/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

    263,425 Subscribers

    8

    Forge slash.. pizza oven?

    So me and my dad are planning on making a pizza oven this up coming summer. Got me thinking. Any way we could dual purpose it?

    Have I thought about it at all? No. Just a passing thought. Wondering if anyone has any ideas. If not. Feel free to tell me about your favorite pizza.

    Either way I'm betting brick forges of old and pizza ovens have some things in common so if you wanna talk about that. Please do.

    9 Comments
    2023/11/30
    02:10 UTC

    4

    How can I burn the galvanization off this ducting for use as a coal forge chimney? Should I start a large bonfire and throw both pipes I ordered on there while staying far away, or is there a better way? The ducting is 12 in diameter by 5ft

    9 Comments
    2023/11/29
    22:21 UTC

    4

    jig

    1 Comment
    2023/11/29
    22:05 UTC

    8

    Carreer related

    I'm absolutely fascinated with blacksmithing, specifically knife and wok/pan making. Never tried it but i love the idea of it as a career possibly in the future. Im still 18 and don't know wether its a good idea. What do you think? And is it a good paying job?

    14 Comments
    2023/11/29
    11:44 UTC

    5

    In San Antonio TX for 2 weeks. Know of any auctions?

    Hey y’all I’m in SA for the next 2 weeks with nothing to do. Know of any auctions or good spots to check out anvils/tongs/general forging tools? I get 5 free 100lb bags with American when I fly back so…

    1 Comment
    2023/11/29
    06:32 UTC

    3

    Grinding your own step on a Vevor 66 (132lb) anvil

    Hi, so as many folks have seen and bought, I have the Vevor Accacio 66 (132lbs) but it does not have a step. Is there anything I should know before I decide to angle grind my own into it?

    6 Comments
    2023/11/29
    01:45 UTC

    13

    Am I gonna get cancer from this?

    Lining is coming off, will I die of cancer?

    27 Comments
    2023/11/28
    22:53 UTC

    2

    A Christmas gift ...

    Hi all,

    https://fishernorris.com/

    The History of Fisher and Norris

    Helping them sell their books. :)

    Sandi

    0 Comments
    2023/11/28
    21:28 UTC

    40

    Hi. I Found this thing a couple of days ago and was wondering if this looks familiar to you. Could this be some sort of stake ?

    Thanks in advance 👍

    24 Comments
    2023/11/28
    12:05 UTC

    17

    H-Press Question!

    I’m an experienced welder/fabricator and I’m really looking into getting more into the forge side of steel, I’ve done a decent amount of forge work at a shop I used to work at, but now im working for myself and am looking to acquire some more tools! I’ve decided that an H-press is definitely more for me at the moment vs a power hammer, for price and use. Definitely interested in knife/sword making, but also aesthetic and functional pieces to collaborate with my fabrication work. Any good recommendations out there? I’ve been looking at this one but I’m uncertain if it’s a good deal or not, it’s a 30 ton press but that’s all the information currently given. Any help is welcome, thanks everyone!!

    23 Comments
    2023/11/28
    01:51 UTC

    8

    Need some help!

    First time making a Tanto style blade. Should my bevel be higher up? Any advice is appreciated.

    8 Comments
    2023/11/27
    23:32 UTC

    47

    Someone said they wanted to see my work. The long one took my roughly 8 or so hours. These are my 3rd 4th and 5th knives ever and the only one I've took alot of material off is the small one.

    As you can see I've tried tons of times to drill the hardened steel and it hasn't worked for me. I've recently found out I need to take it to a dull red heat if I'm gonna be able to get ant holes through it.

    22 Comments
    2023/11/27
    20:11 UTC

    4

    Refractory ceramic fiber powder inhalation

    Hello

    I'm an engineering graduate student who is using muffle furnance.

    Two years ago, I cleaned up muffle funanxes by blowing the air. At that time, lots of powder was spread, and I believe I inhaled some, and it's quite bad.

    Do you know how bad it is? I recently learned it's made from RCF and is really toxic to humans.

    5 Comments
    2023/11/27
    18:26 UTC

    74

    I made my first knife!

    4 Comments
    2023/11/27
    18:19 UTC

    16

    People, what do you think about this one? It just popped up at a flea market and I want to buy it.

    9 Comments
    2023/11/27
    09:23 UTC

    16

    Which pains are bad for you and which are good? Being a newer blacksmith I figure I have muscle to build in odd areas like fingers?

    I have a perfectly tuned handle for my hands and I also practice good technique. I have been smithing on the weekends for a couple months but I recently got a 2.5lb doghead hammer and I am still getting used to it.

    All in a nutshell I just want to know what soreness should I expect and which soreness/pain I should be cautious of.

    29 Comments
    2023/11/27
    04:22 UTC

    157

    I made this for our iron anniversary (6th)

    Be kind, it’s the first one in a couple years ive made the time to fire up the forge

    9 Comments
    2023/11/27
    02:57 UTC

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