FORGING • KNIFE MAKING • BLACKSMITHING
Learn the craft
of fire and steel
Practical guides to tools, techniques, and projects from the forge.
FEATURED GUIDE
Forge a decorative hook
A first project for practicing tapering, bending, and scrolling.
Explore by topic
Forging
Tools, techniques, and first projects.
Knife making
Steel, handles, heat treatment, and finishing.
Blacksmithing
Workshop skills and useful work in steel.
Workshop tools
Choose the question you need to answer, then open the tool.
01
What can I make with what I have?
Match your stock and tools to a project guide with a checked materials list.
02
How much does this steel bar weigh?
Estimate round, square or flat bar weight and optional material cost.
03
How is this knife steel heat treated?
Search heat-treatment data for 16 knife steels and check the original sources.
Latest from the blog
- How to Forge an S-Hook From Mild Steel
Make a mild-steel S-hook while practicing centered tapers, curls, smooth bends, and alignment. This beginner guide includes exact stock, tools, steps, checks, and common fixes. - Blacksmithing Safety: 15 Rules for a Safer Shop
A practical blacksmithing safety guide covering eye and hearing protection, ventilation, respirators, hot steel, propane, fire control, clothing, gloves and powered equipment. - How to Forge a Bottle Opener From Mild Steel
Make a working bottle opener from mild-steel flat bar. This guide covers the punched opening, cap-catching tooth, handle, fit test, finish, and the corrections that usually make the difference. - How to Forge a Spoon From Mild Steel
Forge a spoon from mild-steel square bar using a cross-peen, wooden swage block, and rounding hammer. The guide covers stock, tools, bowl shaping, alignment, finishing, care, and common corrections.