Absolutely amazing experience from beginning to end. Craig and Andy were such wonderful teachers. This class really showed how much fun forging metal can be. I learned more about anvils than I would have ever dreamed. I also learned more about railroad spikes and Craig's medical history than I could have ever dreamed. It was easy, it was entertaining, it was a blast. I would recommend this to anyone wanting a family outing or a date night or even just acquiring a new hobby. The bottle opener class was a home run. Remember, whatever you do... DONT DROP ANYTHING ON CRAIG's TOES!!! read more

Super fun experience, perfect for a date-night. Craig the instructor is very funny and understanding. I made a bottle-opener out of a railroad spike and I learned about 19th century child labor laws. 5/5 would blacksmith here again. read more

Really awesome class! I forged metal into a pretty flower. Craig is a fun instructor.

We had a great time doing the Beginner Blacksmithing Date Night Metal Roses class! Craig shows you each step first, with an example rose, and then you do yours completely yourself (unless you need a little extra help with something, then he's happy to assist!). Craig is hilarious and has so many interesting stories to tell while you're making the rose. It's a great gift / creative date night idea. read more

Met Craig Cowen, the barefoot forger himself, at a run club meetup in the Northside. This guy has lived multiple lives and is just so understated about everything he's done-- he tells us he has a forge and hosts classes, events, (and yoga). The guy is such a character, it's so cool have met him so serendipitously. A friend and I took the *railroad spike to bottle opener* class today and was unaware of how much fun it would be turning a literal railroad spike into a fancy bottle opener. Craig is hilarious, and somehow made antique anvils fascinating. I will now spend the rest of my life with anvil arbitrage opportunities in the back of my mind, all of the time. I'm looking forward to signing up for the knife making class with Andy Alm (starred in season 3 of Forged in Fire) sometime in the future. Can't recommend this place enough. Andy and Craig are obviously passionate about their work, and it shows. 5/5-- will definitely be back for a class in the future. I'd recommend the first class to anyone with a pulse; very approachable for makers of all levels, or just anyone curious and enjoys new experiences. Craig should actually consider stand-up, he's hilarious and even had props. Oh, also, they have other classes like making your own wedding rings and date night metal rose making. read more

The Barefoot Forge - Metal Fabricators Near Me - Allison Park, Pennsylvania

I gotta tell you I had the best time tonight at the barefoot forge. My kids got the session for me for Christmas. Best gift ever!! I happen to be a huge fan of the show Forged in fire so this was right in my wheel house. I found Craig to be an amazing teacher. So knowledgeable. Seriously I got more information from him in four hours than I have in watching the show for years. And, he teaches with a comic flare. Had me rolling. Funny dude. All in all if you are looking for an amazing, original gift idea for your man (or woman) this is what you're looking for. I know I sound like a commercial but that's because it was THAT good read more

We were able to participate in customizing our rings. The end result was fantastic and we couldn't be happier. read more

The Barefoot Forge - Metal Fabricators Near Me - Allison Park, Pennsylvania

Educational, challenging, and most of all FUN!! I took Craig's Intro to Blacksmithing workshop with four friends and family. Besides learning how to make awesome bottle openers, we learned so much about the history of blacksmithing, what makes a good anvil, the various tools, etc. And we had a blast trading stories and jokes with Craig - he's a wonderful instructor and a flat-out hilarious person. We all agreed we'd love to take another class with Craig - we'll be keeping an eye out for new course offerings! Thanks, Craig, for an amazing day. read more

The Barefoot Forge - Making the perfect bend for a bottle opener! - Metal Fabricators Near Me - Allison Park, Pennsylvania

We had an incredible experience taking a class a Barefoot Forge, which I got for my husband as a Christmas present. Craig is knowledgeable, funny and a great storyteller. We learned so much and can't wait to take another class and get ourselves set up to forge at home. Super cool experience, great gift idea and good for groups! read more

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A great first time experience! Craig is nothing but gracious and fun as he explains the tools and history behind what's probably sitting in your basement. He is beyond patient with helping you with the rail spike bottle openers and has a humor that can put him on TV. The biggest complaint I have is the space I'll have in my wallet from getting into some small hobby forging from here - this fellow will get you hooked on propane forges and surprisingly light hammers. read more

My fiance got us this class as an early valentines gift. He had gotten my ring from here so we thought we'd check out the class. Craig was amazing. He has a very deep knowledge of blacksmithing and can talk for hours on anvils (which are way cooler than you think). I'm absolutely going to take another class and jump into the hobby. Thanks Craig!! read more

I had a blast making a sweet metal rose at The Barefoot Forge. Craig is an awesome teacher and a real renaissance man. I can't wait to go back and make a bottle opener! read more

The Barefoot Forge - Metal Rose - Metal Fabricators Near Me - Allison Park, Pennsylvania

My group had a blast this weekend at Craig's bottle opener class! Barefoot Forge was a very cool experience. The bottle openers we made from railroad spikes were really fun and an awesome keepsake. read more

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Such a fantastic experience! Craig is a wonderful teacher and the day was so much fun! It's a lot work but the results far exceeded my expectations! We came from Detroit (only about 4 hour drive!) and loved our trip to Pittsburgh! I could not recommend Barefoot Forge more highly! read more

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We visited Pittsburgh from out of town and we were looking for cool, unique things to do. If your in the same boat, you got to check out THE BAREFOOT FORGE!! it's a lot of fun, you learn interesting facts, and you get to make your own souvenir. Highly recommended. read more

The Barefoot Forge - Blacksmith for a day! - Metal Fabricators Near Me - Allison Park, Pennsylvania

I took a group of friends to the Barefoot Forge for a bachelor party. Craig was awesome! Very knowledgeable, fun, entertaining, and a great teacher. We all had a blast, and each of us left with bottle openers we forged from railroad spikes. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking to get into forging, have a good time, or get a wedding ring - which I learned, is their specialty! read more

The Barefoot Forge - Finished products! - Metal Fabricators Near Me - Allison Park, Pennsylvania

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Had an awesome experience at the barefoot forge, learning a bit about blacksmithing history and basic techniques with the bottle opener class. Craig is super knowledgeable and the approach is fun and informative -- I truly felt I had learned how to do the project myself and hope to apply and build on skills in the future! Highly recommend this for anyone getting into blacksmithing or just feeling creative! read more

My fiance found The Barefoot Forge while he was investigating options for his wedding band. We planned a weekend and came in from out of town to make his wedding band together. Craig was awesome to work with: flexible, enthusiastic, and so informative. He made our experience making the ring an incredible memory. Craig showed us the ropes and allowed us to be part of just about every step of the process of making the ring. Now the ring will not only be a symbol of our union, but a reminder of an awesome experience that we shared! To top it off, the ring is incredibly unique-my fiance and I both love that his ring wont look like anyone else's. We would highly recommend checking out The Barefoot Forge, regardless of whether you want to make a ring or check out one of their other classes. We also made a rose and two railroad spike bottle openers while we were there, which were super fun as well. It was completely worth the trip and we're so glad that we did it! read more

The Barefoot Forge - Metal Fabricators Near Me - Allison Park, Pennsylvania

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My husband and I recently took the rose making class with our son and his fiancee. They both made their wedding rings at the Barefoot Forge and those rings are truly special! Craig was a great instructor, emphasizing safety, creative expression, and having fun. My husband and I have two really special roses to mark the time spent with our son and future daughter-in-law. And, the two of them have two amazing roses that they made that will sit front and center on their table at the upcoming wedding. Fantastic experience! read more

5 stars? No way. This place needs a 10 star review! Craig is knowledgeable very down to earth and honest when it comes to any questions you may have. He has plenty of information to share, me bring primarily self taught, he let me know what I was doing wrong and where to improve. I also walked away learning a couple of things. The class size is perfect and you walk out with a sweet bottle opener/ rose. I am also looking at taking another class taught here as well. read more

Barefoot forge was one of the coolest experience's I've ever done. If you are looking for a good time this is the place to go! Making a metal rose and a bottle cap opener was amazing! Craig was our instructor and he's awesome! I learned a lot from him and had a good time doing so. Full of fun and fire! My aunt and I wanted to experience something different and this sure was it. I would 100% go back anytime. I suggest going without a doubt! read more