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How to Forge Iron

Forging iron and other metals is one of the oldest techniques to shape metal in the metalworking industry. The basic principle involves heating a metal to its point of malleability and then shaping it by striking it with a hard object (hammer) against another (anvil). Forging and shaping steel is an art form that takes years to master but can be set up rather easily using items you can find in a hardware store.

Things You'll Need

Forge
Iron
Tongs
Hammer
Anvil
Motor oil
File

Instructions

- 1
  Ignite your forge. When it reaches operating temperature, place the piece of iron, called stock, you wish to form into it.
- 2
  Remove your stock using the tongs when it becomes red hot.
- 3
  Hold the stock on the anvil with one hand controlling the tongs and strike it with your hammer (sledge) using your free and dominant hand. Vary the amounts of force and use the different surfaces of the anvil to create different effects on your stock.
- 4
  Put the stock back into the forge whenever the red hue turns to black, which indicates the iron has cooled and will be harder to manipulate.
- 5
  Plunge the finished product into cold motor oil or water when you have finished shaping it. Cooling metals quickly hardens them. If you don't require the iron to be hardened, allow it to cool slowly.

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