Blacksmithing, as an art and craft almost died out. Modern manufacturing made it obsolete.

A blacksmith is no longer needed to make tools, garden implements, plows, wheels, etc...

These things are all made cheaper, faster, and in larger numbers by manufacturers.

And, repairing of these items is usually not cost effective. It's cheaper to just buy another one. Whereas a blacksmith would repair tools.

But...

But, Blacksmithing has made an amazing return into the public interest. This is for a few reasons including youtube and video games! Yes, video games!

There are many many video games with millions of players who have to learn up blacksmithing skills in order to make weapons and armor in game.

So, it goes without saying that there are many people who are interested in doing some of this in real life.

Thus, blacksmithing is more popular now than ever!

And, it is easier than ever to pursue. You can spend very little money and get yourself a set up that is quite adequate for basic blacksmithing tasks.

Even if you just want to tinker around, the low entry cost is attractive.

In this article, right here on this page I am going to help you get started - on the real cheap!

So.... Let's get started in Blacksmithing!!

I love this little forge. It is convenient and easy.

THere is a company called "Simond Store". They have a nice presence on Amazon with all kinds of reasonably priced blacksmithing equipment, including this little forge. You can check it out here

The Mini Forge that I bought is available on Amazon right here

Anvils:

55 Pound Anvil on Amazon

Bituminous Coal on Amazon 25 lbs - I have bought this exact one.

Tractor Supply Coal - Pretty Darn CHeap! - Currently listed at 9.99 for a 40lb bag.

Will's Book:

Blacksmithing for Beginners -

This book will get you blacksmithing fast and easy. It is an introductory guide to blacksmithing for people who have little or no experience with the craft. It explains with 50 pictures and illustrations what a forge is, what the tools are, the parts of an anvil, and how it all works. It also shows you the things you will need to get started and where you can get them - and even how to make your own simple forge if you need one.It is a complete introduction to blacksmithing that includes a series of tutorials with pictures showing you step-by-step how to perform basic blacksmithing techniques like pointing and bending. Written in an easy to understand style this book explains to you why the blacksmith heats steel and why the changing color of the steel when heated is important. You will gain an understanding of what blacksmithing is and what the basic techniques and fundamentals are. And this will give you a solid groundwork for moving forward into creating a wide array of objects, tools, and items. This book will give you the confidence and knowledge you need to start hammering hot steel into shape.

Will's Knifemaking Book:

Will's Latest book: Knifemaking Alchemy - Teaches you how to make knives from beginning to end. This book is for beginners who want to know how to make knives but don't have any blacksmithing experience; And you don't need a forge or an anvil for this.

Check it out on Amazon (paperback) here: Knifemaking Alchemy