It is that time of the year, a wonderful Christmas time. For some, it means going on a holiday, for others, it means watching Christmas movies all day long. But for blacksmiths, Christmas time is often when we make various creative projects that may serve as a nice gift.
In this article, I decided to give you 7 simple Christmas project ideas:
- Christmas Tree Hook
- Candy Cane
- Holly Leaf
- Christmas Tree Bottle Opener
- Steel Cross
- Christmas Tree Ornament
- Forged Wreath Hanger
The good thing about these projects is the fact they are very simple to do and don’t require any special tools. In fact, if you are a beginner blacksmith, completing them will serve you as an excellent way of accelerating your skills.
Now let’s see how to make them.
1. Christmas Tree Hook
Instead of forging a basic J-hook, why not make it more decorative? Since it is Christmas time, you can forge a Christmas tree hook. It is a simple project for both beginners and advanced smiths. The beauty of doing this project is that it won’t take you much time and it doesn’t require any special equipment.
This hook can be used to hang up a stocking, put bags, and many other things. Selling these would be a good idea. Namely, if you can make one in less than 10 minutes and sell it for at least $7-8, you could make around $50 an hour.
Required tools:
- Anvil
- Hammer
- Tongs
- Forge
- Punch
Required blacksmithing techniques:
- Drawing put
- Bending
- Shaping
Candy Cane
I mean, who doesn’t like a candy cane? The only bad news is that you are not able to eat this one However, it will serve as a great gift for either St. Nicholas or Christmas. Like the previous project, it doesn’t take long to complete. The only „special“ tool you will need is a bottom swedge.
While you can still work without it, it will make your forging process much easier as it won’t roll as much as it would do on the anvil. If you are just starting with blacksmithing, this is another good project to do. It should not take you more than 20 minutes to finish it.
Required tools:
- Anvil
- Hammer
- Tongs
- Forge
- Chisel
- Bottom swedge
- Vice
Required blacksmithing techniques:
- Drawing out
- Bending
- Twisting
- Shaping
Holly Leaf
Leafs are well-known blacksmithing projects and for a great reason. Namely, they are usually very easy to make and require only a basic set of tools. This is also why they are suited for all novice smiths. Forging a leaf requires a decent amount of tact and precision. Therefore, it serves as a great way of practicing those two aspects.
Keep in mind that you should be very careful during forging. If not, a leaf can be broken very easily. Also, make sure the temperature is not too hot as it can melt. This is especially the case when using a coal forge.
Required tools:
- Anvil
- Hammer
- Tongs
- Forge
- Fuller or Guillotine tool
- Chisel
Required blacksmithing techniques:
- Drawing out
- Bending
- Cutting
- Shaping
Christmas Tree Bottle Opener
Bottle openers have also been extremely popular in blacksmithing work for long years. Some blacksmiths are able to provide a living by only making them as their selling project. Since it is Christmas time, we need something related to that theme.
Knowing that, why not make a Christmas tree bottle opener? Note that before forging you should cut a metal plate into a Christmas tree shape. You can download any picture of the Christmas tree and cut the material according to it.
After you punched a hole, you can either leave at that point or continue to make some decorations. If you are planning to sell it or give it to someone as a gift, I suggest making that further step. In both cases, after completing this you will have a nice and useful item.
Required tools:
- Anvil
- Hammer
- Tongs
- Forge
Required blacksmithing techniques:
- Drawing out
- Bending
- Punching
Steel Cross
While this project may seem complicated at first, it actually isn’t. Of course, you have some variations that require advanced skills but not this one. This one is a beginner-friendly project that every blacksmith can do with minimal tools. It also won’t take you much time, so if you want you to make several these in one hour.
Steel cross is the type of project that may be a good seller so consider it adding to your selling list. Note that you can make them in various sizes and decorations.
Required tools:
- Anvil
- Hammer
- Tongs
- Forge
Required blacksmithing techniques:
- Drawing out
- Punching
- Bending
- Shaping
Christmas Tree Ornament
Everybody likes nice Christmas tree ornaments. When you think a little bit, without them, a Christmas tree would just be a regular tree. So, this year you can make some new ornaments for your family or you can also sell them. Whatever your choice is, we decided to include a Christmas tree ornament on this list.
It is a simple blacksmithing project that won’t take you much longer to forge. The working process is very similar to the previous one. The only big difference is that here you don’t have to punch any holes since it is only an ornament.
Required tools:
- Anvil
- Hammer
- Tongs
- Forge
- Punch
- Drift
Required blacksmithing techniques:
- Bending
- Shaping
- Drawing out
Forged Wreath Hanger
Almost every house has at least one wreath hung on its doors during Christmas time. As you can notice, a wreath needs a hanger so there is another idea for all blacksmiths. Instead of buying one, forge one. Don’t forget the fact that you are a blacksmith, a person who can make almost anything out of metal.
Again, you can use them for your purposes or you can try selling them to other people. As with all other projects on this list, this one is no different. It doesn’t require a lot of time and equipment to make it.
Required tools:
- Anvil
- Hammer
- Tongs
- Forge
Required blacksmithing techniques:
- Drawing out
- Bending
- Shaping
- Punching
And there you have it, 7 easy blacksmithing Christmas projects that will put a lot of smiles on your family or your customers.
Each of these projects is also suited for beginners so don’t be afraid to make one if you are a beginner. On the other hand, if you are an intermediate or advanced smith, this will be incredibly simple to do.
And now, I have to finish my Christmas blacksmithing projects. Happy Holidays
