ABOUT US

Ken Zitur

Master Blacksmith

Ken’s career as a blacksmith began in 1974 at the Burlington Northern Railroad in Waite Park, Minnesota. It was here he completed a four year apprenticeship and received a diploma from Railway Educational Bureau. Ken worked in the blacksmith shop until the railroad closed in 1986. During Ken’s 12 years at the railroad, he also had the opportunity to work with Paul Hubler, a prominent blacksmith from Rockford, Minnesota. Paul shared his love of blacksmithing with Ken and taught him so much about the decorative aspect of blacksmithing.

In 1988 Ken took is love of metal work and began his own business, naming it Ken’s Custom Iron. One year later, his wife MaryLou joined the business. For nearly 20 years they traveled to as many as 20 art and craft shows per year in the Upper Midwest and Arizona selling their wares. During this time, they were also making railings for high-end homes along with fireplace surrounds, screens, and tools, and restoration work. 

In the 90’s they began making store fixtures for five companies to include display tables, banner holders, and retail risers and shelving. Some of their work has been in the Smithsonian Institution, Macy’s Department Store in New York, Saks Fifth Avenue, several casinos in Las Vegas, the Denver Airport, Nordstrom, Herberger’s, Best Buy, Aveda, Dayton’s, and Harold’s. The store fixture work lasted for about 10 years and led to them doing some industrial forging and fabricating for several companies. At this time, Ken also did some part-time teaching in the welding department at a nearby college. 

In 2015, the smaller version of the KZ100 Power Hammer, the MZ75 Power Hammer, was introduced. Along with the well-known “Quick Tongs” and other blacksmithing items featured in their online store, the MZ75 Power Hammers have now taken the main focus of the Ken’s Custom Iron team. 
During the winter months, Ken teaches weekend blacksmithing classes in which students can learn about the craft. The class topics range from beginning and intermediate level blacksmithing skills, forging animal heads, tool making (punches, chisels, tongs), flower and leaf making, scroll making, and many others.

In September every year, Ken and MaryLou, with the help of others, open the doors on the blacksmith shop at the Albany Pioneer Club in Albany, Minnesota for the annual Threshing Show. The old fashioned blacksmith shop allows people to step into the past and see what blacksmithing was all about years ago.

Ken and MaryLou are also part of the founding members of the Central Minnesota Blacksmiths club (CMB), an affiliate of ABANA (Artists Blacksmiths Association of North America). CMB is a group of individuals of all ages interested in the craft of blacksmithing. They get together once a month to share their skills and knowledge of blacksmithing. The goal of CMB is to keep the art of blacksmithing alive.

Ken’s Custom Iron, LLC is not only a blacksmith shop, but also a modern day metal fabricating shop. They have both mig and tig welders, a CNC plasma table, shear, press brake, ironworker, and other equipment needed for fabricating and repairing both steel and aluminum. They will work with you to take care of any idea or project you have in mind!
Continue reading about the rest of the Ken's Custom Iron team.

We look forward to working with you!

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