Smith Shop

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Smith Shop Functional + Ornamental metalwork handmade in Detroit. Founded in 2012, Smith Shop is a dynamic craft-centric metalworking company based in Detroit, Michigan.

Smith Shop produces quality metalwork of all descriptions specializing in the custom fabrication of gold, silver, copper, brass and steel while also producing limited-production wholesale runs ranging from jewelry to architectural hardware. In addition to its manufacturing business, Smith Shop offers access to its metalworking facilities at Ponyride (a noted Detroit creative entrepreneurial space) through classes, workshops, private lessons and studio rentals. Smith Shop’s founders have exhibited their metalwork nationally and internationally in such prominent venues as the Renwick Gallery of Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., the Bellevue Arts Museum in Bellevue, Washington, The Houston Center for Contemporary Craft in Houston, Texas and Galerie Marzee in Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Smith Shop is Gabriel Craig, Amy Weiks, Adam Whitney, and Rachel Kedinger.

The dragon flower finial.
10/20/2026

The dragon flower finial.

Scenes from a fire screen build.
10/07/2026

Scenes from a fire screen build.

Our recently completed 2nd firescreen (of 3) for the Grosse Pointe War Memorial . The 1910 house for Russell Alger Jr., ...
07/03/2026

Our recently completed 2nd firescreen (of 3) for the Grosse Pointe War Memorial . The 1910 house for Russell Alger Jr., was designed by New York architect Charles Platt. Once a private home, it now serves a public function as a community center and memorial site.

At nearly seven feet long this massive grille features some exceptional forge work including three types of finials, three types of forged collars, die forged pilasters, extensive use of traditional joinery and forgewelding. Made completely from low carbon steel supplied by Heritage Iron Company .

The screen exhibits Smith Shop’s hallmark approach of compositional harmony, rhythm, granular detail, and fine craftsmanship. It is a privilege to be able to deliver works like these to a public institution for the use and enjoyment of all.

Are you obsessed with traditional ironwork? We have a job for you. Smith Shop is hiring a blacksmith. We have some prett...
06/07/2026

Are you obsessed with traditional ironwork? We have a job for you.

Smith Shop is hiring a blacksmith. We have some pretty exceptional projects in the shop and in the job queue. Spare no expense firescreens, a traditional Georgian portal gate, railings for an internationally celebrated arts and crafts era church—and that’s just the start. We are excited to bring on someone who wants to learn and contribute to some very exciting ironwork.

If that isn’t enough to entice, we are deeply involved in the work of the Historic Blacksmith Conservancy and will be restoring the Yellin Tool Collection at our shop over the next year. Oh, also the North American supply of 1006 low carbon steel for smithing also runs through our doors. Its a dynamic place to live out your blacksmithing dreams.

Please share our job posting with your network. Long term domestic and international journeymen considered.

Finial sample and leaf work for the current fire screen project. Yet another form I’ve been contemplating for almost a y...
05/09/2026

Finial sample and leaf work for the current fire screen project. Yet another form I’ve been contemplating for almost a year. As a forging this comes quite close to utilizing all of our technical and artistic talent. Can’t wait to show the completed work.

Die forging sample for a current firescreen project. So much character. 🥰
05/04/2026

Die forging sample for a current firescreen project. So much character. 🥰

Recently completed firescreen for the . This first of three screens is for their dining room. Inspired by the heavily c...
04/24/2026

Recently completed firescreen for the . This first of three screens is for their dining room. Inspired by the heavily carved Italian renaissance mantle and the breath taking if somewhat bizarre EF Caldwell andirons, the firescreen slips seamlessly into the period room environment. The screen combines forged moldings, pierced collars, forgewelded scrollwork, gadrooned finials, and paterae with carved acanthus. The feet take inspiration from early Italian renaissance hearth furniture. The symmetry and balance provide a detailed work which doesn’t feel overly complicated, and in the environment feels comfortable as it’s sublimated by the bold andirons and muscular carved mantel. We hope it will become a cherished part of this interior, originally designed by Charles Platt circa 1910.

Many parts and pieces with little context.
02/27/2026

Many parts and pieces with little context.

Recently completed end table commission for a themed period room in which there was an art nouveau nautical theme. Table...
02/17/2026

Recently completed end table commission for a themed period room in which there was an art nouveau nautical theme. Table tops from old bronze port hole ship window (with the oakum still in tact). The forged steel bases imagined naturalistic undersea elements while paying homage to Hector Guimard. As the form moved from architectural milled structural steel to billowing te****le and back we became transfixed by the ability of our material to express its duality. Perhaps we walk away even more convinced that the range of design is greater in the hands of the artist-craftsman.

It’s been a wild month. Amy and I decided to start a specialty steel supply business called Heritage Iron Company. It wi...
02/03/2026

It’s been a wild month. Amy and I decided to start a specialty steel supply business called Heritage Iron Company. It will be a separate venture from Smith Shop, but it exists to supply blacksmiths with low carbon steel, which has superior working qualities for ornamental and decorative ironwork. We have ordered 36 Tons of 1006 steel which should be here in March! We also bought two tons of pure iron ingots. We are sold out of 1/2 and 3/4” bars through pre orders, but have some 1, 1 1/2, and 2” bar left.

In the meantime time, I just received 3 ft of 1” round bar which I’ve been forging out and testing to see how it forges and forge welds. Enjoy watching the results. Thanks to for assisting and being my hype man.

The video of bending and unbending is actually a lap weld a was trying to break. Tried three times unsuccessfully. I then used that bar as the stem of the jump weld. Enjoy!

# blacksmith

Address

180 Victor Street
Highland Park, MI
48203

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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