What Power Tools Does a Blacksmith Need?
Thanks to hit shows like The History Channel’s Forged in Fire, blacksmithing has become an incredibly popular hobby. People love being able to learn a useful craft that also gets them out of the house and into the great outdoors. Discover what power tools every blacksmith needs to up their game.
Belt Grinder
A belt grinder is a valuable tool that serves many functions in blacksmithing. Primarily, smiths use them to remove metal from forget billets, thinning the profile of their blades and other creations. You can also remove some cracks and minor flaws with a belt grinder. In blade smithing, the most important function of a belt grinder is putting a cutting edge on bladed weapons.
Angle Grinder
An angle grinder is very different from a belt grinder. First of all, it’s often a handheld tool that smiths use to cut sections of raw materials for their creations. Since it’s handheld, it allows smiths to get into different corners and angles that would be difficult to reach with other tools. Lastly, you can use an angle grinder to polish your projects and give them a professional finish.
Power Hammer
Easily one of the more expensive power tools on this list, a power hammer is an amazing tool that moves metal very quickly. If you’re looking to start a blacksmithing business, a power hammer can help you speed up your production line and save you hours of physical labor.
Hydraulic Press
Another power tool every blacksmith needs is a hydraulic press. Smiths use these to compress their billets slowly, rather than hammer them over and over with a hammer. Hydraulic presses make forge welding—the joining of two metals at very high temperatures—into a much easier process. Again, one of the many benefits of having power tools is that they save you from having to do everything yourself.
Vertical Drill Press
If you’ve watched Forged in Fire, you know how important it is to drill the perfect vertical hole in your blade’s tang. Many contestants go wrong when they accidentally quench their blade’s tang or forget where they drilled holes for pins. However, with time and experience, a vertical drill press becomes an essential tool for many kinds of projects.
If you’re looking to take your blacksmithing skills to the next level or even start a business, you should consider investing in at least some of the tools on this list. They’ll save you valuable time and energy in your future forging projects.