Since we have several folks registered to the site, it is time to get a demographic.

How old were you when you started (when it got serious) in blacksmithing, your chronological age at that time?

Glad you said, "when it got serious."

I started beating on hot steel when I was really young but it wasn't till I was maybe 20 I discovered "The Art of Blacksmithing" and started actually doing some blacksmithing.

Frosty

I was 54 when I started after attending the beginners class at the JC campbell folks school in Brasstown NC. David Toucheronie was the instructor.

I have been doing it out of necessity since I was a youngster but didn't take it up as a hobby and get serious about till I was 31-32 yrs old.

welder19

I started at 39, when type 2 diabetes set in and was a little scared to take the field at re-enactments. Decided to pick up blacksmithing at re-enactment to have a controlled situation so as not to end up with a sugar crash on the field.

Started in High School when I was 18, we did a bit of patternwelding and made some frankish throwing axes. I did a really neat nazel helm for an art class my senior year out of phos-bronze and burgundy leather over an English doughboy helmet from WWI. I didn't get serious about forging until much later, after doing the starving artist thing in CA in 1990/91. But the last ten years or so I have been pretty serious about learning to get better;-)

I was 16.
Dad always kept a little anvil and blower on the farm, but we didn't use it much.
When I was 16, I decided to build a shed for a proper shop. That shed has been the forging station ever since.

The book that really inspired me was an old copy on "Farm Mechanics-1946 edition"
One chapter on blacksmithing....but very clear and concise information.

Age 40 , 2 young kids, went from full time carpenter/ woodworker to full time blacksmith/ metalworker. I've never done this as a hobby. Made a full time living at it ever since. No trust fund,no deals, no other income, no debts. My wifes' job at the local school pays the health insurance and the grocery bill [nothing to sneeze at ] otherwise it's all ironwork paying the way. I work full time but no overtime or weekends. It's hard ,dirty work ,but it's real. Most people , particularly, pampered Americans would be on their knees by lunchtime if they had to do it for a living.

Did a bit at school as a kid, nothing then until I picked up an old riveters forge at 32.
Generally self taught, read the books watched other smiths etc. Started out under a blue tarp and last year finally built my own shop.
Not a profesional smith more a hobby smith which takes up all of my spare time....

I started at 14 but did not have a clue as to what I was doing. I then stated paying a little closer attention to the girls and forgot about blacksmithing. I started back seriously about it at 25.

started forging knives at 37 got really interested in blacksmithing at 40.
hopefully I can continue until Im really old.

i started my aprenticeship at 15 as a blacksmith ,wheelright and farrier ,finished at 21, worked at the trade since .Finished shoing at 61 now at 62 i am taking a year of away from the smithy ,doing some carpentry work on my sons boat ,a 70 foot fishing boat stripping out the hold and fitting bunks ,to take whale watchers out ,i have got the heavy hull work done ,steaming planks ,a nice change ,and good to get out of the smithy and see the sky ,i am feeling well getting out of the smoke and grit.

Started this winter. The bug got me I am out at the forge a couple of times a week. Read everything I can and have taken a few classes. Work all day as a desk jockeyl It is nice to come home, fire up the forge and actually make something.

I took it up 5 years ago when i was 48.

I took up interest in it over two years ago, but i just really started on sunday

Started my apprenticeship when I was 27. Worked in the trade since.Going on 31 years now. Seems like yesterday, but I guess that's what getting older is all about!!!

Terry

Always was a late bloomer LOL I started late......I was 36, and never did it as a hobby. I was a jeweler(for 5 years)....and met some architectural metalsmiths......and the rest as they say is history. My first project was working on a 28' chandelier that was going in the Advernture's Club at Pleasure Island in Disney. And it only got better from there.
Next year will be my 25th year as an ornamental metalsmith. wooooooohoooo

Hey Bill,

Congrats on your upcoming quarter century in the trade!

Started a tad over 11 years ago (I was 40), been doing it as a business for 8 years and full time for the last 5 years.

It does seem to just fly by!