Entry No. 14 — the Coeur d'Alene file — filed under: hands-on
Fire Iron Forge
Blacksmith David Walker of Fire Iron Forge teaches Blacksmithing Fundamentals inside the forge studio at Gizmo, the community makerspace on the North Idaho College campus. Sessions run every Friday from 10am to noon, are all-levels and beginner-friendly (ages 18 and up), and follow a national curriculum focused on real hammer-and-anvil skill and technique. You work hot steel with real tools over the two-hour slot. Book a seat through the Gizmo blacksmithing page.
The story
David Walker didn't build Fire Iron Forge as a tourist gimmick. He got serious about blacksmithing in his late 20s, taught his first student out of a church community in 2016, and relocated to Northern Idaho in 2019 to set up a dedicated shop inside Gizmo-CDA on the North Idaho College campus. Instead of selling watered-down craft demonstrations, he structured the curriculum around national standards from the Artist-Blacksmith's Association of North America (ABANA), quietly training over 500 students a year in real anvil discipline.
You won't be standing behind a glass safety partition watching someone else work. The moment you step into the forge studio, you're handed heavy tongs, a hammer, and hot steel over open flame. The lesson is immediate: you have to read metal temperature purely by heat glow—catching it between cherry red and yellow—and learn to strike with intention before the iron cools rigid and black. You didn't hear it from us, but ten minutes at the anvil reveals exactly how underused your forearm muscles really are.
Because the forge operates directly inside a public community makerspace, it skips the polished, commercial feel of typical workshop spaces. You're working side-by-side with local makers and smiths on rotating project benches, picking up traditional hammer-and-anvil techniques step by step without shortcuts or fluff.
What it's like
Expect intense radiant heat, loud ambient shop noise, and the distinct, high-pitched ring of hammers striking metal. Located on the North Idaho College campus inside Gizmo's shop floor, the space warms up quickly once the burners kick on. Instructors focus heavily on body mechanics early on, showing you how to lean into your hammer strokes so your shoulder doesn't give out. The catch: anvil space is strictly limited, so open seats book up early. Call ahead to ask what specific ironwork project is on the bench that week, and wear non-synthetic clothes like heavy cotton jeans and closed-toe leather boots unless you want stray hot sparks melting holes in synthetic shirts.
The move: Book a two-hour session and each forge your own keepsake side by side at the anvil, then trade the finished pieces.
📍 Before you go Classes are booked in hourly slots Mon-Thu and most Saturdays; call 208-620-8738 to reserve. Projects rotate, so ask what's on the bench that week.
- 📍 Coeur d'Alene
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: Gizmo-CDA, North Idaho College campus, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Gizmo-CDA Makerspace — Since Fire Iron Forge sits directly inside Gizmo-CDA, you can step away from the anvil to explore the rest of the campus makerspace's woodshop, pottery wheels, and laser tools.
- Emerge CDA — Trade the heat of the forge for clay dust half a mile away at downtown's collective art studio, moving from hammering hot steel to throwing pottery on a wheel.
- Guardians of the Lake (Giant Feathers) — Head less than half a mile toward downtown to see local steelwork taken to a massive scale with the two 25-foot metal feathers rising along Northwest Boulevard.
- Inland Candle Co. — Cool down six blocks away on Lakeside Avenue by hand-pouring custom soy candles in recycled glass vessels after spending two hours working over hot metal.
Good to know
Where is Fire Iron Forge located?
It operates inside the forge studio at Gizmo-CDA, the community makerspace located on the North Idaho College campus in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
Do I need any previous blacksmithing experience?
No. The Blacksmithing Fundamentals classes and project sessions are all-levels and beginner-friendly for ages 18 and up, guiding you step-by-step through tool handling and heat control.
When are sessions held and how do I book?
Fundamentals classes run every Friday from 10:00 AM to noon, with additional hourly slots available Monday through Thursday and most Saturdays. Book directly through Gizmo's blacksmithing site or call 208-620-8738.
What should I wear to a class?
Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes or leather boots and natural-fiber clothing like 100% cotton or denim. Avoid synthetic materials like polyester, which melt when touched by stray forge sparks.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: gizmo-cda.org · Official site · cdapress.com · nic.edu · Reddit
last checked: 2026-06-24