2027 BAM Conference Demonstrators
Coy Baker
In 2016, Coy Baker, embarked on his blacksmithing journey in the mountains of Western North Carolina. With an innate talent for machinery, Coy quickly honed his skills in building and restoring equipment, laying the groundwork for what would become Baker Forge and Tool. Driven by innovation, Coy engineered a 25-ton hydraulic forging press, a pivotal tool that allowed him to perfect his technique in crafting Mosaic Damascus products.
By 2020, Coy’s ingenuity led to a breakthrough: a method for fusion welding copper to carbon steel. This innovation not only expanded our product line but also defined our brand’s unique identity in the artisanal metalwork industry.
In 2023, Baker Forge and Tool took a significant leap, relocating from a shared workshop to a dedicated 10,000 square foot facility.This move not only symbolized our growth but also enabled us to expand our team to a dedicated group of 12 artisans, each passionate about crafting excellence.
Today, Baker Forge and Tool stands as a beacon in the American damascus steel community, respected by blacksmiths, knifemakers, and artists. Our commitment to quality remains unwavering, with every piece still handcrafted in Western North Carolina by a family of craftsmen, united by blood and craft.
Derek Melton:
Derek Melton began forging in 1999, and over the years his craft has evolved alongside the industry itself. Today, he is best known for his expertise in induction forging, using it for the vast majority of his work and helping other smiths understand and adopt this emerging technology. Derek specializes in forging tools for blacksmiths and crafting custom grilling implements, applying a modern heat source to traditional techniques while maintaining the soul of hand-forged work.
Derek has presented at some of the largest and most respected blacksmithing conferences in the United States, where he showcases the power, precision, and efficiency of induction forging in a working shop environment.
Each item he creates is individually forged and made to order, marked with his signature “Melton” maker’s mark featuring the elongated, stylized “t” — a nod to the cross and a reflection of his steadfast faith in Christ. Through both his craft and his teaching, Derek continues to push the boundaries of modern blacksmithing while honoring the tradition that first drew him to the anvil.
Elizabeth Belz
Elizabeth is a blacksmith, educator, the owner of Black Widow Forge and is the Blacksmithing and Metals Coordinator at John C. Campbell Folk School. She was the blacksmithing apprentice at the Metal Museum in Memphis, TN for two years where she trained under master smith Jim Masterson. Elizabeth was a craft education intern at North House Folk School, a resident artist with the Science Museum of MN, a Creative Catalyst fellow and has spent a lot of time at craft and folk schools across the country. Elizabeth has shown her work, competed, and taught blacksmithing throughout the United States and internationally and has most recently finished up a year long artist residency at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Elizabeth sits on the board of the Artist Blacksmith Association of North America the largest blacksmithing community non profit dedicated to preserving and advancing blacksmithing as both a profession and a hobby.
What started as a fascination with insect anatomy quickly evolved into an exploration of their narrative qualities and representational nature through the use of metal. By distilling the appearances of different species into general shapes, I push the limits of what is identified as “insect” while urging others to consider how astounding insects truly are. I use steel to capture these creatures through a detailed process involving both forging & fabrication techniques.