Basic Blacksmithing Tools

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by Adobestock/Grafvision

Well, folks, MOTHER was good enough to print my article on how to build a forge (MOTHER EARTH NEWS NO. 35) . . . and the ole gal now thinks that some further information on blacksmithing might be valuable to readers who aspire to learn the skill.

The current widespread revival of interest in this old, old craft makes a lot of sense, what with so many poor-quality (and usually expensive) metal items on the market today. Folks seem to be waking up to the notion that they can “roll their own” when it comes to building in wood and stone, bricklaying, raising food, supplying their own fuel, and handling other functions formerly considered the work of specialists . . . and there’s no reason why blacksmithing shouldn’t be added to the list. After all, many an old farmer has repaired his own tools and other iron items without any help from the “experts” in town.

The ability to forge metal is one of the most useful skills a homesteader can possess . . . because there are very few items essential to basic living that can’t be produced in a well-equipped blacksmith shop. I’m not — of course — referring to television sets, radio receivers, or any of the other electronic-age children which have become so much a part of everyday life in America. But the simpler things — door hardware, fireplace tools, kitchen utensils, woodworking equipment, even the nails that hold down the floor in your house — are within the grasp of the person who’s willing to put some thought and work into their making.

Such an individual is not a reviver of a lost art, but part of a tradition which has never died out. The underlying principles of metal-shaping with forge and anvil haven’t changed much over time (even though machines now provide the “muscle” behind the hammers in most cases). These articles on the equipment, fuels, and methods used in blacksmithing are for those of you who want to apply the knowledge to your own purposes . . . and, to help you get started, here’s a list of the tools you’ll need:

The Anvil

  • Published on Nov 1, 1975
Tagged with: Blacksmithing
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