Entry No. 12 — the Salt Lake City file — filed under: blacksmithing
Wasatch Forge
A 1,440-square-foot working smithy with two forges, a hydraulic press and a power hammer, run by owner Matt Danielson — whose beginner track literally includes a class named 'Hot Date,' a no-experience-needed 3-hour session built around forging a knife side by side.
The story
Tucked into Unit 106 A of an industrial strip in West Valley City, Wasatch Forge is a 1,440-square-foot working smithy where the ring of heavy anvils cuts through the garage doors. Run by owner Matt Danielson, it is a full-time blacksmithing shop and school running two active forges, a hydraulic press, and a heavy-duty mechanical power hammer under one roof.
While Danielson and his crew forge custom blades and hammer out iron bottle openers for outfitters like Cowboy Cauldron, they do not hide the trade behind closed doors. Instead, they hand heavy tongs directly to complete amateurs. The gateway class on their schedule is a three-hour session bluntly titled 'Hot Date,' where two people with zero prior experience stand over red-hot steel and forge a pair of functional knives side by side.
What it's like
Expect heat, soot, and forearms that will let you know about it the next day. You will not be watching a demonstration from behind safety glass—you are standing directly over glowing iron, taking turns operating tongs, striking steel on an anvil, and using a power hammer under close supervision. Wear 100% natural fibers like heavy denim and sturdy leather boots (synthetic fabrics melt when stray forge scale touches them), and prepare to leave smelling like hot metal and carrying a blade you forged with your own hands.
The move: Book the 3-hour beginner 'Hot Date' class together — no prior experience required — and each walk out having hand-forged your own knife on a real power hammer.
- 📍 West Valley City
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 3747 Parkway Boulevard, Unit 106 A, West Valley City, UT 84120
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Glow SLC — After sweating over a 2,000-degree forge, head north to Poplar Grove to reset in cold plunges and steam rooms.
- Red Flower Studios (SLC) — Turn your day into a high-heat craft double header by trading ironwork in West Valley for glassblowing at the glory hole in Ballpark.
- Cat & Cauldron — Head three miles south to Taylorsville to swap the brutal noise of power hammers for quiet apothecary shelves and aura photography.
Good to know
Do I need any previous blacksmithing experience?
Not a bit. Beginner workshops like the 3-hour 'Hot Date' class are built specifically for first-timers with zero metalworking background.
What is the dress code for working in the forge?
Wear natural fibers only—100% cotton shirts, thick denim jeans, and closed-toe leather boots. Synthetic fabrics like polyester can melt if hit by stray sparks or forge scale.
What tools and machinery are inside the workshop?
The 1,440-square-foot space holds two working forges, traditional anvils, a hydraulic press, and a power hammer.
Where in West Valley City is Wasatch Forge located?
You'll find it at 3747 Parkway Boulevard, Unit 106 A, tucked inside an industrial flex space complex.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · slugmag.com · sltrib.com · continue.utah.edu · cowboycauldron.com
last checked: 2026-07-20