5 Reasons Why You Should Blacksmith

I absolutely love blacksmithing, but I understand full well that not everyone shares my fixation with heating steel until it shimmering a lively yellow and then smacking it into shape with a hammer. People raise all sorts of objections...Why would you want to do that? What is it useful for? Is there even any money in it? These are all...pragmatic questions. I can't promise to alliviate all worries but I do think that I can raise some points as to why one would want to engage in such a wonderful hobby.

1.Blacksmithing Is Timeless

We live in a world of constant technological and social change. While I often enjoy learning about new technology, it's exausting sometimes trying to keep up with all the changes. I love having one special hobby that is TIMELESS. Blacksmithing is evergreen, humans could become a multiplanetary species and there would still be a small niche for artisinal blacksmiths in the world. I love knowing that the time I invest into blacksmithing will yield returns for the rest of my life! But it's not all about selfish pleasure, other people will always value (and be willing to pay for) beautiful, unique, and handcrafted goods. They like knowing it's inherantly limited edition - as you can't really mass produce with blacksmithing methods. They like the artistry and craftsmanship that goes along with it. If you are any good at selling these points to your customers, you will always be able to put food on your table. If you don't believe me you can just check out these stories on roman blacksmiths, or viking blacksmiths...How much as this craft really changed since then?

2.Blacksmithing Is Useful

Steel is incredibly functional and useful, especially stainless steel. It's hardness and tensile strength makes it useful for everything from structures, to hand held utensils and tools. It can be given added utility with a bit of artistry. You won't believe all the small bits and bobs that you can repair if you have a forge, an anvil, a pair of tongs, and a hammer. Things that previously would have been thrown into the trashbin can now be repaired to their formal glory. Blacksmithing is a hobby that will increase your self-reliance and enable you to be more autonomous - if that's something you want of course!

3.Blacksmithing Is Beautiful

I have already touched on this before, but you can make just about any hunk of steel more beautiful by adding the traditional blacksmithing ornamentation. This ornamentations includes but is not limited to:

4.Blacksmithing Is A Unique Hobby That Can Become A Full Time Gig (If You Want That)

Another thing I like about this pastime is that it can be as scalable as you want. If you only want to dabble in forging on the weekends to relax and pass the time, you can do just that. If you want to up your production a bit and possible make blacksmithing a side gig, you can do that as well. If you want to make custom dies and jigs that allow you to push the production limits of one person - while still maintaining a level of scarcity not possible with machines - you can do that as well. You have complete control over your production and the level of your production. Neat!

5.Blacksmithing Is Theraputic

There is something mildly theraputic about beating the crap out a of a piece of steel and having the result of such an action be constructive rather than destructive. I enjoy it immensley. But even the quiet moments can bring peace. Watching the flame flicker above your coal pile while your stock heats to a bright yellow. Watching the yellow fade to a dull cherry red and finally to the cool cold colour of steel is immensely pleasurable. Its hard to describe how the smell of coal and steel can be enjoyable to a non-smith, but other smiths always immediately know what I'm talking about. you should also check out my guide on Unique Anvils For Sale