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HEAL WITH STEEL
Where does your donation go??
It covers these monthly operating costs, which in turn provide our community's heroes an "all expenses paid" experience at Healing Flames Forge. They will never pay a dime to participate in our forge sessions.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please bear with us, folks. Our calendar will be a little iffy for a good part of February into March. Rob is having surgery on 29 Jan and looking at a 4- to 6-week recovery period. Don't worry, as soon as he is able (and as soon as Nancy lets him, he'll be back at it.
Thank you for your understanding.
What is Healing Flames Forge?
The primary purpose of Healing Flames Forge is to give veterans, first responders, frontline workers, and others a place to relieve stress. It is a place where people can meet others with similar experiences and interests, build friendships and bonds, and turn frustrations into positive, creative energy.
While designated Arts Education for business purposes, Healing Flames Forge is not a blacksmith school. We don’t teach people to be blacksmiths, rather, we use basic blacksmith tools and techniques to provide a therapeutic environment. If participation in structured sessions sparks an interest in blacksmithing, bladesmithing, that is an extra benefit of the program, and we will encourage further skill development.
Healing Flames Forge will support and facilitate development of those skills, motivated by a desire to preserve an ancient, dying craft. There is no fee for participation; all project material*, tools, and personal protective equipment (PPE)** are provided by Healing Flames Forge.
Click on ‘Classes’ to see our client priority list.
*All projects made by participants are take-home items.
**Tools and PPE are not take-home items; all tools and PPE remain in the smithy.
Where does your donation go??
It covers these monthly operating costs, which in turn provide our community's heroes an "all expenses paid" experience at Healing Flames Forge. They will never pay a dime to participate in our forge sessions.
SMITHY'S CORNER
See what we've been up to!
Please bear with us, folks. Our calendar will be a little iffy for a good part of February into March. Rob is having surgery on 29 Jan and looking at a 4- to 6-week recovery period. Don`t worry, as soon as he is able (and as soon as Nancy lets him), he`ll be back at it.
Thank you for your understanding.
Another short video from our awesome weekend!
Another full house, not just one day, but both weekend days this week! The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) Family Readiness Group (FRG) beat some hot steel with us this weekend. An awesome group of people, and we all had a great time.
Our participants don`t only work metal. Tony, a long-time reheat, * is shaping handle for a big battle axe he fabricated. Once the handle and axe head are married up, will post follow-up pictures.
* We refer to return participants as "reheats".
Maggie, drawing out the tail of a scorpion bottle opener, her first go at the power hammer. She may have been a smith in a previous life!
Maggie, putting the finishing touches on a trol cross.
The first session of December 2025, another full house. I love watching Jim Langley engage people in the smithy. He is definitely in his element!
Some pictures from recent Healing Flames sessions (all Chris-approved!):
- Vinny running some hard-facing welding rods to repair the edges on an old Mouse Hole anvil
- Tony working on a handle for his battle axe
- Jim and Dylan, not just smithing, but also discussing glass blowing.
- A group shot of some veterans from Sunday, 9 November 2025
- Whooza, our shop dog (as in "who`s a good dawg?") had successful ear reattachment surgery on Sunday.
A great day in the smithy Sunday, with a great group of veterans!
Kukri
Blade is sourced from a vintage circular sawmill blade. Handle is Stacey Silva black pinecone in black resin scales with brass pins.
Twisted canned Damascus blade with cholo cactus handle scales & brass pins. The cholo wood is stabilized and filled with marine resin.
The Team Behind the Dream
FRANK DUANE
Board Member & Contributor
NANCY GRIM
President & Treasurer
ROB DUANE
Founder & CEO
BRONSON DUANE
Technology Architect
MIKE DUANE
Spiritual Contributor