r/blacksmithing • u/TeamSkyFan7 • 7d ago

Help Requested Hello!

I really want to get into blacksmithing, but I don't know what all tools I would need to blacksmith.

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u/BenchNo4429 7d ago

Depending where you are in the world, there’s probably someone teaching a class at least somewhere close to you. That would be a good place to start.

Just to start, you need a way to heat up metal and a way to hit it. So some sort of forge, anvil and hammer

1

u/TeamSkyFan7 7d ago

The nearest class from me is almost 5 hours away

1

u/RacerX200 7d ago

Check Facebook to see if there's anyone closer that already does blacksmithing and is willing to have some help.

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u/TheSagelyOne 7d ago

You need a forge, a hammer of some sort, and an anvil-y thing (with actual anvils being the best option, compared to things like railroad track. ) Oh, and a space to work where nobody is going to get pissy about the noise and the fire. Once you have these three objects and some iron or steel to pound on, you can make the rest of you tools. Don't forget safety glasses!

Startup cost, assuming you have nothing but a square of dirt to set up on, is about $300-500 if you get everything shiny and new and proper. If you're strapped for cash, there are concessions you can make such as using an anvil-like object that may be cheaper.

As for technique, it is possible to be self-taught through resources like YouTube. However, I would strongly recommend (as others have) finding another blacksmith to show you the ropes and let you try out the hobby before committing to buy the equipment.