/r/Blacksmith
A subreddit dedicated to the ancient art of blacksmithing. Show off your latest creations or get advice on a problem. This subreddit is temporarily private as part of a joint protest to Reddit's recent API changes, which breaks third-party apps and moderation tools, effectively forcing users to use the official Reddit app.
In the mean time, please join the community on Discord at https://discord.gg/GzCPQKWrZh
A subreddit devoted to all things blacksmith. Feel free to show off your latest creations or get advice on a problem, or anything else related to blacksmithing!
Previous winners of our monthly contest!
January: /u/ArtistCeleste
February: /u/Karn3
March: /u/docroberts
April: /u/forge_lizard
May/June: /u/The_Brass_Dog
Please remember that any information/tips/tricks you get from this subreddit are not the end-all-be-all of blacksmithing. This is a multi-thousand year old trade and much of the information garnered from those times were lost during the industrial revolution. Do your own research to double check if you agree with the opinions stated here before following them.
This Sub now has a Discord Channel. Join it here.
Beginner? Read our FAQ and FAQ Discussion, And be sure to check out below.
WARNING!!! Read this before attempting any kind of forging.
Rules and guidelines for posting:
Please be considerate to others when posting/commenting. Blatant troll posts/comments will be removed.
Posts of YouTube videos, gifs, or images must include the beginnings of a discussion or a write up in the comments with a minimum of three sentences. Posts without a submission comment from the OP will be removed within 24 hours.
Obviously this sub is for blacksmithing related topics, so keep posts related to blacksmithing.
Blatant advertising and for sale posts are not allowed.
When reporting content, you MUST state WHY you reported it.
Any NSFW posts will be reviewed by the mods and may be removed based on our judgement of the value of the content.
Further resources:
ABANA Forging Fundamentals - a suggested program of study to learn hand forging
Have an englishweight anvil? Try this nifty little tool from anvilfire to find out how much it weighs in lbs.
Dictionary from anvilfire for those hard to google terms.
ABANAs list of schools in North America
Appalachian Blacksmiths Association list of schools in the US
Books:
Metallurgy for bladesmiths and others who heat treat and forge steel
Engineering Handbook (Lots of info about Metallurgy)
Projects
Our friends:
Skilled Trade Network: Metalwork
/r/Blacksmith
284,344 Subscribers
Made tongs they are the only pair I own.
Now to use them to make a better more versitile pair of tongs out of flat bar.
00:55 UTC
Can this flux be used for forge welding?
I'm new to forging and want to make a Damascus cake knife blade for my aunties wedding and I just want to know if this will work for forge welding the billet together.
23:29 UTC
Easy projects with Easter just around the corner
Just a couple ideas for the noobs
18:45 UTC
My first self-made tools and the hole they made
Punch and drifts from Atlantic-33 (A33). Hatchet head from old truck leaf spring.
Now to finish the head and put a handle on it.... Though I don't think it will be particularly useful. Maybe a costume piece :).
I learned:
Thin (~3/4") stock is harder than expected to drift without: a) it squishing down, b) it splitting out the side, and c)without a helper to hold it in position (or a jig).
A-33 is hard to move compared to 1045 but deforms a lot less when used as a hot punch. Also, can't keep the punch / drift in too long or it sticks and deforms.
I will need to make or buy some jigs if I'm going to make more hatchet / axe heads using the drift method
welding is a skill I need to learn to get more out of blacksmithing. Both forge welding and electric welding.
I would like a bigger hammer (maybe a 3 or 3.25 lb head) and need a handle that fits my hands better
I go through a lot of propane forging below freezing temperatures
my 2x42 belt grinder is more useful than I thought
18:16 UTC
Leak? Or no
Guys recently I've been repairing gas hose on the forge and when I did it and did the leak check there were no bubbles anywhere. But there is one thing that I don't exactly remember( didn't forge for some time) and that is the gas smell not odor but just smell of the gas. Between jet and the burner( see where I marked it) is a space that may be a problem but it doesn't have any bubbles. The setscrew( silver screw) is broken and my question here is: Is that small normal(it comes when I open the orange valve) and would that screw that is not fully tightened be a problem ? Thank you
16:05 UTC
2nd video for the heavy forged structure
Here is my second video of the forged structure that will support a wooden beam. Give me your impressions or advices in comments :)
12:56 UTC
So it’s 156lbs. I dropped a bearing on it and it popped up as high as I dropped it. Any idea on the value? Says Wright on it.
01:26 UTC
Just venting.
Finally got everything to get started and I tore a tendon in my shoulder and had to get surgery to fix it. So aggravating
22:17 UTC
I’ve got a voucher to make a knife for a day. What are some tips?
21:37 UTC
2nd try on my nail header tool! Read description
Beginner blacksmith john back with another nail header tool and some better nails! Ive decided to make another nail header tool with a slightly smaller and square hole as opposed to the last one, here are the header, the nails and overall results. Feel free to once again leave suggestions, constructive criticism and a joke or two.
https://fritzsforgeshop.etsy.com
18:28 UTC
I need help with metal types
I've got a severe impulse to buy a shield and mace at the minute for my birthday and have been scouring online looking at battle ready Warhammers, maces and flails.
What I really really want though, is a Morningstar, they're absolutely unhinged and I love it. Issue is they're either not battle ready or insanely expensive legit maces from ww1 and I don't have 450 quid to throw at an impulse/apocalypse kit caveman toy.
I have a proper old school rock building blacksmith locally, who I've asked if he'd be willing to make it, he's just asked if I can get him a drawing/plan and specs for what I want.
What metals could I use for this? Obviously high carbon steel is up there but I don't know if there's cheaper but still effective ones and I want to come into this with a proper plan because if your making a Morningstar, your committing to making a Morningstar.
17:29 UTC
After 4 attempts totalling about 7 hours I managed to make a pair of tongs that aren't very good lmao.
15:50 UTC
Shop Maintenance
I took some time today to clean up and organize my punches and drifts. They used to just live in this tray. Now they have a stand and I can easily see the tools I have. I also waxed them.
05:17 UTC
Does Tarist Make Files Out Of T12 Only?
I Have Some Old Tarist Files And I Wanted To Repurpose Them So I Googled The Steel Type. It Said T12, But I Doubt. The Box Said Something With 18 In It, Don’t Remember What Else. Does Someone Know?
05:15 UTC
the tool that tamed the west #history #tools #cowboy #fencing
03:18 UTC
About 40 hours in the shop
I am volunteering at a state park and learning, just getting the basics and these are some of what I have done. Not pictured is a steak turner.
For a first time project, base skills, what are some non weapon items?
I’m going to move to some welds on a wall hook and fire poker next.
03:09 UTC
R/Blacksmith Is a great sub, even though we don't get a ton of people here.
The people here aren't the sort to be on reddit constantly. Alot of them are actually blacksmiths. It means this is one of the most successful subs because of that. It has Its target audience.
02:02 UTC
Copper Ingots Not Looking Right
My brother tried to melt down a bunch of copper wire into Ingots, but they're not really coming out right. Him and my dad can't figure out why. Anyone have the answer, or how to fix it?
00:51 UTC