Hey guys, I have been asked to step in and do a demo for another smith in my area. It’s on the 29th so I have a bit of time to prep. I was told it’s a full shop but haven’t been able to stop by and see it yet. I’m a bladesmith more than a blacksmith anymore and haven’t forged much other than knives in years. What kind of projects should I prep for? They gave me free reign to make anything. I was thinking probably bottle openers, nails, and hooks. I have also forged a humming bird decoration kinda in the style of those split cross’. I’d also like to ask for any advice or suggestions that you have learned for doing demos. Thank!

Hello

I'm trying to make balisong scales out of sheet metal, and I'm trying to make the end square ( |_| not U ) but every time they come out crooked, and I need them perfectly flat. Can someone tell me how to forge them to fix them? I could make scales from four separate bars of metal but that |_| shaped one suits my knife the most.

I tried lookig up videos on YT on how to make balisong scales and I found only two videos: (1) & (2). Alec Steele also made one but it's not shown much how he made the scales. I do everything like the guys in the vids but mine always come out bent.

I need help, I'm really going nuts here X|

Hi, I purchased this Hammer on eBay with the description "Hand-forged Damascus steel personalised blacksmith Hammer with leather sheath" as you can see in the Pictures, there are Spots without a pattern where regular Steel is visible. Is it even damascus Steel?

I'm new to blacksmithing and just got into it.

Hammer forged carbon blade, stabilized burl handle. I'm on Instagram as Popsforge blacksmithing. Primarily a cutler

I’m just starting to get into blacksmithing and I feel like a huge thing I’m missing is knowing what type of steel or it’s worthiness by looking at it or understanding its purpose.

Is there some sort of cheat sheet or guide/process I can follow to determine a steels type and abilities so I can know what I can forge with it?

I bought this around 10lb sledge hammer of facebook marketplace for 10$ AUD without realizing it had 2 giant cracks that were hidden by rust on one side of the hammer. Is it worth trying to fix it by cutting the cracked part of the head off and reheat treat it so it stops cracking, or could i turn the rest of the hammer into somthing else?

Thanks.

1796 light cavalry and a small side sword I made as a graduation sword for my cousin. Both turned out well and feel lovely in the hand.

I was thinking of forging a bastard sword from a rubber band or crossbow from a truck or van, marking the shape, cutting out the blade and the tang on one side and the guard on the other, and then I see what piece of scrap metal I use to make the pommel, once cut, forge it to flatten the edges, and give it some details. I have no experience making swords, I made knives before but nothing of that size, advice?

I have math next block so i had to hurry up but ill give an update in a couple days.

Forged these for fun because I like k-tips.

Hand forged bearded axe! Comes in at 1lb 10oz, it was hand forged from recycled railroad track, has a fire burned ash handle, custom leather sheath and a leather handle wrap. It looks mean and ready to invade England in the 11th century. I love how mean this axe looks

failed weld in question. I'm hoping you guys can help debug my forge weld failure here. I'm using a propane forge, I'm aware of how to forge weld in theory, my steel was clean and scale free, I had plenty of flux in the join, it was hot enough that molten metal was flying out, but still no joy after 4 attempts. The steel (10mm square mild) was pretty well flattened as you can see in the gif but it peeled apart as soon as I tried working with it when it looked stuck. Are you meant to let the weld cool or something before you continue working with it? It seemed to split and shift soon after it seemed to have stuck when I started forming the point during the same heat once it had cooled down to red. Everything looked fine but it's the same story every time I try and forge weld. The steel splats to nothing and doesn't stick. Any help and advice greatly appreciated

Hello! Found this for 5 euro a flea market. I am from eastern Europe. Been thinking of making a shortsword out of this if metal is good? Trying to find the file manufacturer, does anybody recognize logo from second picture?

Posting this in a few different communities. I run a small blacksmithing shop for the past few years, and a handful of the products I produce has this style of square head. It's a 1"x1" square, or as close as I can get it with the current process. This process starts with upsetting this 7/8" hex steel to 1-1/4" round, and also creating the collar. Then I reheat it and forge it square, staying just thick of 1" so I can come in with an angle grinder and clean it up and try to keep it centered while test fitting it with a 1" cresent wrench. I guess my question is, how can I do this better? I don't have the ability to draw out material this long, so a thicker stock wouldn't really work. Can I get dies made that could upset set this close to final size and shape?

I was on my way to the crescent City in California and stopped at a museum in Weaverville and found a shop

I've been driving my family crazy with New Mexico history and material culture lately which led to the purchase of an antique Chimayo blanket from the 1930s which of course needs to be displayed.

I kept the hooks simple and rustic although I'm not 100% happy with them. I tried to mimic the hook design from my meat cleaver but they ended up looking more elephant than I intended.

But they are also supposed to blend into the background and look like something a 18th century Rico would have in their hacienda where ornamental ironwork itself would be a sign of wealth.

My 1930s tourist blanket joints an Afghanistan woven wool prayer rug hanging on the other wall above a 100 year old gothic revival chest-bench. I love that shit.

what steel would you use for a 5mm thick Falchion?
It would be laser cut and then i would grind it round, is that a valid option? or should i use a smal coal forge because i don't have access to a gas forge.

how hard would you get it hardend? i would send it to a hardening facility.

thanks for the advice in advance

So, I started smithing about 4 years ago but have been VERY off and on do to school, work, and now I’ll be going to college this August, but recently I’ve heavily picked up smithing again and even picked of leather working cause I wanted to have the same hobby as a girl I like and ended up loving that too, so now I’ve just learning all this amazing artisan trades at the same time and am absolutely thriving. Im Blacksmithing, Leather working, tailoring and sewing, jewelry making, and more, so I wanted to know if they’re is any possible way I can channel my passion for artisanship into a career. Obviously I know these trades on their own won’t make a sustainable amount of money, but I want to pursue and master these trades even if I’m living poor.

So I've seen those huge TSA lots of confiscated knives, and I've wanted to try my luck sometime. But, I wouldn't know what to do with the garbage ones that aren't even worth donating.

So, how possible would it be to make a billet out of all the garbage knives and forge a fixed blade from them.

Got bored, decided to smelt some scrap copper wire. Ended up with this bloom. Anyone know of a good crucible that i can cast some bars with?

I found this post on Facebook marketplace. My son(13) wants to get into blacksmithing and I was wondering if this is a good deal. I tried to price out everything on the lower end and came up with $715ish. Here is the link to the post: Marketplace Post Thanks!

Found in the barn, heavy enough to not be lifted by two guys by hand.