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!

LINK TO THE CALIFORNIA BLACKSMITH  ASSOC. WEB-SITE:

                         www.calsmith.org