Any way you look at it, blacksmithing is a punishing trade. Heavy tools, a red-hot forge, flying sparks, and searing metal all exact a toll on the smith’s body unless precautions are taken. After ...

The chipping hammer is a blacksmith’s cleanup weapon - small, fast, and unforgiving. In this fire-born build, we craft one from raw steel: hardened for impact, balanced for control. Made to strike, ...

Regular readers will recognise this as the third part of a series exploring blacksmithing for those who have perhaps always fancied having a go but have never quite known where to start. It’s written ...

A blacksmith’s shop is always evolving, and today I focus on both upgrades and forging. I finish out the interior sheathing ...

The old forge uses wet coal, called ‘‘green coal,'' which packs well and provides more precise temperature control than modern gas-fired forges, according to Luark. His other prize tool is a vintage, ...

POP Projects is a collection of new and classic projects from more than a century of Popular Mechanics. Master skills, get tool recommendations, and, most importantly, build something of your very own ...