Blacksmithing Terminology: Complete Cheat Sheet

Introduction

Blacksmithing is the ancient craft of forging and shaping metal, primarily iron and steel, using heat, hammer, and anvil. This cheat sheet provides a comprehensive reference for blacksmithing terminology, covering tools, techniques, materials, and processes. Whether you’re a beginner learning the fundamentals or an experienced smith refreshing your knowledge, this guide will help you navigate the language of the forge and communicate effectively with other metalworkers.

Forge and Heat Management

Forge Components

Forge: The hearth where metal is heated
Firepot: The central area of the forge that contains the fire
Tuyere (pronounced “twee-er”): Air inlet that supplies oxygen to the fire
Clinker Breaker: Tool to break up clinker (fused ash) in the forge
Slack Tub: Water container used for cooling tools and workpieces
Blower/Bellows: Device that provides airflow to the forge
Hood/Canopy: Covering that collects and directs smoke and fumes
Clinker Dump: Area where clinker and ash are deposited

Fire and Heat Terms

Fire Welding Heat: Temperature at which metal surfaces will fuse (2300-2400°F)
Forging Heat: Temperature range ideal for shaping metal (1500-2300°F)
Black Heat: Metal appears black but is still too hot to touch (below 900°F)
Red Heat: Metal glows red (1200-1800°F)
Orange Heat: Metal glows orange (1800-2000°F)
Yellow Heat: Metal glows yellow (2000-2200°F)
White Heat: Metal glows white (2200-2400°F)
Scaling Heat: Temperature at which metal forms excessive scale (above 2200°F)
Neutral Fire: Fire with balanced fuel and oxygen, neither oxidizing nor reducing
Oxidizing Fire: Oxygen-rich fire that promotes scaling
Reducing Fire: Fuel-rich fire that minimizes oxidation
Banking the Fire: Covering the fire with coal to maintain heat while not actively forging
Dead Fire: Fire that has gone out or is insufficient for forging
Coke: Processed coal with impurities removed, preferred forge fuel
Green Coal: Unprocessed bituminous coal before it has coked
Clinker: Fused ash and impurities that accumulate in the forge

Tools of the Trade

Anvil Parts

Face: Main working surface of the anvil
Horn: Conical projection used for bending and shaping curves
Heel: Rear portion of the anvil face
Table: Flat area between the face and the horn
Hardie Hole: Square hole for holding hardy tools
Pritchel Hole: Round hole used for punching and drifting
Step: Transition area between table and face
Waist: Narrowed middle section of the anvil
Base/Feet: Bottom section that contacts the stand
Rebound: Elasticity of the anvil when struck

Hammers and Striking Tools

Cross Peen: Hammer with one flat face and one wedge-shaped face
Straight Peen: Hammer with the peen aligned with the handle
Ball Peen: Hammer with a rounded peen for riveting and shaping
Rounding Hammer: Dual-faced hammer with slightly convex faces
Sledgehammer: Heavy two-handed hammer for large work
Flatter: Flat-faced tool used with a hammer to smooth surfaces
Set Hammer: Square-faced tool with beveled edges
Top Fuller: Round-edged tool used to create grooves
Bottom Fuller: Anvil tool with rounded edge for creating grooves
Swage: Shaped tool for creating specific profiles
Drift: Tapered tool for enlarging or shaping holes
Punch: Tool for making holes in hot metal
Hot Cut/Hot Chisel: Chisel-shaped tool for cutting hot metal
Cold Cut/Cold Chisel: Chisel for cutting metal at ambient temperature
Heading Tool: Used to form heads on bolts or rivets

Holding Tools

Tongs: Tools for holding hot metal
- Flat Jaw Tongs: For holding flat stock
- Box Jaw Tongs: For holding square or rectangular stock
- V-Bit Tongs: For holding round stock
- Wolf Jaw Tongs: Adjustable tongs for various shapes
- Pick-Up Tongs: For retrieving items from the forge
Twisting Wrench: Tool with square or rectangular opening for controlled twisting
Vise: Bench-mounted tool for securing workpieces
Post Vise/Leg Vise: Heavy-duty vise with long leg extending to the floor
Holdfast: Anvil tool that holds work against the anvil face
Bick Iron: Small, specialized anvil with various shapes

Measuring and Marking Tools

Dividers: Tool for measuring and marking distances
Soapstone/Chalk: For marking hot or cold metal
Center Punch: Creates dimple for drill bits
Layout Fluid: Coating that makes marking more visible
Calipers: Used to measure diameter or thickness
Steel Rule: Heat-resistant measuring tool
Scribe: Hard metal tool for marking metal surfaces
Square: For checking and marking right angles

Blacksmithing Techniques

Basic Operations

Drawing Out: Lengthening and thinning metal
Upsetting: Thickening metal by compressing its length
Bending: Changing the direction of the metal workpiece
Punching: Creating holes in hot metal
Drifting: Enlarging or shaping a punched hole
Cutting: Separating metal using chisels or hardy tools
Forge Welding: Joining metals by heating and hammering
Riveting: Joining metals with a separate fastener
Fullering: Creating grooves or reducing cross-section
Planishing: Smoothing and finishing hammer marks
Texturing: Creating decorative surface patterns
Swaging: Reducing or shaping using matched dies
Setting Down: Creating shoulders or steps in the work
Straightening: Removing unwanted bends
Twisting: Rotating portions of the metal for decorative effect
Scrolling: Forming metal into spiral shapes
Spreading: Widening a section of metal

Advanced Techniques

Pattern Welding: Forge welding different metals in patterns (Damascus)
Forge Brazing: Joining metals using high-temperature brass or bronze
Repousse: Hammering metal from the back to create raised designs
Chasing: Creating designs by displacing metal with tools
Sinking: Hammering sheet metal to create bowls or hollows
Raising: Shaping sheet metal into hollow forms by hammering
Fire Welding: Traditional method of joining metal through heat and pressure
Slitting: Cutting metal partway through to create branches
Collaring: Securing pieces with a metal band
Mortise and Tenon: Joining method using fitting pieces together
Shrinking: Reducing the circumference of a ring
Stretching: Increasing the circumference of a ring

Hammer Techniques

Vertical Stroke: Hammer strikes perpendicular to anvil
Glancing Blow: Hammer hits at an angle to move metal laterally
Controlled Force: Varying hammer force for precision
Hammer Control: Accuracy of hammer strikes
Hammer Rhythm: Consistent timing of strikes
Peening: Using the peen end of hammer to stretch metal
Bounceless Blows: Strikes that transfer maximum energy
Chasing Hammer Technique: Light, rapid blows for detail work
Drawing Stroke: Moving the hammer toward the smith while striking
Planishing Stroke: Light, overlapping blows to smooth surfaces

Metal Properties and Treatments

Types of Steel

Mild Steel: Low carbon content (0.05-0.25%), easy to forge but not hardenable
Medium Carbon Steel: (0.25-0.6%) Good for general purposes, moderately hardenable
High Carbon Steel: (0.6-2.0%) Can be hardened for tools and blades
Tool Steel: Alloy steels designed for specific tooling applications
Spring Steel: High carbon steel with additional elements for elasticity
Damascus Steel: Pattern-welded steel with distinctive layered appearance
Wrought Iron: Nearly pure iron with slag inclusions, historically important
Cast Iron: High carbon iron (2-4%) that is cast rather than forged

Heat Treatment

Annealing: Slow cooling to soften metal
Normalizing: Heating and air cooling to relieve stress
Hardening: Rapid cooling (quenching) to increase hardness
Tempering: Reheating hardened steel to reduce brittleness
Case Hardening: Surface hardening while leaving core soft
Carburizing: Adding carbon to surface layer
Nitriding: Adding nitrogen to surface layer
Quenching: Rapid cooling in water, oil, or air
Quenching Medium: The material used for cooling (water, oil, brine, air)
Critical Temperature: Point at which metal undergoes structural change
Austentizing: Heating steel to transform to austenite
Martensite: Hard crystalline structure formed by quenching
Stress Relief: Low-temperature heating to reduce internal stresses
Differential Hardening: Hardening only portions of a piece
Clay Coating: Used in Japanese bladesmithing for differential hardening
Hamon: Visual boundary between hard and soft zones in blade

Metal Characteristics

Malleability: Ability to be shaped by hammering
Ductility: Ability to be drawn into wire
Hardness: Resistance to deformation
Toughness: Ability to absorb energy without breaking
Elasticity: Ability to return to original shape
Brittleness: Tendency to break without deformation
Grain Structure: Crystalline arrangement of metal
Work Hardening: Hardening due to plastic deformation
Allotropic Change: Structural change at certain temperatures
Ferrite: Soft, magnetic form of iron
Austenite: Non-magnetic form of iron at high temperatures
Pearlite: Lamellar structure of ferrite and cementite
Cementite: Iron carbide, hard component in steel

Forge Construction and Operation

Forge Types

Coal Forge: Traditional forge using coal or coke as fuel
Gas Forge: Modern forge using propane or natural gas
Charcoal Forge: Ancient forge type using charcoal
Side-Blast Forge: Air enters from side of fire pot
Bottom-Blast Forge: Air enters from bottom of fire pot
Portable Forge: Smaller, movable forge
Brake Drum Forge: Simple forge made from car brake drum
Ribbon Burner: Type of gas forge burner with slotted output
Venturi Burner: Gas burner that draws in air without blower
Forced Air Burner: Gas burner with mechanical air supply
Induction Forge: Electric forge using electromagnetic induction

Forge Operation

Fire Building: Creating and maintaining the forge fire
Fire Management: Controlling temperature and atmosphere
Coking: Process of turning coal into coke in the forge
Rake: Tool for managing coal/coke in the forge
Poker: Tool for adjusting the fire
Clinker Formation: Development of fused ash in the forge
Air Control: Adjusting oxygen supply to the fire
Forge Welding Window: Optimal temperature range for welding
Scaling: Oxidation of metal surface at high temperatures
Draft: Airflow through the forge and chimney
Back Pressure: Resistance to air flow in the forge
Fire Maintenance: Keeping the forge at working temperature
Slagging: Removing impurities from metal in the fire

Projects and Products

Common Blacksmith Items

Holdfast: Clamping tool used with anvil
Tongs: Tools for holding hot metal
Hooks: S-hooks, J-hooks, etc. for hanging items
Brackets: Support pieces for shelves and structures
Hinges: Door and gate hardware
Latches: Door and gate securing hardware
Pot Rack: Hanging rack for kitchen pots and pans
Fire Poker: Tool for managing fire
Candle Holder: Decorative or functional lighting
Trivets: Stands for hot cookware
Nails: Hand-forged fasteners
Hardware: Door pulls, handles, knockers
Fireplace Tools: Sets of tools for managing fireplaces
Decorative Elements: Scrollwork, leaves, flowers

Blade and Tool Making

Tang: Portion of blade that extends into handle
Ricasso: Unsharpened section of blade near handle
Edge Geometry: Cross-sectional shape of cutting edge
Bevel: Angled surface leading to the edge
Spine: Back edge of a blade
Distal Taper: Reduction in thickness from handle to tip
Quillion: Cross-guard of a knife or sword
Fuller: Groove in blade to reduce weight
Choil: Notch between blade and handle
Hamon: Visual boundary between hardened and unhardened portions
Differential Hardening: Process of hardening only part of a blade
Edge Quench: Hardening only the edge of a blade
Testing for Hardness: Methods to verify proper hardening

Forge Safety

Personal Protection

Safety Glasses/Goggles: Eye protection
Face Shield: Full face protection for certain operations
Leather Apron: Protection from heat, sparks, and scale
Gloves: Heat resistant hand protection
Hearing Protection: For noisy operations
Respirator: For protection from fumes and dust
Natural Fiber Clothing: Cotton or wool that won’t melt
Steel-toed Boots: Foot protection from dropped items
Sleeves Down/Rolled: Prevents sparks from going up sleeves

Workspace Safety

Fire Extinguisher: Type ABC for forge fires
First Aid Kit: For minor injuries
Burn Treatment Supplies: For treating minor burns
Ventilation: Proper air flow to remove fumes and smoke
Fire Resistant Surfaces: Non-combustible floor and walls
Tool Maintenance: Keeping tools in safe working condition
Anvil Height: Proper height to prevent back strain
Carbon Monoxide Detector: For indoor forges
Quench Tank Position: Located for safe access
Forge Clearance: Safe distance from combustibles
Hot Metal Marking: System for identifying hot metal

Common Challenges and Solutions

Challenge: Metal Cracking

Solution: Ensure proper heating
Solution: Avoid overheating
Solution: Work within proper temperature range
Prevention: Proper annealing between working sessions

Challenge: Failed Forge Welds

Solution: Clean surfaces thoroughly
Solution: Use flux for oxide removal
Solution: Ensure proper welding heat
Prevention: Quick, confident blows at correct temperature

Challenge: Uneven Hammer Marks

Solution: Develop consistent hammer technique
Solution: Use flatter for final smoothing
Solution: Maintain proper heat during planishing
Prevention: Practice hammer control

Challenge: Forge Fire Problems

Solution: Clean clinker regularly
Solution: Maintain proper air supply
Solution: Use quality fuel
Prevention: Build and maintain fire properly

Blacksmithing Terminology Glossary

A-D

Air Hardening Steel: Steel that hardens by cooling in still air
Alloy: Metal with additional elements to change properties
Annealing: Softening metal by heating and slow cooling
Anvil Stump: Heavy base that supports the anvil
Arbor: Shaft that holds grinding wheels
Bevel: Angled edge on a tool or workpiece
Bick/Beak: Pointed extension of an anvil
Bloom: Intermediate product between ore and wrought iron
Boss: Projection or bulge in metal
Butcher: Type of top fuller tool with wide rounded face
Cant: Angled surface
Coke: Processed coal used as forge fuel
Cold Shut: Folded metal that fails to weld to itself
Creasing: Creating a groove, especially for nails
Decarburization: Loss of carbon from steel’s surface during heating

E-H

Embossing: Creating raised designs on metal surface
Engraving: Cutting decorative designs into metal
Etching: Using acid to create designs on metal
Faggot Welding: Welding a bundle of metal pieces together
Ferrous: Containing iron
Fishmouth: Joint preparation for welding tubes or round stock
Flux: Material that prevents oxidation during welding
Forge Scale: Iron oxide that forms on heated steel
Fullers: Tools for creating grooves or reducing stock
Grain: Crystalline structure of metal
Hardy: Tool that fits into the hardy hole
Heat Treating: Processes to alter metal properties
Hot Rasping: Filing or rasping metal while hot
Hot Short: Tendency of some metals to crumble when hot

I-L

Inclusion: Foreign material in metal
Inlay: Decorative insertion of one metal into another
Laminated Steel: Layered steel construction
Lap Weld: Joint where pieces overlap and are welded
Ledeburite: Eutectic mixture in high carbon steel
Lung: Bellows or blower for the forge

M-P

Mandrel: Form around which metal is shaped
Non-ferrous: Not containing iron
Normalizing: Heat treatment involving air cooling
Oil Quench: Hardening by quenching in oil
Oxidation: Chemical combination with oxygen
Pattern Welding: Technique for creating Damascus steel
Peening: Stretching metal using the peen of hammer
Pickle: Acid bath to remove scale and oxides
Pritchel: Small round hole in the anvil

Q-T

Quenching: Rapid cooling of metal in liquid
Refractory: Heat-resistant material used in forge construction
Repoussé: Hammering metal from reverse side to create raised designs
Riveting: Joining metal with mechanical fasteners
Scarfing: Preparing edges for lap welding
Shank: Narrow part of a tool that enters the handle
Slack: Tub of water near the forge
Slitting: Cutting metal using narrow chisel
Stock: Raw material being worked
Swaging: Shaping metal using dies
Tempering: Reheating hardened steel to reduce brittleness
Tenon: Projection that fits into a mortise
Treadle Hammer: Foot-operated power hammer

U-Z

Upsetting: Thickening metal by reducing its length
Welding: Joining metals through heat and/or pressure
Work Hardening: Hardening metal through deformation
Wrought Iron: Nearly pure iron with slag inclusions
Zerk: Type of grease fitting

This comprehensive cheat sheet provides a foundational vocabulary for blacksmithing. While it covers most common terms, blacksmithing is a deep craft with regional variations and specialized terminology. As you advance in your blacksmithing journey, you’ll encounter additional terms specific to particular techniques or traditions.