Dues are $25 per year, renewable each January 1, and include spouses and children under 18. Membership also includes the outstanding AACB Newsletter, packed with event notifications, informative articles, drawings, and photos. You’ll be joining a group of talented and motivated individuals dedicated to helping others grow their skills and knowledge while promoting and preserving the craft of blacksmithing.

Regional meetings are AACB events hosted by local forge groups. Most meetings include a blacksmithing demonstration, food, a general meeting, and an Iron-in-the-Hat raffle, where tickets are drawn to win donated items. These gatherings are a great opportunity for beginning smiths to meet others in their area, pick up tools or equipment, and learn new techniques. Meetings are announced in The Joe Humble News newsletter, on our event calendar, and on AACB Facebook pages and groups.

A typical meeting opens at 8:00 a.m. local time and begins at 9:00 a.m. with a demonstration by an experienced smith. The day also includes a lunch, a business meeting, and an Iron-in-the-Hat raffle.

Guests and visitors should be aware that blacksmithing comes with some unique safety concerns—hot iron is no joke. Sparks fly, tools can break, and things heat up fast.

• Wear safety glasses at all times.

• Choose natural fiber clothing like cotton. Synthetic fabrics are more flammable and can melt, causing serious burns.

• Wear closed-toe shoes—leather is best, and high-top leather offers the most protection.

• Treat all iron—stock, tools, vises, and more—as if it’s hot.

• Don’t grab for falling objects—they’re often hotter than they look.

• Wear ear protection.

One of the best things you can do as a blacksmith is meet and learn from an experienced smith. An afternoon spent working alongside a skilled smith is often worth more than months of watching videos and experimenting on your own. Mentors can help you avoid wasted time, teach proper techniques to prevent injury, and connect you with the right tools and equipment. Attend an AACB meeting to meet others who share your interests and start building those connections. Be sure to explore our local forge groups to see if one near you offers Green Coal classes.

A Green Coal class is a beginner-level blacksmithing course, typically offered by local forge groups, and is designed to teach the fundamentals to newcomers. The class usually includes a series of hands-on projects that cover essential skills such as tapering, bending, drawing out, and sometimes forge welding. The main focus is learning safe, proper techniques for operating a coal forge and working with hot metal.

To participate in a Green Coal class, you must be a member of both the local forge group and AACB. After completing the class, members are generally eligible to take part in Open Forge events and use the group’s shared equipment.

To learn more reach out to a local forge group to find out about their green coal classes/

Interested in helping out? Jumping in and lending a hand is a great way to learn and meet skilled smiths. At regional meetings and our biannual conference, there are plenty of things that need doing and don’t require any blacksmithing experience. Helping with setup, pitching in where needed, and keeping events running smoothly lets you learn what goes into different types of smithing. It’s also one of the best ways to meet experienced smiths—people are more likely to help when you’re working right alongside them. Plus, it’s a great way to give back to the blacksmithing community.

Yes! You’re welcome to join the AACB as an At-Large member. This simply means you’re not currently part of a local forge group.