Overview
Available languages
2 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
The Salty Sitkan offers visitors Sitka’s most unique fish experience in Alaska. Visit the only metal art workshop along the inside passage open for classes to visitors.
Mike is a 3rd generation high school shop teacher with a decade of experience making students and teachers alike successful in all types of creations.
Mike will start this fast paced class by making the sparks fly on a state of the art CNC Plasma cutter to supply you with a flat metal animal blank in the shape of a variety of alaska creatures such as Sockeye, Coho or King Salmon, halibut, grizzly bears, dungeness crabs, bald eagles, pacific octopus and more!
You will get a unique chance to see inside a working cnc workshop and learn some of the tricks of the trade for turning dull, crusty steel into spectacular one-of-a-kind Alaskan keepsakes.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
What To Expect
In this fast-paced 2.5 hour class you will learn how to easily and safely use the 2" die grinder to smooth and texture your creation. You will remember making sparks fly while geared up in all the provided safety equipment. After grinding and texturing your metal creature of choice you will use a tear drop mallet to bring your fish to life with 3D shape. Choose from Salmon, Halibut, Crab, Humpback or Orca Whale, Grizzly Bear, Pacific Octopus, Eagle and more! After you complete the shaping we will turn the heat up with a propane torch to apply deep hues of bronze, purple and blue to your Alaskan creature to create a truly one-of-a-kind Alaskan keepsake. Your piece of metal art will be as breathtaking as the views of Sitka Sound. Whether the fish are biting, or the seas are raging you will take home an amazing catch you will never forget.
Options
Metal Art Class Experience in Sitka
Pickup included
What‘s Included
Transportation from Cruise Ship Terminal via Sitka Shuttle Company
All tooling required for project will be provided
Shipping of finished project included for additional fee
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
77 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Metal arts class is awesome and extremely knowledgeable.
James V,Jun 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Do it. I’ve never heard or seen anything like this before. The two ladies who were teaching the class were very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. I really enjoyed the class and have an awesome piece of metal art to show for it.
THE SALTY SITKAN
beyondtherain,Jun 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Enjoyed our excursion to the Salty Sitkan in June 26’ for a metal workshop. Received hands on instruction in a small class setting and created our very own metal decorative pieces. For a fee they picked us up and delivered us back to the pier at the close of class. Thanks to Greg and Roman for being splendid hosts. Mahalo from Hawaii!
Unique self made souvenir
Hodophile Christina,Jun 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00100% fun, easy to follow instructions and great patience from the class teachers. Small group activity and easy for a cruise port call. Would do again and highly recommend
Excellent experience!
Evelyn C,Jun 16, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent. Instructions were very clear and friendly instructor and his helper! Also, we get to bring home some very nice, uniquely made souvenirs!
Once in a lifetime chance! Got to do it!
832chellem,Jun 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00When I saw this class it was a must for my daughter and I! When I checked our itinerary, I was so disappointed to see that my ship wouldn't be docked in time for the class that I wrote Mike, the owner, and he coordinated with the cruise line to make it happen! It was absolutely amazing and we both got to make our own once in a lifetime souvenirs to bring home! Mike is an incredible teacher. His shop is well equipped and we learned so much about metal work. He turned metal work into a simple four step process to make a masterpiece. Mike was also helpful in getting us a ride into his shop from the dock so we didn't have to take a shuttle or get lost. The service and professionalism of this business gets an A+. Additionally, it was so much fun!
Sparking Creativity at the Salty Sitkan
Laurie L,Jun 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00If you want to trade your daily routine for a blowtorch and some serious fun, this metalworks class is an absolute must. Walking into a workshop full of heavy machinery can feel intimidating, but the phenomenal instructors instantly break down the barrier. They prioritize safety while keeping the energy high, lighthearted, and incredibly encouraging. Their patience transforms industrial fabrication into a rewarding creative playground. There is an unmatched thrill to putting on some goggles and watching sparks fly. The experience puts you into a total flow state where the outside world just fades away. You get to heat, bend, and fuse raw steel into a unique piece of art—leaving the shop with a little soot on your clothes, a massive smile, and a solid creation that will last a lifetime. An unforgettable, empowering experience. I can’t recommend it enough!
Three Very I took this class with my 67-year-old sister and my 17-year-old son, whiDifferent Ages, Same Great Experience
MELISSA B,Jun 9, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00I took this class with my 67-year-old sister and my 17-year-old son, which is about as good a stress test as you can give any activity. Mike managed to keep all three of us engaged, learning, and having fun. The shop is welcoming, the instruction is clear, and the process is hands-on without being intimidating. Mike strikes that perfect balance of helping when needed while still letting you feel like you're creating something yourself. We all walked away with pieces we were proud of and a much greater appreciation for the skill involved. Finding something a teenager actually enjoys, a retiree can comfortably do, and everyone wants to talk about afterward isn't easy. This class checked all those boxes. We'd absolutely do it again. And our friends who took the whale watching were jealous.
Amazing.
Dena M,May 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a very fun experience. We had a cool experience. With a very cool piece of artwork to show for it.
Fun time
Vicki W,May 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This experience was great, we had so much fun. The instructor and assistant were so helpful. We had our pieces shipped home to us and it came very quickly. I would recommend this experience to everyone.
Do it, so fun and no way to fail!
Jet46817562235,May 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent adventure. Never have I ever done metal work and now I have a crab! The time was orchestrated so perfectly that I never felt rushed and when I didn't follow instructions there was a helper to get me caught up. 10 out of 10 would recommend and do it again.
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Operated by The Salty Sitkan - Metal Art Classes