Entry No. 107 — the Chicago file — filed under: hands-on
Arc Academy (Arc Forge)
Best known as a welding school, Arc Academy also runs small Arc Forge sessions of just 4-6 students hammering hot steel side by side with a master blacksmith inside a working metal-fabrication shop on Chicago Avenue.
The story
Behind an unpretentious storefront at 2225 West Chicago Avenue, Arc Academy operates as a founder-led, non-profit welding school and working metal fabrication shop started by veteran welder Steve Christena. Most people head here seeking formal MIG or TIG welding certifications, but hidden right on the main shop floor is the venue's most visceral workshop series: Arc Forge.
Rather than sitting through dry classroom lectures, you step straight up to the roaring fire beside blacksmith instructor John A. Brandt. In Arc Forge sessions strictly capped at four to six students, you heat raw steel until it glows bright orange, grab heavy tongs, and hammer hot iron against an anvil. You learn traditional blacksmithing mechanics—drawing out, tapering, and twisting metal—shaping your own functional piece to carry home at the end of the class.
You aren't working in a sanitized craft studio designed for corporate retreats; you're standing in an active fabrication bay surrounded by angle grinders, plasma torches, and custom steel builds. The air carries the heat of the forge and the smell of hot iron, offering a rare chance to practice heavy metalwork right in Ukrainian Village.
What it's like
Expect a hot, loud, and intensely tactile shop environment where you will spend the entire session standing over an anvil. Arc Academy strictly enforces safety dress codes: you must wear heavy natural fibers—denim jeans, a 100% cotton shirt, and sturdy leather boots. If you show up in synthetic athletic clothes like polyester or nylon, you'll be turned away at the door because hot metal sparks will melt plastic fabrics into bare skin. The tight four-to-six-student cap guarantees direct one-on-one coaching at the forge, but expect your forearms and shoulders to ache from swinging the hammer by the next morning.
The move: Sign up for an Intro to Forge class together and take turns at the anvil, each shaping your own piece of hot steel one-on-one with a blacksmith instructor in a small group.
- 📍 Ukrainian Village / West Town
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2225 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Sportsman's Club — Walk three blocks down Chicago Avenue after your forge session to wash off the shop heat with a cold drink at this neighborhood tavern.
- Shit Fountain — Take a half-mile stroll through Ukrainian Village to inspect this notorious residential sidewalk bronze tribute to dog waste.
- Salvage One — Head less than a mile south to explore 60,000 square feet of rescued architectural ironwork, vintage fixtures, and industrial relics.
Good to know
What do I need to wear to an Arc Forge class?
You must wear heavy natural-fiber clothing, such as long denim jeans or duck cloth pants, a 100% cotton shirt, and closed-toe leather boots or shoes. Synthetic fabrics like polyester or nylon are strictly forbidden because sparks melt them. Safety glasses are provided on-site.
Do I need prior metalworking or blacksmithing experience?
No prior experience is necessary. The Intro to Forge class is designed for absolute beginners and covers tool safety, forge operation, and basic hammer-and-anvil techniques step-by-step.
How small are the Arc Forge workshop groups?
Sessions are deliberately kept small, capped at just 4 to 6 students to ensure everyone gets dedicated anvil time and hands-on guidance from the master blacksmith.
What do you actually make during the class?
Using traditional blacksmithing tools—fire, tongs, hammer, and anvil—you shape a raw piece of hot steel into a hand-forged functional item that you take home at the end of the workshop.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Yelp
last checked: 2026-07-19