QUYLE 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.

     Quyle Forge is located up the drive behind the Quyle Pottery Showroom, parking available at the Forge.  The Blacksmith Shop has been a teaching facility since the mid-1980's, and currently has one teaching station and five learning stations.  Each station is equipped with a coal/coke forge, fire tools, an anvil with hand and anvil tools including hammers, tongs, hold-downs, Hardies, etc.

     Introductory (LevelI) blacksmith classes are held on the First Saturday of every month, with Tim Mann instructing.  For insurance reasons, one must be a member of the California Blacksmith Association (CBA) in order to work in the workshop and a CBA certified instructor must be present. (go to www.calsmith.org to join and for information regarding CBA's blacksmithing curriculum).                                 Membership is from April 1 through March 31.

     Third Saturdays, with Mario Baggiolini and Georg O'Gorman are reserved for advanced beginner (Level II) blacksmiths.  Level I students may also use this time to finish their projects (on a space available basis) or to watch and learn.

     Visitors to the Quyle Pottery and Brice Station Tasting Room are invited to stop by and see what is going on in the smithy.  Occasional "special topic" workshops are held at the Quyle Forge.  When these are scheduled they will be announced on the CBA website. 

     Calaveras County has a working blacksmith shop at the Calaveras Historical Society's Red Barn Museum in San Andreas. 

LINK TO THE CALIFORNIA BLACKSMITH  ASSOC. WEB-SITE:

      www.calsmith.org