5 Blacksmithing Projects For Beginners
By Kristin Arzt
Here, we will show you five different ideas for beginner projects in blacksmithing. Through forging in the smithy, blacksmiths are empowered to create all kinds of projects, from practical tools to ornamental objects. Each of these blacksmithing projects teaches you several basic techniques that every blacksmith uses. As a plus, you end up with a tool that you can use in your own home. These are the five projects that you will learn in The Crucible’s Blacksmithing I. Before you pick up the hammer, pick your favorite project below to get started.
Tools required for these 5 projects:
5 Beginner Blacksmithing Project Ideas
The five beginner blacksmithing projects are:
- Twist-forged bracelet
- Coat hook
- Forging a spoon
- Forging a fork
- Letter opener from rebar
Project 1: Twist-forged bracelet
Make your own simple, unique forged bracelet in the smithy using a steel bar and heat from your forge. A hand-forged bracelet is one of the easiest beginning blacksmithing projects. Forging the bracelet teaches you several basic techniques that every blacksmith uses, and offers a great introduction to the tools in the smithy. This is one of the first projects that you will learn in The Crucible’s Blacksmithing I.
Project 2: Coat hook
Making a hook is the first project in Blacksmithing I and helps students begin to develop their tapering, bending, twisting, and punching skills. These techniques are crucial in more advanced blacksmithing projects, and many faculty members in our Blacksmithing Department regularly practice making hook after hook, perfecting their form and technique during this quick, fun project!
Students have installed these hooks all over their houses and studios to hang coats, pots and pans, keys, oven mitts, jewelry, hats, and everything else you can imagine!
Project 3: Forging a spoon
Forging a spoon is a straightforward, but challenging blacksmithing projects for beginners. A blacksmith must use proper technique in order to successfully upset the metal and to create enough material to form the head of the spoon.
This is the final project you will learn in The Crucible’s Blacksmithing I course. You can attempt creating your own spoon, by following this step-by-step guide to forging a spoon.
Project 4: Forging a fork
A forged fork is a great project to get started with blacksmithing and make a practical utensil for your next barbeque while you’re at it. This is one of our favorite beginner blacksmithing projects, one of the four main projects taught in Blacksmithing I. Before you pick up the hammer, see the step-by-step below and get started forging your own fork from iron.
Project 5: Letter opener from rebar
Did you know that you can forge a letter opener from a simple piece of rebar? The forged letter opener is a fantastic project to get started with blacksmithing and to practice your skills making a small blade. As a bonus, you get to make a practical and attractive tool for all your letter opening needs. See the steps linked below to get started forging your own letter opener from rebar.
Continue Exploring Guides In Metal
Power Hammers 101: How To Use a Power Hammer
Learn how to work with power hammers and how they work in this introductory guide to blacksmithing with a power hammer....
Foundries 101: What Is A Foundry? What Foundry Workers Do?
Have you wondered what a foundry does? Learn the difference between ferrous and non-ferrous metals and how to start a foundry career....
Bronze Casting 101: Process of Casting Bronze [+How To Learn]
Learn the different uses for bronze casting in foundry and jewelry making, and how to get started in this beginner's guide to bronze casting....
Lost Wax Casting Guide
Learn the different types of lost wax casting, from metals to glass, and how to get started in this beginner's guide to lost wax casting....
16 Blacksmithing Techniques
Learn how to build your own blacksmithing forge and become a blacksmith with this step-by-step guide....
Beginners Guide to Metal Casting
Learn everything you wanted to know about metal casting from types of molds to different casting methods....
Make Your Own Projects in Blacksmithing
The Crucible has new blacksmithing classes offered weekly.
Techniques in Ornamental Iron Work
Take your skills to the next level and begin producing work that sells! This class covers traditional decorative ironwork methods and introduces the power hammer. You will explore...
Blacksmithing I
Learn the basics of blacksmithing! This class teaches the fundamental skills needed to forge steel and understand blacksmithing tools. We will introduce tapering, upsetting,...
3-Hour Taster: Blacksmithing – Twisted Hook
3-Hour Tasters are a great way to explore a new art form without the deeper commitment of a full course. After a basic introduction to forging steel and using blacksmithing tools,...
Blacksmithing Lab
Lab sessions are a great benefit, exclusively for Crucible members! Practice the skills you learn in class and explore new possibilities with your craft. No instruction is provided...
Blacksmithing II
Deepen your knowledge in this sequel to Blacksmithing I. This class is designed to develop your basic skills along with techniques including scroll-making, collaring, basic...
Youth Blacksmithing I
Learn to bend and shape steel in The Crucible’s smithy as you practice traditional blacksmithing techniques, such as drawing, bending, twisting, punching, slitting, and drifting...
Women’s Blacksmithing I
Learn blacksmithing taught by women, for women! This class covers the fundamentals needed to forge steel and understand blacksmithing tools. We will introduce tapering, upsetting,...
Youth Blacksmithing II
This class, designed as a sequel to Youth Blacksmithing I, extends your basic blacksmithing abilities. Techniques covered will include scroll making, collaring, basic tool making,...
3-Hour Taster: Blacksmithing – Bottle Opener
3-Hour Tasters are a great way to explore a new art form without the deeper commitment of a full course. After a basic introduction to forging steel and using blacksmithing tools,...
Power Hammer I
We will focus on power hammer techniques as we forge a set of basic hammer tools, side sets, and a round-back flatter. By the time these new tools are heat-treated, students will...
Forge Your Own Blacksmithing Tools
Create your own blacksmithing tools! You will make a punch and learn how to use it to punch the eye on a hammerhead. You will learn techniques in double striking and heat-treating,...
Bladesmithing
This specialized course focuses on the forging techniques needed to produce sharp-edged tools of high-carbon steel. We will cover blade design, control of steel grain structure,...
