Getting Started

The first thing you will need to do if you want to become a blacksmith is set up your forging area, or smithy.

There are a few completely necessary items that you will need to have a functional forge area are:

• Forge. This can be a coal or gas fired forged, and any size, but it should be big enough to hold whatever project you plan on doing with room to spare.
• Anvil. You need a flat, unblemished work surface in which to pound the hot metal. Finding an anvil can be a bit of a bother, and you want the biggest anvil you can find. 100 pound is enough to see you through, but if you can find it, go for 250-300.
• Quenching Tank. This should be filled with water, but you can have another tank filled with oil as well. This is to cool the metal quickly, or bring the metal down to an touchable temperature after letting it air cool.
• Hammers and Tongs. You will need to use the hammer(s) to shape the metal and the tongs to hold it when doing so.

Some things are nice to have, and will speed up the process of forging, but are not completely vital and can potentially be expensive to buy, build, or maintain.

• Power Hammer. Although not strictly necessary, if working with a large amount of steel or a harder alloy compound, having a small power hammer, even a 25 or 50 pound will save your arm.
• Belt Sander/Bench Grinder. You can do everything you do on this machine with files and rasps, but you can get a more even grind and do it faster with the machine.
• Machinist Vice. Being able to hold onto a piece of metal while still being able to use both hands to twist or bend the metal.  

When you first start Forging, you will have a limited number of tools, but as you progress and become a better smith, you will find yourself accumulating tools to fit every situation. Making your own tools is a good skill to have, and the better you are at it, the nicer your tools will be and the more refined your final projects will become.