Our Instructors

Aram Nigoghosian

We are honored to have Aram as our Artist in Residence. Aram is the master of the Railroad Spike Knife. He also is the creator of many custom hammers. Their beauty belies their function.

Michael Horgan

A long-standing instructor with the forge. Michael has been teaching our CBA Level 1 classes for many years. As a CBA certified instructor Michael is the one to see to check off your CBA list of projects.

Lamont McLaughlin

Lamont is a human power hammer. He is the go to man for Team Striking and partners with Michael Horgan teaching the CBA Level 1 classes

Guest Instructors

Mark currently owns and operates his own school for blacksmiths. His training as a smith started in the United Kingdom in 1976 after leaving high-school, working for a small fabrication/engineering firm that boasted a blacksmith shop. He has worked for a number of smiths as well as teaching in trade schools over the years.

Mark is a certified journeyman smith with the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths, (a UK guild started in London in 1324) and currently an Associate of the company (AWCB) Mark is also a certified farrier with the American Farriers Association (AFA). He does maintain that these qualifications and a dollar will only get you a cup of pretty poor tasting coffee, but that the endeavors were priceless.

Mark owns and operates the 'Mark Aspery School of Blacksmithing' traveling the USA teaching classes and giving blacksmith demonstrations. Mark is currently writing a fourth volume to his 'How to' blacksmith book series, The Skills of a Blacksmith Vol IV – Locks , Latches and Hinges. Mark is careful not to call himself a traditional smith, perhaps classical is a more apt phrase.

Mark likes to use classical joinery techniques where budget and design allow. An underlying ethos of Mark's work is 'make the tools before you can begin the job'. At this time Mark does not do any regular commission blacksmithing, just the occasional small job, and states "I am a little out-of-touch with that side of the profession. I think that the single most important event that has improved my blacksmithing has been to teach it – having to know the root of the skill or information."

Mark maintains that he is as much a student of blacksmithing as the next smith, and is ready to learn more – with a subject this vast, how can he say anything else.

You can see more and purchase his excellent books here.
Get a preview of Mark in videos here.

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