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Blacksmith

What is blacksmithing?
What does a blacksmith do?
What work is carried out by a blacksmith?
Is blacksmithing a good career choice?
What employment and career opportunities are available in blacksmithing?
What skills must a blacksmith develop?
What training and qualifications are available for blacksmiths?
What if I need more information?
What competencies do I require for this skill?

What is blacksmithing?

Blacksmithing consists of shaping, forging and welding steel and other metals into required forms for vehicles, ships tools, farm implements, machinery, architecture, furniture and sculpture and of carrying out heat treatment in accordance with the specified requirements, blueprints or patterns. Forging is one of the oldest ways of shaping and is still used where strength and toughness is required.

What does a blacksmith do?

The blacksmith forges metal by heating it until it is soft and then hammers, presses and bends it before it cools and hardens again.

Blacksmithing however, has been subject to changing methods as a result of automation so that now the blacksmith must have a sound knowledge of welding and heat treatment as well as of forging. He/she must be able to prepare different tooling and machines to assist forging metals

What work is carried out by a blacksmith?

A blacksmith is a highly skilled engineering tradesperson who performs many tasks in the metal and engineering industry including:-

Manufacture and repair of a vast variety of both hand and mechanical tools for other tradespeople such as hammers, chisels for woodwork and metal work, blades, knives, scraping tools, spanners, punches, and tongs.
Architectural work including buildings in restoration and new installations like railings, balustrades, brackets, grills, decorations, structural columns and stairways.
Mechanical components for all types of industry like shafts, links, shackles, rings, gear blanks.

Is blacksmithing a good career choice?

Blacksmithing is an excellent choice for a hard working person who has keen eyes and artistic ability, possibly someone who would like to form their own business, someone who has done woodwork, metalwork, drawing, and the other related subjects at high school.

What employment and career opportunities are available in blacksmithing?

A good blacksmith is never without work. With employment opportunities in building, fabrication, architecture, teaching and artistic fields there is always work available for a blacksmith.

What skills must a blacksmith develop?

A blacksmith must develop a good eye for all shapes and sizes. Also he/she must be able to judge material's temperature by eye (colour of steel). Other skills include pre-planning of work, quickness of mind, good hand and eye co-ordination, estimation of costs. Another skill required more and more is the ability to design.

What training and qualifications are available for blacksmiths?

Blacksmiths are trained in a range of skills relating to:

fabrication,
general manufacturing,
drawing interpretation,
welding,
forging
heat treatment of carbon and alloy steels.

Depending on their level of training and experience, a blacksmith may be considered to be either a tradesperson at Certificate III level, or engineering technician up to Certificate IV level of qualification. Training is gained by way of a traditional style of 4-year apprenticeship under the New Apprenticeship Scheme or via a Traineeship.

Whilst you are an apprentice (4 year term) your wages are usually set as a percentage of the qualified tradesperson.

As a guide, in: -

1. First year	42%
2. Second year	55%
3. Third year	75%
4. Fourth year	88%

When you have finished your base trade training, your classification will be at tradesperson level. With over award payments you could expect to earn much more then the basic rate and you can also apply for a higher grading when you get more qualifications.

Both options provide paid employment while skills are being learned. Employers would normally seek job applicants who have at least completed the School Certificate. Job seekers who have undertaken the Higher School Certificate are often highly regarded, and so may be given advanced standing/exemptions in their studies at TAFE. In New South Wales, the employer provides training on-the-job, with further training undertaken at institutions such as TAFE NSW. Sydney Institute, Ultimo is the only TAFE College that offers blacksmithing specific training at all skills levels.

Who can I contact for more career information?

For further advice related to blacksmithing as a career you could contact:-

Engineering Skills Centre at Sydney Institute, Ultimo (TAFE NSW)
Manufacturing and Engineering, TAFE NSW
ACTU (Australian Council Of Trade Unions)