Blacksmith

What is a Blacksmith?

Duties

Here are the duties of a blacksmith:

• Forges, shapes and repairs items made of different metals like hooks, rods, chisels, wrenches, tongs, chains, equipment and machine components in a blacksmith’s furnace.
• Uses a wide range of tools like hand tools, air chisels, trip hammers, drills, brackets and clamps to weld and temper metal articles.
• Maintain detailed records of all financial transactions and the type of repair or fabrication of tools or machine parts.
• Calculate an approximation of the tensile strength and fracture as well as the strain on a material for any cold repair method.
• Coordinate with companies or private clients on specific job requirements.

Day In The Life

A blacksmith spends most of his day near a forge or furnace, heating, welding and shaping different metals such as brass, steel, iron, bronze and copper, for assigned projects. You will be utilising power tools and hand tools to get the work done efficiently. Once the basic shape of the object is created, you will use small chisels, tongs and hammers to finish the product.

To harden this item, it is placed in the forge at high temperatures between 500 to 1300 degrees Fahrenheit, then soaking it in cold water to bring it back to room temperature. The next step is called tempering, when the item is again placed in a forge and heated to a lower temperature in order to make it less brittle. The final cooling of the metal item is done at room temperature. In addition to making new products, you may also transform or repair existing metal products – this takes less time and effort.

Work Schedule

Blacksmiths work up to 35-40 hours every week from Monday to Friday with occasional overtime. The work environment is physically demanding, involving the heavy lifting of metal objects and working in noisy conditions. You may also have to wear protective clothing such as safety eye wear, ear defenders, aprons, and boots. The setting may vary between large engineering or mining workshops to small-scale sheds. If self-employed or employed by a small enterprise, the hours usually depend on your workload.

Growth Of The Job

As a blacksmith, you can find diverse opportunities for growth in sectors like building and construction, agriculture, manufacturing and wholesale trade. Enough experience will lead you to supervisory roles, instructing students as a trainer, or establishing an independent business. New positions and high turnover from existing employees leaving are expected to provide more openings for aspiring blacksmiths.

Some blacksmiths transition into working as a farrier – a role that factories cannot replace – which involves crafting and fitting horseshoes. With sufficient experience in the field, you can also be an ornamental blacksmith in the arts and crafts industry, creating tailored products for customers like metal tools, iron furniture, wall decor, ornaments and artwork.

Typical Employers

You can expect to be hired by various institutions like museums, galleries, architectural firms, civil war re-enactments and fairs. Businesses such as metal fabrication and manufacturing are also on the lookout for qualified blacksmiths. Ornamental blacksmiths often lend their expertise to decorative items at small retain shops, for sculptures, crafts, chandeliers, fireplace pokers and weather vanes. Vocational schools and certification courses on metalsmithing often hire blacksmiths to instruct aspiring students on the subject area.