User:Teqmc2/Smithing

Smithing (or Blacksmithing or Forging) is the art of using repeated blows to shape heated metal into tools or art, or objects which represent both at once. This art can be considered one of the most basic crafts since no other craftsman can work without a smith, while a smith can make his own tools, if he borrows those of another smith. In the modern world, smithing has little industrial or economic significance, because the same processes can be done much more quickly and cheaply in a factory. On the other hand, there are thousands of hobby smiths across America, and more in other countries. Some people take up smithing because they enjoy the process of the work. Others do it because they would rather use custom made tools for their chores. A very lucky few manage to go into business selling art pieces to those who are rich enough to afford 0hand work.

This article is about how to begin smithing as a hobby. Please remember that there is absolutely no substitute for working with an experienced smith.

Setting Up Your Shop
In order to work metal, you need several things: a heat source, a work surface, and a shaping tool.

Heat Source
The heat source is called the forge. Since it is the largest tool, the shop in which this work is done is sometimes called a forge. Similarly, this process of working metal is sometimes called forging. There are two basic categories of forges: gas forges and solid fuel forges. Slightly different skills are required for the use of each type of forge. Gas forges heat metal more quickly and more evenly than solid fuel forges. This can be good, but sometimes a project requires heat to a specific area of the metal, and sometimes a project requires slow heating.

A gas forge consists of a heat proof box with a door in one or more sides and a burner in the bottom. The two fuels which are commonly used are propane and natural gas. Acetylene is occasionally used, but it is expensive.

A solid fuel forge consists of a heat proof container, open at the top, with a vent at the bottom through which air can be forced. There is also a device for pressurizing air and a pipe to the vent. The container is called the ‘’fire pot’’, or the ‘’fire pit’’, the vent is called the draft, the tube is called the ‘’tuyere’’ and the air comes from the ‘’blower’’. The purpose of the moving air is to accelerate the rate of fuel combustion. The accelerated combustion elevates the heat of your fire, but it causes your fuel to run out sooner.

The three types of fuel commonly used in these forges are charcoal, coal, and coke. Charcoal is the oldest and most traditional fuel for smithing. Coal was only discovered in the early 1600s, and only became widely used industrially a hundred years later. Coke only became commercially available in the 1800s. For most smiths, this does not matter. Other smiths are working with historical reenactment groups, which makes this information important.

Commercial Charcoal Briquettes are useless for smithing. Briquettes are made by mixing powdered charcoal with clay. The clay slows down combustion and evens out the heat. This is great for cooking, but not for forging. If you wish to use charcoal, you must make it yourself. This is not hard to do. Charcoal burns cleaner than other solid fuel and it is cheaper. On the down side, charcoal does not burn as hot as other fuels. This means that it takes much longer to heat your metal.

It is possible to purchase coal for home smithing. One place to get it is from local blacksmithing clubs, also called guilds. Coal burns much hotter than charcoal which makes for much easier smithing. On the down side, coal smoke is nasty, thick and sulfurous. I don’t mind the smell of coal smoke, but I don’t stand down wind.