damascus patterns
Instructor: Mareko Maumasi of Maumasi fire arts
This is a two day seminar course with Mareko Maumasi, deep diving into the understanding of material flow, and how the way we forge our Damascus steel impacts the resulting patterns. We then take this understanding to help reverse engineer Damascus patterns as well as to accurately predict and plan patterns.
This is a course in advanced pattern theory and not a conventional “Make and Take” course. What you will leave the class with is a deeper understanding of how material moves and the ability to apply that new knowledge to future pattern welding designs, helping your work to stand out in an ocean of Bladesmiths.”
Don Nguyen Chef Knife Master Class
Learn from Master Chef Knife maker, Don Nguyen, to make a stock removal style chef knife. The class start with a heat treated blank and cover basic geometry of knifemaking, grinding, heat treating, handle making and sharpening. Get the secrets to a perfect fit and finish for a chef’s knife from the master! This class will run 9am to 5pm each day.
back and sharper than ever, don’t hesitate, this class will sell out fast!
Utensils w/ Anna Koplik
Instructor: Anna Koplik!!
*This class has been rescheduled, please not the new dates*
These 2-day workshops will show you how to make your own hand-forged spoons and spatulas! We will cover the basics of forging to make your own steel and brass utensils. This workshop will encourage students to explore various decorative techniques and designs to make their own unique and functional hand-forged objects. This class is great for those new to blacksmithing or for people with some prior forging experience who want to build their skills.
Japanese Nunome Zogan
Instructor: Momoko Okada
Nunome Zogan (cloth texture overlay) is one of the traditional Japanese inlay techniques. History of the Japanese Nunome inlay technique begins from Damascus, Syria. The technique, called “Damascene,” came through the Silk Road into Japan. The most common Nunome zogan process uses gold or silver foil on steel or iron. In this class, you will be learning School Nunome zogan. This technique is inlaying onto non-ferrous metal, such as silver, brass, or Japanese copper alloy (Shibuichi and Shakudo) instead of steel; however, the process can be used on steel. This class will start out making your own Nunome chisel and a hammer handle. Traditional Japanese patina process will also be covered. Great for the beginner and experienced maker alike, this class covers the basics, but also offers the opportunity for skill refinement for more advanced students.
Traditional Japanese Inlay
Instructor: Momoko Okada
Delve into the art of Japanese inlay. In this fast-paced workshop, you will begin by creating your own set of specialized Japanese metal inlay chisels. Then explore the process of Japanese dot inlay(Ten-zogan) and line inlay (Sen-zogan) and gain skills using various Japanese alloys such as Shibuichi. Traditional patination process (Ni-iro) will be covered. Great for beginners and experienced makers alike, this class covers basics, but also offers the opportunity for skill refinement.
Tuition includes but is not limited to:
• Otafuku Hammer (imported from Japan)
• Blank Chisels x 3
• Shibuichi sheet- Nami-Shibuichi (1.5mm) & Kuro-Shibuichi (1.2mm) -(imported from Japan)
• Fine silver wire 22ga. (1ft)
• Copper wire 22ga. (1ft)
• Copper sheet 18ga.
• Drill bit (#72/ 22ga.)
• Handmade Japanese Black Pitch on wooden board
• Japanese Patination materials
Forged in Fire Competition series!
Instructor: Rich Greenwood and special guest judges!
Maximum of four participants so get your spot fast! In this simulation of Forged in Fire’s rounds one and two you will work against the clock recreating some of the same challenges from the show but in this simulation you will have the guidance of a seasoned veteran of the show (Rich Greenwood runner up on season one, episode one and season three, episode two) to answer any questions you may have along the way! at the end of this class/competition you will be judged just like in the show and the winner of the class will win……. a free class of your choice!!
Spoon Making
Instructor: Momoko Okada
Let’s make a one-of-a-kind copper spoon!
In this 3 hour workshop, you will create your own handcrafted spoon by hammering copper.
This is a fun and quick workshop to learn the spoon making process and it is a great gift for newborn babies and friends.
Silver spoon options are limited but available with advanced notice. You can take multiple sessions to create a set of spoons or more!
Forged chef knife w/ Nick Rossi
Instructor: Nick Rossi
Learn to make high performance kitchen knives from start to finish. Every aspect of the process will be demonstrated and explained in detail from material selection to final sharpening. Each participant should expect to complete at least one 6-8” chef knife in an eastern or western style featuring a 1084 blade with an exotic wood handle. While no prior experience is necessary, some experience with bladesmithing may be useful.
Women’s Silver Pin Making
Instructor: Liz Cameron
In this 4 hour woman-lead workshop you will create a beautiful silver pin by learning how to cast and press silver into your choice of pre-made dies! You will then learn how to saw cut, dress, solder everything together and finish it off with a fine polish or liver of sulfur finish for a deeper contrast! This class is excellent for beginners wanting to try out silversmithing! For Women by Women!
Blacksmith’s Apprentice Workshop
Instructor: Steven Fisher
Learn what it takes to be a blacksmith’s apprentice and walk away with the ultimate guide to learning all your basic blacksmithing techniques and skills to continue practicing at home or in open shop!!
Forge Making
Instructor: Steven Fisher
Make this single brick, two-burner forge with Steven Fisher. This is a great tool for any bladesmith or blacksmith starting their own shop. Class does not include a stand.
Copper Smithing
Instructor: Momoko Okada
Copper’s malleability and attractive color make it ideal for forging, especially in the summer months when a using a 2,000-degree forge (which steel requires) can make shop work a test of endurance. Copper lends itself to forging items as diverse as cookware, belt buckles and knife sheaths, as well as amulets, bracelets and necklaces. A quick heat treatment with a small flame source creates a rainbow of temper colors and creates a vintage patina.
The Fine Print
No refunds will be issued for purchases older than 60 days, you can still have credit if the following criteria is satisfied. Four or more weeks before class begins, class fee is 100% refundable or 100% of fee paid can be used as credit toward future classes (pending availability and excluding master classes). Fee is 50% refundable if cancellation occurs 2-4 weeks before class begins, and 50% of fee paid can be used as credit toward future classes (pending availability and excluding master classes). If you cancel less than 2 weeks before class begins, we regret that the fee is not refundable and cannot be used as credit toward future classes. This ensures we have time to fill last-minute course vacancies. Cancelation fees may apply.