Hey there! So, you’ve decided to jump into the world of blacksmithing, huh? That’s awesome! It’s such a cool and creative hobby to pick up. But just like any new skill, there’s some common slip-ups that a lot of newbies tend to make. I even made some of these beginner blacksmith mistakes myself back in the day! So I can …
Damascus Steel Guide: What Is It, How To Care For It, And More!
In my opinion, Damascus steel is one of the prettiest metals out there. It’s most commonly used for steel knives. But while it looks beautiful, is it just for aesthetics, or does it actually make an excellent all-around knife? Damascus steel is a layered type of metal that has a distinctive wave pattern that runs throughout the metal. It’s commonly …
How To Put Out A Coal Fire – Extinguishing Your Coal Blacksmith Forge
A coal blacksmith forge can be a bit trickier to put out than other kinds of forges. For a gas or propane forge, all you need to do is turn a knob to put out the fire. But for a coal or coke forge there are a few more steps involved. How do you put out a coal fire forge? …
Blacksmith Projects And Uses For Old Horseshoes (Craft Ideas And More)
Old horseshoes are a great source of cheap scrap metal for blacksmiths to practice with. They might be a weird shape to start with, but you can make literally hundreds of different things from them. In fact, horseshoe art is hugely popular on Pinterest nowadays and people are willing to pay top dollar for creations made from recycled horseshoes on …
A Beginner Blacksmith’s Guide To Forging Copper, Bronze, And Brass
If you want to start working with metal, copper is a fantastic place to begin! There’s a reason that the copper and bronze ages came before the iron age! Copper is a soft metal and is easy to work with. That makes it a great choice whether you’re already a blacksmith with an extensive amount of experience working with iron …
Is Blacksmithing A Good Workout Or Exercise?
One reason that you might be thinking about getting into blacksmithing is to become a bit more physically active. It would be great if you could find a hobby that you enjoy that’s practical and also offers a workout or exercise that’s good for your health! Is blacksmithing a good workout? Blacksmithing is an activity that’s more about stamina and …
Why Blacksmiths Wrap Chains Around Their Anvil – How to Quiet an Anvil
If you’ve visited other blacksmiths before, then there’s a good chance that you’ve seen anvils wrapped in chains. But why do some blacksmiths do this? Why do blacksmiths wrap chains around their anvils? Chains are most commonly wrapped around anvils to reduce the amount of noise and vibration given off while an anvil is in use. But they may be …
Why Is It Called A Blacksmith? Where Blacksmithing Got Its Name
What is the etymology (or origin) of the word blacksmith? Why do we call blacksmiths that, and where does the name come from? That’s what I’m going to explain here. Where did blacksmithing get its name? The word blacksmith refers to iron, which turns black when heated and exposed to oxygen, and the word smith which means “to strike.” A …
What’s the Difference Between a Blacksmith and a Ironsmith?
You might have heard people throw around the term ironsmith in a similar context to the word blacksmith. But what does it mean, and what’s the difference between the two? What’s the difference between a blacksmith and an ironsmith? There’s no real difference between the two. They are essentially synonyms. Both of them are people who work with metals, primarily …
How To Repair Or Restore An Old Anvil (And Should You Do It At All?)
If you’ve just bought your first anvil, you might be wondering how to repair or restore it. Most anvils are bought used and come with cracks, dents, and chips from years of use. How do you repair an anvil? The most common ways to repair or restore an anvil are by either grinding down the surface, welding any missing areas, …