Many people don’t even bother getting started in blacksmithing because they think that they have to invest a lot of money. Actually, this cannot be far from the truth.
Blacksmithing, especially for beginners is actually very cheap to get started. You have probably seen some blacksmiths on TV where they are using power tools like a power hammer, drill press, etc., and thinking all of that is required.
So, is it possible to do blacksmithing without power tools?
Blacksmithing can be done completely without using power tools. For doing basic projects, all you need is an anvil, hammer, tongs, and forge. As you are getting advanced you may want to add punches, drifts, chisels, fullers, sets, hardy tools, vise, etc. With these hand tools, it is possible to make almost anything with proper technique and material.
Next, we will discuss the difference between hand tools and power tools. Also, we will explain how to set everything up and answer some of the most common questions.
Difference Between Hand Tools and Power Tools for Blacksmithing
In any craft, when it comes to choosing a tool, you have two options: hand tools and power tools. The choice largely depends on the person’s budget, needs, and personal preferences. Before you make a decision, it is important to understand their differences. Because of that, we will include the pros and cons for better analysis.
Hand Tools for Blacksmithing
As the name suggests, hand tools require using manual work. They don’t require electricity, battery, or any power source for their usage. The use of hand tools goes even back to the Stone Age. In blacksmithing, hand tools are used for hammering, punching, cutting, and a lot of other functions. They have generally fewer moving parts and are simple to use.
It’s interesting that all of the historic arts made from metal are made without any power tools. For today’s blacksmiths, that may seem unimaginable, but it is true. When we were getting started in blacksmithing, our only tools were a small anvil, a 3lb hammer, and a simple coal forge. That’s it. Today I laugh when somebody says to me that they can’t get into blacksmithing because they don’t have any power tools.
One of the biggest advantages of blacksmithing hand tools is the fact that they are extremely easy to use. Also, you have more control of the movement which makes them convenient for detailed blacksmithing work.
Another great thing about hand tools is that they are always ready for work as they don’t require any power source. You simply forge your metal piece, place it on the anvil and you are ready for hammering without any problem.
Blacksmithing hand tools are lighter than power tools which makes them much easier to move. Imagine that for some reason you have to move your workshop to the other place. With hand tools, it is way simpler to do it. You simply grab them and put them in your truck whereas, with power tools, it will take much more time and help from at least one more person in order to move them out.
Power tools are much heavier than hand tools and they have to be properly uninstalled in order to move somewhere else. The only hand tool which may be harder to move is the anvil, especially if it weighs above 150lb.
Hand tools are also generally much cheaper than power tools. Take a hammer, for example, a typical power hammer costs anywhere from $2000-$5000. If you compare that amount with a regular blacksmithing hammer (which you can find for $50 or even less), the choice is obvious. Of course, having a power hammer is really nice and useful, but the reality is that is not an essential part of the blacksmithing workshop. Also, not everyone can afford it.
Using hand tools generally requires a higher skill level than those needed for power tools, so using them serves as a great practice. We believe that beginners should first master hand tools before moving on to power tools. A blacksmith with little experience and knowledge may not be able to handle hand tools effectively at first but as time progresses, skills will be obtained.
The downside of them is that they are not powerful as power tools therefore it also takes much more time to finish projects. For example, a drill press is much more effective and faster for making holes than using a hammer and punch. Hand tools are less accurate as they require manual control. The machine is much more powerful and precise in this regard.
The hand tools will also tire you down very quickly, especially without using the proper technique. For instance, striking a hammer for a lot of periods of time will drain your energy significantly. Even experienced blacksmiths get tired after some time. Beginners get tired even quicker as their hammering technique is often not ideal. With power tools, you don’t have that problem as the machine does most of the work.
Popular Blacksmithing Hand Tools
In case you decide for using hand tools in your blacksmithing workshop, we have prepared a complete list of all hand tools you should get.
Traditional Blacksmith Tool List
- Anvil
- Cross Peen Hammer
- Straight Peen Hammer
- Wolf Jaw Tongs
- Coal Forge
- Punches
- Drifts
- Chisels
- Fullers
- Sets
- File
- Vise
- Marking Tools
The anvil is probably the most iconic blacksmithing tool of all. It is a massive piece of steel or iron that serves as a work table. There are many different designs of the anvil but all of them serve the same purpose.
A good-quality anvil (affiliate link) is somewhere between 50 and 300 pounds. The heavier it is, the better. Anvils are mostly made of steel or iron. These days, good-quality anvils are getting harder and harder to find.
Cross peen hammers come in a variety of different styles, including Swedish style, French style, and German style, which is the most common.
Straight peen hammers are another tool in blacksmiths’ arsenal. The main difference between the two is in the peen position. The peen of the straight peen hammer is positioned parallel in proportion to a handle whereas the peen of the crossed one is located vertically.
Wolf Jaw Tongs are one of the most common types of tongs used in blacksmithing. They can hold various types of stock, either round or square. That’s why wolf-jaw tongs (affiliate link) are recommended for beginner blacksmiths.
Coal Forge is the most historic type of forge. It is harder to work with because it requires a lot of proper fire control. A coal forge (affiliate link) is very useful because of its versatility. Namely, you can forge basically anything in it whereas with gas forge you cant.
Punches are used for making holes in the material. There are a lot of different sizes and shapes. Round and square shapes are the 2 most popular.
Drifts are similar to punches although there is a difference between them. Punches are used for creating a new hole in the metal while drifts primarily enlarge the existing hole. Drifts usually have a smaller diameter at the end but it gradually enlarges up to the top while punches have slightly bigger point diameters.
Chisels are one of the most used tools for cutting metal. In order to cut a material, a force has to be applied, mostly with a hammer. They can be used either for hot or cold cutting.
Fullers are primarily used for removing stocks. They tend to do it more efficiently than hammers because of their narrow round face. They come in a lot of different types and styles. Fullers can be either made straight or cross. The only difference between the two is which is in the punching direction. Another great benefit of using fullers is the move the metal on 1 axis which often comes in very handy.
As chisels, sets are also used for cutting hot and cold metal. They are simply chisels with handles. Cold sets are short and thick while hot sets tend to be longer and thinner. As chisels, they come in many sizes and shapes.
The file is used for shaping the metal by scraping it. If you are planning to make knives or swords, this is an inevitable piece of equipment. There are a lot of different types of files but all of them have a rough surface.
Vises are incredibly useful tools for holding a working piece stationary. You can find many different types but for the blacksmith, post vise is the ideal choice because of its ability to endure constant hammering. Vises are also excellent tools for bending metal.
Marking Tools are needed in every craft, including blacksmithing. They are essential for precise work. We personally use chalk and pens most of the time.
Power Tools for Blacksmithing
Power Tools use some type of energy source, usually electricity or battery. One of the obvious positive sides of power tools is their speed and efficiency. They are excellent for production work as you can make many more pieces in the default time. With hand tools, it takes much more time to finish a particular project.
The usage of power tools does not require higher skill levels whereas hand tools do. You will also find you have much more energy at the end of the working day using power tools. They also have greater accuracy.
One of the great disadvantages of power tools is that you are relying on the power source. For example, if there is no electricity or the battery runs out, you cant work. They are also more complex compared to hand tools as they have different mechanisms, power connections, engines, and many other components.
Also, regular maintenance is required for proper work. Oiling, replacing parts, sharpening and many other repairs can be very expensive.
They are more dangerous to operate because of their increased power and speed during work. For instance, when working with a drill press, you should NEVER wear gloves. You can easily catch the finger at the edge of the cutter which can tear your skin and even your finger off. This is why safety rules are required to learn before attempting to work with any type of machinery.
Power tools are mostly very expensive but sometimes you can them find at affordable prices. Adding to the fact that maintenance and various repair are required for long-term work, the power tool becomes even more expensive.
For example, let’s compare making a hole with a drill press and hand tools like punches. A solid drill press costs around $200 whereas punch you can make it yourself for free. Both will do the job effectively.
The Most Popular Power Tools Used in Blacksmithing
Keep in mind that there are tons of different power tools but in this article, we decided to present to you some of the most popular ones. In a well-equipped blacksmithing workshop, you will probably find:
- Angle Grinder
- Belt Grinder
- Drill Press
- Power Hammer
These 4 are the most common power tools used for blacksmithing purposes.
Angle Grinder
An angle grinder is an excellent tool for cutting and grinding metal. It also refers to a side or disc grinder. It comes in a variety of different sizes and motors. Angle Grinder is divided into corded and cordless models.
Corded types require some power source to work. They are usually more powerful and lighter than cordless models. Cordless grinders must have a battery to operate. They are more convenient for working in different places as they don’t require electricity. This model is heavier due to the battery.
When working an angle grinder, don’t forget to protect your eyes and unplug the grinder when switching wheels.
Belt Grinder
A belt grinder is the most common type of grinder in a typical blacksmith shop. It uses electricity as an energy source. A belt grinder (affiliate link) is ideal for bladesmithing as it can sharpen the knife fast and effectively. A belt grinder can be portable or stationary, depending on the type. They consist of two drums, a belt, and a motor.
Drill Press
This is an excellent tool for making a fast and accurate hole in the material. You can choose between many types of drill presses, but the most important factor is to choose the type suited for working material. It will boost your production rate significantly. For hard metals, it is best to use drill bits like cobalt, titanium, or chrome-vanadium. Factors such as speed, power, and size will all affect your buying decision.
This drill press is my number one choice. I have had it for a few years and could not be more satisfied with it. Strong recommendation.
Power Hammer
Power hammers are forging hammers that use a mechanical power source to raise the strike rate. They are also called “Open Die Power Forging Hammers”. Blacksmiths, metal workers, and bladesmiths have been used since the 19th century.
It usually consists of an anvil, a frame, and a reciprocating ram holding a hammer die. The metal is simply placed on the anvil and the head hammers it at particular strength and speed. They are rated by the weight of the moving part that works directly on metal.
Now, let’s finally analyze the advantages and downsides of using hand tools and power tools.
The Advantages of Using Hand tools
- Don’t require any power source
- Have fewer moving parts
- Easy to use
- More control of the movement
- Always ready for work
- Much cheaper than power tools
- Serves as a great practice
- Easy to move
The Downsides of Using Hand Tools
- Requires a higher skill level
- Not efficient as power tools
- Less accurate
- Will tire you down quickly
- Slower production work
The Advantages of Using Power Tools
- Does not require a high skill level
- Excellent for production work
- Easy to use
- Will not tire you down as quickly as hand tools
- More accurate than hand tools
The Downsides of Using Hand Tools
- Requires electricity or battery
- More complex
- Very expensive
- The higher cost of maintenance
- More dangerous to operate
As you can see both have a similar number of both advantages and disadvantages. In the end, it all comes down to personal preferences, finance, and personal goals. For example, if someone wants to be a professional knife-maker, a belt grinder would make a huge difference in the production rate. Using only hand tools would slower production and thus earn less money.
On the flip side, if someone wants to do simple blacksmithing as a hobby, hand tools are all that are needed, especially if the tradition of blacksmithing is important. Plus, it is much cheaper as you can make your own tools. For making your own tools, all you need is working material and skills.
