Need Advice on Beginner Blacksmithing Tools and Techniques

[elija6266]

Hello there,

I am new to the world of blacksmithing and am excited to start my journey into this craft. After doing some initial research; I realized there's a lot to learn and a myriad of tools and techniques to consider. I am hoping to get some advice from experienced blacksmiths here on the forum.

To give you a bit of background; I have always been fascinated by the artistry and skill involved in blacksmithing. I have watched numerous videos and read a few introductory books; but I know that nothing beats practical experience and advice from seasoned professionals.

I understand that a good hammer and anvil are fundamental; but what other tools should I consider investing in as a beginner? Are there any specific brands or types that you would recommend for someone just starting out?

I have a small garage where I plan to set up my forge. What are some must-have considerations for creating a safe and efficient workspace? Any tips on ventilation; layout; or necessary safety equipment would be greatly appreciated.

I would love to start with some simple projects to build my skills. What are some good beginner projects that are both manageable and instructive? If you have any tutorials or resources; please share them.

Also I have gone through this post: https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/50546-projects-and-materials-ccsp-for-a-beginner/ which definitely helped me out a lot.

Besides this forum; are there any other resources like books; online courses; or local workshops that you would recommend for a novice blacksmith?

I am sure there are common pitfalls that new blacksmiths encounter. What are some mistakes you made or seen others make that I should be aware of and try to avoid?

Thank you all in advance for your time and guidance. 

[Brian Hibbert]

Hooks are a good place to start, and there is enough variety that you won't get bored.  Black Bear Forge has a series of you tube videos he called "Hook of the Week" that can give you some ideas.  He also had a series of videos on Beginning blacksmithing for under $500 to give you an idea of the basic tools and some initial projects you can do to get started.  He used a Vevor anvil and small gas forge.  They are one of his sponsors but I don't think he distorts his reviews much, it did influence his choice of starting tools.  I'd prefer the Mr. Volcano  forge which you can find on Amazon and a Harbor Freight STEEL anvil (the red one, not the blue cast iron one) but there are many other options too. You can use a large piece of steel or an old sledge hammer head as your anvil (which was my first anvil) and a box of dirt coal forge for heat instead. 

[CrazyGoatLady]

Hello and welcome! 

I cannot answer all your questions but I can give you some advice from my own experience. First off, don't over think it. There is tons of information here about improvised anvils and it would do you good to read up on that and tooling. JABODs (Just a box of dirt) for a forge. You can start out with very little but the best thing is to heat some metal and hit it and start gaining skills. If you can find classes or a blacksmith near you willing to impart his/ or her knowledge with you, that would be the best route. Which I didn't have. I had lots of help here and as far as online, Christ Centered Ironworks and BlackBear Forge is where I visually learned the most just starting. They both have excellent beginner videoes. Watch them and then take it to the anvil. Whatever that might be for you. Enjoy the experience and take advantage of the wealth of knowledge here at IFI. Listen to these guys. They know what they are talking about 

 

[George N. M.]

Elijah,

You do NOT need a "good" hammer and anvil to get started!  You need any old hammer, even a claw hammer, of about 2 pounds weight to hit the hot metal.  And pretty much any old hunk of steel will do for an anvil.  A piece of railroad track (mounted on end is best) or a sledge hammer head are common starter anvils.  Read the IFI thread on "Improvised Anvils."

Make sure that you have adequate ventilation in your garage when running your forge. A carbon monoxide detector is a very good idea.  I had a friend who almost died from running a propane forge in a garage.  He had to spend time in a hyperbaric (high pressure oxygen) chamber to flush out the CO from his body.  He reported that it was NOT a fun experience.

IMO, the commonest pitfall for a beginner is to try to do projects that are too advanced for their skills.  Stick with S and J hooks until you have developed hammer control.  A lot of blacksmithing is like developing the hand/eye skills to operate a video game controller, learning where and how hard to hit the steel to get it to move like you want it to.  A good way to develop a sense of how material is going to move is to experiment with modelling clay/play dough.  You can even form it into a bar and hit it with a plastic or wooden hammer.  It will move just like hot steel, just easier and at room temperature.

Steel is a pretty poor conductor of heat.  So, you can hold the end of a longer pieces of steel while the non-held end is hot enough to forge.  This is harder with metals like aluminum or copper.  If the held end gets too hot stick it and your hand into you slack tub of water to cool it off.

Although some folk will disagree, I don't like wearing gloves while forging because it interferes with my grip on the hammer or work piece/tongs.  About the only time I use gloves is for insulation when I have to handle something too hot to hold comfortably in my bare hand.

Lay out your work triangle of forge, anvil, and vise so that they are only a step or two apart.  A common mistake is to have too much distance between them which wastes time and energy.

Learn to arrange your tools so that you can pick them up easily for a particular task.  You don't want to be fumbling around while the metal is getting cold.  For example, if you are going to punch a hole have the hammer and punch laid out where you can easily and quickly grab them before you start heating the metal.  And don't be afraid just to drop a tool on the floor after you have used it if that is the fastest way to free up your hand for the next task.

Something to grab hot metal is necessary.  Tongs are probably best but to start you can use vise grips or channel locks.

Have proper personal protection equipment (PPE).  An apron is probably the first piece.  Leather is best.  Do not wear synthetic materials around a forge.  If struck by something hot they will melt and stick to your skin making a burn worse.  Stick with natural fibers like cotton and wool.  Leather shoes are preferable over ones made of synthetics.  Protective googles or glasses are a very good idea.  Also, protect your ears if you are doing something loud.  And having a fire extinguisher in the shop is a VERY good idea.

Find a local blacksmithing group and join.  A lot of us have learned on our own and it is not the best way to do it.  I had been forging 12-15 years before I ever met another smith and there are still things that I probably do bass ackwards because I didn't have a teacher/mentor when I was first learning.  It's somewhat easier today with good videos to follow than it was in the '70s when all I had were books from the library and my own mistakes to teach me.

And in the end, you need to keep it fun.  You are probably doing this for enjoyment and even though there are frustrations and dead ends along the way you and we are doing it for enjoyment.  Recognize that there are some days and projects where nothing will go right and those are balanced by days where everything is a smooth as butter.

"By hammer and hand all arts do stand."

[BillyBones]

A couple tools i would suggest buying from the start. A chisel to cut, a taper punch to, well, punch, and an adjustable wrench to twist. The brand really does not matter. These can be found pretty cheap at garage sales, flea markets, etc. Same with the hammer. I started with just a hardware store bought engineers hammer. If you do not mind putting a handle on the hammer just the heads can be found at almost give away prices a lot of times. Oh, also a couple files, i picked up a bucket full of files at a garage sale for $5. 

As for holding a long set of channel locks or pliers will get you by for the time being. 

A note about channel locks, adjustable wrenches, and pliers *NO CHROME PLATING*. the plating can be quite deadly when it is heated. This also goes with any scrap or found material. 

You can also find a decent bench vice at gargare sales and flea markets as well, but a new small one will not break the bank. It does not have to be a Wilton, i used a India made no name one for years till i gave it to my dad this past winter. Of course i do now have more vices than you can shake a stick at. 

Your anvil, like many have already said does not need to be an "anvil" as most people see one. Many smiths the world over to this day do not use the classic Acme Wile E. Coyote anvil. Just a large hunk of steel. When i took on my minion one of the first things i asked him was to count the anvils in my shop. He looked around and said 2. My main work anvil then my cast iron "anvil" doorstop. I then pointed out to him probably a dozen other anvils i have and explained why the doorstop was not an anvil. Shape has nothing to do with it. 

lack of tools should never be an issue as a blacksmith, or at least after you have developed some skill. Once you learn to taper and basic heat treat, chisels, punches, and drifts can be easily made from an old piece of coil spring. I would bet that everyone here that has a bit of experience has done what blacksmiths have been doing for ages, make a tool to make a tool to complete a job. 

There are some good youtube channels to watch, but then there are lot of bad ones as well. There is a list of the good ones floating around here somewhere and even a couple members have some really good channels, if they were not the gang here would let them know. 

Lastly, take an afternoon, get a cold drink and pack a lunch. Then start scouring the threads here. This is a treasure trove of information and the cumulative knowledge of thousands of smiths from the world over. 

[George N. M.]

Billy, I think that most of us have a lot of vices, some more unusual than average and some that don't get discussed in polite company or on IFI. 

G