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Top 12 Beginner Blacksmith Mistakes

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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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Blacksmith Techniques: How Blacksmiths Shape And Mould Metal

Maybe you know the basic tools that blacksmiths use like hammers, anvils, and tongs. But what actual blacksmith techniques are used to shape and mould solid bars of metal into tools and pieces of art? How do blacksmiths shape and mould metal? In this article you’ll learn some of the important basic techniques that blacksmiths use to create their finished …

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How To Turn Soda Cans Into Pure Aluminum

Interested in trying out some metalworking without investing in special blacksmith equipment? Aluminum has a low melting point, so it’s a great way for beginners to learn how to cast and forge metal objects. How to forge or cast aluminum. To cast aluminum, you’ll need a way to get it hot enough that it reaches its melting point of 660 …

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What Is The Difference Between Iron And Steel?

Iron and steel are basically the same things, right? Wrong! If you’re a blacksmith or metalworker, there’s a big difference between these two materials. What’s the difference between iron and steel? Iron is a chemical element that can be found in nature. There is lots of iron within the Earth’s crust. Steel is an alloy, which means it’s made from …