/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/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:


  • 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

    283,046 Subscribers

    143

    I founded this old tool in grandpa's garage. Can someone identify wtf is this

    58 Comments
    2025/01/17
    23:29 UTC

    0

    New video is live! Forging the hidden blade!

    0 Comments
    2025/01/17
    21:20 UTC

    53

    And the new forge is ready!

    2 Comments
    2025/01/17
    21:13 UTC

    1

    Have institutional budget to build out a metal shop with a small smithing space. Is it wise to look into induction heaters/forges? If so, what should I know before doing so?

    I run an art college's makerspace and it's budget time. There's some interest and some money in building out our metalworking area and I'm interested in improving our forge setup- the current forge is a small 2x1x1' propane thing, possibly shop-made. I've seen induction forges used before, and they seem perfect for the (1/4"-3/4") rod bending/welding sculpture projects the students usually use the forge for, though I admittedly am not well educated on the equipment. They seem useful for making quick bends on thin material, which would cut down on the forge bottleneck this shop has when full classes/workshops use the space.

    Are these forges more of a social media video gadget, or are they actually useful? What should I absolutely know before looking into this? Should I rethink and go with something else entirely?

    8 Comments
    2025/01/17
    20:00 UTC

    48

    Was faggoting (a form of forge welding) named this before or after the term "faggot" was deemed a slur in the 1900's?

    The title asks it all. Thank you!

    32 Comments
    2025/01/17
    19:14 UTC

    21

    Help identifying this anvil please?

    Looking at buying this for 250$ but It has no maker marks or anything i can see. Is it worth it? Any help would be greatly appreciated

    20 Comments
    2025/01/17
    16:19 UTC

    0

    Anvils for sale

    Does anyone know where I can get a decent anvil for a starter at?

    13 Comments
    2025/01/17
    04:47 UTC

    13

    "Grim Reaper" themed Halloween garden decor from old farm tools

    0 Comments
    2025/01/16
    23:47 UTC

    179

    Copper money clips from a 1.5 inch coupler from the hardware store. Nothing too exciting, nor the worst possible result for being like my third copper project in seven years of this work.

    9 Comments
    2025/01/16
    23:36 UTC

    37

    Batch of wall hooks inspired by black bear forge's recent video, regarding the ones resembling elements of New Mexican style architectural design elements, for family Christmas gifts.

    2 Comments
    2025/01/16
    23:34 UTC

    5

    Blacksmith

    Anyone have any thoughts about the advantages/disadvantages of a vertical quench tank opposed to horizontal one. Was thinking i could just use a metal drywallers putty trough??

    13 Comments
    2025/01/16
    21:26 UTC

    65

    Ladies 1” belt buckle

    Iron with copper inlay.

    4 Comments
    2025/01/16
    17:19 UTC

    1

    Looking to get started

    So pretty much what the titule says, I'm 22 living in argentina, I have a small space on my roof to set everything up and a decent pay to buy some materials, but I'd prefer to scavenge or search for as much stuff as possible, I have a few of those refractory bricks to set up a forge and a decently side "parrilla" as we call it here made out bricks, don't know if I can make the forge here, don't know where to get an anvil either, here are very costly from what I've seen, so that'd be everything, willing to recieve any tip when it comes to starting this, thank you in advance

    2 Comments
    2025/01/16
    15:59 UTC

    1

    Steel price

    What is a reasonable price per pound when buying steel stock (CAD). Got quoted about 1.05$ per LBS for hot rolled round stock

    1 Comment
    2025/01/16
    15:51 UTC

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