Fire Arts Center

I’ve been taking a knife and sword blacksmithing class here for about 8 months now. Classes are one day a week for 3 hours. In this time I’ve attempted to create 4 knives and one sword. One of these days I’ll finish one of them. I learn cool things and apply them to new pieces, abandoning my current project.
The classes are free form. You go in and get taught the basics, then run wild. Demos on techniques are occasionally done once you reach a new technique. It’s a creative class, so unless you need help, are doing something horribly wrong, or something dangerous, you are free to work on your piece. Metal for your first piece is provided along with the tools, forge, and anvil. The instructors (Mike and Vince) are quirky, intelligent, very knowledgeable in their crafts, and will help you in any way they can.
They also offer classes in figure sculpting, open life drawing, jewelry and metalsmithing, metal sculpture, metal furniture, glass casting and slumping, foundry, and stone carving.
If you have always wanted to create your own… anything with metal, Fire Arts Center is where I would recommend to go in Chicago.