The Crucible

The Crucible in Oakland is a maker’s paradise, offering an incredible variety of hands-on classes—everything from welding, blacksmithing, and woodworking to glassblowing, hot glass sculpting, glass fusing, flameworking, ceramics, and jewelry-making. Their studios are top-notch, each outfitted with industry-grade tools and safety equipment, and the small student-to-teacher ratio means you get truly personalized guidance. I just took their beginner welding basics class, and it was awesome. It went over the four main types of welding and gave me a little experience in each. The instructors broke down every technique in clear, encouraging steps, the workspace was impeccably maintained, and I walked away not only with a new mini sculpture but also with the confidence to tackle my own metal projects. Whether you’re a total novice or an experienced crafter looking to level up, The Crucible delivers an inspiring, skill-building experience from start to finish. Ready to spark your next creative adventure? You’ll want to sign up here.

Our company did a team build, hot glass sculpting, and had a very fun time. There were 5 of us, and Kate took us through the process. It was tough, but we all did pretty well with the guidance and went home with some super cool glass paperweights! Definitely recommend bringing your team in for a social day, or coming for their classes, it's a very fun experience that you wouldn't get anywhere else

I bought the 3hr blacksmithing class for my husband as a Xmas gift and he absolutely loved it. My husband so excited because he truly enjoyed everything he learned. At the end of the class he was able to create a hook and bottle opener. For those who are curious about learning a new craft this class is for you. For a true beginner it's not something you should be intimated by. The teachers and volunteers were very friendly from start to finish and we will be coming back!

Took a MIG welding class here with Christian as my instructor and i can honestly say this was one of the best experiences of my life definitely a 10/10 recommendation. Christian is very knowledgeable about anything metal or welding and takes the time to work with you and helps you with anything small or big there is no task or idea to big for Christian his creativity is 10/10 awesome warm environment definitely recommend!!!!!

Summary: They will cancel classes and never refund you. The first blacksmithing class I took at the crucible was good. The teacher was knowledgeable and passionate. Unfortunately, the next class for which I paid more than $500 was cancelled only a few days before it happened. The cancellation email noted that they would refund me, but every email I’ve sent over the course of months to get the refund has been ignored. I tried calling multiple times during business hours and have not received a response. At this point it’s just thievery.

My wife and I took the blacksmithing sample class. It was a ton of fun! The teachers were patient, knowledgeable, and you could tell they really enjoyed what they were teaching. It’s hot and a bit of work but in a good way. You’ll leave with some new skills, an idea of whether blacksmithing is something you want to peruse further, and a neat souvenir to boot!

Unique trade/craft school with quality items for sale. Handmade one-of-kind artisans. Take the time to explore this old foundry now a school.

Saw a large group of artisans selling handmade items to the public. There refreshments and foos avilable for purchase.

My kids took a week long camp during summer and absolutely loved it! My eldest son participated in the glass blowing session and my youngest son did the woodworking session. They learned lots in just one week and created beautiful pieces. We will definitely be back for more classes. Many thanks to all the amazing teachers and staff members

Kid loved ceramics camp. Will return this summer. Husband learned a lot at welding 101 class. Safety first. Good people.

I've only been there at their open houses and see what they offer and think it's amazing. I would recommend anybody who's into creating things to go there

Needed to have a part on my outdoor pizza oven welded anyway Aeden the manager at crucible took care of this and dud an amazing job!...my oven now works like a dream and after 3 + months and over 500 pies in the "new" oven, im so happy!...These guys rock!

So much fun fire art! And the teachers are very knowledgeable! I've become addicted to working with molten glass!

I loved this place. I took welding, woodworking and enamel class. My spouse took a bunch of metal working classes. My kids did summer classes. We were members and planned to be members for many years. However, I had an issue with a teacher during the bandsaw box class, a feedback situation more than anything. And I know this is a known issue with this teach because I overheard another student complaining about the same teacher during the wood lab. The response from the crucible was to ignore me. While I did not return to the bandsaw box class, my family finished up the classes we had already paid for and canceled our membership. We will not be returning. If you can't respond to an issue like this, how will they handle larger issues when they happen? How do I trust them with my children if they ignore know issues with teachers?

[Edit 1014/2023: Melissa reached out the day after I posted this original review. It was a very professional email stating she had processed my refund. Raising my rating fro 1 to 2 stars - largely because I do believe the folks at the Crucible are good people. Possibly the challenges that are all too common with non-profits got the best of them when it comes to my experience there.] [Original post below] I signed up for a metal fabrication workshop - over $600. The day before the class was to begin, I got an email saying it was canceled, and to call the provided number or reply to the email if I wanted a refund or credit for another course. I replied to the email for a refund. Nothing. I called the number about 10 time over the course of a few weeks. No one ever answers the phone or returns any messages. I went to the Crucible in person. The nice folks at the front dest said the person who could do the refund was not there. But they took my name, number, email and said they'd call. But no response. I went back again - got Melisa Gray's card and called. No answer, no returned call. I don't think the folks at the Crucible are evil or have bad intentions. But what a sh*t show. I guess I need to explore small claims court.

(changed my mind after I typed out my experience) Giving two stars instead of one because this doesn't appear malicious, just a bad business decision in terms of policy and information. I was given an e-gift certificate for my birthday that was enough to cover a taster course as I've been interested in the Crucible's blacksmithing class for some time. The first issue arose when I tried to find an open spot for a class. It literally took me a few months of stalking their open class on the open registration days to finally find an opening. When trying to use my certificate, I was given an error about how the certificate didn't belong to me, so I couldn't use it. I had emailed a few times and gotten no response, so I called. To be fair, once I got into contact with someone, it was a quick fix. Overall, trying to use the certificate and finding an open class without having a membership to register early was a frustrating experience. The main issue arose the week of my taster course. I had been feeling unwell and decided to test for covid. My test came back positive on the Monday before my Saturday class. I was hopeful that I would test negative and feel well enough to attend by the weekend. Two days before my class before my class, I received an email from the Crucible about guidelines and expectations for my upcoming class. In this email, they included a section that said if you have covid, not to attend. They also mentioned a health screening at the start of class, which would include a temperature check before the class began. They provided an email to send any questions about attendance as well. I emailed the provided email address on Friday when I was testing negative from covid, but was still experiencing symptoms and running a fever. I asked about rescheduling my class as I wanted to respect their policies and was also concerned about being turned away due to my temperature. I did not receive an email back until Monday, after my missed class on Saturday. The email thanked me for following their guidelines and policies, and they told me that I could not reschedule or be refunded due to their withdrawal policy of needing to withdraw at least 7 days before the class. This policy was not mentioned in their previous email telling me not to attend while ill, and that I would have my temperature checked and, I assume, turned away from the class if I was running a fever. I feel fairly frustrated and honestly a little stupid, for following their policies laid out in their email that did not mention I would be forfeiting my money and any rescheduling as they didnt link or mention their withdrawl policies at all in the email. The most frustrating part is that even if I had known and wanted to be safe, I tested positive on Monday, which still would not have been enough time to withdraw and be given the opportunity to rebook. All in all, I've wanted to take classes at the Crucible for the past two years and finally was able to use my certificate and now am just out of luck because they don't have Covid polices that actually help their students. I will also say that the initial email I recieved from Cade was very respectful, but they got a little snarky in their response email when I replied and asked about if I would have been able to reschedule if I had shown up sick and was asked to leave after the temperature check, and explaining how their policies encourage people to attend while ill as they don't want to lose out on a couple hundred dollars. They did not respond my question and simply put the onus on the community to be respectful and considerate to not get others ill, while reaping all the benifits of smaller classes and keeping all the money. Actually, I've changed my mind after writing this. One star.

Such an incredible artisan warehouse where you can learn to work with glass, metal, leather, ceramic,fabric, NEON!!! We go to see our friends exhibits when they have sales. It's an amazing showcase filled with creative and cool artist teachers as well.

I took a Lampworking class a few years ago as well as a ring making class. It's an amazing place that contributes so much to artistic creativity. The facilities are fabulous and it's fully equipped.

I was always curious about the Crucible and finally got the chance to understand what is Crucible when I attended the 2019 Spring Open House. Crucible started in 1999 and has evolved to become the largest nonprofit premier fine and industrial art education center in the United States. It is located in West Oakland, a block from BART. As an art center for adults and youths, beginners to advanced students can take classes in various fine and industrial arts of bike shop, blacksmithing, ceramics, enameling, fire& performance, foundry, glass blowing, casting, coldworking, flameworking, fusion and slumping, jewelry, kinetics and electronics, leather and textiles, machine shop, moldmaking, neon and light, stoneworking, welding and woodworking. I'm glad I was able to finally attend an Open House to get to know this great art center for all ages.

I saw a sharpening class in their catalog I was really excited about. The public registration period wasn't for another couple weeks and the class was filling up so I was advised by the office staff to sign up for a membership to secure my spot. I payed the $90 to get a membership and then the couple hundred dollars for the class. More details to follow but-- TLDR I spent a ton of money, the class didn't live up to the description by a long shot. And then I was given the run around for months, being brushed off over and over again by Cade..and by extension their boss Melissa. I'm writing this review after months of trying to communicate and being told that "whoopsies! Your concern is important but we're just so busy" and then being ignored...with no refund in sight.. . . . . . . . The class description was mentioned bringing tools/blades from our homes/studios to sharpen. I am a shoemaker, I was enrolling in this class to learn to sharpen the knives that I use for cobbling. I showed up and the guy teaching the class had pretty clearly just been thrown in there. I and another student (there were only 3 of us) had both brought our own blades to sharpen. The guy teaching the class was only knowledgeable about chisels. Which was totally irrelevant for me and the other person in the class. Had the description said this was a chisel sharpening class I would not have attended. Immediately after the class I called the office and (after a few days of hearing nothing) wrote an email to them and explained that they had severely misadvertised this class, and that I was upset and wanted to talk to someone about a refund. I was contacted by Cade who told me they would deal with it in a few weeks, that they would pass it on to their boss. I never heard from the supervisor. So I contacted Cade again, and received essentially the same message, we're so busy, I'm sorry, I'm passing this on to my boss Melissa. This pattern repeated a few more times until my last contact attempt a few weeks ago was totally ignored. I have been polite and followed proper channels this whole time. And it's clear that because they have my money and I have no recourse, they are happy to just blow me off.

Really great instruction, not only are the teachers experts at what they're teaching, they're also skilled at teaching. This is different from most maker spaces, where you're lucky if someone teaching a class is either an expert or good at teaching -- most likely, they're a hobbyist who's just put a little more time into it than you and isn't particularly good at teaching. Some instructors who are excellent (non-exhaustive list): Eric Blanpied for Wood and Metal, Mark Metz for Blacksmithing, David Weisbach for TIG Welding, and the Machining instructors (anonymous because they work at companies that don't want them on social media). The Crucible is one of the highlights of the bay area, worth visiting for a weekend day-long class as a tourist or for the weekly classes if you live in the area.

If you're looking for a unique gift or date night idea, the Crucible is perfect. I started my search in San Francisco at the Workshop, but there wasn't anything I felt my fiancé would like. Google brought me to the Crucible, which set off angelic sounds in my head. There must be hundreds of classes here, many of which are seasonal. There are also different formats, whether one-time class or weekly subscription. I narrowed down my options to three and asked my fiance's siblings to help me choose... We agreed on glass flameworking. It was a Friday class, which meant happy hour afterwards! My fiancé and I arrived early and hung out with others in the waiting area. We looked around in awe at the ginormous open space with tons of class names on signs, as well as pieces from previous classes for purchase. Eventually we were all separated into our respective classes, where we were introduced to our wonderful instructors, one of which was Tansy. I'll mention later why she stood out for me. I was nervous about being so close to fire, but they made me feel safe. In class, we made glass mushrooms and snakes. Super fun! We got to see the progression of work as the classes get harder. So much possibility. And there were only eight people to a class, making it intimate and personalized. Doing glass flameworking for 2 hours was perfect. Once we were dismissed, we went to an area of the warehouse where the other class participants had gathered for an open bar of beer & wine. It was a good way to unwind, and it was here that I talked further with Tansy and even bought one of her glass pieces. If I lived closer and had more money, this would be a dangerous hobby. Actually I thought my fiancé would become addicted, but he has enough expensive habits as it is. Walking to the restrooms, I saw a sign for stonecutting which is now what I want for my next birthday!

Similar to previous reviews, the customer service I experienced was sub par to say the least. I bought a $650 machine shop class and the day of the first class I broke my finger at work. I called the crucible immediately to see what my options were for attending another class. I never heard back. I called and left voicemails, sent emails and visited in person and no one could help me. I finally heard back from Melissa AFTER the entire 6 WEEK course was over and was told there was nothing they could do......I was very displeased with this and they said if I sent proof they would see what they could do. I sent proof and was told a refund had been processed by another employee. Great! THEN two weeks AFTER that email Melissa emails me again saying they are NOT giving me a refund and just credit for $500 (not my original $650). They were rude and unhelpful and I never even took a class! I wouldn't recommend this overpriced joke of a place to anyone.

I came here for a work offsite. The place is very cool, I definitely didn't know that it existed before. I opted for the fire eating class. The instructor was very professor and she walked us through each of the steps. She was very patient and took the time to ensure that each of us practiced and was comfortable with each step. I would definitely come back to take another class. All of my co-workers had very positive experiences in the other classes.

I've wanted to take a class here for so long and finally did. I had an extremely knowledgeable woodworking instructor. The environment was so friendly and calm, they have all the industrial arts toys you could ever want, and I've already signed up for another class. An amazing place for learning with a strong focus on being part of its local community.

We were looking for a unique company outing for our entire Yelp staff (then probably 100ish people) and I remembered seeing The Crucible at the Fire Arts Festival and wondered if they do corporate events. All it took was a quick phone call to find out in fact, yes they do! The event was a hit with the team and remains my personal favorite in Yelp's 4 year history. Everyone got to participate in a hands on class of their own choosing, ranging from flame swallowing to stick welding. Each person also walked away with some sort of creation or new super cool skill. Their teachers were fun and interesting folks and were very safety conscious too. I'd say this is about the coolest and least corporate event you could do for a fairly large group.

OMFG - You gotta see the Crucible's FIRE BALLET This go-round: DRACUL: PRINCE OF FIRE - the most unique, fun, mesmerizing performance I've seen in forever Last night marked the 10th Anniversary of the Crucible. They actually opened 01/15/1999 so I was very lucky indeed to be there for such a momentous occasion. They started from practically nothing & have built an empire of FIRE.....offering all kinds of classes & workshops for kids & adults alike Glassblowing, Blacksmithing, Neon Lights, Metalwork, Jewelry Making, & on & on & on. They have something for everyone.....& you get to play w/ FIRE. What naughty kid doesn't want to do THAT?! Small, intimate venue looks upon this elaborate stage that hosts a huge pole (as in pole dancing), pulleys rigged up for aerial acrobats, plus all kinds of firey special effects all over the floors, stairs, doors, to showcase all kinds of feats of FIRE And these performers do it all.....fire breathing, eating, twirling, rubbing all over their bodies, welding, blacksmithing....put a *fire* in front of any verb here & they did it Ballet itself was superb - take an original twist to the story of Dracula, blend it w/ homages to Rocky Horror, Titanic, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Bram Stoker's Dracula, and the all infamous Thriller.....& you've got DRACUL Special shout out to the Oakland Fire Dept who were on hand in case anything went awry Easy to get to on BART. We drove & there were paid lots or street parking - all easy to find. Special note, make sure to bring something cushy to sit on - those bleachers can get hard on the bum; temp-wise, things were just right Sound was great, views were spectacular & the performers more than earned their standing ovation! *** And for those complaining over ticket costs - I have one thing to say *** WHAT THE *(^%$#* ARE YOU THINKING?? Not only are you paying to help this NONPROFIT stay in business, you're paying to see an incredible, professional dance & acrobatic troupe stage an outstanding performance. You would pay the same money for the Symphony or the SF Ballet & it's cheaper than Cirque, so quit yer whining & be thankful you got tickets before they were all sold out I *think* I saw an ad for this on PBS (or maybe it was Muni) but wherever it was, I owe a huge debt of thanks

I came here with some coworkers for a fun offsite. We were registered for two hour sessions, either metalsmithing or woodworking. I chose to do the metalsmithing so this review is mostly for that class. The instructors were a bit quirky but nice to work with. They went over a lot of safety rules especially about fire but actually when it came time to work on our sheets of metal they actually went ahead and did most of the work for us, so I'm not sure what the safety lesson was for. They gave us very small sheets of copper or brass for us to draw on. We then went to work and took tools to etch some lines in the metal. Then we went to the metal cutting machine which was really fun to work with. Then afterwards was the polishing and the patina, and the punching of holes to make it a pendant or a keychain. I made the Tardis from Doctor Who. I had a lot of fun in the process although I can't say I'm an expert in metalsmithing. It kind of felt like the science dog meme where it says "I have no idea what I'm doing" ... But I had fun and wouldn't mind taking another class again.

We enrolled our 10 year old granddaughter in The Crucible's kids ceramics class and were blown away at how much she enjoyed it and learned! Despite her shyness, our granddaughter immediately felt welcomed, encouraged and safe to explore, and her excitement to return increased with each day. Special shoutouts to her teachers Anna and Katy for making our granddaughter feel so supported! Also kudos to the entire Crucible staff for their exceptionally secure student check-in and check-out processes! We'll definitely be back.

We decided to do something different for date night and head to The Crucible for the Friday Flames blacksmithing class and boy was it a treat and a half! The Crucible is a 5-7 min walk from the West Oakland Bart station so it's quite accessible coming from SF or anywhere in the East Bay. When we got there we were pointed to the blacksmithing workshop room - looks just like how you would imagine with the boiling hot furnaces! I was informed I hadn't dressed properly for the occasion so I'll say it here so that you're prepared :). If you're going for blacksmithing, wear close toed shoes (my flats were technically close toed but they basically want no part of your foot exposed in case something hot falls on it - totally valid). So just stick to sneakers or something along those lines. Also wear a cotton shirt and full pants :). We each put on gloves, grabbed a hammer and a set of tongs, and were walked through step by step how to make our own bottle opener, with a demo to ensure we understood. After that, we got started! They set it up so that there is an anvil per person to work with and ample space. The two volunteers teaching us were so so sweet and patient, constantly coming around to each of us to help. I particularly was struggling haha so they showed me where to hit the hammer on the anvil once the metal was hot and with how much force. At the end of it, we came out with a beautiful bottle opener, forged by us! Also to make sure no one suffered from the pretty intense heat from the furnaces, they provided all of us with chilled bottle water throughout - very nice touch. At the end we were treated to some chilled beer and wine. Most of us chose beer to test out our openers :). Overall we had a blast! I'm definitely going to come back for their glassblowing and woodworking classes! Lovely volunteers teaching normal folks how to make usable products :). Come check out the Crucible to do something different and learn something new!

My husband and I attended the blacksmithing Friday Night Flame course last night and had a great time! Neither of us had ever taken a blacksmithing class and thought it would be something fun and different to try. It sure was! Our instructors, Reed and Adrian, were very knowledgable, patient, provided good guidance, and made it look so easy (definitely is not easy!) We made a steel bracelet. They also offer Enameling, Glass Flameworking, Glass Fusing, Jewelry, Leather, and MIG Welding for the 2-hour Friday Flame classes. After the class, they provide beer and wine (all donated, as The Crucible is a non-profit), and we were able to chat with other people in the class, the instructors, and with people that took some of the other classes that night. The Crucible is a great organization with great people. I'm now trying to decide which class to take next!

I've only taken blacksmithing 1 so far but I've been coming in to practice as well and then plan to keep taking classes. This is a really unique place where you can learn things you can't learn anywhere else. I was kind of worried about taking a blacksmithing course - it seemed dangerous and I'm not very strong or athletic. But as long as you follow safety precautions it seems very unlikely anything bad would happen, except for some sore muscles and blisters if you live a sedentary lifestyle like I do. There are actually quite a number of women in there on a regular basis, and while muscles give you an advantage especially at first I haven't found it an obstacle once I got the hang of things - I'm actually the only one from my original class who still goes. Also bending and squishing pieces of metal with a hammer is very satisfying and it's amazing how malleable metal is when hot. It is very hot around the forges though, so bring a water bottle and wear a (non-synthetic) t-shirt. There are lots of places to refill a water bottle. Classes are pretty small and there's a lot of good instruction. You cover a lot of techniques even in the beginning class. Also the instructors and other more experienced people do some really cool projects. I definitely want to take more types of classes but I wound up getting more serious with blacksmithing than I expected.

First, I'd like to mention that as far as The Crucible itself goes, it's an amazing business that provides many great services to the community. I highest suggest checking out a class or two and learning something new. That said, I think it's worth mentioning that it's not in the best area. If you're planning to drive, make sure you can get one of the few parking spots they have in their lot (it's first come, first serve). I'd strongly discourage anyone from parking on the street, even in the middle of the day. I attended a class over the weekend and when I came out on Sunday evening, at least three people had their passenger side windows broken and cars searched. In my case, I had nothing of value visible. After having a chat with a staff member today, it sounds like this is a regular occurrence. I didn't see any notes on the crucible site or in the class registration, so hopefully this comment helps you avoid the same mistake I made!

One of my mom's favorite picture's of me and my sister - is both of us finger painting in the backyard. I must have been about 3, and my sister 5. We're both wearing yellow rain smocks and yellow rain boots. My sister has a shower cap over her hair to keep her shaggy locks from getting into her eyes. My mom has placed a paint covered pair of My Little Pony kids underwear over my head, tufts of red hair sprouting out of each leg hole. My ears closed in by the underwear elastic (I still managed to get dried up pieces of multi-color paint in my hair.) I've always loved art. Sometimes to a detriment - like the time, I took it too far in first grade and to the walls (I was grounded for a week) So when we went to the Crucible for our Yelp off site, I couldn't have been more excited. I was in the woodcarving class. We each were given a small square of mahogany wood and were trained on how to use both high-powered wood tools and hand tools such as chisels, to carve out, build upon, and create a simple wooden square of art. At first I was apprehensive and nervous about using such sharp tools, with such brief instructions, but once I started, I felt more than comfortable asking our Crucible instructors for help. Both of the staff, were patient, helpful, and eager to assist. The Crucible is like another world. Inside the large Oakland space, exists a world of fire, glass, wood, metal, and creativity. Everyone on the Yelp off site really enjoyed their classes. The Crucible staff were both relaxed and professional. They encouraged us to walk around and check out what everybody else was doing, throughout the our time there. It was so refreshing to bond over art. To reach back into our minds for our hidden art talents, or lack of - and just let go. If you're ever looking for a fun trip for a company outing or for just a group of friends - I couldn't' recommend Crucible more. Even if you're just interested in taking a class or two for yourself. Check out their website and impressive list of art classes!

Just finished the level 1 Flamework class-- what a treat! Easy access off 880 freeway. Highly recommend classes here. COVID-19 procedures in place and taken seriously.

When I first found out that our company outing was going to be here (how cool is that?) I immediately went to sign up for fire eating. Then my fiance reminded me that I've been having some random esophagus issues lately and maybe eating fire wasn't the best idea. Blah. And so I switched to jewelry making. I had images of beading myself a necklace so when they handed me a copper square that I was supposed to saw, drill, and hammer I was a little disappointed, but hey...always up for something new! Let's just say I'm not the most artistic person you've ever met...and by that I mean I have absolutely no artistic ability. Yelp, nada. I can't even cut in a straight line. There were about 10 other coworkers in my jewelry making class and I was by far the trouble maker....the very sweet instructors kept running over to show me what I was doing wrong. My copper square turned out pretty sad- in fact I had to change my valentines day heart to a broken heart after having a little bit of difficulty. Fun times though and 4 stars just cause they let me play with saws/drills and I still left with all 10 fingers!

Awesome place! I've always wanted to try metal working and took a Friday night taster of blacksmithing here with my wife. She had a great time too, and sometimes in the day to day hustle of life, finding ways to be creative fall to the wayside. I also took a blacksmithing 1 class here too as well as an exploring welding class. Blacksmithing for two days straight was far more exhausting than I thought it would be. Exploring welding was fun for someone like me who has never welded before get to try everything, but I think it would be more fun to focus on one kind so I'll probably take a mig or tig class soon. Definitely want to go back for blacksmithing 2? As well. It's great that this place exist and everyone here seems like they really care and are passionate about teaching others what they no. There is one negative thing though, and that's the area the Crucible is located. My beloved Yukon was parked right across the street from the front door and was sadly stolen last September. It still has not been recovered to this day. I heard the area was sketchy but I thought a main road in the middle of the day would be safe. Definitely Uber from a better area, maybe take Bart or only park there if you have a newer car with newer security features. To top it off, all the things from my blacksmithing 1 class we're still in there so I have no proof of my creations. Because the Crucible has no control over this I can't fault them, so just be careful when going here.

My very awesome sister got me a groupon for a blacksmithing class here. Our dad is a metallurgical engineer and we grew up in Pittsburgh, home of the STEELers so metal and oxides MUST run in the family right? Apparently this may be a male gene b/c neither Van nor I were very proficient with the hammer or fire. Ahhh hell, when I was little, I was afraid to blow out candles b/c I thought they would explode or pop. I wonder if Crucible has a business development department ... their typical average class costs are pretty expensive ... which makes it a huge commitment for people. Even the groupon deal making this a $200 class (half off) was definitely a splurge. Unfortunately, the class was more "self promotion of the Crucible and other ways you can spend your money here ... er I mean How to safely use our equipment" than Intro to Blacksmithing and tools. Our instructor (Chris) was a nice guy and he knew his stuff. But this felt less Intro (undergrad) work and more 3rd year graduate school work. The Crucible has a lot to offer ... I think it's trying to strike a balance between open workshop for craftsman (which is so awesome that such a place exists) vs trade school to teach, develop and foster the learning of some of these arts. For the teaching part, it already assumes you have accepted your trade and are ready to enter into your apprenticeship rather than still trying to find your craft.

My first experience with The Crucible was a preview event I attended as part of their Fire Arts Festival a few years ago. It was a lot of fun, although as a Health and Safety professional, I cringed at some things that I saw, particularly as it related to fall protection. I regularly receive email updates from The Crucible and am particularly interested in some Industrial Arts education opportunities for my Son. However, the various schedules have not yet aligned, although there's plenty of options to choose from. Their Corporate Team Building Workshops Program is also an intriguing proposition. My first visit to Crucible HQ today was part of their annual Holiday Open House. There were a wide variety of artists represented, including welding, forge, glass making, and ceramics demonstrations, as well as samples of The Crucible's good work. My prize purchases were an inexpensive glass wreath that will probably hang from our home window and a two piece heart welded together (I'm big on symbolism). Otherwise, it was fun and educational to walk around this large and impressive facility and ponder all the future possibilities.

Really cool space and great people, instantly felt like home when I stepped in here. But because of the small number of classes offered it can be very difficult or impossible to take a sequence of them. For example, I took Blacksmithing I and really, really enjoyed it, and have been super excited to continue... unfortunately Blacksmithing II isn't available until 4-5 months later. Aside from such a long wait being annoying, who is actually going to remember anything after no practice for that long? And you can't use the forge or take any of the other blacksmithing classes until you take the second class. Great for the occasional dabbler and corporate events etc, not so great for someone who wants to really dig in and learn and take a lot of courses.

I took a fire eating class here yesterday and it was a blast, I'd highly recommend it as a group activity since it's a very social class (more than some of the other classes I saw people taking here). At the end of the class we were all able to "eat fire" and run the flame across our arms and hands....definitely the coolest thing I've learned at a company event. I'm seriously thinking about signing up for more classes. Disclaimer: I came here as part of a company event and therefore didn't have to foot the bill.

I have only taken one class (TIG I), but I was so horribly disappointed in it that I will never take another class here again. My biggest issue is they seem to allow anyone to teach a course here, regardless of their skill level or knowledge of the subject. I signed up for TIG I because I wanted to learn to weld aluminum for work. I've been a welder for 15 years but I have very little experience with TIG (I mostly use MIG). The course description suggested multiple metals would be used, including aluminum (thankfully they have since updated to say only mild steel). The class was taught by a gal who i quickly learned from my questions, had zero understanding of the fundamentals of welding or any knowledge on if a weld was structural. She knew how to TIG weld sculptures and the organization felt that was enough knowledge to teach other people how to weld. Yes, most of the students in the class had never touched a welder at all, but her lack of knowledge was so evident that many of the students were learning from me by the second class. She was unable to help students understand what the cause of a poor weld was (be it distance or Gas flow or speed). She had zero knowledge on checking a weld for structural integrity, and she refused to teach us anything except mild steel. She could barely describe what her technique was, so her "examples" were just her welding in front of us, with zero description of her angle, foot motion on the petal, welder set up and variations in the welding set up. She was incapable of answering about 80% of my questions. I have yet to know among so many things: why you choose a certain filler rod diameter? Why you choose a certain tip over -another? Is heat penetration different visibly than with mig? Can you "run hot" like you can with other welding techniques? $500 waste of money.

Love, love, love (did I say LOVE?) The Crucible! I've taken glass beadmaking and gemology, and am now taking a glass fusing and slumping class. Their prices are a fraction of the cost of classes at SF Public Glass, and the instructors are just as qualified. Their annual holiday open house and craft show is a don't miss. Unlike other the other art fairs that inundate the Bay Area, this one has truly original items that you won't find anywhere else. Plus, how many other craft shows have flaming hula hoop demonstrations? ------------------------- I wrote the first part of this review early in 2008, but had to come back to rave about the recent Fire Ballet performance of Stravinsky's "The Firebird". In the words of Borat, "WOWOWEEWOW!" Just an incredible mix of classical ballet, modern dance, hip-hop, performance art, motorcycle stunt-riding (yeah, you heard me right!), pyrotechnics, moving sculptures, acrobatics, aerialist trapeze-swinging, and did I say pyrotechnics? Suddenly, I found myself channeling Beavis..."FIRE! FIRE!" I don't know about the one person who said The Crucible is not good for kids. They offer specific childrens' programs, and the fire ballet would mesmerize anyone from 5 to 155!

The only thing that caused any ill will towards the Crucible is that I don't live closer to Oakland, CA . . . if I did, I'd surely be signing up for a class every other week, and well on my way to being an industrial arts groupie. They have classes in everything from fire eating to woodworking, and they're all housed neatly in a crazy industrial warehouse. I went for a company outing, and I took the foundry class - where you create a design in a sand mold, pour in liquid aluminum, which then hardens. Not only did I have the good fortune to get to make some kick arse aluminum coolness, but the added bonus of the foundry class was getting to find out what a Crucible actually is. .. we used a crucible as a receptacle for melting the aluminum. Playing with fire, blowtorches and sharp objects to create crafts worthy of display? Sign up today and thank me later.

I haven't taken classes here yet. I went to their open house. Greeted by a hot chick in full-on industrial-worker gear. What could be better than that? Ok, guys in full-on industrial gear. We watched blacksmiths (my favorite), woodworkers (pretty cool), glass blowing, metal casters... I know I'm leaving out a ton of trades. They were all super friendly and took the time to talk about what they were doing. The best demonstration we saw was hot molten bronze being poured into a mold by a guy in a full-body shiny silver suit. Awesome.

porno for pyros: I attended the Hot Couture event. It was not so hot, more cold than anything. The Fashion displayed was poor quality except the last designer. Not much talent was displayed when it came to clothing design, BUT... the fire!!!!! yes, the fire was ablaze and the beats were churning. I cannot say this was one of my favorite experiences, i mean, my expectations were pretty high to begin with. I will say that the work that was put into the event was massive. I have to give the pyros some credit. I am dying to take courses here! It has been my dream for so long to learn how to make jewelry with fine metals. The classes are a bit pricey but I am not giving up on my dream.

We attended for Friday flames. We took flame working with Tansy and Leo. It was a great introduction to working with glass. The two hours flew by and left us wanting to explore more. Ending with drinks and good food didn't hurt.

Can't recommend the Crucible highly enough. I have worked through their woodworking and metal working curriculum and it has been amazing. The instructors are fantastic, the fellow students' work is always inspiring and the atmosphere - despite COVID restrictions - is fantastic. Equipment is extremely well-maintained and shop safety is a top priority. The Crucible is a Bay Area gem! Thanks to everyone who keeps it going!

Fantastic place to learn how to weld. I truly enjoyed taking classes here after a full Architecture (the actual physical building kind), work day. Everything was provided with the class fee which made it super easy. The facility feels safe despite the heavy amounts of Flame. Instructor was very knowledgable and had no problem with me simply perfecting my bead rather than making something.

I've done two classes at The Crucible: the all-day "taster" for metalworking, and the 6 week MIG Welding Class. Both were amazing! I feel like I've emerged with new skills that significantly augment my woodworking/workshop abilities. A huge endorsement goes to Robert who teaches MIG. He is patient in answering everyone's questions, puts a lot of thought into helping us achieve our personally chosen projects, and even helped us learn how to use other tools that weren't specifically MIG-related, such as the sheet metal sheer cutter, the industrial sized bandsaw, and the angle grinder. If you've never been to The Crucible, go. There's something awe-inspiring about the facility itself. Everywhere you look there are forges or kilns or other things burning and cooking, the sounds of saws and and welding torches and hammers hitting anvils. You come home from each class dirty and loving it. It feels like being a Dwarf in Mordor. :)

Super fun date night! Mackenzie was a great teacher. Hard work to manipulate the metal, but totally worth it to have a cool tale home item that you made yourself!! Can't wait to come take another class here!

Amazing facility with amazing staff volunteers and programs. They are the gold standard of which all not for profit art centers should study. Love their attention to safety and their facilities and community support

What a great place for an old broad to learn new tricks. Everyone is welcoming, kind and fun. Definitely a place to learn and have fun. Their "Taster" classes are a great way to get new experiences and see if you want to delve deeper.

I was almost tempted into the depths of hell during tonight's Crucible's production of Dracul. I had to restrain myself from running up to the stage and laying my neck bare to offer my blood for the cause and become a vampiress! I had heard the Crucible's annual fire ballet was incredible, but nothing prepared me for the sensual freakishness of the actors, the luscious limber bodies of the contortionists, the death defying aerial acrobatics and the fierceness of the pyrotechnics. And when Dracul and his zombies busted out with their rendition of Thriller? Oh, baby. I can still feel the heat.

I've taken more than thirty classes at The Crucible including classes in the Blacksmithing, Welding (arc, MIG, TIG, torch), Electronics, Kinetics, Fire Arts and Jewelry departments. The classes are pricey, but you can reduce the cost by getting discounts for volunteer work. The entry level classes that are taught every semester are well organized and well taught. Anything beyond entry level is frequently canceled for lack of enrollment, disorganized, sometimes without needed materials or tools or even a lesson plan or instructor. Please take into consideration that The Crucible is run by artists and not academics. There is hippie-skippy roll with the punches vibe rather than a well planned/well organized mantra. Sometimes it takes a great deal of patience and deep breaths for me to let go of expectations and roll with the class.

"Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I know of desire I hold with those who favor fire." -- Robert Frost, former poet and S.F. dude Growing up, I wasn't quite a pyromaniac, but let's just say I got into a fair share of trouble thanks to a fascination with fire. There's a certain primitive and universal connection between man (and boy) and the luminescence and heat of a set fire. Fast-forward to 2013 in West Oakland, and it turns out a Crucible event is, for my match-loving inner child, a paradoxically blazing taste of heaven. Thanks to an invite by M, who played Virgil to my Dante's inferno, I had my long-overdue first taste of Crucible. Constructs of metal and machinery, spewing danger-will-robinson thousands-of-degrees-kelvin flame, pepper the expansive hall interior. The flames, pardon the cliché, draw you in like a moth, closer, to marvel at the craftsmanship and ingenuity of the constructs. The flames' creators, metal-wielders and artists, of whom many accompany their creations, are ready, friendly and passionate to talk about their creatures. Yet on this evening, the machines of this inferno were a backdrop to a "Hot Couture" a self-described fusion of fashion & fire, to celebrate the Crucible's 15th anniversary. Exec Director Steven Young played host with the showmanship of a circus emcee, setting the festive mood to a fiery T. Designers and design teams dreamt a big dream to forge connection between fabric and flame. And, the dream was mostly realized quite successfully, with models strutting flaming tiaras, dresses of glowing LED sensors, and leather and latex that sizzled. Plus the acrobatic choreography of aerialist Rose Nisker, whose beauty belies a strength that made her defiance of gravity seem like child's play. Though not exorbitant, the tickets weren't cheap, and the crowd who purchased largely reflected this -- a mix of the fashionable, the artistic, and the hill-dwellers who sought to be both in a relative risk-free infusion of urbanization. Yet the fire brought all together in a sense of communal celebration. I'd invite you too to share that community in upcoming Crucible events.

Lots of interesting classes BUT TOO EXPENSIVE Laney College is much cheaper and you get more classroom hours