Entry No. 29 — the Philadelphia file — filed under: metalworking
NextFab — Metal Forging I
Inside a working North Philly makerspace, a three-hour class puts complete beginners in front of a live propane forge, tongs, hammer and anvil to hand-forge their own wall-mounted coat-and-key hook.
The story
North American Street in Kensington was built on hard manufacturing, and inside the sprawling complex at 1800 North American Street, NextFab carries that industrial pulse forward as a community makerspace. Step past the digital fabrication setups and 3D printers into the metal shop, and the environment turns primal: yellow flames roaring inside a propane forge, heavy steel anvils, and the distinct ring of hand hammers striking hot iron.
Metal Forging I condenses an ancient trade into a three-hour introductory class built specifically for complete beginners. Under the guidance of shop instructors, you learn how raw steel behaves under high heat, using tongs to manipulate stock and heavy hammers to shape, taper, and twist iron into a functional, hand-forged coat-and-key hook.
What it's like
Expect ambient heat, rhythmic clangor, and the distinct smell of hot steel. Before stepping onto the metal shop floor, you'll knock out a brief virtual orientation. Once inside, you trade turns at the propane forge and anvil alongside fellow beginners. Wear non-synthetic natural fibers like heavy cotton or denim alongside sturdy closed-toe shoes—synthetic clothing melts around open heat. You'll leave three hours later with soot on your fingers and a hand-hammered iron hook to hang by your front door.
The move: Take Metal Forging I together ($179 member rate, prerequisites are a quick virtual orientation), trade turns swinging the hammer, and hang your finished hook by the front door as a permanent souvenir.
- 📍 North Philadelphia / Kensington
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1800 North American Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122
Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- ICEBOX Project Space at Crane Arts — Walk four tenths of a mile south to trade the hot iron shop floor for 5,000 square feet of experimental visual art inside a former plumbing supply warehouse.
- Halcyon Floats — Head six tenths of a mile down the road to soak your hammer-fatigued muscles in 800 pounds of Epsom salt water.
- Formation Sauna + Wellness — Keep the heat going a mile away by trading the forge's propane flames for a 195-degree Nordic sauna session.
Good to know
What do you actually make in the Metal Forging I class?
You hand-forge a custom, wall-mounted steel coat-and-key hook using a propane forge, tongs, a hammer, and an anvil.
Do I need prior experience before signing up?
No prior metalworking experience is needed, though you must complete NextFab's brief virtual orientation before attending the class.
How much does the class cost and how long is it?
The hands-on workshop runs for three hours and features a $179 member rate.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · phillymag.com
last checked: 2026-07-19