Sorry if this topic has been beaten to death, but I want to get into blacksmithing, and want to take a basic course before I build my own forge. Are there any courses around Chicago, or people who would be willing to teach me? I'm 17 by the way. Thanks

Go to the stickies at the top of this section . The is one on blacksmith groups . See how is inyour neck of thewoods.

Check out the IVBA

Where are you located in the chgo area? North, South, or West???

I second joining up with the Illinois Valley Blacksmith Association (IVBA), they've been really helpful for me and you can get plenty of beginner's instruction at their various events.  If you're up north near Wisconsin you can check out the Upper Midwest Blackmith Association (UMBA) as well.  In my experience, any local guild will be a bunch of old-timers who love blacksmithing and want to pass on the love of this art to anyone who's interested.

 

Next month if you can make it down to Pontiac, IL (it's only a 90 minute drive south of Chicago) there will be a huge regional blacksmithing conference for 3 days from July 17-19...and they will have beginner's classes on Friday and Saturday! 

Here's a link to the event:  http://www.umrbc.org/Home.html

 

There's also Fine Line Creative Arts Center up in St. Charles that does more formal blacksmith instruction, but you'll be paying more and you have to sign up months in advance before the classes fill up.  I'm sure you can find more places like that about if you search these forums.