Recommendation? What do i need?

I

Iceley42

Joined
Jun 21, 2025
Messages
1
So me and my brother are trying to get into blacksmithing, not just knives and swords, daggers etc. But also tools like tongs, pokers, brands, things like that
Was wondering what we need to be honest, we are getting a forge, anvil, and hammers soon, we also plan on acquiring a belt sander and a polishing wheel, and of course all their respective materials required for use, just trying to figure out what oils, polishing substances, acids, woods(for handles), etc. would be good to start making blades with, I've been researching it for years but application is a lil harder than knowledge so it'd be a great help if I could get some recommendations( I also just dont wanna spend a lot of money on something and end up f*cking it up)
 
Good morning I Iceley42 . Where are you located?
If you want to get more into blacksmithing and not just knifemaking, I'll make my normal suggestion that you join your local blacksmithing group and plan on/budget for attending as many conferences, workshops, hammer-ins as you can. You'll learn way more in one weekend of watching/helping other smiths than 2 weeks on Youtube, and you'll probably make some friends with folks who can: a) answer your specific questions as you come up with them, and possibly b) go home with some extra equipment/tools that they don't need/use anymore.
 
Iceley42 said:
( I also just dont wanna spend a lot of money on something and end up f*cking it up)
Click to expand...
If you're paying attention, it's not a f-up, it's a learning opportunity not to do it that way again.
 
Join Abana, and attend any local gatherings .
As said you'll learn more in a day than messing around online.
 
Get some steel round stock and just start having a go when you need something. Forge your own hotcuts and punches
(I have W1/2, mild steel, and 4140)
 
Welcome Iceley42. Fill out your profile with your location and a bit about you so we can give better answerrs.

Finding a local smith will be a great aid for learning. Some areas have local blacksmith/bladesmith clubs.
There are national groups like ABANA. Other groups hold classes at Community Colleges and other places. There are a coupe shcools of bladesmithing as well.

In the mean time:
1)Read, read, read. You will find thousands of articles and great posts here in Shop Talk as well as other sources and books. Use the custom search engine in the stickys at the top of the main Shop Talk main page to search any topic.

2) Practice with round stock to learn how to "move" the steel. Try and learn what colors m
it looks like as it gets hotter (red to orange to yellow to white) and how it moves at those heats. You will find it moves best in the orange -yellow range.

3) Learn about heat treatment. Read all the articles you can about how and why steel hardens. Larrin's book has a lot of info. While mane folks will say you have to have a HT oven/kiln and a hardness tester, they are not a necessity until you start making knives for sale or a living. Start simple and as you develop skills, get more equipment.

4) Have fun!!! make fun things like plant hangers, coat/hack hooks, garden tools, etc. Knives take a little skill to make right, so learn how to make the steel shape like you want before starting on knives.

5) While knives are best made from "know steel", decorative and other projects ca be most any steel. Some practice materials are old farm tool parts ( hay spring harrow rakes, old axles from carts and buggies, leaf springs, old files and rasps, etc.)

6) When ready to make knives, use a known steel from a good supplier. Use a proper quenchant. Parks #50 is one of the most preferred. Avoid the many alternatives you may see online or read like old car oil and transmission fluid. Canola oil and vet grade mineral oil will work, but won't properly harden most high carbon steels. Best to buy several gallons of commercial grade quench oil and use it. It will last almost forever if you keep a lid on the quench tank.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top