Earthen Metals

Family run business that’s been around for over 20 years. Looking for a fun, educational, and productive weekend outing around Austin Tx… Give Tiger and Erin a call 512−281−2801

Attended a metal working class over the holidays with my boyfriend’s family and boy was it a fun experience. If you’re looking for a unique activity, whether its a family event for the holidays, a birthday, a bachelor party, or even just because, you should definitely check out Earthen Metals in Elgin.
For a minimum of 6 people, you can book a private instruction seminar and learn hands-​on what it means to be a blacksmith in the 19^th century. Tiger headed our class, and he was very knowledgeable as he explained the history of blacksmithing and pointed out that the forges we were using were authentic forges used centuries ago by real blacksmiths. He was a very kind, patient, and expert instructor who above all else, made sure that everyone was having fun and being safe. Both him and his wife work in the shop and it was funny to hear that it was actually his wife that got him into blacksmithing! My party had a very interactive, hands-​on lesson, so be sure to wear pants, closed toed shoes, and clothes that you wouldn’t mind getting embers and smoke on.
Tiger began the lesson with a brief tour of his shop and then showed us step by step how to make a wall hook (see picture). He then gave us each a piece of steel and let us begin. He made it look easy, but boy was it different story when I tried. Some of our party caught on quickly and others took a wee bit longer. The beauty of metalwork though is that you can make many mistakes, but the hot steel is so malleable that you just replace the steel in the fire and shape it how you want. Plus, the charm of handmade goods is that you can see all the hammer strikes and imperfections. When everyone managed to produce a coat hook, we spent the rest of the 4-​hour session making whatever we wanted. We ended up with S-​hooks, ornamental letters and a heart, and even a meat skewer!
The first wall hook that everyone made was in my opinion the perfect way to get started and build confidence. I felt like it gave me the necessary basic techniques so that I could really get creative on my next project. Your imagination is really the limit and Tiger was very encouraging in helping provide the tips and tools needed to make what you were envisioning in your head a reality.
If you have time afterwards, be sure to check out the store front for cool, handmade gifts such as meat turners, coat hooks, bottle openers, key chains, ornaments, etc. I definitely would recommend Tiger’s class if you’re in the Central Texas area.

My sons took a class with them at the Sherwood Forest Faire this weekend. They were taught metal bending, twisting, tapering, flattening and even making a hole in metal. They walked them through step by step explaining all that each step involes and allowing my boys to do it themselves with excellent supervision and kindness. It was an experience of a lifetime for a 13 and 14 year old. Amazed with all they learned about the craft of metal works.

I met Tiger a while ago when I needed some mandrels cut, and have been back time and again for all manner of strange requests — guard material for around a drain access point, sprocket-​chocks for a motorcycle, even blacksmith lessons. He and his wife Erin have been VERY accomodating, and both do metalwork.
He’s been wonderfully friendly, extremely helpful, and a lot of fun to be around. His pricing is fair (especially since everything he does is custom work), and his quality of work is fantastic.
His hours are a bit odd, as he does on-​site work as well — there’s no telling if he’ll be installing handrails at a church, welding fencing on a farm, blacksmithing at a festival, or at the shop — call ahead if you need something.