Entry No. 31 — the Albuquerque file — filed under: silversmithing
Meltdown Studio
Tucked into the historic Old Town district, this metalsmithing and lapidary co-working studio hosts beginner-friendly hands-on workshops in silver jewelry making, torch soldering, and stone setting.
The story
You don't usually expect a quiet commercial suite off Rio Grande Boulevard to house an active open-flame metalsmithing co-op, but Meltdown Studio has been operating right here since 2006. Founded by jeweler and educator Lauren Tobey, the space was built to pull silversmithing out of locked private studios and hand the blowtorches directly to the public. Behind an ornate iron gate in an Old Town stucco complex, it functions as both an accessible teaching classroom and a 24-hour co-working hub for over two dozen resident bench-mates.
Instead of a sterile art classroom, Meltdown is a heavy, working craft shop. The multi-room layout expands into dedicated lapidary spaces equipped for cutting and polishing high-desert stone, rows of heavy iron anvils, and 13 individual student workstations stocked with jewelers' saws, metal stamps, and butane torches. It is a rare setup where complete beginners stand shoulder-to-shoulder with professional makers, turning raw sterling silver and Southwestern cabochons into wearable armor.
What it's like
Stepping through the iron entry gate, you enter a bright, kinetic workshop where the high-pitched hum of lapidary wheels mixes with the rhythmic strike of ball-peen hammers and the quiet hiss of torch flames. If you sign up for a 'Make It at Meltdown' class, you arrive to a neatly prepped bench station loaded with specialized hand tools, silver sheet, and step-by-step guidance before firing up a torch to bezel-set turquoise or spiny oyster shells. Public workshop seats fill fast, so book early—and remember to wear natural fibers and closed-toe shoes to handle the open flames and metal filings.
The move: Fire up jewelers' torches together to saw, hammer, and bezel-set Southwestern turquoise or spiny oyster shells into matching sterling silver rings or infinity latch bangles.
- 📍 Old Town
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 901 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Suite E-130, Albuquerque, NM 87104
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Back Alley Brujas — Pair your own torch-and-hammer session with a visit to this Old Town shop founded by a local silversmith selling handcrafted silver talismans and witchy goods.
- Church Street Cafe (Casa de Ruiz) — After sweating over a blowtorch, walk four-tenths of a mile into Old Town for New Mexican staples inside one of Albuquerque's oldest adobe haciendas.
- American International Rattlesnake Museum — Balance an afternoon of shaping Southwestern stones and silver with a look at the world's largest collection of live rattlesnakes down the street.
Good to know
Do I need previous jewelry-making experience or my own equipment?
No prior experience or tools are needed; public workshops provide all equipment, raw sterling silver, regional stones, and step-by-step instruction.
Who runs Meltdown Studio?
The studio was founded in 2006 by local artist and educator Lauren Tobey as a community teaching school and shared artisan workspace.
Can experienced jewelers work here independently?
Yes, beyond beginner classes, Meltdown operates as a co-working facility offering bench rentals and 24-hour studio access for resident artists.
What specific projects can you craft in a beginner workshop?
Depending on the specific session, projects include bezel-set turquoise rings, infinity latch bangles, stamped silver cuffs, and spinner rings.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · newmexico.org
last checked: 2026-07-21