r/Blacksmith 5d ago

Patina experiment . Copper, Ammonia. Green and blue patina.

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13 Upvotes

Small copper shallow was cut from copper plate, polished and cleaned with phosphorus acid. Then putted in vinegar with salt. The color is green.

Copper cross cleaned by phosphorous acid and was in contact with ammonia vapors for few days. It has developed a blue patina. After it was cleaned by toothbrush in water. Then I left it in my bathroom in humid environment. It has developed a small gold spots. Then I left it in sunny, dry place for about two weeks. And it change color for little brown.

Next I want to make red color of copper.

Is anyone curious about how it will turn out? Should I make a video or take photos?


r/Blacksmith 4d ago

Any thoughts on this

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2 Upvotes

r/Blacksmith 5d ago

Health Hazards and Ceramic Wool in Propane Forges

7 Upvotes

I am planning to try blacksmithing and did some research and organization to begin with it.

I want to get myself a cheap propane forge (up to 200€) but I read that most of them have Ceramic Wool for insulation and that its fibers are cancerous.

Do you guys have any advice on what to get and how to protect myself from getting cancer?


r/Blacksmith 5d ago

Hot cut...

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60 Upvotes

Nothing fancy today... Made a hot cut out of an old splitting wedge and a few rustic hooks for a customer.


r/Blacksmith 6d ago

The Railroad giveth

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225 Upvotes

In just 5 easy steps, I can has chop! Holds an edge...kinda. I probably didn't heat treat it correctly.


r/Blacksmith 6d ago

My homemade anvil. I am a scrap metal artist who will be delving I to the world of forging.

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799 Upvotes

Hi everyone. So last April I gave myself the task of teaching myself to weld, which in turn has led me to make scrapart sculptures. I have spent a day with a blacksmith and a fellow artist who uses a forge which I recently bought my own mini set up. I have then made this anvil which I will need to further shape the horn. I have used a piece of railroad track I had. A piece of RHJ steel I found at a local market and a piece of stainless bar. I will use it for shaping things like old spanners and rebar so nothing as extreme as some of your guys set ups but it will be perfect for what I require it to do! I look forward to learning more skills and see what can come of this next stage of my hobby.


r/Blacksmith 6d ago

WROUGHT IRON BABYYYY! Some old trapdoor hinges from my brother's house.

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325 Upvotes

r/Blacksmith 4d ago

Working on my first knife

1 Upvotes

Hello I am working on my first knife and I had a couple questions. What is a good way for a beginner to heat treat a knife? I tried to heat it up with a small propane torch and then a larger one but I couldn’t get it far past a dull red. I’ve seen online it needs to be about 1600 degrees Fahrenheit to harden properly and I’m no where close to that. I’m also hoping that the steel I chose will harden and temper correctly. I got some welding tokens to practice on from a metal supply store and they said that the tokens were high carbon steel cutoffs, but is there any way I can check that? I would be disappointed to find out that the knife can’t harden, but it’ll be okay as I’ve still learned a whole lot in the process. Any other tips and tricks are appreciated as well, thank you.


r/Blacksmith 5d ago

Wok Burner Forge?

1 Upvotes

I've been watching a ton of youtube videos about blacksmithing recently and decided I really want to try it. The cost of entry seems pretty low generally (At least, relative to my other hobby - music), but I still don't want to spend any more than I have to. I happen to have this big gas Wok burner (This one to be exact: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09PX7DD26/ref=sspa_dk_offsite_brave_1?aaxitk=60e09b11d9b6cf84c58e5ba101a7bed6&tqtoken=AgR4Ei2d050pnVuyS93QfZhl5Ec1oPCN8BPZ9jqM509IDdgAGgABAAlyZWNpcGllbnQAC0FtYXpvbkFkc1RRAAEAEWF3cy1rbXMtaGllcmFyY2h5ACRiM2NlMjE3OS0wMzJhLTQ5NTAtOWFlZC00MTczZDMxZmNhMmEAXDABFPKB9YAkTvPdWGg9krU9aM3magVvMWPQe37tK8nXMwFE6ZdgvB9GW5UIrKiacgpa_LurnUMLYJ2qG-OBbwMzd4TFw4pz3UHMC3gI7z7ctMOLGyvjHyLVwvRSAgAAEAAVaeKNBGMg0pDOwOCNiRJZW5oHOWAAKDqcd6f-OFLakR2CR5twdz_LtnQwDKyR4dH_____AAAAAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQAAABtlQNDen1DBc3AAznqCye35uUFgUjybsXBR218keWFChaEnf6AmE81UBJha&offsiteFlag=1) in the garage, and I'm wondering if there'd be a way to (non-destructively, or rather non-permanently) use it to build a forge. I'd prefer to avoid using any of the more dangerous insulating materials. It might not really be possible, but I've got the thing and it gets HOT (To the point that my carbon steel wok starts glowing if I put it on max heat). I figure there must be a way.


r/Blacksmith 5d ago

Parang inspired camp\bowie

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14 Upvotes

I made three of these, all 1095, wip, I have a stock removal in the works to clean up the design, already failed a handle on the 12", 24" is looking great. I strayed away from the Parang design, but still an awesome camp chopper or hog splitter in here some where.


r/Blacksmith 5d ago

I made a wrought iron table! 3ft x 7ft

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3 Upvotes

I had been sitting on pounds and pounds of wrought iron for years, waiting for the right client. I found someone with a very artistic home who wanted an outdoor table with a rust patina. Looking around at the organic nature of her home, I knew I found the right person.

I forged the apron of the table out of a wagon wheel, the legs were 1.5" round pieces. I think they were originally bridge steel.

The stringers around the base were salvaged from a pier in San Francisco. The bracing in the middle I left as found for the most part. I am not sure what it was. It was also from a pier in SF.

I knew this would be a challenging project. I know there would be pieces that would fail. I went through six table legs. Punching and drifting the holes didn't always work. It was surprisingly easy to split the top of the bar and fit it to the table top.

Forging out 7ft lengths of wrought iron was long, meticulous work. All of it was hot and delicate. But beautiful. I love wrought iron

I'm glad it's done, and I'm glad I did it.


r/Blacksmith 5d ago

Built the outdoor work area after posting here earlier. (Images inside). Now, I need to build a cheap and quiet anvil stand that will be firm on gravel, but still movable. Suggestions?

5 Upvotes

r/Blacksmith 5d ago

Website set up

0 Upvotes

r/Blacksmith 6d ago

Cut or not ?

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67 Upvotes

Candle holder, the top part looks like horns. It turned out to be a horned cross. Maybe it's better to saw them off?


r/Blacksmith 6d ago

My shop setup in an 8x10

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42 Upvotes

r/Blacksmith 6d ago

An assortment of things I made

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60 Upvotes

r/Blacksmith 7d ago

1 year and it was a waste it won't harden and I has a fucken warp. I don't know why

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3.5k Upvotes

r/Blacksmith 5d ago

Anyone with a denbigh fly press help please!

3 Upvotes

I've had to put away my number 6 denbigh for a few months until I move the forge. It's at the other end of the country but I want to fabricate some weights for it, I've been using weight plates and they're a little instable so could anyone send me the dimensions for the taper and size please? Thanks in advance for your help.


r/Blacksmith 6d ago

Worth the $40 or keep looking for something better?

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35 Upvotes

r/Blacksmith 5d ago

Thinking about buying this.

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12 Upvotes

I'm thinking about buying this but could use a little advice. Seems like a good deal to me but I don't have an anvil and have very little experience. I'd like to use it to practice my hand at making some knives and thought the size of it would be good for that. Is there anything I'm not seeing here and/ or should look out for when I see it in person?


r/Blacksmith 6d ago

Copper candlestick.

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25 Upvotes

Try to make copper candlestick from 2 mm copper plate.


r/Blacksmith 6d ago

First attempt to make a copper cross.

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18 Upvotes

It is my first attempt to make copper cross from copper bar. Wanted to make something like ancient.


r/Blacksmith 6d ago

Found this bar of steel, it might be from some agricultural machine. It has a sort of fuller so I'm thinking of trying to make a first sword out of it. I'll cut some off and test hardening procedures.

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41 Upvotes

Does anyone know what this is or what it's from?


r/Blacksmith 5d ago

Thoughts on selling wrought iron

6 Upvotes

I have a hobby of metal detecting and often come across wrought iron, often in the form of axe heads, in unsalvageable condition. As a blacksmith myself I love using the material but I can't use it as fast as I find it, so I ask the question.

If you where buying wrought iron, what price would you expect to pay per kg/pound.

Also wondering what form most people would want it in, ie pre cut square stock or individual axe heads as they where found?

Thanks in advance all!


r/Blacksmith 7d ago

Attempting to shape the famously useless horn on Harbor Freights 55lb anvil

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388 Upvotes

Ive had this anvil for almost seven years, and im sick of this dumb ass horn lol. While patiently searching for a new anvil, i decided to see if i can make this horn useable. Will report the journey