Articles
Welding methods in metalsmithingWelding · 8 minA review of the main welding methods a blacksmith encounters daily — MIG MAG TIG arc welding and gas — with focus on what they are suitable for and which materials they are used on.Metal processing: chip-removing and chiplessProcessing · 7 minAn introduction to the basic processing principles in the metal-working trade — divided into chip-forming and chipless processing — and the machines and tools that belong to them.CNC and modern productionProduction · 6 minAn introduction to CNC technology in the metal-working trade — what CNC means, how a program is built up, and how the technology works with drawings and quality requirements.Material science: steel stainless and aluminiumMaterial science · 8 minA review of the most important construction metals in the blacksmith trade — unalloyed and alloyed steel stainless steel and aluminium — with focus on their properties designations and how choice affects processing and welding.Drawing reading and tolerancesConstruction · 8 minAn introduction to technical drawing in the metal-working trade — projections, dimensioning, tolerances and surfaces — so you can translate a drawing correctly to a finished part.Corrosion and surface treatmentMaterial science · 7 minA review of corrosion and the most common ways to protect metal — from galvanizing and painting to choice of corrosion-resistant materials — and how the surface is prepared.EN 1090 and CE-marking of steel structuresStandards · 9 minA review of the rule set that makes it legal to sell load-bearing steel structures in Europe — EN 1090 with its execution classes requirements for welding coordinator and the factory's own production control. It is the framework for all serious construction welding work.Work environment in the metalworking workshopWork environment · 8 minWelding fume is not the only health risk in a metalworking shop. This article looks at the strains that wear down the body over time — noise, vibration, heavy lifting, repetitive work and chemical products — and how to work so you can sustain a full working life.Heat treatment and hardening of steelMaterial science · 8 minSteel can be made harder, softer or tougher by heating it up and cooling it down in certain ways. This article explains the basic heat treatments — hardening, tempering, soft annealing and normalizing — and why the blacksmith must understand them even when he 'just' welds.History of blacksmithing: from the glow of the forge to the CNC hallHistory · 11 minBlacksmithing is one of mankind's oldest crafts. This article follows the trade from the Iron Age's primitive smelting furnaces through the Middle Ages' guilds and industrialization's steam hammers to today's computer-controlled production — and shows how tools, materials and knowledge have changed along the way.Welder certification according to DS/EN ISO 9606-1Standards · 8 minA review of when an event requires police permission and an actual security plan who must approve it and what deadlines you as event coordinator must plan after.Non-destructive testing of weldsQuality control · 8 minAn introduction to the most commonly used NDT methods in the metal-working trade — visual inspection, dye penetrant testing, ultrasound and x-ray. The article explains what each method finds and when to use which, without damaging the finished part.Welding fume and process ventilationWork environment · 7 minWelding fume is one of the most underestimated health hazards in the metalsmithing trade. The article reviews what welding fume consists of, why process ventilation at the source is the preferred solution, and how respiratory protection comes in as a last resort.Robot welding and automation in the modern workshopProduction · 8 minRobot welding has spread from the automotive industry to smaller and medium-sized forges. The article reviews why companies automate welding, how a robot welding cell is set up, and what role the smith plays when the robot takes over the arc itself.Plasma and laser cutting of metalTechnique · 7 minPlasma and laser cutting are both thermal cutting methods that have become a permanent part of the modern blacksmith's workshop. The article explains how each method works, where they differ in price and precision, and what factors determine which method fits best for a given task.Soldering: soft soldering and hard solderingTechnique · 7 minSoldering is an ancient joining method where an added metal melts and binds two items together without the base material melting. The article explains the difference between soft soldering and hard soldering, when to choose soldering over welding, and what surface preparation requires.Threads, broaching, deep holesConstruction · 7 minThread checked with thread gauge (go/no-go)Structure and specialties of blacksmith trainingCareer · 8 minA review of how the bowel technician apprenticeship is put together: basic courses 1 and 2 main course with alternation between school and company entry requirements and how to get started.