Blacksmithing

[My_Teenage_Self]

Some advice for a new blacksmith if you don't mind me suggesting a few things?

Avoid heavy hammers for now. 2.5lb is perfect. Work on your hammer control before going heavier - a heavy hammer will tire you quicker, and be useless without accuracy. I can move metal faster with a lighter hammer, it's a little counter intuitive TBH.

With that in mind, follow the advice in this video - teaches you how to move metal, and hammer control. I did 50 over a few days and the progress was remarkable.

I do make knives, but forget about them for now. Practice moving metal efficiently on small mild steel stock. high carbon steel is MUCH harder when hot, and not worth trying to learn on.

practice practice practice. there's a huge difference between blacksmithing, and heating metal and hitting it with a hammer.

 

[Jackimus]

It took me a long time to get over myself and not use the heaviest hammer possible for everything!

I was very grown up and returned my Roughneck Gorilla 4lb mini sledge and got the 3lb instead and it is miles better.

Highly recommend that mini sledge by the way, might even be decent for blacksmithing? Does so much so well for me.

 

[Turbo]

Work on your hammer technique. You should be throwing the hammerhead at the metal and controlling the direction with the shaft.

I see so many people holding a hammer solidly and using just the power in their arm to hit the object. That will tire your arm out quickly and lead to wrist and hand problems from vibration.
It is also less powerful. Use your arm to accelerate the hammer toward the metal and then relax at the last moment. The head of the hammer does all the work and the vibration is absorbed by the shaft.

 

[bourbon]

If you want to practice, but not have to bother firing up the forge. get a big lump of plasticine. bung it in the fridge for a couple of hours, use a lighter hammer and have a go with that.

 

[Windy Miller]

If you want to practice, but not have to bother firing up the forge. get a big lump of plasticine. bung it in the fridge for a couple of hours, use a lighter hammer and have a go with that.

Great tip!

This is a REALLY good way to suss out how to make the metal move the way you want it to.

 

[bourbon]

Great tip!

This is a REALLY good way to suss out how to make the metal move the way you want it to.

can't take the credit for it. The guy in the picture I posted is a professional farrier and he told me.

 

[Windy Miller]

can't take the credit for it. The guy in the picture I posted is a professional farrier and he told me.

I’ve been on a few smithing courses and I’ve seen it done by the instructors. It’s handy to start with a lump of plasticine roughly the size and shape of the thing you’re making, and then squish it up into the size and shape of your raw steel. Then you’ll have an idea of how much steel you’ll need to begin with.