Iron Rhino Forge's Story
Have you ever seen Forged In Fire?
Perhaps it has sparked an interest in the art of metalwork. If you’ve been interested enough to look for a class in blacksmithing, you’ve probably been disappointed by the prices. But, if the spark was big enough for you to pay the big bucks, it was probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience, mostly because you don’t have the money or the memory to do this again and turn it into any real hobby.
That is what Iron Rhino Forge is here to change.
Iron Rhino Forge is a blacksmith arts studio that is determined to build the community of blacksmiths and bladesmiths in the greater Phoenix area.
Their affordable classes are 1-on-1 or small groups and include exploration into your particular learning style so that each minute can be tailored to create your deepest learning experience. Lessons don’t revolve around just a single finished project, either. Most project lessons follow the national curriculum for professional blacksmithing certification, which means that you will learn the skills to manipulate steel however you want, not just finish a knife.
To cultivate a community of people who create, Iron Rhino Forge has initiated “Open Forge” nights where friendships are forged along with metals. And if you don’t remember a certain technique? Coaches can help you through it. Open Forge Nights have also become a great place to connect with all levels of the community.
If you want to experience this community, come to an Open Forge evening on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-10 pm. You’ll want to return again and again! The goal of the owners, David & Jacie, is to help you get to the point where you don’t need to take a class for every skill, you can gain enough confidence in the forge to just evolve. And who knows, maybe you’ll even get to work with Jacie, who was a contestant on Forged In Fire!
To see a full house on Open Forge nights is gratifying for us too because it wasn’t as easy as you’d think to find properties. It wasn’t just the property specs that we had to consider. The zoning, landlords, and neighbors all needed to be supportive. The landlord had to be convinced that this isn’t the type of blacksmithing with huge flames and sparks flying everywhere! It’s more contained than that and a safe use in the building.
David said,
“The experience with Susan and Sam was very personable, very fast, and very efficient. They found me a spot much faster than I thought. Susan helped us put together the business plan to show the landlord and everything else that the landlord needed in order to help him see that we were a great choice for them, we were a value-add studio that would build community.”
If you are interested in learning how to forge steel, now is a perfect time! World-champion blacksmith Zeevik Gottleib is coming to the studio on April 11th. Tickets for his classes will go fast, so sign up soon! Keep in touch with Iron Rhino Forge on social media to hear about other master classes from world-renowned metal workers like:
Salam Straub
Nick Rossi
& Mark Aspery (Who wrote the professional curriculum for the certification.)
These amazing opportunities are things you can enjoy with a community of friends who share your interests! It was such a pleasure to help David and Jacie in their mission to be connectors in our community!
