Each year we offer a range of specialty workshops that provide the chance to expand on techniques learned previously, or try something brand new. These featured workshops are offered intermittently throughout the year and sell out quickly so don’t miss your chance to join in the action!
Featured Specialty Workshops
Our specialty workshops offer a range of hands-on opportunities for both youth and adults to get involved at the novice, intermediate, and experienced skill levels. Participants work hand in hand alongside fellow attendees, Rivers of Steel staff, and visiting artists from across the country.
Forged Coat Racks
Two-Day Workshop
This two-day, intermediate-level workshop is an excellent way to continue exploring the forging process. Work with hot steel to create your own custom coat rack, and in the process you’ll hone your hook-making techniques and learn new skills in punching, bending, riveting, and more. At the end of the workshop, participants will leave with a sturdy, handmade coat rack of their own design ready for use at home or in the office. Some prior experience with forging is recommended.
Offered twice in 2025 on February 1-2 and November 15-16, from 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Custom Cuffs
Three-hour Make-and-Take
This 3-hour introductory workshop is a great way to explore the art of blacksmithing and create something unique. Participants will learn the basics of forging steel and use essential blacksmithing tools to create a steel cuff-style arm band of their own design to take home.
Offered twice in 2025 on February 13 and August 7, from 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Introduction to Copper Smithing
Three-Hour Workshop
This class is an introduction to the basic methods and hand tools used to form sheet copper into decorative and functional objects. Participants will learn the methods used to create a unique copper tray, dish or bowl to take home at the end of the class. Topics covered will include basic principles for hammer forming and raising sheet metals as well as methods for texturing and coloring copper. All skill levels encouraged. These sessions are led by local artist and metalsmith Glen Gardner (aka GSG Studio) along with Rivers of Steel staff.
Offered twice in 2025 on April 29 and July 31, from 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m
Blade with Wooden Handle
Two-day Workshop
This two-day workshop features extended shop time and instruction focusing on the forging techniques needed to produce sharp-edged tools of high-carbon steel. Participants will learn the fundamental skills including forging the blade to shape, grinding, sharpening, and more, required to forge a knife that can be fitted with a wooden handle. At the end of the workshop, participants will leave with a sturdy, wood handled knife of their own design.
Offered on May 17 – 18 and June 21 – 22 from 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. daily.
Forged Trowel
Three-hour Workshop
This 3-hour introductory workshop is a great way to explore the art of blacksmithing and create something unique and handy for your at home gardening projects. Participants will learn the basics of forging steel and use essential blacksmithing tools to create a steel garden trowel to take home.
Offered on the following dates in 2025: April 3 and September 25 from 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Copper Cookware
Two-Day Workshop
This 2-day intermediate-level workshop is an excellent way to build your copper smithing skills focusing on developing, raising and forging techniques. Working primarily in copper and steel, participants will explore methods for creating functional copper cooking pots and pans. The project will focus on producing a copper omelet pan with a forged steel handle. Topics covered will include forming and raising copper, forging steel pot handles, riveting and how to tin coat copper surfaces. Some experience with forging and metal forming is highly recommended. These sessions are led by local artist and metalsmith Glen Gardner (aka GSG Studio) along with Rivers of Steel staff.
Offered once in 2025 on October 18-19, from 12:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. daily.
Forged BBQ Tool – Meat Flipper
Three-hour Workshop
This intermediate-level, hands-on workshop is an excellent way to continue exploring the forging process. Work with hot steel to create your own custom meat flipper tool for your home barbecue! In the process, you’ll hone your metal working techniques and learn new skills in, bending, twisting, making a taper and other decorative metalworking techniques. At the end of the workshop, participants will leave with a sturdy, handmade barbecue tool of their own design ready for use. Some prior experience with forging is recommended.
Offered twice in 2025 on June 19 and September 11, from 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Blacksmithing Open Studio
Open studio sessions at the Carrie Blast Furnaces provide flexible, self-guided time to build on your skills, test out new ideas, or put those final touches on a previously made piece. Anvils, forges, and necessary tooling will be provided, and Rivers of Steel staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide occasional support.
Offered on the following dates in 2025 from 6:00-9:00 p.m.: February 24, May 19, and June 23, 2025
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