Tools, Machinery and Equipment

At the heart of every blacksmith's workshop lies the forge — the fiery heart where every piece is born. In its heat, fanned by the bellows, the metal softens, glows orange, and only then does it become malleable in the blacksmith's hands. On the solid anvil — that indispensable companion of every master smith — the actual shaping takes place: blow by blow, shape by shape. A whole range of blacksmith's hammers of various weights and shapes is used for this purpose — from heavy sledgehammers to delicate shaping hammers — each serving a different purpose, a different stage of the work. Where human strength is insufficient and more than just hand-forging is required, the hammering machine comes into play — a mechanical aid whose rhythmic blows can process even the toughest materials with a precision that would otherwise require hours of labour. The workshop is complemented by machine tools that enable the finishing touches to be applied with the required precision. Also essential to the equipment are various types of pliers, punches, chisels and shaping jigs, with which the blacksmith refines every detail of the work in progress. This entire set of tools and machines — seemingly rough and industrial — is, in fact, the artist's toolkit.