What’s a farrier’s anvil? It’s the stereotypical shape that you probably think of when you picture an anvil. A farrier’s anvil is probably the best one to start with.
There are many different shapes of anvils available. It’s best to start off with a used anvil, because a brand new one can be very expensive. Usually an anvil will be made from steel or cast iron. It’s where you’ll be doing all of your shaping and molding of your work. It’s the unofficial symbol of blacksmiths and something that’s been used for hundreds of years.Īn anvil is basically just a flat, hard surface for you to work metal on. An AnvilĪnvils are pretty much the first thing that comes to mind when someone thinks of blacksmithing. If you’re buying a pre-made forge, it will be one of the most expensive items you’ll need, along with your anvil. So proper ventilation for your forge is critical. Inhaling coal dust can lead to all kinds of health problems and should be avoided at all costs. Ideally this would be outdoors, but at a bare minimum you’ll need a chimney to let all of your fumes escape. You’ll need to place your forge somewhere that’s very well ventilated. Some are gas forges that use propane or natural gas, removing the need for coal. Different models of ready-made forges that you can buy are also available. There are plenty of kits and plans for blacksmith forges that you can make yourself. Some people say that a hand operated blower still provides superior control when it comes to maintaining a proper temperature for your forge.Īt its most basic level, you can make yourself a blacksmiths’ forge with an old brake drum and hair dryer if you’re really on a budget. You can also get a makeshift blower from clothes dryers, air conditioning units, or other used appliances. In the past this would have been a bellows, but nowadays there are more efficient electric-powered options. Third, your forge needs some kind of blower or air source to add extra oxygen to the fire. You can usually get these way cheaper than purchasing ones made specifically for blacksmithing, and they work just as well. If you’re looking for cheap fire-resistant brick, go to hobbyist and ceramic stores. The second is a work surface, which ideally would be made of firebrick, but you can use regular brick or even concrete. It will need to be four or five inches deep. The first is firepot, which holds the fire and generates the heat. If you’re using a traditional blacksmith’s forge that uses coke or coal to generate heat, your forge will need to consist of three parts: Without something to heat your metal up to workable temperatures, bending and shaping it would be nearly impossible. The first thing you’ll need to start blacksmithing is a forge. Want to see what stuff I’d suggest? Check out my recommended gear page! A Forge Most of them are nice to have, but in this article I’ll be discussing only the absolute essentials that you’ll need to start forging metal. There are hundreds of specialized blacksmith tools and gadgets out there. So in addition to which tools you’ll need, I’ve also listed where you’ll likely have the best luck finding them, as well as some alternatives.
Some of these blacksmithing tools can be hard to find. One of the coolest things about blacksmithing is that once you have the basics, you can forge any additional tools you need as you go! Most of these you can buy used or make yourself for just a few hundred dollars. What are the 5 tools every beginner blacksmith needs to get started? You’ll need a forge, an anvil, a hammer, tongs, and a vice. In fact, I’d say you can start with just 5 tools. Getting started with blacksmithing isn’t all that hard.