Explore every episode of the podcast Melton Forge Works Podcast

Podcast with Mike Ganotti: From Microsoft & AI to the Blacksmith’s Forge

In this episode, I sit down with Mike Ganotti—an IT professional at Microsoft who’s also carving out a path in blacksmithing and bladesmithing. We talk about how he got started in tech, his role with Microsoft in artificial intelligence, and the journey that led him to swing a hammer in his free time. Mike shares insights into the tools he’s currently using, what he’s saving up for next, his current projects on the workbench and how he balances a demanding career with a passion for metalworking.

Where to Find Mike:

Website: https://saintmichaelsforge.com/

Instagram: @mgannotti

Podcast with Jeff Dauterman of Warriors Way Forge In this episode, I chat with Jeff Dauterman about his journey into blacksmithing and bladesmithing, as well as his work with Warriors Way Forge. We dive into how their nonprofit organization supports veterans through hands-on metalworking, the powerful impact of forging on mental health and community-building, and their exciting partnership with Palmgren Tools. Jeff shares insights into Warrior’s Way’s mission, how they operate, and what it takes to create a supportive environment for veterans learning the art of forging. We also discuss the essential role that quality tools play in their workshops and how Palmgren helps them achieve their goals. Jeff's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dautermanjeff/ Check out Warriors Way Forge: Website: https://warriorswayforge.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/warriorswayforge Warriors Way Expo is Nov. 7-9. 2025 in Lima, OH Learn more about Palmgren Tools: Website: https://palmgren.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/palmgren_tools/ If you enjoy this conversation, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share! Your support helps spread the word about organizations like Warriors Way Forge and the amazing work they do for our veterans. Have questions or comments? Drop them below. Thanks for watching!

This week I got to sit down for a chat with Ryan Brueck of GnomeHammer Forge. Ryan most well known for his hammers and he's been making a BUNCH of them in collaboration with Housemade.us recently. We talk about how he got started, his short and long term goals, why he's getting rid of his hydraulic press, and more. To find more about Ryan and what he's up to check out his Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/gnomehammerforge/ or his website https://gnomehammerforge.org/

I got together with my friends Michael Hoops and Joey Powell for an hour-long chat for a podcast. We cover a range of topics including induction forging, general business practices, what we're working on in the shop and how many reels we send to one another in a day (too many.) I will be doing many more video podcasts with guests in 2025, looking forward to it!

To see more work from these two great blacksmiths go follow them here: Michael N Hoops (@michael.hoops_bs) • Instagram photos and videos Josiah Powell (@bifrost_forge) • Instagram photos and videos

Episode 73 - A highly unedited recap of my experience at Quad State 2024 as a demonstrator

Derek discusses how he’s preparing for the ABANA conference and what he plans to talk about and demonstrate

Derek explains his ideas behind this topic and gives an update on what he’s been up to in the shop.

This episode covers several weeks and includes information about demonstrations that I’ve given and attended recently.

The return of the podcast. A wrapup of my recent trips to Alabama and Ohio and some talk about the Coal ironworks power hammer and induction machine.

A little more social media, rambling and updates from the last few weeks

Recap of almost two months of blacksmith related 3d printing stuff. News on the second round of swage blocks and more general rambling. Enjoy?

Shop update and the story of how the Melton Mini Swage came to be.

Instagram shenanigans & catching up since July.

Recap of mid summer July 2022

Recap of my trip to blade show 2022

A recap of the last MFC Meeting as well as info on using 3D print technology for helping to learn blacksmithing and hammer control.

Lessons learned in two years of induction forging

Are you cheating?

I’m back! Catching up and getting back in the podcasting saddle. A chat about where I’ve been and what I’ve been up to.

Getting the MFC shop cleaned up, working on new coffee scoop ideas

I demonstrated the coffee scoop and gave a talk about social media and blacksmithing at the Texas blacksmith conference in La Grange, TX.

How learning guitar and learning blacksmithing are similar. Website updates and getting ready for the Texas blacksmith conference in La Grange, Tx January 28

Just catching up from the holidays. What I’ve been up to and some things coming in the next few weeks.

Quick recap of the last tire hammer build and some suggestions for increasing your sales using social media and web pages

Shop talk about using technology in the blacksmith shop, a new anvil and another tire hammer.

Using material with a story, catching up after hurricane Ida and a cool story about a couple of new hammers I received.

Shop maintenance tasks. Induction forge problems, coffee scoops and railroad spike knife classes

Catching up on the last few weeks. Talking about the process of product development in a small shop in regards to the coffee scoop project.

A short review of my weekend at Blade Show 2021 in Atlanta

What I’ve been up to during the end of May and into the first week of June. Laser cut bottle opener blanks and 3D printing.

Mental health & how I try to keep it in check. Catching up on the last weeks of April

Today's episode is an interview with John Rigoni of Rigoni Ironworks.  John is a blacksmith and firefighter from Texas. He's one of my heroes in the craft and he's got an amazing YouTube channel with some of the cleanest forging you'll see. He's a very talented guy and I was thankful to be able to talk to him about his background, some of his tools and his thoughts on his work ethic in the shop. Enjoy!  You can find out more about John here: http://www.rigoniironworks.com/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1pIZaFcd2sTC65bijHrgYw John Rigoni (@rigoni_ironworks) • Instagram photos and videos

What I’ve been up to this week. Unloading tire hammers, unboxing the mr volcano forge

Workshop talk and a short re-cap from my 3rd tire hammer workshop.

Catching up on what I'm doing, shop cleanup and a bit of talk about the ABANA virtual learning class "Business of Blacksmithing"

What I’ve been up to the past week and a recap from the LAMA conference

We’ve all had negative experiences on Facebook in blacksmithing or bladesmith groups, Some of those groups are really helpful, some not so much. I’ll give a few thoughts on the topic.

Episode 40, interview with Nils Ogren, blacksmith and axe maker from Sweden. We catch up on what he's been up to this year including his experience with Forged in Fire in Sweden, his new Power Hammer and some talk about how we both are using the web and social media for our blacksmithing businesses.

Catching up over a long break from podcasting and a bit of small business talk

Year in review Q&A

Tire hammer lessons and miscellaneous ramblings

We built 32 enhanced Clay Spencer tire hammers in 2.5 days. The episode has audio before during snd after the build.

Gearing up for the tire hammer build. Finishing another batch of steak turners and talking about letter stamping in steel.

A recap of the last few weeks and a look ahead to the end of October

In this episode I talk about the merits of using railroad spikes in blacksmithing Work and some of the controversy around them.

Talk about my business process thoughts, social media and websites

More talk about the induction forge and how the cooling system is working for it.

In this episode I give some details about the induction forge and you can follow along as I collect the items needed to get it running in the shop

Just a quick chat about something I’ve been thinking about in regards to personal work standards and efficiency in the shop.

Dust collection comes to the Melton forge works shop, I had an eye injury this week and a friend came by for a hammer making class