Manufacturing & ProductionISCO 7221
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who heats metal, steel for the most part, in a forge and shapes it with hammer, chisel and anvil.
Check yourself in a minute: blacksmith
Rate 5 of the 19 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
maintain furnace temperature
join metals
operate welding equipment
operate furnace
apply smithing techniques
About blacksmith
The smith operates the forge, maintains its temperature at the right level, and measures the metal to be heated, because a piece taken out too cold will not move and one taken out too hot crumbles or burns. Hot forging is the central process: the metal is drawn out, upset, bent, punched and twisted while it is workable, and returned to the fire as many times as the work needs. The smith knows forging processes and metal types, since each steel has its own working range and its own behaviour under the hammer.
Metals are joined as well, by forge welding and by riveting and collaring, and filler metal is selected where a joint calls for it.
Today the trade produces mainly handmade metal craft of the smith's own making, decorative work among it, and also horseshoes. It is one of the metalworking processes that was never industrialised, which is why the work is still done one piece at a time. Formal requirements are set by the employer.
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (19)
types of metaltypes of metalQualities, specifications, applications and reactions to different fabricating processes of various types of metal, such as steel, aluminium, brass, copper and others.forging processesforging processesThe 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 o...hot forginghot forgingThe metalworking process of forging whilst the hot metal is right above its recrystallisation temperature after casting and being solidified.maintain furnace temperaturemaintain furnace temperatureMonitor and govern the pyrometer to control the furnace temperature.join metalsjoin metalsJoin together pieces of metal using soldering and welding materials.operate welding equipmentoperate welding equipmentUse welding equipment to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel, wearing protective eyewear during the working process.operate furnaceoperate furnaceOperate 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, or ...apply smithing techniquesapply smithing techniquesApply techniques and use technologies in relation to the various smithing processes, including sculpting, forging, upsetting, heat treating, and finishing.wear appropriate protective gearwear appropriate protective gearWear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.load materials into furnaceload materials into furnaceLoad materials in furnace with correct positioning, fastening and levelling when needed.measure metal to be heatedmeasure metal to be heatedMeasure 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 the process based on the measurement.work with blacksmithing power toolswork with blacksmithing power toolsWork with drills, air chisels, power hammers, hydraulic presses, grinders, and others to create (semi-)hand-made metal products by performing blacksmithing operations.operate metal heating equipmentoperate metal heating equipmentUse heating machinery to bake filled-up moulds or to melt steel, metal and other materials.work with blacksmithing hand toolswork with blacksmithing hand toolsWork with hammers, chisels, anvils, tongs, vises, forges, and others to create hand-made metal products by performing blacksmithing operations.shape metal over anvilsshape metal over anvilsForge pieces of metal over an anvil using the appropriate hand tools and heating equipment.ensure correct metal temperatureensure correct metal temperatureEnsure the necessary, usually constant, temperature of processed metal workpieces during metal fabrication processes.heat metalsheat metalsHeat steel and metals in fire; adjust and regulate heat controls to reach appropriate pouring temperature.prevent damage in a furnaceprevent damage in a furnaceProvide damage and risk prevention in a furnace or a smelter.select filler metalselect filler metalSelect optimal metal used for metal joining purposes, such as zinc, lead or copper metals, specifically for welding, soldering or brazing practices.
Optional (29) — show
non-ferrous metal processingnon-ferrous metal processingVarious processing methods on non-ferrous metals and alloys such as copper, zinc and aluminium.design drawingsdesign drawingsThe drawings detailing the design of products, tools, and engineering systems.ferrous metal processingferrous metal processingVarious processing methods on iron and iron-containing alloys such as steel, stainless steel and pig iron.cold forgingcold forgingThe metalworking process of forging whilst hot metal is right below its recrystallisation temperature, being cooled and solidified after casting.coating substancescoating substancesThe various types of coating, providing a workpiece with one or more finishing layers of resins, powders, inactive and insoluble fillers, waxes, gums, plasticisers, colouring materials, lacquer, and o...dust usage for forgingdust usage for forgingThe 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 to the die.types of metal manufacturing processestypes of metal manufacturing processesMetal processes linked to the different types of metal, such as casting processes, heat treatment processes, repair processes and other metal manufacturing processes.manufacturing of door furniture from metalmanufacturing of door furniture from metalThe 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, and hardware for buildings...casting processescasting processesThe 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 diffe...manufacturing of toolsmanufacturing of toolsThe 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 a...precious metal processingprecious metal processingVarious processing methods on precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum.supply machine with appropriate toolssupply machine with appropriate toolsSupply the machine with the necessary tools and items for a particular production purpose. Monitor the stock and replenish when needed.insert mould structuresinsert mould structuresInject molten raw material into a mould to solidify them using cooling systems.mark designs on metal piecesmark designs on metal piecesMark or engrave designs on metal pieces or pieces of jewellery, closely following design specifications.monitor gaugemonitor gaugeOversee the data presented by a gauge concerning the measurement of pressure, temperature, thickness of a material, and others.apply preliminary treatment to workpiecesapply preliminary treatment to workpiecesApply preparatory treatment, through mechanical or chemical processes, to the workpiece preceding the main operation.remove finished castsremove finished castsOpen mould and safely remove the finished cast from within.operate precision measuring equipmentoperate precision measuring equipmentMeasure 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 such as a caliper, a micrometer, an...manage time in casting processesmanage time in casting processesWork 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.fill mouldsfill mouldsFill up moulds with appropriate materials and ingredient mixes.ensure equipment availabilityensure equipment availabilityEnsure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.mark processed workpiecemark processed workpieceInspect and mark parts of the workpiece to indicate how they will fit into the finished product.apply precision metalworking techniquesapply precision metalworking techniquesComply with precision standards specific to an organisation or product in metalworking, involved in processes such as engraving, precise cutting, welding.cut metal productscut metal productsOperate cutting and measuring instruments in order to cut/shape pieces of metal into given dimensions.recognise signs of corrosionrecognise signs of corrosionRecognise 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.smooth burred surfacessmooth burred surfacesInspect and smooth burred surfaces of steel and metal parts.remove scale from metal workpieceremove scale from metal workpieceRemove 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 will cause it to ...provide customer follow-up servicesprovide customer follow-up servicesRegister, follow-up, solve and respond to customer requests, complaints and after-sales services.produce customised productsproduce customised productsProduce goods designed and created to fit the specific needs or request of a customer.
Related Occupations
Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.
welder6 shared essential skillsboilermaker5 shared essential skillsbrazier5 shared essential skillscoppersmith5 shared essential skillsornamental metal worker5 shared essential skillscoking furnace operator4 shared essential skillsdrop forging hammer worker4 shared essential skillselectron beam welder4 shared essential skills
Frequently asked questions
What 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.
What skills does a blacksmith need?
A blacksmith needs 19 essential skills, including types of metal, forging processes, hot forging, maintain furnace temperature, join metals.
Will AI replace blacksmith jobs?
The AI disruption score for blacksmith is 34/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: insert mould structures, monitor gauge, ensure equipment availability. Most resilient: work with blacksmithing hand tools, operate welding equipment, work with blacksmithing power tools.
AI Replacement Risk
34/ 100
Low Risk
Low riskHigh risk
Quick Facts
ISCO GroupMetal, machinery and related trades workers
Essential Skills19
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