CBA Classes


Forge Workshops

The California Blacksmith Association fulfills its primary function as a non-profit educational organization by sponsoring a number of ongoing blacksmithing workshops. These are low cost workshops with the payment usually covering the cost of materials. Workshops are sometimes held at museums or other public facilities, but usually they are held in the shop or home shop of a member.

The instructors are all qualified smiths who are volunteering time to keep the craft of smithing alive. Some instructors have years of experience as working smiths. All instructors have meet a minimum qualification standard set up by the CBA education committee. They are also required to undertake additional ongoing training.

Workshops are divided into three parts. Beginner/Novice is for the beginning smith. The more advanced Intermediate/Apprentice follows it. The final level is the, Journeyman level. Each course of study should be completed before moving on to the next.

As with all other CBA activities, for insurance reasons, you must be a current CBA member to attend. Even with the $45.00 annual membership fee, the classes are some of the cheapest technical training around. They're also loads of fun! Call your nearest workshop contact and try hammering some hot iron.

Please note that the description of the Curriculum is a PDF file. You may need Acrobat Reader to read PDFs which you can get free from Adobe.

 

 
 You Can Contribute
  Many of you have ideas for learning projects. We want to start a collection of these projects on our web site. Please send your submissions to webmaster@calsmith.org. The collection will be linked to our "Classes" page for everyone to view. This is your opportunity to contribute to the CBA education program and help build an archive of projects for our members to develop skills while forging.

In general a project should include, 1. Description and skill(s) to be learned, 2. Drawing(s) including material list, 3. Detailed photo(s) of completed item.

Please contact webmaster@calsmith.org for preferred submission formats and details.



CBA-Fremont


Individual Instruction on Scheduled Saturdays
Ardenwood Historical Park
Call Scott Thomas
(510) 790-9060

CBA-Orange County

Every Saturday 9AM to Noon

Basic I

The Centennial Heritage Museum
3101 West Harvard Ave.
Santa Ana, California
Call Bob Cooper
714 501-2571

CBA-Mariposa

First Sunday 10:00 A.M. 
 
Call Bob Ringrose 
(209) 966-5139
 

CBA-Merced

Third Saturday  
Agricultural Museum
4498 East Highway 140 
Merced, California 
Call George O'Gorman
(209) 588-8851

 

CBA- Murphys

First Saturday  
 
3353 East Highway 4 
Murphys, California 
Call Paul Quyle 
(209) 728-3562
 

CBA- Riverside

Last Saturday  or by appointment
 
 
Call Wayne Parris 
(951) 780-4860
 

CBA-Sacramento (Formerly at Bob Thomson's in Granite Bay

First & Third Friday 6-9pm
 
Basic I (Beginners)
Second and fourth Friday6-9pm
Basic II & III
 
Fifth Friday by Arrangement
Meet at Mel Starr's
Citrus Heights, California 
Limited space requires reservations
 
Call Phil Manning (before 9:00 P.M. Wednesday prior to attending)
(530) 666-7541
 

Private Lessons
call: Bob Thompson 916/791-1236

CBA-San Jose

Second Saturday
 
Basic I
 
Call John West 
(408) 718-4787

CBA-South Sacramento

Saturdays
Space Limited, Call for reservations
John Crandall 916-708.9708

CBA-Sebastopol

Call for schedule and space availability
Call Herb Upham
(707) 823-1251
 

CBA-Somes Bar

 
Basic I
 
Call Dave Atwood
(530) 469-3389

CBA-Vista

First Saturday
Basic I- Call Dave Vogel
(760) 720-7896
Second Saturday
Basic III- Call Bill Stone
(760) 753-7553
Third Saturday
Basic II- Call Beth Homberg
(619) 293-3211
 
Antique Gas & Steam
Engine Museum
2040 North Santa Fe Ave. 
Vista, California 
 
 

CBA-Weaverville

(October through May)
Second &Fourth Saturday 9:00 AM & 1:00 PM
Basic I
Call Rod Plew 
(530) 623-3536 evenings
Second & Fourth Sunday 10:00 AM
Basic II
Call Ken Morrissey
(530) 623-7339
Thursday before the Second & Fourth weekend 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Basic II
Call Bill Bradford
(530) 623-6598
Jake Jackson Museum
Weaverville, California 
 
 
 

CBA-Windsor

Second & fourth Wednesday
6 to 9 pm
 
Francois Piccin francois@piccin.com
Steve Bell 707/838-6135
 

CBA-Dayton (Nevada)

Third Saturday
Call Dave Leavitt  
(775) 241-0331
(Call no later than 7:00 PM)
 

CBA-Klamath Falls (Oregon)

Basic I by appointment
Call Mike Hricziscse
541-883-7617

 


CBA Workshop and Demonstration Safety Plan

Revised Feburary 2003


Blacksmithing