Metal Art Class in Sitka: Make Your Own Alaskan Creature

You'll torch-finish your own metal sculpture in a working CNC workshop.

A 2.5-hour metal art class in Sitka where you design and finish a custom steel animal—salmon, halibut, crab, eagle, bear or whale—using a plasma cutter, die grinder, mallet and propane torch. Mike, a third-generation shop teacher, guides the class from blank to finished piece, and the workshop picks you up from the cruise ship terminal. Minimum age 12; shipping of your finished work is available for an additional fee.

The Experience

What makes this class different is that you're working inside an actual production shop. Mike starts by firing up the CNC plasma cutter to cut your metal blank—you'll watch the sparks fly while he shapes a flat piece of steel into the outline of an Alaskan creature. Then the work becomes yours. You'll gear up in safety equipment and learn to handle the 2-inch die grinder, smoothing and texturing the surface while the metal throws off heat and light. It's fast-paced and hands-on from the moment you step in.

After grinding, you pick up a teardrop mallet and start hammering 3D shape into the fish or animal—this is where the flat blank becomes something with depth and character. The choices are real: Sockeye, Coho or King Salmon, halibut, Dungeness crab, humpback or orca whale, grizzly bear, Pacific octopus, bald eagle. Once the shaping is done, Mike shows you how to use a propane torch to heat-color the steel, layering bronze, purple and blue hues across the surface. The whole piece takes on the look of an Alaskan keepsake you actually made.

The class runs 2.5 hours total. The Sitka Shuttle Company picks you up from the cruise ship terminal, so you don't arrange transport yourself. All tools and safety gear are provided. When you're finished, you take the piece with you, or arrange to have it shipped home for an additional fee.

What’s included

• Pickup from the cruise ship terminal via Sitka Shuttle Company.
• all tooling and safety equipment.
• instruction from a shop teacher with a decade of classroom experience.
• your finished metal sculpture.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcome

Operated by The Salty Sitkan - Metal Art Classes

Is this one for you?This class suits anyone who wants to make something tangible and take it home—the 2.5-hour pace keeps it tight for cruise passengers, and the hands-on work with heat and tools means you'll remember the sparks and the weight of the mallet long after you leave Sitka.

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Top questions

What metal animals can I choose to make in the class?

You can pick from Sockeye, Coho or King Salmon, halibut, Dungeness crab, humpback or orca whale, grizzly bear, Pacific octopus, or bald eagle. Mike cuts your blank on the CNC plasma cutter, then you shape and finish it yourself.

Do I need any experience with metalworking or tools to take this class?

No experience is required. Mike teaches you how to safely use the die grinder, mallet and torch as part of the class. You'll need at least a moderate level of physical fitness, and the minimum age is 12.

How does pickup from the cruise ship terminal work?

The Sitka Shuttle Company picks you up from the cruise ship terminal and brings you to the workshop. The pickup is included in the class price.

Can I take my finished metal sculpture home with me?

Yes, you can take it with you at the end of class. If you prefer to have it shipped to your home address, shipping is available for an additional fee.

What exactly happens during the 2.5-hour class?

Mike uses the CNC plasma cutter to cut your metal blank into the shape of your chosen Alaskan animal. Then you use the die grinder to smooth and texture it, a mallet to add 3D shape, and a propane torch to apply heat-colored hues of bronze, purple and blue. You'll be geared up in safety equipment throughout.