How I got started in blacksmithing
Getting started in blacksmithing myself was something I knew I had to do, unfortunetly I didn’t know where to begin. I’ve been watching Forged in Fire off and on for the past few years. Seeing those blacksmiths take a chunk of steel and bash it into something beautiful was awesome to watch. This led me to endlessly google for hours, learning all I could from reading articles and watching various creators on YouTube.
Eventuially I found a local metalworking and art studio near me in Providence, RI called The Steel Yard. I had to wait for about a year while they perfomed a milti million dollar renovation on their entire studio. During this wait, I was able to find an small railroad track anvil that was my grandfather’s as well as a few hammers. I created a small gas forge to head small pieces of metal and did a little work making hooks for my etsy projects. I have grand plan on making a larger coal fired forge in the future. There are also plans to acquire a full sized anvil.
Starting Blacksmithing Class
Fast forward a few months and my first class began. Our instructor Willow walked us through shop safety, some of the basics of blacksmithing, then set us loose. We took 5/16″ square stock mild steel and got to working on our first project, pictured above, the “S” Hook. We learned the proper temperature to work on the steel. How to hammer a taper then draw it out. We learned how to hold the steel and hammer the rounded and curled ends so they are no longer pointy. We also learned how to use a hot cur hardy tool to shorten the metal. Finally we learned how to add twists to the metal, finishing out the piece.
What’s next in my Blacksmithing?
Follow along as I continue down this blacksmithing road. I have many more weeks of classes, learning the basics of blacksmithing. On the docket we are making a church key bottle opener, a set of tongs, a punch, and other projects I’m not aware of. The in class projects a designed to build on previous experience while growing my overall command and confidence in completing basic blacksmithing techniques. I’m excited to continue learning this skill and eventuially building out my home forge!