Are you looking for blacksmithing tools for beginners? This guide contains everything about what tools are best for beginner blacksmiths.
Becoming a blacksmith is one of the most rewarding and self-reliant skills you could take on. You’ll be able to make weapons and make the ultimate DIY Survival Arsenal out of steel.
Blacksmithing is also a big undertaking. You won’t hear someone casually say “I think I’ll take up blacksmithing on the weekends” as if it was like playing golf.
For homesteaders, this is even more important in blacksmithing knowledge and know-how. To learn and become more skilled at it, there are plenty of blacksmithing projects you can do.
There are hundreds of different tools and dozens of variations for nearly every kind of tool.
The tools for blacksmithing won’t be found down the street at Walmart or the common convenience store. You have to specifically go to a blacksmiths store. One thing you’ll notice is the price tags. These tools are more expensive than a $5 screwdriver. They’re an investment.
We made it easier for you by covering all the blacksmithing tools you need to know right here. In this post, we cover the tools you’ll want to get familiar with. You’ll also see which tools you actually need to start blacksmithing.
After reading this guide, you’ll know the blacksmith’s tools that craft metal into practically any shape the blacksmith chooses.
You’ll know how what is used to bend steel at your will…
There are hundreds of different tools, many of which you won’t need to get started. That’s why there’s an essentials tools list for beginners towards the end as well.
Let’s get started.
Blacksmithing 101
Blacksmiths create objects by heating either iron or steel with a forge until it becomes soft enough for the blacksmith to then mold and shape it into the object they are creating.
Do blacksmiths still exist?
When you think of blacksmiths you may think of a Lord of the Rings movie where it’s held in ancient times and big burly men hurling hammers at red molten steel to make swords for the next million dollar fighting scene. Those days are for the most part over, but yes blacksmiths still exist and serve a major role in society.
The tools of a blacksmith are what the sword is to the samurai.
The heart of blacksmithing lies in the effectiveness of the tools that mold and shape the creations.
What metals can blacksmiths forge?
In terms of what metals can be forged, nearly all metals are capable of being forged, but there are only a few that you’ll likely be using as they are the most common ones blacksmiths work with.
They are:
- Stainless Steels
- Carbon
- Alloy
Blacksmithing Tools List
So what are the tools a blacksmith uses? Before learning the types of tools I was always curious about what kinds of tools are used to shape and mold steel.
That’s what we’re going to talk about, right now.
Here is the ultimate list of blacksmithing tools that you’ll want to become familiar with. The tools of the blacksmith are the backbone of the profession.
So what are the tools a blacksmith uses? There are hundreds of different kinds of tools. They include:
- Hammers
- Tongs
- Chisels
- Calipers
- Dividers
- T Square
- Straight Pane Sledge
Hammers
The hammer has been declared the “King of tools”.
Hammers are commonly known to be a crude instrument used for just crushing objects. In reality, this isn’t the case for the blacksmith. They use hammers for not just crushing, but detailed and refined work as well.
Regardless of what shape or kind of hammer it is, hammers are used for three purposes.
- To crush
- To drive
- To stretch
Believe it or not, there are many different types of hammers with multiple weights and shapes.
Blacksmithing hammers include:
- Doghead hammer
- Ball Pane Hammer
- Stone Masons Mallet
- Carpenters Mallet
- Twist Hammer
- Machinists Hammer
The claw hammer is the most popular and most widely used in common households. They are not used for blacksmithing because they tend to crack easily and break.
For beginners, consider looking for used hammers in auctions and estate sales. As you progress in the craft, you will learn what you need and want in a hammer should you decide to purchase a new one.
Vices and Clamps
A vice is used for holding the metal piece in a specific way so the blacksmith can shape it a certain way. Comes in handy when the forge isn’t able to get the worker a good position for the specific job.
Tongs
The blacksmith’s tongs are used for grabbing and holding the hot steel that you’re working on.
A tong is a fireproof piece of metal made for grabbing and holding the hot metal.
There are dozens of different kinds of tongs that blacksmiths will use for specific purposes. Each different kind is specifically built for grabbing and holding a specific type of object.
Different types of tongs include:
- Pick up tongs
- Flat Tongs
- Box Tongs
- Tongs with box piece
- Round Bit
- Hollow Bit
- Pincer Tongs
- Crooked Bit
Chisels
Chisels are used to cut and shape metal in nearly any way you wish. That’s the idea of them anyway. Knowing how to do that and being skilled enough as a blacksmith to do that is a different story. Using a cold-chisel is an art form in and of itself.
Different types of chisels include:
- Hot chisel
- Cold Chisel
- Gouge chisel
- Round Punch
- Square chisel
- Square punch
- long or eye punch
Calipers
Caliper are also used as well in the blacksmithing world.
There are:
- Single Calipers
- Double Calipers
Anvil
The anvil is an amazing tool.
It is one of the most ancient tools that has ever existed while also being one that has remained to this day in its original form.
A perfect example of if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
[easy-tweet tweet=”A perfect example of if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” user=”survivaljournal” usehashtags=”no” template=”dark”]The anvil is the backbone of the blacksmith. It’s the symbol. Wherever there is a blacksmith, there is also an anvil. It’s used to withstand the blows and strikes to the object your working on. Essentially it’s a big block of steel or cast iron.
Forge
The blacksmiths forge is what’s used to heat up the steel. By heat up, I mean heated up to a scolding 1150 degrees Celsius. Which comes out to 2102 degrees foreign height. That is the required temperature for steel to be forged.
Think of a forge like an oven, the ultimate oven. There are different kinds of forges like any other blacksmith tool. You can make a DIY forge or buy one. Buying one is usually the preference for beginners. Later on, is when making one might become more ideal based on your specific needs.
There are also different kinds of forges, ranging from the most ancient of forges to more modern forges.
- African Forge
- Primitive Lathe
- Improved Forge
- Forge Stand
- Simple Forge
- Arkansas Forge
Workers Bench
Smoothing Benches are used for smoothing techniques
Improved Tools Bench are basically a tool wrack on steroids for blacksmiths. It’s a bench that holds dozens of different tools on it for easier access.
Farrier Tools
There are tools called Farrier tools if you want to be a professional farrier, or for your own horses. These are the tools used for crafting horses hoofs.
Torch
The torch is used for removing metal pieces of the project if needed.
Drills
Blacksmiths use drills for well… drilling.
Don’t forget to share this post, You Know The drill.
Nuts and Bolts
Of course, there are all the nuts and bolts blacksmiths use. There are nearly countless different types and variations of them.
Essential Basic Blacksmithing Tools for Beginners
For starting out, getting a few select tools that are multi-purpose will be the most cost effective for you.
Here are the essential blacksmithing tools you’ll need as a beginner.
- Hammers
- Tongs
- Anvil
- Forge
- Gloves
- Goggles
Tool kits are a good option to start out with. A starter blacksmith kit will provide you with a few multi-purpose tools with just what you need. Hammers, chisels, and safety equipment are standard in most kits.
Which hammer to get?
A good starting hammer is the ball pein hammer.
How To Start Blacksmithing For Less Than $100
Watch this video on how to get started as a blacksmith for less than $100.
Where To Get Tools
If you want to look online for some options, CentaurForge.com is the most popular place. Go to this page to look at the starter kits they have.
They have starter kits that include:
- a forge and an anvil
- Farrier starter kits
and many more different kits.
Also, auctions can be a great place to find blacksmithing tools.
Blacksmithing Projects For Beginners
As I said in the beginning of this post, there are plenty of blacksmithing projects you can do to get started. Here are a few good ones.
DIY Blacksmith Anvil
Watch this video on how to build a cheap DIY anvil.
Build a Backyard Forge
DIY and build your own forge right in your backyard.
See the full instructions here.
How To Forge A Knife
Here’s a classic homesteading project you can do.
How to Make a Railroad Spike Knife
Here’s a project for beginners: How to Make a Railroad Spike Knife
Conclusion
So you see, there are only a handful of tools that are needed to get started. You can worry about your blacksmithing shop stocked full of steel-melding gadgets later.
If you’re starting out in blacksmithing, these are the tools that are the most helpful.
Now you know the basics of blacksmithing and the tools that are used by blacksmiths on any given day of metal bending.
Again, for homesteaders specifically becoming a blacksmith is invaluable. Our mission here is to become more self-reliant for our future survival, blacksmithing is one of the best skills to acquire.
If you liked this post, you may also like our complete guide on anvils where we cover everything about them including different anvil uses, how anvils are made, and also the types of anvils.
Did you think there would be so many different kinds of blacksmithing tools? Let us know in the comment below if you have trouble finding tools.
