/r/Blacksmith

Photograph via snooOG

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/dms

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:


  • Iforgeiron


  • 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:

  • Basic Blacksmithing

  • Metallurgy for bladesmiths and others who heat treat and forge steel

  • The Blacksmith's Craft

  • Engineering Handbook (Lots of info about Metallurgy)


  • Projects


    Our friends:

    Skilled Trade Network: Metalwork

    /r/Blacksmith

    275,186 Subscribers

    1

    Will this be an issue? And if so what could I do to get it off?

    I got this forge a couple weeks ago, and put it together about a week ago and everything was fine. But I needed to get into the shed I put it in till I could use it and saw it rusted a little right there. Will it be a problem and if so can I just use household chemicals to remove it or can that damage and/or release toxins when I begin forging?

    0 Comments
    2024/09/07
    23:44 UTC

    1

    Looking to begin

    As the title says I want to begin blacksmithing. I am completely novice with most of the aspects of the art but am hoping to get advice as to where I should start or if there were any smiths in the same area as me I could apprentice to. I am just looking for advice as to where to even begin. Any help is most appreciated.

    2 Comments
    2024/09/07
    23:06 UTC

    3

    How far should I sharpen before tempering?

    hi again blacksmith brothers, I'm about to temper my first knife and I'm not sure how sharp I can sharpen the edge before tempering. I was thinking of using up to 400 grit and after tempering continue up to 1200

    is a 1095 steel btw, and tempering on kitchen oil (first knife remenber)

    thanks you again for the great comunity

    3 Comments
    2024/09/07
    22:58 UTC

    22

    Made a little wild Damascus knife

    My first Damascus knife! I'm very happy with it and the handle turned out great! Although I had to file the handle by hand...

    1 Comment
    2024/09/07
    21:00 UTC

    1

    240mm gyuto i ve made this week

    0 Comments
    2024/09/07
    19:04 UTC

    9

    Scrapyard trip - how can I tell which material is good and which isn't?

    Hey guys,

    I visited my local scrapyard to see what's there, and I've seen some old files, some old files,wrenches, coil springs, some rods and some square bars etc..

    How can you tell which material is good for forging? For knife making? Is that something you can tell at the scrapyard or do you find out later in your workshop?

    Thanks

    10 Comments
    2024/09/07
    15:19 UTC

    13

    Flypress for blacksmithing

    Do you think this design of flypress can handle blacksmithing? It comes with many dies and the price is good, but I normally see a different design being used. Thanks!

    8 Comments
    2024/09/07
    06:46 UTC

    33

    Can this be made into a knife

    22 Comments
    2024/09/07
    03:00 UTC

    55

    Latest chef knife

    Made from a railroad clip (not spike). Stabilized walnut burl handle with brass pins and bolster.

    0 Comments
    2024/09/07
    00:24 UTC

    45

    some nails i made

    8 Comments
    2024/09/07
    00:20 UTC

    200

    Random Question guys; how would you make a modern Macuahuitl? What would you keep and get rid of

    96 Comments
    2024/09/07
    00:01 UTC

    15

    Hello, I'm interested in wanting to try blacksmithing. Would this type of burner work for a homemade forge?

    13 Comments
    2024/09/06
    23:37 UTC

    98

    My anvil won’t stop bouncing

    So I just started blacksmithing today and my anvil won’t stop bouncing. It’s a dinky little anvil that can’t weigh more than 8 pounds but it’s all I got right now. Whenever I hit it it bounces around and I have to readjust it basically every other hit. Is there anyway I can make it more secure and stop it from bouncing? Thanks in advance and I look forward to being apart of this community!

    64 Comments
    2024/09/06
    21:50 UTC

    0

    To scorch or not to scorch... What is your handling method?

    My handling method is sand off finish to 120 grit then scorch, and then finally finishing it off with a touch of BLO.

    3 Comments
    2024/09/06
    19:22 UTC

    24

    What's the heaviest hammer you use regularly?

    First off... I'm about as green as they come. My blacksmithing experience doesn't extend much past having an anvil and small forge and watching hours of YouTube videos legitimately trying to learn. But I know knowledge comes from physical experience. So I try every chance i get.. I saw a guy (homestead forge) using an 8lb hammer to do most of his bulk shaping. Is this a normal practice?? I was always under the impression that a 4lb hammer is kind of the limit to hand forging before you go to a power hammer. So my question is as previously stated... what's the heaviest hammer you guys use regularly? And is that weight dictated at all by your anvil size? Mine is 200lbs for those that may ask and I've been using a 2lb hammer.

    44 Comments
    2024/09/06
    00:36 UTC

    312

    First time twist! Little help with the center?

    64 Comments
    2024/09/05
    23:05 UTC

    0

    Heat Treating A Framing Slick

    My Brother and I are working on making a framing slick (basically a giant wood chisel). We took a piece of leaf spring (5160), cut it to shape and forged it flat. Now we just need to harden it. Unfortunately my oil quench tank was left at a friends house and I don't have time to make a new one.

    Is it possible to quench 5160 in water? The Slick will be left very thick and we're only quenching the edge, maybe the final 2 inches.

    2 Comments
    2024/09/05
    18:51 UTC

    3

    Thoughts on W1 or W2 drill rod for hot cut chisel

    So what is y'all's input on using W1 or W2 for making hot cut chisels and other hot tools out of? My theory would be once they start getting toasty I can re-quench in water and that would not only cool them off but also reharden as well correct? I'm new to this game and just thinking of ideals to make some hand tools out of, steels im thinking about using are W1,W2,H13, or S7 so what do you all think? Also how big of a starting round stock should i start with is half inch big enough to make a hot cut chisel out of or should i go bigger? I don't have any power equipment with the exception of angle grinder, and belt sander. I plan on bladesmithing and blacksmithing

    8 Comments
    2024/09/05
    16:50 UTC

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