Entry No. 20 — the Phoenix file — filed under: blacksmithing
Iron Rhino Forge
A working blacksmith school (with satellite forges scattered across the state) that runs a class literally called "Date Night At The Forge": you and a partner each hammer out one half of a steel heart at the anvil, then join them into a single interlocking piece. The same shop also teaches railroad-spike knife forging, folding pocket knives, and a full Viking axe class.
The story
Tucked inside an unglamorous industrial flex space on Cedar Street in Tempe, Iron Rhino Forge operates far away from the polished retail strip. While the rest of the Valley settles for standard dinner dates and overpriced cocktail bars, this working blacksmith shop offers a far dirtier, louder alternative: standing over a coal forge, hammer in hand, beating red-hot steel on an anvil.
Run by local blacksmiths like David Goodman, the shop operates on an obsessive mission to build an active community of smiths and bladesmiths across the Phoenix metro area and beyond. Instead of just selling finished ironwork, they put heavy tools into complete novices' hands, teaching everything from turning raw railroad spikes into usable knives to heat-treating folding pocket knives and full Viking axes.
The shop's standout offering is a three-hour workshop called "Date Night At The Forge." You and a partner suit up, heat raw steel in the coal fire, and take turns pounding out two interlocking halves of a metal heart. Because each half is forged by hand on the anvil, the two pieces lock together in a joint that only fits that specific twin—industrial romanticism forged in genuine heat and sweat.
What it's like
Pulling up to Suite 6 along Cedar Street's warehouse corridor, you will hear the rhythmic ring of heavy iron on anvils before you even step through the bay door. Expect real coal fires, intense ambient heat, and plenty of soot. Leave the synthetic athletic wear at home—polyester melts instantly if hit by a stray ember—and show up in 100% cotton or denim with sturdy, closed-toe leather boots. No prior metalworking experience is required, but prepare for your forearms and grip to feel the workout the next morning.
The move: Book the 3-hour Date Night At The Forge ($300/couple, no experience required): suit up, work a coal forge together, and walk out with two halves of one steel heart that only fit together because you made them.
- 📍 Tempe
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2051 E Cedar St, Suite 6, Tempe, AZ 85281
Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- ReVibeU Wellness Spa — Soak your aching forearms and float off the coal dust in 1,000 pounds of Epsom salt less than two miles down the road.
- Casey Moore's Oyster House (W.A. Moeur House) — Head to the porch of Tempe's famous haunted Irish pub for cold beers and oysters to cool off after working over the fire.
- Air Apparent (James Turrell Skyspace) — Contrast the loud, hot labor of the coal forge with a quiet moment under James Turrell's LED light canopy on the nearby ASU campus.
- Vintage Lasers and Holograms — Trade the heavy medieval hardware of blacksmithing for 1970s laser science at this hidden strip-mall holography gallery.
Good to know
Do I need any prior blacksmithing or metalworking experience?
No experience is necessary. The instructors guide beginners through safety, forge operation, and basic hammer control step-by-step.
How much is the Date Night class and what do we make?
The 3-hour "Date Night At The Forge" workshop costs $300 per couple, and you walk away with two halves of a steel heart that interlock into a single piece.
What is the dress code for working at the forge?
You must wear natural fibers like cotton jeans and a cotton shirt, along with closed-toe leather boots or shoes. Synthetic fabrics are a fire hazard around hot sparks.
What other classes does Iron Rhino Forge offer?
They offer specialized workshops covering railroad-spike knife forging, folding pocket knives, and full Viking axe forging, alongside open forge nights for community members.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: arizonablacksmith.wtf · chamberofcommerce.com · commercialpropertyconnect.com
last checked: 2026-07-19