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F.A.Q.
Didn't find what you are looking for?
No problem, give us a call at (989) 721-4604 or email us at bavarianblacksmithexp@gmail.com. 

WHAT ARE THE AGE RECOMMENDATIONS?

The recommended minimum age varies for each experience.

  • Short experience is 6 years old.

  • Medium experience is 9 years old.

  • Long experience is 12 years old.

WHAT PAYMENT METHODS DO YOU ACCEPT?

Cash, Credit Cards and indentured servitude - kidding about that, but if you do want to work for us, give us a call - we're always interviewing. 

Please Note: Deposits for extended experiences, group bookings, and classes are non-refundable. Deposits can be transferred to a different date or time depending on availability. 

HOW LONG UNTIL I LEAVE WITH MY FINISHED PIECE?

It depends on the experience.

  • Adventure Knives and Blacksmith Knives require a tempering cycle while you customize your sheath. Plan on a minimum of 2 hours before your blade is ready to take home. 

  • Daggers and Railroad Spike Knives can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour after your experience to be ready to be picked up. We recommend a quick tour around River Place Shops and re-hydration after your experience, while you wait for the knife to be finished.

  • Horseshoe Knives are generally ready faster. A drink inside at the Cass River Grill or a Beignet at N'Orlins and you should be ready to go after 15 to 30 minutes. 

  • Wands, Rune Pendants and Candy Canes and Ornaments are clear coated and ready to go shortly after you finish forging. 

Kindly keep in mind that we are working with natural materials and novice customers that can be unpredictable. If it is a particularly busy day, our return times will run longer. We do take your telephone number and text or call when your item is ready. If you are in town for the day or dinner, just let us know. Your items just need to be picked up before close of business.

WHY DO I NEED TO COME EARLY?

Our goal is to provide you with high quality and timely services. Part of how we do that is getting our guests checked in before the reserved time slot starts. It does take a few minutes for each person to pick out upgrades, pay, sign our waiver, get into their safety equipment and get queued up. We run our sessions European style, which means we combine up to 4 people at a time.

Our legal department requires each person to have an active waiver each time they participate. You can save some time by filling out that waiver now and show us the confirmation from your phone.

Coming early will also provide your party with an opportunity to observe what is happening. We understand this may be the very first time members of your party have ever participated in real live forging. We have found that a few moments of observation allows our guests to get a feel for their adventure to come. 

DO I NEED AN APPOINTMENT?

An appointment is never required but it always recommended! While we take walk-ins when we can, we can never guarantee a spot without an appointment. We definitely recommend making an appointment for weekends, holidays, parties of 6 or more anytime, and special events in Frankenmuth. We recommend to reserve a couple of weeks out from your planned trip. 

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Specialty classes, such as Damascus, Sword and Axe classes require an appointment with non-refundable deposit and are not available on a walk-in basis. 

HOW DO I GET STARTED WITH BLACKSMITHING?

Start with the basics! We offer introductory skills classes that require no experience. We provide all tools, machinery and materials. Book online or call our shop. When you are ready for more, allow yourself some time to tinker around. We offer Open Forge time so that you can spread your wings. Ready to set up shop at home? We sell affordable, US made forges and reference books, check our Shop page for more details. Don't live nearby? Find a group or a guild. Nearly every state has a noteworthy blacksmithing group of knowledgable smiths. If you are having trouble locating one, give us a call, we know smiths just about everywhere. Want more? Check out our blog! We are compiling articles, videos, products and more. 

CAN I BRING MY OWN STEEL?

We do not allow for unknown steel during our experiences for both safety and quality reasons. Depending on the schedule and if you are able to verify the metal type, we occasionally make an exception if we are able to verify the requested material. Please call us to talk us through any special requests. We are happy to work with you if possible. 

CAN I MAKE SOMETHING NOT ON THE MENU?

Yes! The best way to do this is to sign up for an Open Forge session. Open Forge sessions are by appointment only and based on availability. We like to venture out of the routine and try to accommodate as much as possible. We do have limitations so it's best to call ahead and check with us to specifically schedule a custom request when we can appropriately handle it. We reserve the right to deny any request.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?

Closed toed shoes are recommended, though we do have leather foot coverings if you aren't wearing shoes with enough coverage. Pants provide great coverage but you are free to wear shorts. Layers are encouraged, while the weather outside can be unpredictable, the forge area is consistently pretty warm. Be prepared with a light t-shirt as a base layer. Clothing made from 100% cotton is preferred. Some clothing (especially poly based clothing (and nylon) may require a leather apron. You will be provided with safety glasses unless you wear prescription glasses.

HOW MUCH SHOULD I TIP MY SMITH?

Want to make sure the team that provided your adventure are properly compensated? Much like most service-industry workers, our team depends on gratuity. The smiths do work hard and stand in a lot of heat all day, but tipping your smith goes well beyond the hammer. The crew splits tips shop wide because it takes all of us being on point to bring you a good experience. The grinders, for instance, make your pieces look really nice but they don't get to interact with you and they are an integral part of your finished piece. So when you "toss a coin to your smithy" you're really tossing a coin to us all and we really appreciate it! As with restaurants, tipping between 15 percent (for average service) and 20 percent (for very good service) is suggested and appreciated.

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