Blacksmithing gear and reference
I'm Grady. Twenty-five years at the anvil, two forges in the shop, and no patience for tools that waste your money. These guides are what I tell the people who ask me what to buy, written the same way: what it costs, what it does, and which one is right for the work you actually do.
Shop tool
Pick a steel by what you are forging, your budget, and your experience, with the full reference table and heat-treat starting points behind it.
Anvils
What actually works as an anvil and what does not, from railroad track stood on end to a sledge head, plus the rebound test I use to judge anvil alternatives.
September 7, 2026 · 17 min read
Steel and metallurgy
A beeswax finish for forged steel explained owner to owner: two recipes, vinegar scale removal, the right heat, and the oily rag hazard nobody should skip.
September 7, 2026 · 16 min read
More from the shop
A plain blacksmith glossary of the blacksmithing terms you hear at the forge, from hardy and pritchel to upset, scarf, scale, normalize and temper color.
September 7, 2026 · 17 min read
Knife making
A blade warped after quench is common and often fixable. How I straighten one, when I let it go, what causes the warp, and how to keep the next one straight.
September 7, 2026 · 15 min read
Forges
Forge carbon monoxide explained from the shop floor: whose exposure limits are whose, what a UL 2034 alarm catches, and what ventilation must do.
September 7, 2026 · 15 min read
Steel and metallurgy
Forging galvanized steel puts zinc oxide fume in the air you breathe. What the NIOSH and OSHA limits say, how I spot coated stock, and what I do instead.
September 7, 2026 · 15 min read
More from the shop
What hearing protection for blacksmithing has to do, what the OSHA and NIOSH noise limits actually say, and why the NRR printed on the box is not what you get.
September 7, 2026 · 13 min read
Steel and metallurgy
Heat treating with a magnet works because austenite is not magnetic, not because of the Curie point. Here is what that changes and where it fails.
September 7, 2026 · 13 min read
Forges
How to forge weld, explained from the forge floor: a clean fire, a proper scarf, flux at orange heat, reading welding heat by color, and the first blow.
September 7, 2026 · 14 min read
Steel and metallurgy
Mystery steel is any bar you cannot name. What a spark test can and cannot tell you, plus the coupon workflow I use to find out if scrap actually hardens.
September 7, 2026 · 13 min read
Steel and metallurgy
15N20 steel is a nickel band saw steel that stays bright in an etch. What it is, how it forge welds to 1084, and how I heat treat it thin without warping it.
August 19, 2026 · 14 min read
Steel and metallurgy
80CrV2 steel is a tough low alloy carbon steel with a little chromium and vanadium. What it does well, how I heat treat it in a home shop, and when I skip it.
August 19, 2026 · 17 min read
Steel and metallurgy
AEB-L steel is a lean stainless with very low carbide volume. What it is, how it heat treats in a home shop, and when I would reach for it instead.
August 19, 2026 · 14 min read
Anvils
How I pick an anvil stand: stump, steel, or tripod, setting the working height, bolting the anvil down, and which stands are worth paying for.
August 19, 2026 · 16 min read
Safety and PPE
What ABANA says about blacksmith gloves, why cotton and Kevlar beat synthetics, and the cotton, elkskin and goatskin pairs I would buy for the forge.
August 19, 2026 · 15 min read
Anvils
A farrier anvil is a different pattern from a blacksmith anvil. What the turning cams, clip horn and thin heel do to steel, and which ones I would buy.
August 19, 2026 · 19 min read
Forges
Where forge coke actually comes from, what the bagged analyses say, what freight does to the price, and what changes in your firepot and blower.
August 19, 2026 · 17 min read
Forges
A gear guide to forge welding flux: anhydrous borax, boric acid and blended fluxes, with published specs, welding temperatures by steel, and handling risks.
August 19, 2026 · 16 min read
Hammers and tongs
A hammer handle replacement guide from the forge floor: which hickory handles and wedges to buy, how to size the eye, and how to hang a head that stays put.
August 19, 2026 · 18 min read
Anvils
Which Harbor Freight anvil is worth buying, which one is an anvil shaped object, and what a used anvil gets you for the same money instead of new.
August 19, 2026 · 15 min read
Forges
What kaowool is, how thick a forge lining needs to be, how to rigidize and coat it, and why the fiber dust deserves a respirator every time.
August 19, 2026 · 17 min read
Steel and metallurgy
What MagnaCut steel actually is, why its carbide design works, how it has to be heat treated, and when it is the wrong choice of steel for your shop.
August 19, 2026 · 14 min read
Knife making
What a file is really made of, why no maker publishes the grade, and how to test one on a coupon before you make a knife from a file at home.
August 19, 2026 · 15 min read
Steel and metallurgy
The two most cited normalizing steel schedules disagree on cycles and temperature. What each one says, who published it, and how I run it in my shop.
August 19, 2026 · 14 min read
Steel and metallurgy
Parks 50 quench oil is a fast oil for shallow hardening steels like 1084 and 1095. Here is what it does, how I run a tank, and where it does not help.
August 19, 2026 · 15 min read
Steel and metallurgy
What pattern welded steel is, what the toughness and edge retention testing actually found, and how I read a layer count claim before I pay for it.
August 19, 2026 · 14 min read
More from the shop
What the pritchel hole is for, how it differs from the hardy hole, the sizes real anvils ship with, and the damage that starts at these holes.
August 19, 2026 · 13 min read
Steel and metallurgy
S7 tool steel is the shock resisting bar I use for punches, hot cuts and dies. What is in it, how to forge it, how to heat treat it, and when to skip it.
August 19, 2026 · 15 min read
Anvils
What a stake anvil does that your anvil cannot, how to spot a sound one on the used market, and the small new made field that is actually worth paying for.
August 19, 2026 · 17 min read
Steel and metallurgy
Wrought iron vs steel, sorted on the bar in front of you: why the nick and snap test fails, what woodgrain and etching show, and where cast iron fits.
August 19, 2026 · 15 min read
Anvils
A blacksmith on which cast steel anvil is worth buying, how to test the face and rebound, and why the label alone never guarantees a good heat treat.
August 18, 2026 · 14 min read
Getting started
A black smith starter kit is five pieces, not a boxed bundle. The hammer, tongs, anvil, eye protection, and forge I would actually buy first.
August 17, 2026 · 13 min read
Hammers and tongs
A blacksmith's take on a cross peen blacksmith hammer: what weight to start with, which one to buy off Amazon for a first hammer, and which to skip.
August 17, 2026 · 15 min read
Knife making
A propane forge for knife making from a hobby smith: why a single burner is enough for most blades, and three models weighed on specs and owner reports.
August 17, 2026 · 12 min read
Anvils
What a forged anvil really is, the new ones you can order, the vintage ones worth hunting, and how to spot a cast anvil sold as a forged one.
August 17, 2026 · 14 min read
Anvils
A working smith's honest take on the forged steel anvil worth buying, the cast imports wearing the label, and how to test rebound before you pay.
August 17, 2026 · 12 min read
Buying and supplies
An honest read on forging kits from a working hobby smith, which bundled tools are worth owning, which to skip, and how to spend your first dollars well.
August 17, 2026 · 13 min read
Steel and metallurgy
A plain, owner to owner guide to heat treating steel: what the heat does to the grain, and how a home smith anneals, hardens, quenches, and tempers safely.
August 17, 2026 · 11 min read
Forges
A blacksmith's gear guide to medieval forges: the solid-fuel forge, firepot, hand crank blower, and anvil that recreate a medieval fire at home.
August 17, 2026 · 13 min read
Hammers and tongs
A blacksmith's honest take on wolf jaw tongs: which budget pairs are worth the gamble, which forged ones are worth the money, and why fit beats brand.
August 17, 2026 · 14 min read
Buying and supplies
A blacksmith bottle opener is a one-piece forged lever that pops a crown cap. Here is what it is, the steel to use, how it works, and where they go wrong.
August 13, 2026 · 13 min read
Tools and tooling
A working smith's take on the blacksmith guillotine tool: the genuine G2, the budget imports, the heavier commercial dies, and when to just build one.
August 13, 2026 · 13 min read
Tools and tooling
What a blacksmith ruler really is, how to read a steel rule, why measuring hot steel lies to you, and the layout tools that keep a project square.
August 13, 2026 · 12 min read
Tools and tooling
A working smith on which blacksmith swage to buy first, from spring swages to bottom swages and cast swage blocks, and which ones just take up bench space.
August 13, 2026 · 13 min read
More from the shop
A plain, owner-to-owner reference on blacksmith working: what forging really is, how heat drives it, the core moves, the tools, and how to work safely.
August 13, 2026 · 13 min read
Buying and supplies
What a blacksmithing bottle opener is, how the lip and fulcrum work, what steel to use, and why it is the first project I hand to a new smith.
August 13, 2026 · 14 min read
Buying and supplies
A straight look at blacksmithing railroad spikes: what the steel really is, why an HC spike only hardens so far, and the small projects it is good for.
August 13, 2026 · 11 min read
More from the shop
A straight answer on whether a female blacksmith can do the work: where strength really matters, where technique wins, and how to size a shop to fit you.
August 13, 2026 · 13 min read
Forges
Picking a forge for beginners comes down to one honest choice: a single burner propane forge. Here are the picks I would start a new smith on, and what to skip.
August 13, 2026 · 12 min read
Steel and metallurgy
What heated stainless steel really does: heat tint colors, sensitization, which grades harden and which never will, and why the forge is so unforgiving.
August 13, 2026 · 12 min read
Hammers and tongs
How I would build a homemade forge hammer, whether you reface a cheap drilling hammer or forge a head from scratch, plus the steel, handle, and drift to buy.
August 13, 2026 · 14 min read
Knife making
The knife making angle grinder I would hand a beginner, the specs that matter, plus the flap discs and safety habits that keep this tool from hurting you.
August 13, 2026 · 14 min read
Anvils
A working smith's take on the metalworking anvil worth buying, from budget cast steel to a forged upgrade, and the cast iron ones to avoid entirely.
August 13, 2026 · 13 min read
Buying and supplies
An owner-to-owner look at Oleo Acres Farrier and Blacksmith Supply Inc: what the supply stocks, what crosses over to forge work, and how to shop it.
August 13, 2026 · 12 min read
Forges
A portable forge buying guide from the forge floor: single versus double burner propane forges compared on published specs, owner reports, and real safety.
August 13, 2026 · 14 min read
Hammers and tongs
A working smith's picks for your first smith hammer: the right weight and pattern, published specs, honest owner reports, and the ones to skip.
August 13, 2026 · 13 min read
Hammers and tongs
An experienced hobby smith on the treadle hammer for sale market: the hammers worth buying, the bolt together kit, plans to build, and used ones to skip.
August 13, 2026 · 13 min read
Hammers and tongs
How I buy a vintage blacksmith hammer without bringing home a paperweight: what to check on the face and eye, when to buy new, and how to rehandle an old head.
August 13, 2026 · 12 min read
Hammers and tongs
How to judge vintage blacksmith tongs at flea markets and estate sales, what to check on the boss and jaws, when to restore them, and the new pairs to buy.
August 13, 2026 · 14 min read
Buying and supplies
A black smith kit is really five tools: a forge, an anvil, a hammer, tongs, and eye protection. Here is what I would buy for each, and the bundles I would skip.
August 12, 2026 · 12 min read
Anvils
A working smith's honest gear guide to buying a steel anvil: cast versus forged, real hardness and rebound numbers, verified picks, and how to test one.
August 12, 2026 · 14 min read
Knife making
An honest look at the knife making grinder that earns its place in a home shop, from a cheap 1x30 starter to a real 2x72, and who each one suits.
August 5, 2026 · 13 min read
Knife making
The knifemakers grinder most knife work is built on is a 2x72, but here is where a beginner should start if you cannot buy a 2x72 yet, and what to skip.
August 5, 2026 · 12 min read
Forges
An owner to owner look at the metal forge kit worth buying: single vs double burner, what a complete propane kit includes, and which starter kits to skip.
August 5, 2026 · 15 min read
Hammers and tongs
How I judge an old blacksmith hammer at a flea market or estate sale, what to check before you pay, and the new cross pein hammers I would buy instead.
August 5, 2026 · 14 min read
Hammers and tongs
How I judge old blacksmith tongs before I buy, what a sound used pair really costs, and the new tongs I would order when the old ones do not turn up.
August 5, 2026 · 12 min read
Knife making
A plain look at the power hammer for knife making that fits a home shop, how to size ram weight, what it really costs, and the safety gear to set up first.
August 5, 2026 · 14 min read
Getting started
A smith's honest guide to presents for blacksmiths: the safety gear, consumables, and shop upgrades that get used, and the well-meant gifts that gather dust.
August 5, 2026 · 13 min read
Forges
A working smith's honest take on the propane forge for beginners: single or double burner, the specs that matter, what owners report, and how to run it safely.
August 5, 2026 · 13 min read
Tools and tooling
A plain buying guide to the blacksmith pole vise, also called a post or leg vise: what to check used, the new Kanca picks, and the honest bench vise fallback.
August 4, 2026 · 13 min read
Tools and tooling
A blacksmith post leg vise is built to be hammered on. Here is what jaw size to buy, what to check used, and why Amazon bench vises are not the same tool.
August 4, 2026 · 14 min read
Tools and tooling
A blacksmith post vise buying guide: how to size a leg vise, what to check on a used one, the new picks worth the money, and honest bench vise stand-ins.
August 4, 2026 · 13 min read
Buying and supplies
A working smith on buying blacksmith tools vintage: which old anvils, post vises, and blowers are worth the money, how to check them, and what to restore.
August 4, 2026 · 12 min read
Tools and tooling
A blacksmith wrench guide for twisting and bending bar stock, the twisting wrench and hardy forks I would buy, what to skip, and how to twist evenly.
August 4, 2026 · 12 min read
Getting started
An owner-to-owner guide to blacksmithing for beginners: the four tools you need, the safety rules that matter, reading heat by eye, and your first projects.
August 4, 2026 · 11 min read
Getting started
A smith of twenty-five years on how to buy blacksmithing gifts that get used up or used every session, from safety gear and consumables to what to avoid.
August 4, 2026 · 10 min read
Getting started
A smith's plain guide to picking blacksmithing ideas that build real skills, from first hooks to tools you forge yourself, with safety front and center.
August 4, 2026 · 12 min read
Anvils
A cast iron anvil for sale is usually an anvil shaped object. Here is when a cast iron anvil is worth buying, when it is not, and what to buy instead.
August 4, 2026 · 12 min read
More from the shop
A famous blacksmith is rare in a trade built on anonymous work. Here are the smith-gods, the legends, and the real masters whose names actually stuck, and why.
August 4, 2026 · 11 min read
Knife making
A good belt grinder for knife making, from a 1x30 first buy to the 2x72 that is the real answer, with published specs and honest owner tradeoffs.
August 4, 2026 · 12 min read
Knife making
A plain guide to picking a good belt sander for knife making, from a 1x30 starting point to a 2x42 combo and a real grinder, with honest tradeoffs.
August 4, 2026 · 13 min read
Hammers and tongs
A blacksmith's honest guide to buying a hammer eye drift: which steel matters, teardrop shape, and whether an import kit or a real 4140 drift is worth it.
August 4, 2026 · 13 min read
Steel and metallurgy
An owner-to-owner reference on the hardening of stainless steel: which grades harden, how austenitizing, quench, cold treatment, and tempering work.
August 4, 2026 · 11 min read
Steel and metallurgy
How heat treating A2 tool steel really works: the air-hardening cycle, the soak, cold treatment, double tempering, and why it wants a controlled oven.
August 4, 2026 · 13 min read
Steel and metallurgy
What heated steel actually is: reading the glow colors, the critical temperature, forging and hardening heats, scale, burning, and how to work hot steel safely.
August 4, 2026 · 12 min read
Buying and supplies
A home forging kit worth owning is a real forge, a good hammer, and a starter anvil, not a bargain everything-box. Here is what I would buy and skip.
August 4, 2026 · 12 min read
Forges
A gear guide to the induction forge for blacksmithing: which units are real forges, which are bench toys, and who should stick with gas or coal.
August 4, 2026 · 13 min read
Knife making
A blacksmith's take on picking a knife forging anvil: how hard the face needs to be, what weight to buy, and which anvils to skip when you shop.
August 4, 2026 · 11 min read
Knife making
How I would size a knife forging power hammer for a home shop, which self-contained and air models earn the money, and the safety gear you need around it.
August 4, 2026 · 12 min read
Anvils
A blacksmith on who actually needs a 500 lbs anvil, what the real steel ones cost and are made of, and the cheaper anvil most smiths should buy instead.
August 3, 2026 · 12 min read
More from the shop
A plain owner-to-owner explainer of what a black smith is, the forge and anvil, heat treating basics, safety, and how a beginner actually starts.
August 3, 2026 · 11 min read
Hammers and tongs
A hobby smith on adjustable blacksmith tongs: why a wolf jaw or V-bit pair is the best first tong, what to fit before you forge, and when a set beats one pair.
August 3, 2026 · 12 min read
Steel and metallurgy
AMS 2759/3 is the aerospace spec for heat treating precipitation-hardening stainless and maraging steel. What it covers, the H conditions, and why it matters.
August 3, 2026 · 12 min read
Hammers and tongs
How I judge an antique blacksmith hammer at a sale, what to check on an old head, and the new cross pein hammers I would buy instead if you are new.
August 3, 2026 · 12 min read
Hammers and tongs
How I judge antique blacksmith tongs before buying, when to reforge an old pair, and the new working tongs to buy when the antique bin comes up empty.
August 3, 2026 · 13 min read
Buying and supplies
A working smith on which antique blacksmith tools are worth buying, the rust and wax gear that restores them, and when to buy a new anvil instead.
August 3, 2026 · 13 min read
Getting started
A beginner blacksmith reference from the forge floor: the four tools that start you, coal versus propane, anvil weight, hammer and tongs, and real safety.
August 3, 2026 · 11 min read
Knife making
A blacksmith's honest picks for the best belt grinder for knife making, from a budget 1x30 starter to a real 2 inch variable speed grinder, with safety.
August 3, 2026 · 11 min read
Knife making
An honest look at the best belt sander for knife making, from a cheap 1x30 to a 2x42 and an import 2x82, with specs, owner consensus, and safety.
August 3, 2026 · 14 min read
Knife making
A blacksmith's honest picks for the best belt sander for knife making, from a budget 1 by 30 to a 2 by 72, with specs, owner reports, and safety.
August 3, 2026 · 12 min read
Forges
What bituminous coal for blacksmithing actually is, why it cokes, how to judge sulfur and ash, how it burns in the forge, and the real hazards.
August 3, 2026 · 11 min read
Safety and PPE
An honest gear guide to blacksmith aprons: the split leg leather apron I would buy first, what leather weight and fit to check, and what to wear under it.
August 3, 2026 · 12 min read
Tools and tooling
A blacksmith cone mandrel guide: when a hardy-hole cone earns its keep, when your anvil horn is enough, and why most floor cones are a want not a need.
August 3, 2026 · 13 min read
Tools and tooling
A blacksmith flatter guide from the forge floor: what a flatter does, how it differs from a set hammer, and which one to buy versus forge yourself.
August 3, 2026 · 13 min read
Forges
A blacksmith forge kit is the gas forge and burners, not the whole shop. Here are the kits I would buy, what they include, and the safety the box leaves out.
August 3, 2026 · 12 min read
Tools and tooling
A blacksmith mandrel guide from the forge floor: which hardy-hole cone to buy first, when to size up, and why floor cones are a used-market hunt.
August 3, 2026 · 14 min read
Buying and supplies
A smithing kit that teaches you to forge, from a hobby smith: which anvil, forge, hammer, tongs, and eye protection are worth buying and which to skip.
August 3, 2026 · 13 min read
Forges
An honest owner-to-owner look at the VEVOR propane forge, which kit to buy, and the ceramic wool prep nobody warns you about before you light it.
August 3, 2026 · 11 min read
Anvils
A smith's honest look at the 200 lb anvil for sale field, from budget cast steel imports to ductile iron and tool steel, with what rebound really costs.
July 30, 2026 · 12 min read
Steel and metallurgy
A plain, owner-to-owner reference on 4140 heat treat: what the steel is, how to normalize, anneal, harden in oil, and temper it for tough shop tools.
July 30, 2026 · 13 min read
Anvils
A blacksmith's honest take on shopping for an anvil on eBay: how to spot cast iron doorstops, run the rebound test, and when to buy new steel instead.
July 30, 2026 · 13 min read
Forges
The beginner forge I would put in a new smith's shop: three propane gas forges compared on published specs, owner reports, and honest tradeoffs.
July 30, 2026 · 11 min read
Tools and tooling
A blacksmith chisel splits into hot cut and cold work tools. Here is which factory set to buy, which hot cutter to forge, and how to grind and use each safely.
July 30, 2026 · 14 min read
Forges
A blacksmith forge diy guide to the parts I would buy and the ones I would build for a small propane forge, with the safety that is not optional.
July 30, 2026 · 12 min read
Forges
A gear guide to building a blacksmith forge medieval smiths would know: welded firepot, hand-crank blower, anvil, and charcoal or coal, from the forge floor.
July 30, 2026 · 12 min read
Tools and tooling
A blacksmith fuller tool guide from the forge floor: hardy fullers, spring fullers, and guillotines, which to buy first and which to make yourself.
July 30, 2026 · 13 min read
Forges
A diy forge propane build comes down to three parts: insulation, burner, and gas train. Here are the ones I would buy and the safety steps you cannot skip.
July 30, 2026 · 13 min read
Steel and metallurgy
An owner-to-owner guide to erie steel treating and commercial heat treat: what a commercial furnace does, when to send steel out, and what you still control.
July 30, 2026 · 11 min read
Steel and metallurgy
A plain reference on how to heat treat stainless steel: why a forge and magnet fail, what an oven and cryo actually do, and when to send blades out.
July 30, 2026 · 12 min read
Steel and metallurgy
What heat treating stainless steel actually takes: high soak temperatures, foil wrap, plate quenching, cryo, and why most home smiths send it out.
July 30, 2026 · 11 min read
Knife making
A plain-spoken gear guide to picking a knife making propane forge, from single-burner starters to multi-burner units, with honest owner-consensus tradeoffs.
July 30, 2026 · 12 min read
Forges
A blacksmith's honest guide to propane burners for forge builds: naturally aspirated versus blown, budget to premium picks, tuning, and the safety that matters.
July 30, 2026 · 13 min read
Hammers and tongs
A plain owner-to-owner guide to railroad spike tongs: forked head-grip versus V-bit bolt tongs, what fits a spike, and how to buy safely without wasting money.
July 30, 2026 · 13 min read
Steel and metallurgy
How to temper steel by heating and cooling: the two heats, why hardened steel is brittle, reading temper colors, and where the real numbers live.
July 30, 2026 · 11 min read
Getting started
A smith's ordered list of beginner blacksmith projects, from the J-hook to your first tongs, each chosen for the forging skill it builds and how to do it.
July 29, 2026 · 11 min read
Getting started
A reference guide to the black smith projects worth making first, in what order, and what skill each one builds, from a hobby smith who teaches beginners.
July 29, 2026 · 11 min read
Tools and tooling
A working smith on picking a blacksmith filing vise: what to buy for filing and finish work, which specs matter, and the safety rules that keep filing safe.
July 29, 2026 · 14 min read
Hammers and tongs
The blacksmith rounding hammer I would put in a home shop, how to size the weight, and honest picks from Nordic Forge, Mustad, and Flatland Forge.
July 29, 2026 · 13 min read
Getting started
A plain owner-to-owner reference to blacksmithing projects for beginners: the hooks, tapers, twists, and openers that drill every core forging move.
July 29, 2026 · 11 min read
Getting started
A plain owner-to-owner reference on blacksmithing projects: what each one teaches, the order I run them in, and how to actually learn from the work.
July 29, 2026 · 12 min read
Tools and tooling
A cast iron swage block buying guide from a hobby smith: why ductile iron matters, the 66 lb and 50 lb picks on the market, and whether you need one yet.
July 29, 2026 · 11 min read
Anvils
A Centaur Forge anvil is not one brand: here is how the NC Tool, TFS, Kanca, and Emerson lines they sell compare, and which one to buy first.
July 29, 2026 · 13 min read
Forges
A coal forge diy guide from a smith who runs one: which parts to build, which firepot, blower, and coal to buy, and the safety that coal earns.
July 29, 2026 · 12 min read
Forges
The forge, hammer, tongs, and steel I would use to forge a bottle opener at home, with honest picks across budgets and the safety that matters most.
July 29, 2026 · 12 min read
Forges
A working smith's honest take on forge dies: which flat, drawing, and combination dies to buy, when to make your own, and what steel actually holds up.
July 29, 2026 · 13 min read
Buying and supplies
A plain forging equipment guide for a first shop: the forge, anvil, hammer, and tongs I would buy first, what to skip, and the safety gear that is not optional.
July 29, 2026 · 13 min read
Hammers and tongs
An honest guide to buying your first forging tongs: why a wolf jaw pattern wins, what length to get, and how to fit budget tongs so they actually grip.
July 29, 2026 · 12 min read
Forges
A blacksmith's honest take on the hand crank forge blower worth buying, how to judge gearing and air, and when a used Champion beats any new import.
July 29, 2026 · 13 min read
Anvils
A blacksmith take on hardie tools for anvils: which hot cut, set, and bending fork to buy first, how to match the shank to your hardy hole, and what to skip.
July 29, 2026 · 12 min read
Tools and tooling
How I pick a hot cut hardy tool for a home shop: sizing the shank to your hardy hole, budget picks worth buying, and when to forge your own instead.
July 29, 2026 · 13 min read
Forges
What smithing coal is, why smiths burn clean low-sulfur bituminous, how it cokes, clinker, sizing, storage, and the carbon monoxide safety that is not optional.
July 29, 2026 · 13 min read
Anvils
A blacksmith's guide to anvil hardy tools: which hot cut and fuller to buy first, how to match the shank to your hardy hole, and what owners report.
July 28, 2026 · 12 min read
Hammers and tongs
A blacksmith's guide to the Anyang power hammer: which ram size fits a one-person shop, what the specs mean, foundation and power needs, and what owners report.
July 28, 2026 · 14 min read
Tools and tooling
A hobby smith's honest take on which axe eye drift to buy: budget import kits, hand forged options, and how to drift an eye without splitting it.
July 28, 2026 · 13 min read
Getting started
A beginner blacksmith kit stripped to what matters: forge, anvil, hammer, tongs, and Z87.1 eye protection, with honest picks and the gear to skip.
July 28, 2026 · 13 min read
Knife making
An honest belt grinder for knives guide: the 1x30, 4x36, and 2x72 machines I would point a beginner at, with specs, owner reports, and safety.
July 28, 2026 · 13 min read
Forges
What blacksmith charcoal is, how lump differs from briquettes, how it burns versus coal, how to make your own, and the safety that keeps you alive.
July 28, 2026 · 12 min read
Forges
A blacksmith charcoal forge buying guide from a hobby smith: which firepot is worth the money, what to build yourself, and the fuel and safety notes to know.
July 28, 2026 · 11 min read
Forges
What blacksmith coal actually is, why bituminous coal cokes and anthracite does not, how sulfur and ash grade it, and how to burn it safely.
July 28, 2026 · 13 min read
Forges
A blacksmith coal forge buying guide from the forge floor: which welded firepots and complete units are worth it, and the coal safety that is not optional.
July 28, 2026 · 13 min read
Tools and tooling
A blacksmith cone guide from the forge floor: why a hardy cone mandrel beats a floor cone for most home shops, with published specs and owner reports.
July 28, 2026 · 12 min read
Tools and tooling
What a blacksmith double caliper really is, why most are antiques, and the spring caliper and divider sets I would actually buy to measure hot stock.
July 28, 2026 · 13 min read
Forges
A blacksmith gas forge buying guide from an experienced hobby smith: picks across single and double burner propane forges, real specs, and safety.
July 28, 2026 · 13 min read
More from the shop
A blacksmith hook is the best first forging project there is. What kinds to learn, the steel and heat behind them, how to forge one, and how to finish it.
July 28, 2026 · 13 min read
Tools and tooling
A blacksmith hydraulic press guide: whether to buy a finished forging press or build one from a shop press, with honest specs, owner reports, and safety.
July 28, 2026 · 12 min read
Getting started
A blacksmithing starter kit worth buying is four pieces, not a boxed set: the anvil, hammer, tongs, and eye protection I would pick, with tradeoffs.
July 28, 2026 · 12 min read
Forges
A working smith on the Bufco forge blower: what these vintage Buffalo Forge hand cranks are worth, what to check before buying, and modern blowers that work.
July 28, 2026 · 12 min read
More from the shop
A plain, owner-to-owner look at what a colonial blacksmith really made, the iron and steel he worked, his tools, and why his skills still matter at my forge.
July 28, 2026 · 12 min read
Hammers and tongs
How I turn a cheap hardware store hammer into a diy forge hammer, which heads to start from, and the heat treat and safety mistakes to avoid.
July 28, 2026 · 12 min read
Forges
A blacksmith take on picking a forge blower for a coal forge: hand crank versus electric, real specs, owner consensus, and the air control that matters.
July 28, 2026 · 13 min read
Tools and tooling
A blacksmith's honest take on the trepanning tool: annular cutters, hole saws, and lathe grooving tools, with published specs and owner reports.
July 28, 2026 · 13 min read
Knife making
A plain 2x72 belt grinder for knife making guide: what matters in a motor, VFD, and platen, budget complete machines, and the premium picks worth saving for.
July 27, 2026 · 11 min read
Tools and tooling
A blacksmith swage block guide from the forge floor: what it does, cast iron versus ductile iron, the blocks worth buying, and how to mount one safely.
July 27, 2026 · 13 min read
Buying and supplies
An owner-to-owner guide to the blacksmithing store landscape: suppliers, marketplaces, farm stores, scrap yards, and the used market that beats them all.
July 27, 2026 · 12 min read
Steel and metallurgy
A working smith's plain guide to heat treatment of metals: hardening, tempering, annealing, normalizing, reading heat with a magnet, and when to send work out.
July 27, 2026 · 11 min read
Forges
A homemade forge is the smartest first build for a new smith. The parts worth buying, the ones worth fabricating, and the safety steps you cannot skip.
July 27, 2026 · 12 min read
Anvils
How I judge an old anvil for sale, the rebound and ring tests that sort steel from cast iron, and the new anvils worth buying when the used market fails you.
July 27, 2026 · 13 min read
Anvils
How I shop used anvils for sale: what a fair price per pound is, how to run the rebound test before you pay, and the new anvils worth buying if the hunt fails.
July 27, 2026 · 13 min read
Anvils
How I test a vintage anvil for sale before paying, which old brands are worth it, and the new anvils I would buy instead when the hunt stalls.
July 27, 2026 · 13 min read
Steel and metallurgy
Annealing steel means heating past critical and cooling as slowly as you can. What that does inside the metal, the temperatures, and how to do it at home.
July 25, 2026 · 15 min read
Anvils
How I judge antique anvils before paying: rebound testing, face condition, maker marks, weight stamps, and the new anvils worth buying if you strike out.
July 25, 2026 · 14 min read
Anvils
A plain look at anvil price by weight, material and condition, with what I would pay new or used and where a cheap anvil stops being a bargain.
July 25, 2026 · 14 min read
Hammers and tongs
Which blacksmith cross pein hammer to buy first, from a hobby smith: published specs, weights that work, owner reports, and how to dress a new face.
July 25, 2026 · 15 min read
Buying and supplies
The equipment for blacksmithing that actually matters: anvil, forge, one hammer, one pair of tongs, a vise, and the safety gear that is never optional.
July 25, 2026 · 15 min read
Getting started
A plain guide to picking a forging project, choosing stock, planning your heats, and finishing the piece, written from the floor of a home shop.
July 25, 2026 · 14 min read
Forges
Which propane blacksmith forge belongs in a home shop, what the published specs really mean, and where the budget kits cut corners, from a hobby smith.
July 25, 2026 · 16 min read
More from the shop
An owner-to-owner reference on the blacksmith village: why the forge sat at the center, what came through the smithy door, and what it teaches a home smith.
July 24, 2026 · 14 min read
Tools and tooling
A working smith on choosing a blacksmith vise: post vise versus bench vise, what cracks under a hammer, which specs matter, and what a used vise is worth.
July 24, 2026 · 16 min read
Buying and supplies
A working smith's short list of blacksmithing equipment: forge, anvil, hammer, tongs, vise and rated eye protection, with published specs and owner reports.
July 24, 2026 · 15 min read
Forges
A diy forge parts guide from a hobby smith: which wool, rigidizer, castable, burner and regulator to buy, what to build yourself, and the safety rules to keep.
July 24, 2026 · 14 min read
Forges
A hobby smith's gas forge guide: chamber size, burner count, liner wear, published specs for four propane forges, and the safety setup that matters.
July 24, 2026 · 15 min read
More from the shop
What hoffman blacksmithing is, why smiths mix it up with Hofi hammers, and how to judge a hand forged hammer from any small maker before you spend the money.
July 24, 2026 · 14 min read
Knife making
A plain owner to owner guide to knife blacksmithing: picking steel, forging the blade, heat treating it properly, grinding safely, and what gear you need.
July 24, 2026 · 13 min read
More from the shop
What master blacksmith means today, where the title came from, which ratings actually test skill, and how to judge the claim when nobody is checking.
July 24, 2026 · 15 min read
Anvils
An owner to owner look at the VEVOR anvil lineup: published specs, why cast steel beats cast iron, what forum owners report, and which weight is worth buying.
July 24, 2026 · 14 min read
Knife making
A gear guide to belt grinder knife making: what a 1 x 30, a 2 x 72 and a VFD chassis really give you, with published specs and honest owner reports.
July 23, 2026 · 15 min read
Knife making
Which belt sander for knife making is worth buying: 1x30, 1x42, 4x36 or a 2x72 grinder, compared on published specs, owner reports and the safety part.
July 23, 2026 · 16 min read
Hammers and tongs
An honest look at the blacksmith power forging hammer options for a home shop: self contained pneumatic, utility air, tire hammer, and what each really costs.
July 23, 2026 · 17 min read
Hammers and tongs
An honest blacksmith power hammer guide: published specs on Anyang, Big BLU, tire hammers and used Little Giants, plus what your shop floor and power need.
July 23, 2026 · 15 min read
Hammers and tongs
A working smith's take on blacksmith tongs: which jaw pattern to buy first, how to fit the jaws to your stock, and honest picks from budget to premium.
July 23, 2026 · 15 min read
Buying and supplies
A working smith's list of the blacksmithing supplies worth buying first, the ones to skip, and how to spend a starter budget without wasting it.
July 23, 2026 · 14 min read
Knife making
A plain owner to owner reference on blade smithing: steel choice, forging heat, normalizing, quenching and tempering, and the grinder mistakes that ruin blades.
July 23, 2026 · 13 min read
Knife making
A plain walk through bladesmithing: choosing steel, forging shape, normalizing, quenching, tempering, and grinding an edge that actually cuts and lasts.
July 23, 2026 · 13 min read
Forges
A charcoal forge guide from a hobby smith: side blast versus bottom blast, which firepot and blower are worth money, and the safety rules that matter most.
July 23, 2026 · 16 min read
Forges
A coal forge buying guide from a hobby smith: which firepot and blower are worth the money, what the cheap tabletop kits get wrong, and how to vent it safely.
July 23, 2026 · 15 min read
Forges
What coal forge coal to buy: low sulfur bituminous smithing coal, published specs compared, honest owner reports on anthracite, and safe fire management.
July 23, 2026 · 15 min read
Hammers and tongs
Picking a forge hammer for a home shop: which weight and pattern actually work, what the makers publish, and what smiths on the forums report.
July 23, 2026 · 15 min read
Hammers and tongs
How to pick a forging power hammer for a home shop: real published specs on the Anyang air hammers, a used Little Giant, and the tire hammer you can build.
July 23, 2026 · 14 min read
Knife making
Which knife makers belt sander is worth buying first, from a 4x36 combo to a 2x72, with published specs, real owner reports, and the safety notes that matter.
July 23, 2026 · 15 min read
Knife making
A plain owner to owner guide to knife making: stock removal versus forging, steel choice, heat treating, grinding safety, and what a first knife really takes.
July 23, 2026 · 15 min read
Knife making
A close look at what a knife making kit includes, which type is worth your money as a first project, and what the box always leaves off the list.
July 23, 2026 · 14 min read
Hammers and tongs
A smithing power hammer buying guide from a hobby smith: air hammers, Big BLU, old Little Giants, tire hammer builds, and what installation costs.
July 23, 2026 · 16 min read
Hammers and tongs
Which smithing tongs to buy first, how tong sizing really works, what budget imported pairs get wrong, and how to fit jaws so they hold hot steel.
July 23, 2026 · 15 min read
Tools and tooling
An honest swage block buying guide from a hobby smith: which size to buy, why ductile iron matters, what to skip, and what to buy before one.
July 23, 2026 · 15 min read
Hammers and tongs
An owner to owner blacksmith hammer guide: weight, face, and handle that actually matter, five hammers compared on published specs, plus dressing and safety.
July 22, 2026 · 15 min read
Buying and supplies
How blacksmith shops are actually laid out, what tools live in them, how ventilation and fire safety work, and what it takes to set one up at home.
July 22, 2026 · 16 min read
More from the shop
A reference on the medieval blacksmith: the iron he had, the charcoal fire, the anvil he used, and which of his habits still belong in a modern shop.
July 22, 2026 · 17 min read
More from the shop
A working hobby smith explains the medieval smith honestly: bloomery iron, charcoal fires, small anvils, guild trades, and which old lessons still apply today.
July 22, 2026 · 14 min read
Forges
Which metal forge a hobby smith should buy: published specs, owner reports, and the ventilation and ceramic fiber warnings the listings leave out.
July 22, 2026 · 13 min read
Forges
Which propane forge is worth buying for a home shop, what the published specs actually mean, and the ventilation and ceramic fiber rules to follow.
July 22, 2026 · 14 min read
Forges
An owner to owner look at which propane gas forge is worth buying for a home shop, what the published specs actually mean, and where cheap units cost you.
July 22, 2026 · 14 min read
Knife making
A railroad spike knife is a great forging project and a poor cutting tool. What the steel can and cannot do, how to forge one, and how to make it actually cut.
July 22, 2026 · 13 min read
Forges
An owner to owner smithing forge buying guide: published specs, real owner reports from the forums, and the safety details cheap gas forges skip.
July 22, 2026 · 15 min read
Steel and metallurgy
What the tempering of metal actually does to hardened steel, how temperature and time change hardness and toughness, and how I temper in a home shop.
July 22, 2026 · 14 min read
More from the shop
A plain explainer on the black smith: where the name comes from, what the work involves at the forge and anvil, and the safety that is not optional.
July 22, 2026 · 14 min read
Anvils
A blacksmith and anvil buying guide to cast steel picks worth owning, the cast iron ones to avoid, and how to test rebound before you commit.
July 21, 2026 · 12 min read
Forges
A blacksmith forge buying guide from a hobby smith: propane single and double burners, a coal firepot, tradeoffs, specs, and the safety setup each one needs.
July 21, 2026 · 12 min read
Tools and tooling
A working smith's take on the black smith tools worth buying first: anvil, hammer, tongs, a forge, a heavy vise, and the safety gear you never skip.
July 21, 2026 · 12 min read
Tools and tooling
A working hobby smith on the blacksmithing tools that actually matter for a starter shop: one hammer, one pair of tongs, an anvil, a forge, and eye protection.
July 21, 2026 · 13 min read
Anvils
A working hobby smith on what makes an anvil worth owning, budget picks that hold up, and how to test any anvil before you hand over the cash.
July 17, 2026 · 12 min read
Anvils
How much anvil a beginner really needs, why rebound beats raw weight, and the weight classes that make sense for a home shop, plus how to buy one well.
July 17, 2026 · 5 min read
Anvils
A working smith's take on the best beginner anvils you can buy new: from a budget cast steel pick to a forged anvil you buy once, specs and owner reports.
July 17, 2026 · 8 min read
More from the shop
The safety gear a beginner smith actually needs, the standards that matter, and where not to waste money, from a smith who learned the hard way.
July 17, 2026 · 5 min read
Forges
The tradeoffs between a coal forge and a propane forge for a first shop, from a smith who runs both every week: cost, fuel, heat control, and the mess.
July 17, 2026 · 5 min read
More from the shop
A plain owner to owner reference on what blacksmithing actually is, the core moves, the tools that matter, fuel choices, and safety that is not optional.
July 17, 2026 · 12 min read