MABA logo and burning coal

Join MABA


Membership Benefits

Demonstrations

Membership offers you monthly educational demonstrations at blacksmith shops around the state from October through May. The demonstrations are conducted by experienced members interested in sharing their talents. Before and after the demonstrations there is plenty of time to talk with members who are always ready to share their interest and knowledge in blacksmithing.

During the summer months, members enjoy demonstrating for the public at reenactments, art fairs, craft fairs and historic sites. Check the Calendar page and the FYI page for upcoming activities.


Upsetter Newsletter

Members receive our newsletter called The Upsetter, four to six times a year. In the newsletter, the group's calendar of events is listed, as well as club communications from officers, articles containing demonstration projects, and how-to projects with varied skill level, tool projects, book reviews, information on association or member activities, safety items and a wide variety of articles from the ABANA affiliate newsletter exchange program. The newsletter also includes items for sale by the members.

In 2014 the ABANA Affiliate newsletter editors submitted newsletters to be evaluated for content, readability and layout. Carol and Steven Spoerre were awarded the Joe Humble Newsletter Editor of the Year Award, in recognition for their dedication and work done on the Michigan Artist Blacksmith Association newsletter.


Upsetter Archive

The Archive of past newsletters from 1980 to the present, is a great member benefit because the newsletters contain a wealth of educational articles. This archive is available only for MABA members. The annual login information is published in the Membership roster which is printed and mailed with the March‐April newsletter.

Members' Archive Access

Newsletter Article Index is available for download.


Membership Roster

The Membership Roster allows members to find other smiths close to them and contains contact information for smiths within MABA. It is a handy networking tool. The roster and By-Laws are printed once a year and mailed out with the March‐April newsletter.

The information in the roster is never released outside the membership for any reason.


Miblacksmith.org

The website keeps you informed with up to date information on the FYI page. Information that comes in too late for the newsletter is always posted on the FYI page. On the Calendar page it keeps you informed of upcoming activities and the website is the best way for the officers to reach you if there is a change to those activities. Before you leave to go to the next demonstration, make sure you check the website Calendar page for a potential change or cancellation.


A tool loan program for MABA members

If you are interested in blacksmithing, you have joined MABA and you want to try smithing before you acquire your own tools, you may apply for the MABA tool loan program. A basic tool set may be signed out for a three (3) month period and can be renewed upon review by the MABA officers.

A complete inventory list and photo of the tools are made when the tool set is loaned out. The $100 security deposit is refunded, upon return of the tool set in good repair.

The member who signs out the tool set will be responsible for:
  • Arranging to pick up the tools from storage, and getting it to their site.
  • Arranging the return of the tools at the end of the loan.
  • Adding a tool or enhancing the tool set during their loan.

For more information on the availability of the set-up please contact member: Tim Carr, 231.766.3582 or timblackbear@comcast.net


Apply for a Scholarship

The association also offers two scholarships each year to help further your blacksmithing education and we want you to bring your new skills and information back to share with the members.


Business Meetings

We have four business meetings throughout the year. The first meeting is held in December as a Christmas Party, with a pot luck dinner, officer elections, tool box raffle and our annual fundraising auction. The auction keeps our dues low and helps fund the newsletter. The other three business meetings are held after demonstrations throughout the year.


Order your MABA name tag

Download the name tag order form. Purchasing information can be found on the form.

Name Tag Order Form in .pdf format.


MABA Brochure

This is a handy two‐sided trifold brochure about the group. The information can be used at demonstrations as a handout.

MABA Brochure 2023.pdf


MABA, its officers, members, The Upsetter Newsletter, and MABA website, specifically disclaim any responsiblilty of liability for damages or injuries as a result of any construction, design, use, manufacture, or other activity undertaken as the result of the use or application of information contained in any article in the newsletter or on the website.