Blacksmiths work primarily with wrought iron and steel. The "black" in "blacksmith" refers to the black fire scale,
a layer of oxides that forms on the surface of the metal during
heating. The word "smith" derives from an old word, "smite" (to hit).
Thus, a blacksmith is a person who hits black metal.[1]
Blacksmiths work by heating pieces of wrought iron or steel, until
the metal becomes soft enough to be shaped with hand tools, such as a
hammer, anvil and chisel. Heating is accomplished by the use of a forge fueled by propane, natural gas, coal, charcoal, coke or oil.
Some modern blacksmiths may also employ an oxyacetylene or similar blowtorch for more localized heating. Induction heating methods are gaining popularity among modern blacksmiths.
Color is important for indicating the temperature and workability of
the metal: As iron is heated to increasing temperatures, it first glows
red, then orange, yellow, and finally white. The ideal heat for most
forging is the bright yellow-orange color appropriately known as a
"forging heat". Because they must be able to see the glowing color of
the metal, some blacksmiths work in dim, low-light conditions. Most work
in well-lit conditions. The key is to have consistent lighting which is
not too bright. Direct sunlight obscures the colors.
The techniques of smithing may be roughly divided into forging (sometimes called "sculpting"), welding, heat treating, and finishing.