Somebody you know recently decided to get into blacksmithing. But what kind of gift do you buy for a blacksmith?
What are some gift ideas for blacksmiths? If you’re reading this, you’re probably looking for a gift to buy your friend or family member who is a blacksmith. Lucky for you, there are lots of great gift ideas. You can buy them safety equipment like a nice apron. Some gear like a special hammer or pair of tongs. Or maybe just a gift card to a blacksmith store to buy what they need if you can’t decide. Some things that might affect your gift include the blacksmith’s experience level, age, and your budget.
In this article, I’ll give you some great gift ideas for the blacksmith in your life. You’ll be able to find something that they’ll like that they’ll also find useful.
Safety
Want to get your blacksmith a gift they’ll enjoy that will also give you peace of mind that they’re staying safe? Check out some of these safety related gift options.
For safety equipment I personally recommend, check out my recommended safety equipment.
Safety Glasses
If you’re a safety-conscious parent or partner, why not give your blacksmith the gift of eye protection? It isn’t the coolest or flashiest gift, but they’ll definitely use them and they aren’t too expensive.
Even if your blacksmith already has a pair of safety glasses, their existing pair will likely get misplaced or scratched at some point and they’ll want a backup. Or they’ll need an extra pair for any helpers or visitors. Plus you’ll be doing your part to keep them safe.
You can even get a pair with LED lights built into them to light up their work.
Earplugs
You can buy a box of 100 or more disposable earplugs for pretty cheap. This will give your blacksmith an almost limitless supply of earplugs and keep their hearing protected for a long time. Plus they don’t have to worry about helpers or visitors gunking up a more expensive permanent pair of earplugs.
For something more personal, you can get custom molded earplugs that will provide extra comfort. Or even a pair of Bluetooth earmuffs that will let them listen to music while they work, in addition to protecting their hearing.
Face Shield
When just a pair of goggles or safety glasses won’t cut it, you might want to give your blacksmith a face shield. This will keep their face looking the way you like it, free of any extra scars or damage.
Apron
A man doesn’t look his most masculine in a kitchen apron, but a nice leather shop apron is a different story. It’ll help keep his clothes from being burnt by coals and small pieces of hot metal. That’s why aprons make great blacksmith gifts.
Respirator
So the things above will keep your blacksmith safe on the outside, but what about the inside? You don’t want them breathing harmful chemicals off their metal into their lungs. A half face respirator is probably cheaper than you’d think, and will provide a safe way to breathe while working.
First Aid
If you blacksmith long enough, you’re going to get burned. At least a little bit.
Every blacksmith should have a basic first aid kit with bandages, antiseptic wipes, gauze, and the rest of the basics. It’s useful to have a pair of tweezers and a mirror to get any tiny metal splinters out.
Cooling off small burns right away helps them from getting worse. Instant ice packs are a good choice if there’s no freezer near where your blacksmith works. Aloe vera is also a good choice, to heal burns and prevent blistering.
Fire Equipment
Your blacksmith should have a fire extinguisher if they don’t already. There are other ways to put out a fire too, like a fire blanket.
It also makes sense to have carbon monoxide and smoke detectors in or near a blacksmith workshop too, especially if it’s attached to the house. Their forge should have a chimney that vents most harmful chemicals and smoke away, but you never know when it might stop working efficiently.
Blacksmith Gear
Here are some of the basic tools and gear your blacksmith probably needs if they’re new to the craft.
If you want to see which specific ones I recommend, I have them listed over on my recommended gear page.
A Hammer
Getting your blacksmith a hammer is a nice way to show you’re interested in their hobby without breaking the bank. Most blacksmiths will want to try a few different hammer styles and weights before they settle on their favorite, and they can always use a backup.
You can buy hammers suitable for blacksmithing at your local hardware store, but one handmade by a fellow blacksmith is a nicer touch.
Tongs
Tongs are pretty important to blacksmithing, but they aren’t always something that a beginner blacksmith buys right away. So this might be a good item they don’t already have.
You can find tongs in all different styles for all different kinds of uses, but it’s hard to go wrong. Your blacksmith will find a use for pretty much any kind of tongs you buy them.
Measuring and Marking Tools
Metal rulers are something a blacksmith needs, or else they’re going to be going through a lot of wooden and plastic ones. Your blacksmith probably already has a measuring tape, but getting them a small keychain version wouldn’t hurt either.
For marking their work, you can buy soapstone or silver pencil. Both items are used to mark up metal with measurements before they bend, drill, or cut it. Silver pencil isn’t as visible on cold metal, but it shows up better on hot metal. Soapstone is easy to use and is a bit like chalk.
If your blacksmith is bending things at angles, a speed square can be a quick and easy way to measure their work.
Finishing Tools
Hand files, rasps, and chisels are all great but inexpensive tools you can buy for your blacksmith.
There are all different kinds of files. Rectangular ones, round ones, tiny ones. They all have different purposes.
Rasps are kind of like files, but they allow you to remove a lot more metal much quicker.
For the price, you can buy your blacksmith a mix of several different ones.
Steel wool sounds like a weird gift, but it’s actually something your blacksmith will really appreciate. Blacksmiths use steel wool to clean up metal they’re working on and give it a nice finish. Even just the kind you normally buy in the supermarket is fine.
Coal
Blacksmiths are the only people I know who actually do want coal in their stocking at Christmas!
Make sure that your blacksmith actually uses a coal forge and not a propane one first though, or that will be pretty awkward.
If they do work with propane, you can get a refill for around $25 with a trade-in, or $40 – $60 if you need to buy a tank. One tank should last them for 6 to 10 hours of forging.
Gear NOT To Buy Your Blacksmith
Some of the most critical pieces of gear and equipment your would-be blacksmith needs are also some of the most expensive and come with the most variation. These items come down to personal preference in most cases, so they’re best to avoid. Or make sure you know exactly what kind your blacksmith wants.
Forge
This is an expensive gift, and it’s also hard to be sure exactly what kind of forge your blacksmith wants. Will they fuel it with electricity? Coal? Propane? Then there’s other questions like where they’ll store stuff like coal, how they’ll vent the forge outside, etc. So I wouldn’t recommend buying your blacksmith a forge unless you know exactly what they want.
Anvils
Just like a forge, anvils are really expensive and also something that’s quite personal to a blacksmith. Let them pick out their own anvil, or make sure you know exactly what style and size of an anvil they’re looking for.
Books
If your blacksmith is just beginning their journey into the craft, some books will come in very handy.
Some of the most popular books on blacksmithing are:
- New Edge of the Anvil by Jack Andrews
- The Art of Blacksmithing by Alex Bealer
- The Complete Modern Blacksmith by Alexander Weygers
- The Backyard Blacksmith by Lorelei Sims
Between those four, they should learn most of what they need to get really deep into the world of blacksmithing.
For more information on these books and a link to where you can buy them, check out my recommendations page.
Other Blacksmith Gifts
T-Shirts
You can get your blacksmith a nice tshirt with a funny image or saying about blacksmithing on it.
Maybe something like “the only thing hotter than my forge is my wife”?
You can also buy your blacksmith some plain cotton tees to wear while they’re working. There’s a good chance that their clothes will get burn marks in them from working, so it’s a good idea to have a separate set of clothes dedicated to blacksmithing, much like a painter would have.
Avoid synthetic materials like polyester if they’re going to be wearing the clothing around the anvil and forge. Synethics can melt and stick to the skin, so something organic like cotton is a better choice.
Gift Vouchers
Several blacksmithing shops offer gift cards and vouchers, both online and offline. That way you can let your blacksmith pick up exactly what they want, and you don’t have to worry about getting them something that won’t be useful. Sometimes the best blacksmith gifts you can give are those you let them pick out themselves!
If you’ve got a working blacksmith in your area, often they’ll run courses or classes for beginner blacksmiths, so getting your new blacksmith a day working with a master can make a cool gift as well.
If you’re lucky, maybe your blacksmith will reciprocate your gift by making you a nice brooch or bottle opener next year!
If you’re a blacksmith, are there any other gifts you’d really appreciate? Give the people buying for you a hint in the comment section below!