Blacksmith Metal, Machinery & Related Trades Workers
SaveWhat Does a Blacksmith Do?
Blacksmiths heat metal, usually steel, in a forge and shape it with a hammer, chisel, and an anvil. Contemporarily, they predominantly create artisanal metal products, including ornamental work, as well as horse shoes, one of the sole metal fabricating processes that has not been industrialised.
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Where Do I Start?
Hot Forging
The metalworking process of forging whilst the hot metal is right above its recrystallisation temperature after casting and being solidified.
Sign up to trackReady to go deeper? Pick up to 3 skills to focus on from the list below.
These are common skills for this role. Real-world experience matters more than ticking every box — use this as a guide, not a checklist.
Skills You Need to Become a Blacksmith
Essential Skills
Essential Skills
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EssentialHot Forging knowledge
The metalworking process of forging whilst the hot metal is right above its recrystallisation temperature after casting and being solidified.
Recommended Books
1 book -
EssentialForging Processes knowledge
The various processes in the metalforming practices of forging, such as swaging, open-die forging, automatic hot forging, cogging, impression-die forging, roll forging, upsetting, press forging, and others.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialTypes Of Metal knowledge
Qualities, specifications, applications and reactions to different fabricating processes of various types of metal, such as steel, aluminium, brass, copper and others.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialEnsure Correct Metal Temperature skill
Ensure the necessary, usually constant, temperature of processed metal workpieces during metal fabrication processes.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialHeat Metals skill
Heat steel and metals in fire; adjust and regulate heat controls to reach appropriate pouring temperature.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialJoin Metals skill
Join together pieces of metal using soldering and welding materials.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialSelect Filler Metal skill
Select optimal metal used for metal joining purposes, such as zinc, lead or copper metals, specifically for welding, soldering or brazing practices.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialUse Welding Equipment skill
Operate welding equipment in a safe manner; use welding techniques such as shielded metal arc welding or flux-cored arc welding.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialWear Appropriate Protective Gear skill
Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialApply Smithing Techniques skill
Apply techniques and use technologies in relation to the various smithing processes, including sculpting, forging, upsetting, heat treating, and finishing.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialLoad Materials Into Furnace skill
Load materials in furnace with correct positioning, fastening and levelling when needed.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialMaintain Furnace Temperature skill
Monitor and govern the pyrometer to control the furnace temperature.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialMeasure Metal To Be Heated skill
Measure the amounts of steel or other metals to be heated. Take decisions on the amount of heat to be used, the duration of the heating, and other variables in …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialOperate Furnace skill
Operate or tend furnaces, such as gas, oil, coal, electric-arc or electric induction, open-hearth, or oxygen furnaces, to melt and refine metal before casting, to produce specified types of steel, …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialOperate Metal Heating Equipment skill
Use heating machinery to bake filled-up moulds or to melt steel, metal and other materials.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialPrevent Damage In A Furnace skill
Provide damage and risk prevention in a furnace or a smelter.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialShape Metal Over Anvils skill
Forge pieces of metal over an anvil using the appropriate hand tools and heating equipment.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialWork With Blacksmithing Hand Tools skill
Work with hammers, chisels, anvils, tongs, vises, forges, and others to create hand-made metal products by performing blacksmithing operations.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialWork With Blacksmithing Power Tools skill
Work with drills, air chisels, power hammers, hydraulic presses, grinders, and others to create (semi-)hand-made metal products by performing blacksmithing operations.
Course recommendations coming soon.
Optional Skills (5 of 29 displayed)
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OptionalPrecious Metal Processing knowledge
Various processing methods on precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum.
Recommended Books
2 booksThe Handy Book; Containing Tables, Rules and Other Information Regarding the Working of the Precious MetalsGold And Silver Smiths' Work -
OptionalCoating Substances knowledge
Have knowledge of various types of coating, providing a workpiece with one or more finishing layers of resins, sugars, powders, inactive and insoluable fillers, waxes, gums, plasticisers, colouring materials, lacquer, …
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalCasting Processes knowledge
The various practices used in the casting of metal, plastics and other cast materials, including mould filling, solidification, cooling, and others, all relating to varying approaches in case of different …
Recommended Books
2 books -
OptionalCold Forging knowledge
The metalworking process of forging whilst hot metal is right below its recrystallisation temperature, being cooled and solidified after casting.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalNon-ferrous Metal Processing knowledge
Various processing methods on non-ferrous metals and alloys such as copper, zinc and aluminium.
Recommended Books
1 book -
OptionalDesign Drawings knowledge
Understand design drawings detailing the design of products, tools, and engineering systems.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalFerrous Metal Processing knowledge
Various processing methods on iron and iron-containing alloys such as steel, stainless steel and pig iron.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalManufacturing Of Door Furniture From Metal knowledge
The manufacture of metal items that can be attached to a door in order to support its function and appearance. The manufacture of padlocks, locks, keys, hinges and the like, …
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalManufacturing Of Tools knowledge
The manufacture of knives and cutting blades for machines or for mechanical appliances, hand tools such as pliers, screwdrivers etc. The manufacture of non-power-driven agricultural hand tools, saws and saw …
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalTypes Of Metal Manufacturing Processes knowledge
Metal processes linked to the different types of metal, such as casting processes, heat treatment processes, repair processes and other metal manufacturing processes.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalDust Usage For Forging knowledge
The qualities and applications of frit dust, sawdust, coal dust, and others, in the process of hot forging when strewn into dies to ensure the metal workpiece does not stick …
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalApply Precision Metalworking Techniques skill
Comply with precision standards specific to an organisation or product in metalworking, involved in processes such as engraving, precise cutting, welding.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalApply Preliminary Treatment To Workpieces skill
Apply preparatory treatment, through mechanical or chemical processes, to the workpiece preceding the main operation.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalCut Metal Products skill
Operate cutting and measuring instruments in order to cut/shape pieces of metal into given dimensions.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalEnsure Equipment Availability skill
Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalFill Moulds skill
Fill up moulds with appropriate materials and ingredient mixes.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalMark Processed Workpiece skill
Inspect and mark parts of the workpiece to indicate how they will fit into the finished product.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalMonitor Gauge skill
Oversee the data presented by a gauge concerning the measurement of pressure, temperature, thickness of a material, and others.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalOperate Precision Measuring Equipment skill
Measure the size of a processed part when checking and marking it to check if it is up to standard by use of two and three dimensional precision measuring equipment …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalProvide Customer Follow-up Services skill
Register, follow-up, solve and respond to customer requests, complaints and after-sales services.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalRecognise Signs Of Corrosion skill
Recognise the symptoms of metal showing oxidation reactions with the environment resulting in rusting, copper pitting, stress cracking, and others, and estimate the rate of corrosion.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalSmooth Burred Surfaces skill
Inspect and smooth burred surfaces of steel and metal parts.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalSupply Machine With Appropriate Tools skill
Supply the machine with the necessary tools and items for a particular production purpose.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalInsert Mould Structures skill
Insert mould structures using the appropriate hand tools.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalManage Time In Casting Processes skill
Work on castings with the necessary sense of timing in regards to quality, for example when measuring how long moulds must rest before they are used in further casting processes.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalMark Designs On Metal Pieces skill
Mark or engrave designs on metal pieces or pieces of jewellery, closely following design specifications.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalProduce Customised Products skill
Produce goods designed and created to fit the specific needs or request of a customer.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalRemove Finished Casts skill
Open mould and safely remove the finished cast from within.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalRemove Scale From Metal Workpiece skill
Remove the accumulated scale, or metal 'flakes', on the surface of the metal workpiece caused by oxidation after removal from the furnace by spraying it with an oil-based liquid that …
Course recommendations coming soon.