Dave Collier first became interested in blacksmithing back in 1999 at a church picnic. A family friend was demonstrating S-hooks and roped him into trying one. He's been 'hooked' ever since. There is something very addictive about watching 2000 degree steel being bent and twisted as if it were soft clay.
In 2001 Dave took Uri Hofi's Beginner's Blacksmithing class at Tom Clark's Ozark School of Blacksmithing. At the time he had just finished his training to become a Physical Therapist. Hofi's ergonomic hammering technique blended well with Dave's professional training and he currently uses this system. In 2004 he began to forge iron professionally and now owns and operates Broken Hammer Forge.
Dave's preference is to work in the traditional hot forging method although he does use some modern fabrication if the job calls for it. He makes a wide variety of items ranging from artistic pieces to small architectural work to knives. In 2010 Dave opened the Broken Hammer Forge craft school and began teaching classes with the intent of spreading the iron addiction.