Entry No. 31 — the Detroit file — filed under: blacksmithing
CJ Forge Blacksmith
A modern-day blacksmith shop specializing in custom ironwork and intimate, hands-on metalworking classes. Couples can experience the ancient art of blacksmithing using a real fire forge, hammer, and anvil.
The story
Along East Ten Mile Road in Hazel Park, CJ Forge operates as a working fabrication shop where heavy metalworking meets raw, hands-on instruction. Rather than keeping the trade locked behind closed doors or treated like a relic of historical reenactments, master blacksmith Donnie Miller and the shop’s smiths run a modern shop floor, turning raw steel into high-end architectural pieces, custom hardware, and decorative ironwork.
What makes the place worth knowing about is their willingness to hand you a heavy hammer and put you right in front of the fire. In their private, intimate workshops, you step past the industrial clutter and get straight to work, learning how to manipulate glowing metal against an anvil using traditional techniques like reverse twists and leaf forging alongside artisans who forge for a living.
What it's like
Expect real heat, shop dust, and the steady ring of hammer on anvil from the minute you step inside. You will be working directly over an open fire forge, so dress accordingly: wear heavy natural fibers like cotton or denim and sturdy closed-toe leather boots—synthetic fabrics melt instantly around flying sparks. It is physical, hands-on work, and you will leave with soot on your skin, sore arms, and a piece of hand-hammered steel hardware you forged yourself.
The move: Book their private 2-person class, where you and your partner will work side-by-side with master blacksmith Donnie Miller to heat, hammer, and bend raw steel into custom hardware or decorative art.
- 📍 Hazel Park
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 86 E. Ten Mile Rd, Hazel Park, MI 48030
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Center of Enlightenment — Trade the ringing anvil and open fire for quiet sanctuary at this historic Spiritualist church just a mile away in Ferndale.
- Bath Savvy Naturals — Clean the forge soot off your hands by heading to nearby Ferndale for a custom scent-blending and soap workshop.
- Johnny's Speakeasy — Cool down after swinging a heavy hammer by securing a password for hidden, subterranean cocktails in Royal Oak.
Good to know
Do I need prior experience to take a class?
No experience is necessary. The hands-on classes guide total beginners through basic metalworking steps, from heating steel in the forge to striking it correctly at the anvil.
What should I wear to the workshop?
Wear natural fiber clothing (100% cotton, heavy denim, or canvas) and closed-toe leather shoes or boots. Avoid synthetic materials like nylon or polyester, which melt when exposed to high heat and sparks.
What kind of projects can I make?
Depending on the class, you will heat, hammer, and bend raw steel into decorative metalwork, custom hardware, or ornamental steel leaves.
Where is CJ Forge located?
You'll find the workshop at 86 E. Ten Mile Rd in Hazel Park, Michigan.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · ferndalefriends.net
last checked: 2026-07-21