Blacksmithing Lessons & Mentoring

Donald teaches people as young as 6, and adults of all ages.

If you want to learn fabrication, blacksmithing, welding, or other metalworking skills, we'll create a meaningful and fun project for you.

Whatever it is, we'll create something appropriate for your level and determine the right approach.

We don't do knives, axes or swords, leaving that to others to teach.

Do you have young children who want to learn?

Do you want a gift for a birthday or

anniversary or lessons as a couple?

Dragon Fly - Student Art Photo Credit: Hans Straub

2-seater gas mini bike - grade 12 mentor project 8

2-seater gas mini bike - grade 12 mentor project 1

Client made a crow wine bottle holder as part of a lesson

Students & Their Projects

Two elementary school teachers hired me to teach them basic sheet metalworking skills so they could, in turn, teach their students and bring metalworking to their school district in the West Kootenays. I designed a 7-hour program over 2 days and provided written materials and a curated list of equipment and suppliers.
Two 6-year-old and 7-year-old brothers created a floating plane and a tea light holder.
A graduating student in 12th grade with a unique project – a two-seater gas-powered mini-bike he designed and built from scratch with our mentorship and guidance.
One client bought half-day lessons as a surprise 70th birthday gift for her boyfriend, and he created an angel sculpture for her.
A university student needed to learn welding to create a Formula One racing car and an electric motorbike for her UBC projects.
An Emily Carr graduating student needed help with an end-of-year project.One man made a dragonfly to learn welding.
A man whose wife bought him lessons made a crow and turned its beak into an artistic wine bottle holder.

Safety orientation is the first step. You'll need appropriate, sturdy footwear. Otherwise, we provide everything else. We are insured to teach a maximum of 2 people at a time.

The fee for classes is $120 per hour per student. We teach a maximum of 2 people at a time.

Industry Training

Blacksmith training, including fabrication and welding, is available for organizations that want to upgrade their employees' in-house industry skills. After 22 years of teaching students at UBC's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Donald can easily adapt training to organizational and individual needs.

Metro Vancouver Regional District's sewer division hired Donald to train their staff. We held the program in their shop and Donald's. The shop can accommodate two people for specialized personal attention and training.

Donald can meet with you to evaluate your needs if your business requires employee training or skills upgrading. Once we confirm the objectives and content, he will design the training and present an overview for approval.

Two employees hammer and shape metal at the forge and anvil during training.