Projects for Beginning Blacksmiths

These projects are great for beginners, no matter where your interests lie. Aside from producing useful objects, they also train fundamental blacksmith skills, like punching and drifting holes and drawing out a clean taper. They will also help you understand how hot metal moves and prepare you for more advanced projects. If you’re just getting started, try some of these:

• Hooks
• Chisels
• Punches
• Drifts
• Bottle openers
• Nail header and nails

Check out our storyboards page for step-by-step forged models of many of these projects to help you get started!

What next?

Where do your interests lie? Your personal goals as a blacksmith should inform the projects you undertake.

Bladesmith Track

Swords are just long knives, and knives are just long leaves - start there:

• Leaves
• Letter openers
• Knife-shaped objects (knives made of mild steel won’t hold an edge, but are more forgiving in both forging and “heat treating”)
• Blacksmith’s knife
• X-Rhea knife

Damascus Track

Focus on projects that incorporate forge welding:

• Flux spoon
• Fire poker
• Hinges
• Axes

Toolsmith Track

Need a tool? Make a tool! Aside from the basics listed above, consider these options:

• Tongs
• Bending forks
• Hammers
• Hardy tools
• Tiny anvils

Ornamental Track

• Decorative hinges
• Scrollwork
• Candleholders
• Animal sculptures (dragons, snakes, turtles, and horses are popular)
• Vines