The blacksmithing terms I explain to every beginner
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
Topic
More from the shop
The rest of the shop: guides that do not fit a single rack but are worth having on hand.
Hearing protection for blacksmithing, and how loud shops get
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
What the pritchel hole is for, and the sizes you find
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
What blacksmith working means on the forge floor
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
What being a female blacksmith takes, from the forge floor
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
The famous blacksmiths worth knowing, from the forge floor
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
What a black smith does, from the forge floor
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
The blacksmith hook, and why I hand it to every beginner
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
What a colonial blacksmith did, from the forge floor
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
What a blacksmith village really was, from the forge floor
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
Hoffman Blacksmithing and what a small shop maker gives you
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
What a master blacksmith is and who decides
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
What a medieval blacksmith did all day
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
What a medieval smith did all day
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
What the black smith is and what the work involves
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
Blacksmith safety gear for a home forge
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
Blacksmithing, explained by a smith who lights the forge
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